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Best PHP IDEs in 2026

PHP development can involve editing alongside refactoring, testing, debugging, and database work. Compared on PHP refactoring, unit testing tools, and Xdebug debugging, these IDEs also show database tools, Docker support, and remote development.

  1. 01 IntelliJ IDEA

    IntelliJ IDEA suits developers working in Java or Kotlin who want an IDE with debugging, build-tool, and version-control integrations.

    From $8.33/mo Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    9.3 Visit Specs
  2. 02 Geany

    Geany suits developers who want a free desktop IDE across Linux, macOS, or Windows.

    Free plan Open source Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.7 Visit Specs
  3. 03 ICEcoder

    ICEcoder suits developers who want a browser-based editing environment with built-in terminal, database, and Git tools.

    Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.7 Visit Specs
  4. 04 PaizaCloud Cloud IDE

    It suits beginners, teachers, instructors, schools, bootcamps and others who want to code without setting up an environment locally.

    From $9.80/mo Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.6 Visit Specs
  5. 05 Apache NetBeans

    It suits developers working with Java, PHP, or other languages who want code editing, refactoring, and debugging tools across desktop operating systems.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.3 Visit Specs
  6. 06 Kate

    Kate suits people who want a free text editor across Linux, macOS or Windows, including programmers who need language-aware editing, search tools and plugins.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.3 Visit Specs
  7. 07 Zed

    Zed suits developers seeking a code editor with Git operations, extension support, and remote development.

    From $10/mo Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.3 Visit Specs
  8. 08 Nova
    From $4.08/mo Free trial macOS
    8.2 Visit Specs
  9. 09 Visual Studio Code

    It suits developers who want an editor with built-in coding tools, broad language support, and optional AI agent workflows.

    Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.2 Visit Specs
  10. 10 Bluefish

    Bluefish suits programmers and web developers who want a free desktop editor across Linux, macOS or Windows.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.1 Visit Specs
  11. 11 CodeLite

    CodeLite suits developers seeking a free IDE for its listed languages across Linux, macOS, or Windows.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.0 Visit Specs
  12. 12 Eclipse PHP Development Tools

    PDT suits PHP developers who want PHP editing, debugging, testing, and remote-project tools within Eclipse.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.0 Visit Specs
  13. 13 NuSphere PhpED

    It suits PHP developers needing editing, debugging, profiling, deployment, database, and framework tools across desktop operating systems.

    Free trial Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.0 Visit Specs
  14. 14 Scriptcase

    Scriptcase is aimed at development teams building database-backed web applications.

    From $33.27/mo Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.0 Visit Specs
  15. 15 SlickEdit
    From $125/mo Free trial Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.9 Visit Specs
  16. 16 OpenIDE

    OpenIDE may suit developers seeking an IDE for the listed languages and operating systems, including teams using Git.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.8 Visit Specs
  17. 17 phpDesigner

    It suits beginners and professional developers building websites or HTML5 apps on supported Windows versions, including projects using remote files.

    Free trial Windows
    7.8 Visit Specs
  18. 18 PHP Expert Editor
    Free trial Windows
    7.6 Visit Specs
  19. 19 PhpStorm
    Free trial Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.5 Visit Specs
  20. 20 Rapid PHP Editor
    Windows
    7.1 Visit Specs
  21. 21 WeBuilder
    Windows
    7.0 Visit Specs
  22. 22 PHP Studio
    Web · Self-hosted
    6.8 Visit Specs
  23. 23 UEStudio
    From $10/mo Windows
    6.1 Visit Specs
How this list is ordered. Specifiction scores each tool on how fully its maker documents it, whether its prices are published, where the research puts it, the platforms it runs on and whether it can be tried for free (how we rank). Makers can also buy a numbered place (how Specifiction is paid for).

Supported platforms help you assess fit with your setup, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing give cost context. PaizaCloud Cloud IDE, Zed, and Visual Studio Code are among the entries to consider. Think about which parts of your development workflow you want the IDE to support, then compare the listed capabilities and platform details against your project needs.

Compare IntelliJ IDEA and Geany Get a place on this list

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