PhpStorm

What PhpStorm is

PhpStorm is JetBrains’ integrated development environment for building PHP applications. It combines code editing, navigation, refactoring, debugging, testing, database access, and remote development across Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its coding assistance helps move through and refactor a codebase, and built-in framework support includes Laravel, Blade, Symfony, and WordPress. For debugging, the visual Xdebug integration provides live data, conditional breakpoints, and step-through execution. PHPUnit and Pest support can generate unit tests and show code coverage. Version-control connections include Git, GitHub, GitLab, Subversion, Mercurial, and Perforce. Remote PHP interpreters can run through SSH, Docker, Docker Compose, Vagrant, or WSL; JetBrains Gateway supports remote development. Built-in database support covers MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, SQLite, and other database dialects. For remote development, communication between JetBrains Client and the IDE backend is protected with end-to-end TLS 1.3 encryption, including when an SSH tunnel is used. PhpStorm is paid, with a 30-day trial that requires no credit card. JetBrains says students and teachers can use the All Products Pack, which includes PhpStorm, at no charge; qualifying noncommercial open-source projects may also be eligible for free licenses.

Who it suits

PhpStorm suits PHP developers who want editing, debugging, testing, framework support, and database tools in one IDE. Its remote interpreter and development options may also fit teams working with remote environments, while the free-license eligibility may be relevant to students, teachers, and qualifying noncommercial open-source projects.

Limits

There is no general free plan; the free trial runs for 30 days. JetBrains says a perpetual fallback license is available after at least 365 consecutive days of uninterrupted subscription, for the version available at the start of the 12-month subscription.

Getting started

1. Visit the PhpStorm website.
2. Choose the Linux, macOS, or Windows platform.
3. Start the free 30-day trial, which does not require a credit card.
4. Check whether student, teacher, or qualifying noncommercial open-source project eligibility applies.

Verdict

Choose PhpStorm if PHP work calls for integrated coding assistance, framework support, debugging, testing, databases, and remote development. The main reason to look elsewhere is its paid model if you need a generally available free plan; students, teachers, and qualifying projects may have free-license eligibility.