13 Best Sites to Hire PHP Developers: Which Should You Choose

Tobi Moyela

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Are you second-guessing your decision to hire PHP developers because someone told you PHP is dead? We promise you PHP is far from dead. In fact, recent surveys show that PHP is the most used server-side programming language among web developers. It is so popular that 79.2% of all websites use PHP to some degree.

But what exactly is a PHP developer, and why and when do you need one? Besides providing answers to these questions, this guide will also reveal how to find PHP developers for your software development project. Let’s get started!

Why hire a PHP developer

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a general-purpose, open-source programming language for developing dynamic and interactive websites. The scripting language’s popularity skyrocketed after its launch in 1995 because of its suitability for building fast and efficient web applications.

While ReactJS and Javascript are client-side programming languages, PHP is more of a server-side language. That means developers use PHP to develop the back end of web applications to run on a web server. Also, server-side programming languages help build more secure web applications that process data faster.

Another reason for PHP’s popularity is it works for building websites for the most widely-used content management systems (CMSs) – WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. In fact, WordPress has the largest market share among CMSs, powering 43.2% of all websites, and all WordPress websites are PHP-written.

Who should hire a PHP developer?

Are you a startup or another business type looking to build a web application or website that users can easily access via a desktop or mobile browser? If so, you should work with a PHP developer. Skilled and competent PHP developers understand PHP syntax, functionality, and best practices. They use that knowledge to develop robust and scalable web applications.

Other benefits of hiring a PHP developer for your project are:

  1. Cost-effective: PHP is a free, open-source scripting language. Since developers don’t have to pay to use, distribute, and modify PHP projects, building your website will cost less. The cost-effectiveness makes hiring a PHP developer ideal for small businesses and startups that want a new website or web app.

  2. Versatile: PHP developers can build various web applications, including dynamic ecommerce, social networking, and news websites. Developers can even use the language to build content management systems like Magento. Also, PHP websites have various built-in functions and libraries for tasks such as database connectivity and HTTP requests.

  3. Responsive website: Websites and web apps built by PHP developers can run on Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and macOS operating systems. Users only need to access the website via their device’s browser. However, while PHP is great for building websites and web apps, it’s not the best for mobile apps.

  4. Scalable: Websites built with PHP can handle high traffic, making them ideal for businesses that need an easily scalable site or web app.

  5. Integration: PHP can easily integrate with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, and other technologies. The integration options make building with PHP the way to go if you want a flexible web development process.

Depending on your needs and other factors, you can hire PHP developers to build your web software with PHP frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, or CakePHP.

8 top sites for hiring PHP developers

As we’ve shown, there’s a lot to gain if you hire PHP developers, but the exact benefits you’ll experience will vary between developers. To help simplify your search for suitable developers for your project, we’ve compiled the top agencies and sites for hiring PHP developers. Below are the websites that made our list.

1. DevSquad

hire php developers

DevSquad is among Utah's top web and software development agencies, offering services to SaaS companies across the U.S. As a fully managed team, we are the one-stop shop for all your software development needs. Let us help you take your product development from ideation and prototyping to launch and optimization.

With our expertise, you can shorten your time to market and launch a user-focused PHP web app that delivers impressive value and ROI. Also, our mastery of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MySQL, and other related technologies equips us to build you a well-rounded, interactive, and dynamic web application.

We work with SaaS businesses of all sizes and guarantee that we can make your product development journey as hassle-free as possible. Click here to learn more about how DevSquad can simplify building PHP web apps tailored to satisfy your target market.

Services

As a full-service agency, we offer more than just PHP programming. We provide everything you need to build and launch fully operational PHP software, such as:

Pros

  • Fully managed team structure

  • Strategic guidance to help you succeed and save money

  • Scalable team to match your needs

  • Top-notch communication

  • User-focused product development process

  • Less work on your part

Cons

Fully managed teams cost more than other hiring options. Also, a fully managed team is unnecessary if you only need a PHP developer

2. Fiverr

find php developers

Fiverr is an online marketplace where you can hire PHP developers and other specialists you need for your PHP web development project. However, the platform does not have a vetting process that verifies if programmers are as good as they claim. On the upside, Fiverr has a rating system that clients use to rate the competence and professionalism of programmers they’ve tried.

Users can also provide reviews regarding their experience using a programmer. Reduce the risk of hiring an unsuitable PHP programmer by opting for a freelancer with at least a 4-star rating and mostly positive reviews. That said, while Fiverr freelancers are generally affordable, highly-rated programmers with years of experience on the platform typically charge more.

Services

You can use Fiverr to find PHP developers and other freelancers you need for your project. Developers worldwide use the platform, allowing you to easily find one that can speak your language and work with your time zone.

Pros

  • Affordable

  • Several freelance PHP developers to choose from

  • 24/7 user support

  • Easy-to-understand rating system

  • Secure payment options

Cons

  • Unvetted freelancers cause uncertainty when hiring

  • Tedious vetting and hiring process

  • Project delays if you hire the wrong freelancer

3. Saritasa

hire php developers

Saritasa is a boutique software development firm offering PHP web development services and other solutions. Even though it’s in California, Saritasa serves clients all over the U.S. Many of its clients include medical, education, retail, financial, real estate, and logistics companies.

The agency’s 10+ years of experience equips it to understand clients’ needs and deliver high-quality services. Another top selling point of the agency is its attention to detail, which ensures the delivery of fully operational finished products. On the downside, since Saritasa is a boutique agency, there’s a limit to how many clients they can serve at once.

Services

  • Back-end PHP development for web and mobile apps

  • Project management

  • Code review and takeovers

  • Custom PHP development

  • DevOps

Pros

  • An experienced and well-equipped team

  • Professional and impressive track record

  • Excellent communication

  • Secure production environment

Cons

  • A long waiting list may occur

  • Paying for unneeded services if you only want a PHP developer

4. Toptal

Toptal

Toptal is another platform for hiring freelancers, but unlike Fiverr, Toptal has a vetting process. Since you can only hire PHP developers that passed the vetting process, you are less likely to hire an unskilled programmer. In fact, Toptal claims to only accept the top 3% of freelancers who apply to use its platform.

Easily find PHP developers that match your needs with Toptal’s matching system. Also, you can verify a freelancer’s suitability for your project by test-running them for a couple of weeks for free. You can switch to another freelancer if you do not enjoy the free trial.

Services

Toptal helps individuals and businesses find the most qualified freelancers for their projects. You can also use the platform to find more specialists to handle other aspects of your product development project.

Pros

  • Free, no-risk trial

  • Only vetted freelancers

  • High user satisfaction

Cons

  • Finding and onboarding suitable freelancers takes up to three weeks

  • A compulsory $500 down payment to use the platform

  • Toptal freelancers charge more than others

5. Upwork

hire php programmers

Fiverr and Toptal aren’t your only options if you want to hire freelancers for PHP development. With Upwork, signing up and finding PHP developers is simple. You don’t need to pay to register, and once you have an account, you can browse available professionals to find one or more for your project.

Alternatively, post a job, let freelancers apply, interview them, and pick your favorites for the job. Depending on your Upwork plan, you can access vetted and unvetted freelancers or only vetted ones.

Pros

  • No cost to join

  • Access to vetted or unvetted freelancers

  • High user satisfaction

  • Options for different budgets

Cons

  • Heavy reliance on the platform for communication, payment processing, and dispute resolution

  • Excessive fees

6. Codementor

get php coders

Codementor is where pro developers congregate to connect and offer their services. On the platform, you can find PHP developers who’ve authored books, contributed to open-source projects, and worked at top tech companies.

Depending on your needs, you can find a PHP expert to mentor you or one to develop your PHP web product. Hire PHP developers on Codementor by sharing details of your project and connecting with developers who fit your requirements. The platform won’t release payment to your freelancer until you confirm project completion.

On the downside, only software developers are available on the platform. If you need other experts to manage other aspects of your project, you’ll have to find them elsewhere.

Services

Codementor will connect you with highly experienced and vetted freelance developers. You have the option to hire PHP developers by-the-hour or long-term.

Pros

  • Risk-free escrow payment option

  • Access to only verified talent

  • Fast onboarding – get a freelancer within six minutes of joining the platform

  • Filter freelancers with user reviews

Cons

  • Only software developers are available on the platform

7. Ikayzo

hire php web development team

Ikayzo is a boutique web and mobile app development firm based in Hawaii. The team consists of various specialists, including PHP developers. Whether your company is in finance, fashion, pharmaceutical, hospitality, or another industry, you can count on Ikayzo to build you a dynamic, cross-platform website.

Since Ikayzo is a full-service company, the team can handle all aspects of your software development. You can also receive professional guidance to help you achieve your business goals efficiently.

Services

Ikayzo develops websites and web apps with responsive designs. Besides PHP web development, you can contact the full-service agency for:

  • Application design

  • User experience design

  • 2D/3D illustration

  • Motion graphics

Pros

  • Experienced team

  • Full-service agency

  • Willingness to work with your budget

Cons

  • Limited scalability due to having a small team

  • Long client waitlists

8. YouTeam

hire php freelancers

YouTeam is a popular option among companies that want to hire PHP developers outside the U.S. The platform gives users access to over 50,000 European and Latin American software engineers and developers.

Every developer on YouTeam has undergone a thorough vetting process to ensure you only talk to competent workers. Also, finding PHP developers for your project is straightforward on the platform. Just fill out a form, list your project’s details and budget, and submit. The platform will list potential freelancers who match your requirements, and you can select the most attractive ones.

Services

YouTeam connects companies with software developers and designers for full-time or long-term projects.

Pros

  • Vetted freelancers (minimum of three years of technical experience)

  • Pre-interviews confirm a candidate’s suitability for your project

  • One-month free trial for each selected candidate

Cons

  • Long-term projects only

  • YouTeam freelancers charge more than other platforms

  • Slow onboarding process

Why stress yourself hunting down, sorting, and interviewing hundreds of people to hire PHP developers for your project? Do less work and get better and faster results by working with DevSquad. We have PHP developers and every other specialist you need to take your product development from ideation to launch.

9. Remote OK

remote okRemote OK is a top job board for remote workers including PHP developers. It is a great place to search for talented remote PHP developers and has been utilized by many big names like Microsoft and Amazon.

Being a job board site, you’ll have to go through the more traditional hiring process of posting the position and reviewing applications. But, Remote OK has a directory of over 1 million professionals that can be auto matched to your job postings.

You can also specify the employment type and utilize many of their add-ons to either maximize or tailor the reach of your postings.

Services

With Remote OK you can create a profile and get matched to potential developers. Their filtering options allow you to refine the candidate pool including professionals verified by Remote OK developers. Of course you’ll be paying more for the verified developers, but will save time on the vetting process.

Pros

  • Large talent pool

  • Verified and unverified PHP developers

  • Detailed profiles of potential candidates

  • Full-time, part-time, and freelance hiring options available

  • Posting discounts for multiple job listing

Cons

  • Tedious vetting and hiring process

  • You’ll have to build your own team

  • Add-ons can significantly increase the posting cost


10. ScienceSoft

sciencesoftScienceSoft is an established company with 35 years in IT. They offer a fully stacked team of IT professionals with 50% of their talent pool being senior-level experts.  With headquarters in the US and an international operation, ScienceSoft serves a wide range of enterprises and institutions.

The primary industries served by SciencSoft include banking, healthcare, manufacturing, oil and gas, telecoms and more. If you're an enterprise company or you’re looking for a suite of high-level  IT services beyond PHP consulting or development then ScienceSoft may be right for you. Be prepared to pay for that expertise though.

Services

In addition to PHP consulting and development, ScienceSoft provides services for:

  • ERP

  • Operations management

  • Corporate finance

  • HR management

  • Data analytics

  • Fleet management

  • Asset management

Pros

  • Full service IT solutions

  • Great for enterprises and institutions

  • Handles complex business models with lots of dynamic moving parts

Cons

High-level expertise comes at a very high cost. If you have a big budget and a complex business it might be worth it.

11. Hired

Known as a tech-focused matchmaking platform, Hired provides vetted, highly qualified candidates that specialize in many fields including PHP. They aim to provide precision matches based upon your preferences and feedback.

Hired offers proactive support to minimize time-consuming tasks such as shortlisting candidates and scheduling interviews. The average time between initial interview and a signed offer is 37 days.

There are two pricing plans with Hired—Pay Per Hire and Unlimited Hiring. The Pay Per Hire plan costs 15% of the first-year base salary per hire. The Unlimited Hiring plan is priced as an annual subscription.

Services

Hired provides the vetting and matchmaking services to streamline the hiring process. You can find both short-term and long-term candidates to match your developer needs.  Hired also provides:

  • DEI hiring

  • Talent sourcing

  • Tech skills assessments

  • Recruiting events

Pros

  • Vetted pool of candidates

  • Allows skill assessments based on your tech stack

  • Significantly reduces time to hire

Cons

  • Vetted candidates with demonstrated skills charge premium rates

  • Priced at 15% annual base pay is expensive 

  • Requires clear understanding of the roles you need filled

12. Freelancer

freelancerFreelancer is the world's largest freelance marketplace. The traditional method of using the platform involves posting a job. Then you receive bids from freelancers and select the one you would like to contract the work to. When the work is complete and you are satisfied, payment is made.

If you have a very clear project in mind and the time to vet the bid submissions, then Freelancer could be the place to find your PHP developer. 

Services

Freelancer’s primary service is a platform for hiring freelancers on a project basis through a bidding process for posted jobs. They also offer a range of other services like:

  • Recruiter service to help you in the selection process 

  • Direct hire option if you want to focus on PHP developers only. 

  • If you are unclear on the specific work or just want additional ideas you can also post contests and pay for the winning entry

Pros

  • Fast bids for posted jobs

  • Large talent pool of 60+ million professionals

  • Only pay after work is completed and you are satisfied.

  • Recruiters and co-pilots available for finding talent and job management

  • Over 2700 different work categories

  • 24/7 support

Cons

  • Project clarity and scope must be well defined

  • Extensive vetting required

  • Heavy reliance on the platform for communication, payment processing, and dispute resolution

13. G2i

g2i

G2i’s focus is matching engineering teams with remote developers. They provide vetted candidates for your developer needs. 

Securing your PHP developers through G2i involves a straightforward process. First you fill out a form and schedule a conversation with one of their talent experts. They then provide you with a shortlist of candidates—including detailed technical profiles of each candidate. You decide who to interview and sign an SOW for the candidates you choose.

Services

G2i offers a single platform to manage the hiring pipeline in one place. They offer three methods of hiring PHP developers based on your needs. There are the short-term contracts for specific projects, the contract-to-hire option, and team building.

Pros

  • One week no risk trial

  • Provide audit trail of contracts, timesheets, invoices, and compliance documents

  • They handle payments, taxes, and social contributions

Cons

  • Excessive fees

  • Financial penalties occur if your circumvent the platform

  • Vetting does not include background checks or verification of candidates statements

How to hire PHP developers: Your 4 best options

How to hire PHP developers: Your 4 best options

Over 6 million PHP developers are available globally for you to choose from for web development projects. Hire PHP programmers that fit your needs, preferences, and project by looking out for the following:

  • Technical skills: Competent PHP developers have a mastery of PHP programming, web development frameworks, and database management systems. Get the best results by working with a PHP web development team with these skills and experience using front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

  • Relevant Experience: Experienced PHP developers have a better understanding of the programming language and how to leverage it. If you want PHP experts that perfectly fit your project, choose a team with experience working on projects like yours. The relevant experience will equip the team to manage your project efficiently and troubleshoot issues.

  • Communication skills: The best PHP developers know more than just the PHP programming language. They also have excellent communication skills that enable them to brainstorm with you, understand your project requirements, and keep you updated. Working with developers that can’t communicate effectively can lead to misunderstandings, delays, and other problems.

  • Pricing: PHP experts with more years of experience tend to charge more for their services, while less experienced programmers charge less to compete. Get the best deal by hiring PHP programmers with the skills to deliver your project without exceeding your budget.

  • Attention to detail: The top PHP developers are meticulous and detail-oriented. Coders who lack this skill tend to write faulty code that causes security and performance issues.

Now that you know the features to prioritize when searching for the best PHP programmers, let’s look at your hiring options. Choose the option that fits your budget, project size, and other requirements.

1. Full-time in-house team

Hiring a full-time in-house PHP development team means you have PHP programmers working exclusively for you. The programmers are your employees, and you have to pay them as such. So, if you have no ongoing PHP projects, you must still pay your in-house team. On the upside, having an in-house team means having 100% access to PHP developers to do whatever you want.

Benefits

  • Convenient access to your own PHP development team

  • Freedom to groom the team to do things your way

Who this method fits

We recommend having an in-house team of dedicated PHP developers if you are a large company that can afford it. Also, you should only have such a team if you frequently need the services of PHP developers. Otherwise, your company may not need one for months, but you still have to pay the developers for the times they do nothing.

2. Unvetted freelance PHP developers

Hiring unvetted freelance PHP developers might be the way to go if you are a startup or on a tight budget. Why? Unvetted freelancers charge less than vetted developers so they can compete.

Such developers are also more open to doing whatever you want because they are desperate for your business. For example, many unvetted freelancers are open to working with very short deadlines and other inconvenient constraints.

However, hiring freelance developers comes with some risks. For example, you cannot confirm an unvetted freelancer’s expertise and competence until you hire them. Picking the wrong freelancer can lead to project delays and wasted budget.

Nonetheless, it is possible to find a competent freelancer that saves you money and delivers to your satisfaction. Some of the best platforms for finding such freelancers include Upwork and Fiverr.

Benefits

  • The most affordable option

  • More flexibility regarding working hours and project requirements

Who this method fits

Hiring unvetted freelance PHP programmers may be for you if you are on a tight budget and want a programmer willing to do things your way.

3. Vetted PHP developers from a talent agency

Vetted PHP developers are experts with qualifications you can verify. Hiring such developers is a safer bet than hiring an unvetted freelancer. However, vetted PHP developers cost more.

Also, choosing a vetted or unvetted freelancer means you've hired a PHP developer and nothing more. Their job is to write code and deliver. Such an individual isn’t obligated to provide professional guidance or save you from bad project choices.

You can hire PHP developers with vetted qualifications on platforms like Toptal and Codementor. These platforms have a rating system that allows you to filter and view potential hires who match your unique requirements.

Benefits

  • Cheaper than hiring an in-house team

  • A safer option for hiring a qualified PHP programmer

Who this method fits

Hiring a vetted PHP developer from a talent agency is for companies that want a safe way to get reasonably priced yet reliable services.

4. Fully managed PHP development team

Do you want to build high-quality PHP websites or web applications with minimal hassle? If so, your best choice is to hire a PHP web development company – specifically a fully managed development company. A fully managed PHP development team will handle all aspects of your development process, including everything from ideation and concept development to product launch.

Choosing such development services allows you to be as hands-off or hands-on as you prefer. However, hiring a fully managed web development team is the most costly option. On the upside, since the team has all the experts you need, you can avoid the hassle of screening and hiring multiple pros for your project.

Benefits

The number one benefit of hiring a fully managed team is the freedom to focus on more crucial aspects of running your business while the team takes care of development. Other benefits include:

  • Convenience

  • Expertise and quality assurance

  • Scalability

Who this method fits

A startup, individual, or small to large business can hire a fully managed team to manage their PHP web development. The option is perfect as long as you want experts to handle your entire web development process.

Frequently asked questions about hiring PHP developers

Get guidance on the most important issues when hiring PHP developers.

Where can I hire PHP developers?

Where you hire PHP developers depends on what you are looking for:

  • Fully managed PHP development team - DevSquad is the way to go

  • In-house full-time PHP development team -  YouTeam, Hired, and G2i are great choices

  • Vetted freelance PHP developers - Toptal and Codementor will provide you a solid list of candidates for your project

  • Unvetted freelance PHP developers - Upwork and Freelancer will give you an exhaustive list of candidates for you to choose from

What skills should PHP developers have?

In addition to the ability to write beautiful and fast code with PHP, a PHP developer's skill set should cover a range of technical and soft skills. Those include:

  • Knowledge in other programming languages

  • PHP design patterns and best practices

  • Familiarity with PHP developer tools like Composer, PHPUnit, and PSR

  • Solid problem solving

  • Great oral and written communication

  • Adaptability

  • SQL/NoSQL database knowledge

  • Third-party API integration

  • Fundamental knowledge of the request/response model of web browsers

  • Strong curiosity about building good software

How should I vet PHP developers?

First off, we strongly recommend that you or someone from your team have first-hand knowledge in PHP if you are going to vet PHP developers. If this is not the case then you should utilize a fully managed development team like DevSquad for your projects. Or use a freelance platform such as Toptal that vet the developers for you.

Good vetting methodologies are imperative for selecting the right PHP developers. Before you begin, make sure you have clearly defined the project or position requirements.  These requirements should include:

  • Frameworks you intend to use

  • Other programming languages

  • The list of tools you use

  • Experience level of the target developer

  • Summary of technical skills needed

  • Any specific expertise you might require

With your defined requirements, begin reviewing candidates portfolios and past projects. Start by finding projects that are similar to what you are trying to accomplish. Then compare and rank those projects by examining:

  • Quality of the work

  • Attention to detail

  • The UX experience of the application

The review of the portfolios and past projects should generate a shortlist of candidates. The next step is to evaluate their technical proficiency. Here you will want to conduct skill tests to see how they tackle problems. Those tests should include a coding test. Be sure to tailor the skills test towards the project requirements.

After the skills test, you’ll want to evaluate the remaining candidates' communication and collaboration skills through a technical interview. The goal is to see how well they can concisely articulate technical concepts and understand other people's technical descriptions.

Finally, check their references and/or client feedback.

How should I manage PHP developers?

Organization is paramount for successful management of PHP developers. Using a product roadmap is strongly recommended. A product roadmap allows you to establish big picture planning, delegate tasks, and keep everyone on track.

For the different tasks of the roadmap, break the work down to modular chunks and create an outline for your team to follow. Define the I/O between the various functions, methods, and code segments in the outline. In essence, you want to create a series of black boxes that your PHP developers will then fill.

Be sure to adopt version control as soon as you can, and make sure you know how to create, use, and merge branches.

Good management also requires you to learn your team members strengths and weaknesses. Understanding their strengths will allow you to delegate future tasks and be confident in meeting important milestones. Identifying their weaknesses will give you the opportunity to help them grow.

Lastly, make sure to listen and respect what your PHP developers have to say. It does not matter if they are right or wrong. Knowing that their ideas and opinions will be listened to and respected (regardless of whether they are implemented) boosts morale and strengthens the team.

What are some mistakes to avoid when hiring PHP developers?

One of the biggest mistakes to avoid when hiring PHP developers is rushing the process. Hiring the right developers takes time. If there is an urgency hire a development agency like DevSquad to meet it as hiring the wrong developers will ultimately cost you more in the end.

Other mistakes to avoid include:

  • Not reviewing and verifying portfolios - Just because they gave you something doesn’t mean it's good

  • Not testing technical knowledge - Because someone says they can do it doesn’t mean they can

  • Not considering culture fit - Product development is a team effort and as they say there is no “I” in team

  • Not evaluating communication skills - Effective communication is critical to convey ideas, collaborate on projects, and successfully work with the other branches of the business

  • Not defining your requirements - Having clearly defined requirements is the foundation for finding the right PHP developers

Contact us today to get started with your PHP web development project.

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