PhpStorm alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave PhpStorm: no free tier for most users after the trial, and heavy for small scripts. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces PhpStorm, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Visual Studio Code currently ranks first.
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Show all 5 alternativesThe best PhpStorm alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best PhpStorm alternative for most people
Visual Studio CodeFree, and with PHP extensions it covers most daily Laravel and WordPress work.
Best PhpStorm alternative for a free option
Apache NetBeansFree and open source, with solid PHP support built in.
Best PhpStorm alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
CursorAI-first editor on a VS Code base for PHP teams leaning on agents.
Best PhpStorm alternative for open source
Visual Studio CodeFree, and with PHP extensions it covers most daily Laravel and WordPress work.
Best PhpStorm alternative for Mac
Sublime TextFast and light for quick PHP edits, with no subscription.
Best PhpStorm alternative for Windows
Visual Studio CodeFree, and with PHP extensions it covers most daily Laravel and WordPress work.
Best PhpStorm alternative for Linux
Visual Studio CodeFree, and with PHP extensions it covers most daily Laravel and WordPress work.
Best PhpStorm alternative for working in the browser
Visual Studio CodeFree, and with PHP extensions it covers most daily Laravel and WordPress work.
PhpStorm alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to PhpStorm?
Visual Studio Code ranks first right now. Free, and with PHP extensions it covers most daily Laravel and WordPress work. Sublime Text and Apache NetBeans follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to PhpStorm?
Yes. Visual Studio Code (free), Apache NetBeans (open source) and Cursor (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to PhpStorm?
Yes: Visual Studio Code and Apache NetBeans.
Which PhpStorm alternatives work on Linux?
Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, Apache NetBeans and Cursor run on Linux.
Why do people switch from PhpStorm?
The complaints we hear most: no free tier for most users after the trial; heavy for small scripts; subscription per developer.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces PhpStorm, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.