If JavaScript was the language of the web, then PHP is unarguably the vocabulary that supports that language. Call it the scaffolding on which much of the internet rests, and you’re probably right.
Despite its monolithic status and the fact that it was one of first-gen web programming frameworks, PHP is still hugely popular. It’s a programming language that has steadily evolved with the changing demands of web users and web technology. Over 78% of websites run on PHP.
If you’re trying to find a PHP developer, there’s lots and lots of them online and everywhere, which is unsurprising considering just how popular this language is. But how do you find and hire the best PHP programmer – not just some amateur.
The hiring pitfall
PHP is an incredibly popular programming language. One consequence of that popularity is the sheer number of developers – both skilled and unskilled – who fly the PHP flag. Unfortunately, the unskilled PHP developers outnumber their skilled counterparts.
If you’re randomly searching for a PHP developer, chances are that you’ll find a couple unskilled ones masquerading as the best thing since sliced bread (read Fortran) before landing a competent PHP developer. Not only does that waste time, it’s also expensive. Many businesses expend a significant amount on botched software products only to perform an overhaul much later.
This guide to finding and hiring a PHP developer is designed to help you skip this hiring pitfall. I’ll talk about what to look out for when searching for excellent PHP developers and then round it all off with a list of some of the best freelance PHP developers available online.
What to look out for in the ideal PHP developer
The ideal PHP dev is a multitalented problem solver skilled in PHP and latest-gen web development tools. But to be more specific, anyone you’re hiring as a PHP developer should be;
Well versed with the latest version of PHP for web development
PHP gets routinely updated, and as at the time of writing this article, we’re at version 8.1.0. The differences between successive versions are usually minute and diffuse so that a developer who’s proficient in a preceding PHP version should retain that proficiency with the newest iteration. Nevertheless, they must make conscious attempts to stay in the current loop, whether passively or actively.
How do you test this?
Expert understanding of the PHP language comes with practice and experience. Ideally, you want someone who’s developed multiple websites using PHP and who has at least two years overall experience with the programming language.
Expertise with Git
Version control with Git is essential for maintaining and updating software programs. The best PHP devs have a firm understanding of how it works and its importance in building maintainable applications.
How to test this
The best way to test for this skill is to ask for portfolios where Git was deployed and used as a version control tool.
Experience using Laravel, Symfony and other PHP frameworks
A typical PHP developer will do most of their coding using frameworks like Laravel, Symfony and CakePHP. Most of these are easy skills to pick up on provided the developer is well grounded with the fundamentals of PHP; so experience with one or two at the time of hiring is usually enough
How to assess this
A developer with a strong portfolio of apps or web applications built with PHP should’ve gotten their hands dirty with PHP frameworks. However, if you want to dig deep, it makes sense to check their GitHub profile. Here’s what you should look out for
- How many projects they have listed to their name
- Their activity, especially those related to such open-source frameworks
- How many PHP repositories
What are your options
Now you have an idea of the skills to look for, but where exactly do you go hunting for the best PHP developers? The answer to that question is somewhat tricky, and ultimately it boils down to your needs.
- Are you looking for a PHP dev on a full-time basis?
- Do you want someone who can just come in and complete an already laid down project?
- Do you want a quick fix developer to hop on an existing project?
In house developers
If you’re looking to hire a PHP developer on a full-time basis, then you’re invariably taking the in-house route. In-house developers are great for many things, and before we delve into where’s best to find them, it makes sense to outline those things that make them stand out
Why in-house
Full time means full commitment
The typical freelance PHP developer is constantly shuffling between clients and their projects. When you need full-on commitment to your task with attendant benefits to that – better production-ready code, better-fit solutions – an in-house developer is the best fit.
Seamless communication and understanding of your needs
Total commitment to your project also allows in-house PHP developers the opportunity to better connect with your business, organization, project and needs. And there’s the fluid communication too – nothing beats having a developer who’s on-hand all through work hours and in many cases in the same building as you
The drawbacks
In-house PHP developer cost a lot
It’s expensive to hire and retain an In-house developer. Not just because of the base salary, yes, you’ll pay more as base remuneration to an in-house dev compared to others, but more so because of the extra expenses that come with keeping a dev in house. Think everything from health insurance, administrative/HR cost, office space lease etc.
Harder to expand
If you wanted to expand your dev team, that’s 2X the already expensive bills you’re footing. This limits how much and how fast you can scale up your dev team to improve or hasten production.
Agency developers
Agencies like Daxx make it easy to find PHP developers very well suited to your needs. What they do is source for developer talent on their own, hire them either as freelance or full-time employees and then subcontract them back to businesses and organizations needing their services.
Why agency
Superior dev talent
Most agencies have very high developer requirements. Toptal, a leading dev agency, says it only hire the top 3% of developers. When you go agency, you’re plugging into what’s presumably the highest cadre of PHP developers in the business. This is nice when you consider the fact that the PHP dev market is flooded by amateurs and many unskilled devs.
A managed service
Unlike In-house and especially the freelance route, where it’s pretty much up to you to track progress, enforce compliance to requirements, or quality code, agencies do all the dirty work. Most times, all you need do is provide your requirements and settle the invoice.
The drawbacks
Agencies are expensive
You’re going to be paying for top tier talent and top tier management plus the overhead cost of management as well. This can get more expensive than even the in-house option fast.
Little to no flexibility
Agencies operate with well-defined contracts and strictly keep to the defined terms. If you have a need that pops up mid-project, expect to renegotiate that contract and by renegotiate, I mean pay extra (a lot extra) to fit that need or adjustment in.
The freelance route
Freelance PHP developers are what I like to call the foot soldiers of PHP development. They’re everywhere, and almost everyone looks to them every once in a while to complete specific tasks. Why, you may ask?
Why freelance
Freelancers are affordable
Compared to In-house and agency developers, freelance PHP developers charge way lesser rates. For tech behemoths like Microsoft or Apple, rates might be inconsequential. But for upcoming businesses looking to bootstrap their way to success, the affordability of freelance PHP devs is a literal lifesaver.
Diverse talent
There’s an incredibly diverse talent of freelance PHP devs available for your picking. While it might be hard to find an in-house or agency PHP dev who, for instance, has grounded knowledge on a recently released PHP framework, it’s all but certain that there’ll be a literal horde of freelance developers who’ve mastered that skill.
The drawbacks
Freelancers require a lot of supervision
Not all freelancers but most of them. You’ll need to keep a firm hand on things if your project is to be executed flawlessly.
Skilled freelance PHP developers are tricky to find
Freelance PHP developers exist in the thousand number range. Again, that’s down to the popularity of the programming language, but not all this bunch are skilled in the true sense of the word. The majority are upcoming PHP devs. Some are just not good enough. But, mostly, all claim the title of ‘experienced PHP developer.’ How do you ensure you’re only getting the best fit freelance PHP developer.
How to find the best freelance PHP developers
Finding the best freelance PHP devs is not rocket science all you need is due diligence and patience. Here’s how I approach it
Assess their experience and expertise
I already touched on the main things to look out for in terms of experience and expertise when you plan on hiring a freelance PHP developer. But to recap, the ideal freelance PHP dev should;
- Have expertise with developing web applications using PHP
- Have at least two years of experience with relevant PHP frameworks as is Laravel, CakePHP and Symfony
- Have hands-on knowledge on concepts such as object-oriented programming, version control, and Model, View and Controller
- Understand database architecture and have practical experience with deploying such databases in production code
Check their reviews
Most reputable freelance sites like Fiverr and Upwork allow past freelance PHP devs clients to leave reviews. These reviews provide a privileged insight as to what it feels like to work with the dev in question. Here’s how I analyze reviews for PHP freelancers;
Ignore the five-star stuff
Five-star reviews are all great and whatnot, but they provide little to no insight on what to look out for. I mean, on freelance sites like Upwork, searching for a PHP dev and finding one on the results page is usually enough indication that they’re good enough. These platforms rank freelancers based on performance, so only the best guys get to the front page of search results.
Focus on the negative and not too positive reviews
Negative reviews are from disgruntled customers. They allow you to see the potential flaws of a potential hire before you commit to their services. But not all negative reviews are created equal. Here’s how I treat them;
Zero in on the three, four-star quasi positive reviews
With these reviews, you know the reviewer is not some bat-shit crazy person who’s just trying to take out their frustration on the dev. I tend to take what they say very seriously. So, if they highlight an issue that’s a potential dealbreaker for me, I’ll want to clarify with the developer by asking questions. The response, whether satisfactory or not, determines if I stay or bail.
Consider the one-star reviews if they’re much or few with similar themes
One or two one-star reviews is not bad – everyone has their bad days. However, if two one-star reviews highlight a particular problem with the PHP dev or there’s an excess of one-star reviews, that’s usually enough indication for me to take my business elsewhere.
Do a demo run to test their skills
Sometimes everything checks out, but you’re still not totally convinced. It pays to do a demo run (paid, of course) to test the skills and expertise of the developer. So you don’t just waste money, a good idea is to split up your project and use one segment for the trial. If the freelance PHP dev is worth their onions, it’s just a matter of continuing the project; otherwise, you cut your losses and move on.
It’s rare that a freelance PHP dev who’s fulfilled all the other criteria fails the demo test. Most do a good job, and it’s just a case of carrying on with the project. But you never know – better safe than sorry.
Hiring freelance PHP devs off sites like Fiverr and Upwork
Now I’ve furnished you with all the details you need to hire your first PHP developer, whether freelance or not. If it all sounds too stressful or complicated, you can simply go through my list of the top freelance PHP devs on popular freelance sites Fiverr and Upwork
I curated this list using the techniques I described throughout this article, which is to say you can do this yourself.
Fiverr PHP developers
Fiverr houses a good selection of freelance PHP developers. If you’ve used the site before, it’s an easy case of clicking any of these links and then placing an order. If you’ve not, do go through my guide on hiring freelancers on Fiverr.
Darko
A past clientele catalog that includes top brands like Starbucks, a Fiverr Pro seller badge and experience in PHP development extending past eight years grants this freelancer the top position on our list of the best PHP developers on Fiverr.
Gdarko’s main gig offers web application development using the Laravel framework, so this is the ideal developer if you’re looking to create top-notch web applications using PHP.
Strengths
- Masterful knowledge of the PHP programming language with in-depth expertise in Laravel
- Experience working with top brands and creating custom bespoke web solutions
- Full time professional with all-round experience in frontend and backend web development
Rating review
Gdarko’s hefty price 1,150 price tag for a simple web application might appear too much especially considering the other options on this list, but his reviews show that it’s a well worth investment. It’s five stars all through with glowing recommendations and praise to match!
Jerome2015
This seller doesn’t offer any full-on web or app development gig with PHP on Fiverr. Instead, you get a PHP debugging service for when you need to fix issues with an already deployed PHP codebase hastily.
The best part of it all is that it starts at $15. $15 to hire an expert PHP developer with over eight years experience and astute knowledge of PHP and related tools like MySQL and JavaScript. Sounds like an awesome deal to me.
Strengths
- Thorough experience with finding and fixing bugs in PHP code
- Mastery of the MySQL database platform
- Cheap
- Fiverr choice seller
Rating review
Over 350 reviews and not a single blemish on this Fiverr PHP freelancer’s profile is all you need to know about this seller’s performance record. Not one single sub-five star review in view. Amazing!
Ishurik21
Ishurik21 is both a Fiverr Top Rated seller and a worthy owner of the Fiverr Pro badge. I say worthy because this seller has a rather impressive web design portfolio – take a look.
He is the most expensive option on this list, but for the $1500 markup he’s charging, you’re getting a true industry professional who provides a full-on managed website creation service from start to finish using PHP.
Strengths
- Ten-year experience developing with PHP and associated frameworks
- In-depth understanding of the customer acquisition journey and how that relates to website design and deployment
- Managed web design and web development service, akin to hiring a full-on web development agency
Rating review
Five stars all through, and that’s a particularly remarkable feat considering the pricing of this gig. Anyone paying $1500 for a PHP website – on Fiverr where other sellers offer the same service for ten bucks – will have high expectations. This seller has managed to satisfy those expectations an impressive twenty-four times and counting.
Glsdataanalysis
Unlike other sellers on this list, glsdataanalysis is a web development team. While I have reservations about freelance teams, this is one with their head above the water, thanks to some stellar reviews and an impressive overall portfolio.
Strengths
- Fiverr Pro seller
- Well managed team complete with web designers, content/SEO specialists and some skilled PHP devs
- Excellent knowledge of the analytical and algorithmic components of PHP development
Rating review
There’s a lone one-star review on this seller’s page which seems to be about a mismatch between client expectations and the final delivered product. My assessment is that the buyer in question probably wanted more than they could get on their budget and since this is a singular complaint, I don’t hold it for much. There are several other glowing five-star reviews to match it up.
Farah_naz_a
Away from the pocket crunching prices, Farah is evidence that excellent PHP development services can be found at dirt cheap prices on Fiverr if you search well and long enough. This is a Full-stack PHP developer with over five years’ experience building web applications and an impressive clientele list.
Strengths
- Relatively inexpensive but still technically gifted
- Full-stack PHP expertise with well-grounded knowledge of Laravel and database architectures
Rating review
Farah has well over 130 reviews, all of them on the positive, with just one being a four-star review – the rest all five star.
Upwork PHP developers
Upwork is a much more structured place to hire the best Freelance PHP developers. Compared to Fiverr, you’re getting a much more professional and skilled crop of developers, but they don’t come cheap!
The best Upwork PHP devs will charge upwards of $1000 for a simple PHP web application. However, when you consider the quality of work delivered and the overall buying experience, I’d say it’s well worth it.
Nguyen Q
Nguyen is a skilled PHP developer with added experience using related tools like React JS and WordPress. That’s the least you could expect from any freelance PHP dev worth their mettle but what sets this Upwork PHP freelancer apart is their incredible portfolio.
Nguyen has worked with the most diverse set of small to large scale businesses I’ve seen in a while, and that’s including names like Hatton and Edwards.
Strengths
- Strong technical background with a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Computer Applications from the University of Technology, Sydney
- Expertise with PHP and associated tools like WordPress and React
- Start to finish full-on managed web development service
Rating review
There are a couple blemishes on this Upwork PHP freelancers’ review panel, but it’s all made up for by an exceedingly large number of positive reviews. There is no theme with the less than five-star reviews, so it’s safe to assume that they were not the results of a persistent flaw with the developer.
Igor K
Igor is a San Diego senior Full stack PHP developer with over ten years of experience in crafting hugely scalable and optimized web applications. Full-stack means this freelancer is skilled with both frontend web technologies and the backend stuff, which makes him an ideal developer for complete web development projects.
Strengths
- Experience with custom web development extras including payment system integration, analytics with Power BI, e-commerce functionalities.
- Stellar understanding of frontend and UI/UX development with an eye for design detailing
- Fluent with modern database systems including Amazon AWS, Azure and Windows/Unix Server administration
- Comfortable implementing version control using GIT
Rating review
It’s all glowing praise and stellar recommendations on this Upwork Freelancers’ review panel. And these reviews are mostly for large enterprise-scale PHP projects – that says a lot.
Dipal P
Drupal is a PHP developer associated with the more popular Empirical Edge web development agency on Upwork.
Located in New Jersey, that agency has completed well over 26,000 hours developing software using PHP and a host of other associated web and mobile development tools. Dipal heads that agency as its business manager.
Strengths
- Microsoft certified software engineer with over ten years of experience developing web and enterprise PHP applications
- Impressive technical background with a Masters of Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago
- Skilled at developing complex and technical APIs and micro applications using PHP
Rating review
Dipal is top-rated for his technical expertise and communications skills. Not one client on his review panel left anything short of a five-star review.
Christopher B
Full-stack developer with extensive experience developing platform application for everything from fortune 500 organizations to the average business startup.
If the Fortune 500 in this PHP developers’ description doesn’t convince you of his expertise, then maybe his 100% job success score on Upwork will.
Strength
- Full-stack dev with all the skills required to develop, manage and update PHP based websites and web applications
- Experience with implementing modern design elements and styling
- Intelligent problem solver with a knack for navigating complex situations with relatively simple code
Rating reviews
This freelancers’ rating panel provides even more evidence of his technical expertise and rare problem-solving skills. All reviews are five stars, all dotted with superlative praise.
Neeraj S
Neeraj is one of the more affordable Upwork PHP devs on this list – approaching Fiverr levels of affordability.
But its affordability matched with excellence and a firm understanding of the PHP programming language. This is a PHP freelance developer who’s worked with top brands worldwide over the last eight years.
Strengths
- Absolute understanding and expertise with the majority of PHP frameworks, including Laravel, CodeIgniter, and CakePHP
- Expertise with version control using Git
- Comfortable implementing complex backend database structures using MySQL
Rating Review
If there’s one thing, this Upwork PHP developers’ rating panel shows it’s his professionalism and commitment to making his clients happy. Neeraj is a hard worker with numerous glowing reviews on his work ethic and dedication to show for it.
