Summary: Laravel development allows you to create websites, web applications and APIs using the free open source PHP framework. Since being created in 2011 it has become one of the most trusted options for building out the backend of your applications. Start-ups love using Laravel due to the quick time to market for a MVP, whilst established businesses take advantage of the framework for creating customer portals, internal tools and subscriptions.If you’re looking to create a new product or overhaul an existing one, you may be wondering whether Laravel is the right option for you.
What is Laravel and why is it the go-to option for many developers?
Laravel is a PHP framework built using the MVC model – separating your application into three core components; data, views and business logic. By separating these sections your code becomes more readable, easier to test and can be adapted in future.
The framework also comes with lots of features out of the box. Including user authentication, routing, database connections, file storage, email and background tasks. This means you don’t need to build anything from scratch and spend more time developing the unique aspects of your product. It also is very readable, with a simple and clean syntax to make onboarding new team members easier.
Current State of Laravel Development
A framework should be kept up to date to ensure it’s a safe option. Laravel currently has version 13 as its main release, released on the 17th March 2026. Every year they release one main version usually in the first quarter of the year. Minor and patches versions are tagged most weeks. Most new features are added to the minor versions meaning most major updates are small. Laravel-newslaravel-news
When choosing a version to use you may want to consider the support. Major versions receive 18 months of bug fixes and 2 years of security support. There aren’t any long term support versions anymore. Laravel 11 is no longer supported and Laravel 12 is outside of its bug fix window and only receives security updates. For new builds it makes sense to start with Laravel 13. Laravel 14 is expected to have a minimum requirement of PHP 8.4. No release date or features have been announced. Keeping your server up to date with the latest PHP version will make your updates in future easier. laravel-newslaravel-news
Features of Laravel that Speed Up Development
Laravel uses the MVC model to separate your data, interface and logic. This means multiple developers can work on the same application with no issues. Bugs are also easy to track as everything has a clear location. Eloquent ORM allows you to easily read and write to your database using simple models. You can define relationships between tables such as customers and orders within a few lines of code. Database migrations allow you to easily update the database structure between development, testing and live.
Security and authentication are built into the framework, with registration, authentication, password recovery and permissions. This makes it easy to decide what users can view or perform. Routing allows you to setup how your application will respond to each URL. Middlewares can then be added to routes to check permissions, filter traffic or keep logs.
Laravel will keep your application fast. Background tasks can be added using queues to move slow tasks such as emails and invoices to the background. Scheduled tasks can be set up to complete regular tasks such as reports at night. Automated testing can be carried out on routes, database actions and user journeys to give confidence that a new feature hasn’t broken any previous features.
There are lots of packages available to help with development. Livewire and Inertia allow you to create interactive interfaces, whilst Sanctum allows you to add API authentication. Horizon can be used to monitor queues and Forge and Vapor make deployment easier. The ecosystem is also moving towards being AI friendly. Laravel MCP 1.0 was released in September 2026. This allows AI applications to utilise the tools and data from an app using MCP servers. laravel-news
Why Businesses Choose Laravel Development
Quick time to market: As the common components are already in place your application can be delivered quicker. This means you’ll start gaining insights from real users quicker.
More secure: Laravel has built-in protection against common attacks such as SQL injection, cross site request forgery and cross site scripting. It also has secure password hashing. However, no framework will make your application secure. You’ll need to carefully consider input validation, permissions and keeping dependencies updated.
Easy to maintain: With a well organised codebase your developers can easily make changes to one section of your application without affecting the rest. This keeps your costs predictable.
Scalable: Caching, queues and background tasks can be used to make your application handle more traffic. However, your application will need good architecture, optimised queries and correctly configured servers to perform well in the real world.
Large talent pool: There are lots of resources available including documentation, tutorials and packages. It’s easier to hire or replace developers.
Flexibl:. You can create a traditional website, headless API for mobile apps or a full SaaS application.
Real World Use Cases for Laravel Development
Laravel can be used for any product that requires custom logic and user accounts. Common use cases include business websites, customer portals with booking systems and dashboards. It can also be used for e-commerce sites with product catalogues, shopping baskets, order management and payment gateway integrations. It’s also widely used for CRM and internal tools where different data is shown to different users. SaaS applications with subscription payments and team accounts can be created. Laravel can also be used for API backends to connect mobile apps, third party software and automation. Marketplaces and multi vendor sites can also be created where buyers, sellers and admins each have their own tools and permissions.
Laravel Development Services
A good Laravel development service will include much more than just coding. A good company should include discovery, planning requirements, bespoke application and API development, third party integration, upgrading from older versions of PHP or other frameworks, upgrading to the latest version, security checks, performance improvements and ongoing support. Whilst a low cost build may appeal, products that are difficult to maintain will usually cost much more in the long run.
Laravel website development is a good option if you need your site to perform actions such as user accounts, custom logic, dashboards, payments and deep integration. If you just need a blog or a small content site then a CMS such as WordPress could be a quicker and cheaper option. A good rule of thumb is if your website is really an application then use a framework, if it’s mostly pages and posts then use a CMS.
How to Properly Plan Your Laravel Project
Most of the time good outcomes will come from proper planning. Start by deciding what your application is for, who will be using it and what are the essential features. This will ensure you have clear goals and reduce scope creep. List out any integrations you’ll need such as payment gateways, email, analytics and CRM. This will impact your architecture. If you’re dealing with personal or financial data you’ll need tighter permissions and security checks. Applications with lots of business logic will benefit from clear service definitions, clean database queries and automated testing. Ensure you have a budget for ongoing support including fixing bugs, security updates and improvements.
The most common mistakes are easy to avoid. Starting with an old version means you’ll have to pay for upgrades from day one. Not planning means you’ll pay for redevelopment. Assuming Laravel will handle the security for you. Not considering the hosting and performance improvements. Assuming you’ve finished when you launch.
How to Choose a Trusted Laravel Development Company
Choosing the right Laravel development company can make a big difference to the success of your project. Ensure they have examples in their portfolio that are similar in size and complexity. Check they’re familiar with Laravel 13 and modern PHP. Ask about code reviews, automated testing and deployment. They should be clear with their communication about milestones and timelines. Ensure there are clear terms for ongoing support. Be wary of very low quotes. Talking to previous clients will often give you more information. A short paid discovery stage will also give you a low risk insight into how they operate.
Final Thoughts
Laravel development allows businesses to create secure, flexible and easy to maintain web products. With clear yearly updates, mature ecosystem and increasing AI tooling support it remains a relevant option in 2026. However, having clear requirements, good architecture, careful security considerations and a team who will support your product will make a difference. Once these are in place you’ll get the best out of Laravel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. Laravel development can be used to create bespoke websites, web applications, e-commerce stores, SaaS products, CRM systems and APIs. It’s a great option for projects that need custom features, user management and scalability.
Ans. Yes! The current major version is 13 which was released on the 17th March 2026. The framework is regularly updated with new tooling. It also has a large community making it easier to get support and hire.
Ans. Laravel offers lots of pre-built tools such as routing, user authentiction, database management and testing. This means less repeating code can be written. With pure PHP you have more direct control but will have to create a lot of the features yourself. For most business applications Laravel will save you time and keep your code consistent.
Ans. Depending on the design, integrations, testing and team size projects can vary. Simple websites can take a few weeks, whilst complex platforms can take several months. Rates vary depending on the region and experience so request a detailed quote based on your specific requirements.
Ans. WordPress is a good option for blogs, brochure sites and content pages. Laravel is a good option if you need custom logic, user accounts, complex logic or app style features. If you’re unsure have a short discovery with an experienced team.
