Dev.to
7/1/2026

The original title is: "CodeIgniter 4 vs Laravel — When to Choose Which (From a Dev Who Uses Both)"
Original: CodeIgniter 4 vs Laravel — When to Choose Which (From a Dev Who Uses Both)
Short summary
Experienced PHP developer with 12+ years compares Laravel and CodeIgniter 4 through practical code examples, showing neither is universally better—Laravel excels for complex, evolving systems with multiple integrations; CodeIgniter suits simple, bounded-scope projects with tight hosting budgets. Decision framework provided based on project scope, team size, and infrastructure constraints.
- •Laravel for complex, long-term products with multiple integrations and larger teams
- •CodeIgniter for simple modules, tight budgets, and well-defined scope
- •Decision tree: match existing stack, consider growth trajectory, hosting budget, and team size
Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.
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