Best PHP Editors and PHP IDE for the Development in 2023

Are you looking for the best PHP Editor or best PHP IDE?

If you are beginner web developers, and looking for the best PHP IDE to compile the code, you need to know your options.

A suitable editor could save you from various trivial problems and more likely to complement your coding style.

In this article, I am going to list the best PHP editor and best PHP IDE of 2023.

Best PHP IDE

1. PHPStorm
2. Netbeans
3. Aptana Studio
4. Eclipse
5. Zend Studio
6. Visual Studio
7. NuSphere
8. Code Lobster

Best PHP Editor

1. Sublime Text
2. Atom
3. Notepad++
4. Coda
5. Brackets
6. SlickEdit
7. jEdit
8. Komodo Edit
9. RJ textED
10. Rapid
11. Ultraedit
12. Codeanywhere
13. Bluefish

What is the difference between PHP IDE and PHP Editor?

The difference between PHP IDE and PHP editor is that PHP IDE is a more advanced and feature-loaded program, that saves and compiles the code while PHP editor is a simple software program used to write the PHP code.

Both of them are not that different, and that’s why lots of people (even developers) seem to be confused.

PHP IDEs allow you to create and maintain your PHP scripts with tools and features like project management, syntax highlighting, instant smart code recommendations, remote editing, debugging, etc. in the same place.

On the other hand, PHP Editors are text editors that enable you to edit codes through native capabilities or optional plugins. There are text editors for Windows or Linux, specifically. 

#1 PHPStorm

PHPStorm is a professional PHP editor that supports many PHP frameworks, including Symphony, WordPress, Drupal, and Laravel.

The support of the PHP storm is terrific. In case of any bug, the team responds and fixes the bug quickly.

• Supported Languages: PHP 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 and 7.0, HTML and JavaScript
• Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
• Price: $199 for the first year, then it the price start reducing with years

#2 Netbeans

Netbeans is widely used open-source software to create a development environment. The simple layout and useful inbuilt features make it an excellent IDE.

• Supported Languages: Java ME & SE, JavaS06496Bcript, HTML5, PHP, C/C++, XML, Groovy, Javadoc, JSP
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris
• Price: Free

#3 Aptana Studio

The Code Assist feature of Aptana Studio is helpful in writing code in multiple languages. Innterface of Aptana is flexible and can be customized to the user needs.

• Supported Languages: JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, DOM, CSS, Ruby on Rails, PHP, Python, Perl
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Plugin for Eclipse
• Price: FREE (GPL)

#4 Eclipse

Though Eclipse is popular for Java language, it is an excellent IDE for all the languages. Features like Auto-completion and Code Indentation makes it a reliable PHP IDE.

• Supported Languages: Perl, PHP, Prolog, Python, R, Ruby, etc.…
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris
• Price: Free

#5 Zend Studio

With Intelligent Code Editor and debugging tools like Xdebug, Zend users can write code much efficiently.

• Supported Languages: PHP
• Platform: Platform(s): Linux, MacOS, Windows
• Price: $799

#6 Visual Studio

The Visual Studio has a feature that helps in deploying code without installing lots of third-party tools. Inbuilt terminal saves time while executing codes and making changes in git.

The interface is very user friendly and adaptable.

• Supported Languages: C++, Clojure, PHP, CoffeeScript, Batch, DockerFile, etc
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
• Price: Free

#7 NuSphere

NuSphere offers you the ability to edit a file via SFTP. The debugging, code compiler, and the IntelliSense support are the best feature of the NuSphere.

• Supported Languages: PHP, Java, CSS, HTML
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Price: $179, Renew at $99

#8 Code Lobster

Code Lobster is also an excellent PHP IDE. It supports other languages too, but the software is clearly PHP oriented. All the essential and necessary functions are inbuilt.

The software automatically configures itself after analyzing the system features.

• Supported Languages: PHP, Java, CSS, HTML
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS
• Price: Free version, $80 per three activation Premium version

#1 Sublime Text

Sublime Text is known for its speed and clean interface. It is a cross-platform text editor with a similar sleek look on each platform. Sublime PHP editor is light in weight and does not eat up many resources.

It is also portable, and you can use it via flash drive. You can customise the Sublime text with your setting, and make it entirely your own.

• Supported Languages: All popular languages
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
• Price: $70

#2 Atom

The best thing about this software is the flexibility it provides. It is highly customisable, making it one of the best PHP editors for the web-developers.

The Git panel is already installed so you can manage your work and publishing. Also, code quality tools like hydrogen, linters, and atom browser are beneficial. Atom does not take lots of resources in the running.

• Languages: HTML, CSS, Less, Sass, GitHub Flavored Markdown, C/C++, PHP, etc…
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
• Price: Free

#3 Notepad++

The interface of the Notepadd++ is cleaner than any other PHP editor, but it does not compromise with the features. It is a lightweight PHP editor for the windows.

The straightforward approach to coding is what makes this editor one of the most popular text editors. The constant updates keep it regularly updated with the always-changing Internet environment.

A dedicated community runs the open-source software.

• Languages: PHP, C++, C#, Caml, Cmake, COBOL, CoffeeScript, CSS, D, Diff, and all the popular styles.
• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Price: Free

#4 Coda

The most fantastic feature of the Coda is an FTP function and the Panic Sync. You can sync the codes and projects on all of your Mac Devices.

Moreover, it is easy to save your passwords, sites, and private keys without any extra cost. The simple text editor for PHP language has everything a developer needs.

Switching from the PHP editor to the preview the code and makes the code correction quickly.

• Supported Languages: HTML, PHP C++ and more
• Platform: Mac OS X
• Price: $ 99

#5 Brackets

Brackets offer you real-time views of the site, and you get to look into the site you are working on. You can make changes instantly and see them on the front-end.

Brackets are known for the developers that emphasise on the site design. Its extension manager is a useful function. You can find and install the necessary extension within the software.

• Supported Languages: PHP, C++, C, VBScript, Java, JavaScript, HTML, Python,
• Platform: Windows, MacOS, Linux
• Price: Free

More PHP Editors:

#6 SlickEdit

• Platform: Cross-platform
• Supported Languages: GNU C/C++, PHP, Java, WinDbg, Clang C/C++ LLDB, and others
• Price: SlickEdit Standard ($ 99.95), SlickEdit Standard for Enterprise ($ 149.95)

#7 jEdit

• Supported Languages: All the popular languages
• Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, BSD, OS/2, UNIX, VMS
• Price: Free

#8 Komodo Edit

• Supported Languages: Python, Perl, PHP, Ruby, Tcl, SQL, Smarty, CSS, HTML, XML, and more
• Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
• Price: $295

#9 RJ textEd

• Supported Languages: PHP, ASP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Linux,
• Price: Free

#10 Rapid

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Supported Languages: PHP and others
• Price: $ 49.95 for the first year, Subsequent usage costs less.

#11 Ultraedit

• Supported Languages: PHP and other languages
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
• Price: $ 99 for the first year

#12 Codeanywhere

• Supported Languages: Javascript, PHP, HTML, and 70 other languages
• Platform: Cross Platform
• Price: Free + $ 7 for freelancer and other packages

#13 BlueFish

• Supported Languages: HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, PHP, C, C++, JavaScript, Java, Google Go, SQL, Perl, ColdFusion, JSP, Python, Ruby and more
• Platform: MAC, Microsoft Windows, Linux
• Price: Free

FAQ

Must Read: How to Disable PHP Execution in WordPress Directories?

Wrapping Up

The majority of the developers enjoy and advocate the first text editor they used.

When it comes to text editor and IDEs, the views of developers are diverse. All the PHP editors have their perks and pits, but developers keep a biased look for their favourite editor.

As you learn PHP (you can learn it by creating a local PHP Server), you may like to try a new PHP editor. Or a new PHP IDE for a new project. When you are developing the web, it could become tedious and confusing if you are not working on the right PHP editor.

In this article, I mentioned the best PHP IDE and best PHP editor that are working great in 2020.