Information technologyPHP Vs Python

PHP Vs Python: Everything You Need to Know

Ajay Chaudhary August 28, 2023 1 min read

PHP was built specifically for web development and still powers a large share of the web, largely through CMS platforms like WordPress.
Python is a general-purpose language with a larger footprint outside the web, especially in data science, automation, and machine learning.
Both languages are open source, loosely/dynamically typed, and have large, active communities with strong documentation.
Performance differences between the two are usually smaller in practice than framework and architecture choices within either language.
Python's large standard library and readability tend to make it faster to prototype with, while PHP's web-specific tooling can be faster for standard CMS-driven sites.
The decision should be driven by the project type and long-term maintenance needs, not by which language is generally more popular.

Quick Answer

Which is better, PHP or Python?

Neither is universally better, they're strong at different things. PHP is purpose-built for the web, powers a large share of existing CMS platforms like WordPress, and remains fast for typical web workloads, while Python is more general-purpose, reads more cleanly, and dominates in data science, automation, and machine learning alongside solid web frameworks like Django and Flask. The right choice depends on the project: a content-heavy website or CMS integration often favors PHP, while a data-driven application, AI feature, or general-purpose backend often favors Python.

What is PHP & Python?

Features of PHP

Ease of use

Open Source

Loosely Typed Language

Cross-platform Compatibility

Error Reporting and Exceptions

Fast and Efficient Performance

Maintenance

Python

Features of Python

Free and Open Source

Expressive and Interpreted Language

Extensible

Large Standard Library

GUI Support

Dynamic Memory Allocation

Highly Portable

Python is one of the most portable languages in the industry that can be easily used on different machines. You do not need to change the code for different operating systems to achieve the same.

Detailed Comparison Between PHP and Python

Which PHP and Python Features Are Similar?

Both Python and PHP have thorough documentation that can assist you when you are stuck.
Both offer specially designed IDEs that you may download and install to increase your productivity.
Both are cross-platform and you can run them on different operating systems.
Both are cross-platform, you may use several operating systems to operate them.
Python and PHP are high-level programming languages that support dynamic typing.
The code written in PHP and Python is executed line-by-line without any compilation.
Both PHP and Python have a vibrant community that is always ready to answer your questions.

Which is Better: PHP or Python?

Performance

Community Support

Documentation

Library Support

Backend

Security

Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which is faster, PHP or Python?

Q. Can I replace PHP with Python?

Q. Will PHP be useful in the future?

Q. Why do programmers prefer PHP?

enhances simplicity
Accept platform diversity
Supports vast community
Delivers exceptional performance
Works exceptionally well with CMS

Ajay ChaudharyFounder & CEO

Ajay is the Founder & CEO of Apptechies, where he leads the company's product, engineering and client strategy.

Last updated: September 17, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

Raw execution speed differences are usually small and workload-dependent; for typical web requests, both perform well, and the framework and hosting setup usually matter more than the language itself.

Technically yes for most web applications, using frameworks like Django or Flask, but if you're deeply invested in a PHP-based CMS like WordPress, a full rewrite is rarely worth the cost unless there's a specific technical reason.

Yes, PHP continues to power a very large share of existing websites and CMS platforms, and modern PHP (8.x) has closed much of the performance and feature gap with other languages.

It's simple to deploy, has broad hosting support, works exceptionally well with CMS platforms, and has a large, mature community and library ecosystem for web-specific tasks.

We work in both, choosing PHP or Python based on the specific project, existing systems, and whether the work leans toward standard web/CMS development or data-heavy, AI-integrated applications.

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PHP Vs Python: Everything You Need to Know

Key Takeaways

What is PHP & Python?