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Hire PHP Developers for Web Apps That Last

Work with PHP engineers who write modern, tested PHP 8 code and can also keep your older applications stable while you plan what comes next.

Book a free consultationWhat they do

Modern PHP skills, with patience for legacy code

PHP still powers a huge number of business websites, portals and internal tools. Modern PHP 8 brings typed properties, enums, attributes and solid performance, so it remains a practical choice for new projects too. The challenge is finding developers who write clean, standards-compliant code and can also work calmly inside an older application without breaking it.

Our PHP developers support agencies that need extra capacity, product companies running custom PHP platforms, and businesses whose original developer has moved on. Typical work includes new modules, API development, performance fixes, security patching and gradual refactoring toward Composer packages, PSR standards and automated tests. Many of these engagements start small and grow once trust is established.

Before shortlisting, we ask what state your codebase is in and which framework, if any, it uses. That shapes who we recommend. Once onboarded, the developer works in your repository and review process, documents what they change, and flags risks early. Nexzem handles contracts, payroll and replacement, so the arrangement stays simple on your side.

Build a team with PHP Developers

Pick roles and seniority, choose what they will work on, then send the brief. We come back with matching profiles.

PHP Developers, by seniority
  • Junior PHP Developer
    0
  • Mid-level PHP Developer
    1
  • Senior PHP Developer
    1
Round out the team
  • Laravel Developer
    0
  • WordPress Developer
    0
  • Magento Developer
    0
What they will work on

What our PHP Developers can do for you

Experienced PHP developers to build, maintain and modernise web applications, portals and custom business systems.

  1. 01

    Custom web applications

    Business portals, booking systems, dashboards and member areas built in PHP 8 with clean routing, validation, prepared statements and a structure the next developer can follow.

  2. 02

    API development in PHP

    JSON APIs for mobile apps and JavaScript frontends, with token authentication, rate limiting, consistent error responses and documentation your partners can use.

  3. 03

    Legacy PHP maintenance

    Bug fixes, PHP version upgrades, deprecated function replacement and hosting moves for older applications that your business still depends on every day.

  4. 04

    Refactoring to modern standards

    Gradual introduction of Composer, namespaces, PSR-12 style, dependency injection and PHPUnit tests, done in small steps that never freeze feature delivery.

  5. 05

    Security hardening

    Fixing SQL injection, XSS, CSRF and file upload risks, updating libraries with known vulnerabilities and tightening session and password handling across the app.

  6. 06

    Payment and service integrations

    Razorpay, Stripe, PayPal, SMS, email and shipping integrations with webhook verification and logging so every transaction can be traced later.

  7. 07

    White-label agency support

    Extra PHP capacity for digital agencies, working under your brand and processes on client builds, maintenance retainers and urgent fixes.

Why hire PHP Developers through Nexzem

  • Vetted for modern and legacy PHP

    We test candidates on PHP 8 features and on reading unfamiliar older code, because most real projects need both skills.

  • Low-risk start

    A short trial period lets you confirm code quality and reliability on your own tasks before the monthly engagement continues.

  • Predictable working window

    Your PHP developer keeps an agreed overlap with your team, so client calls and urgent fixes are handled the same day.

  • Confidentiality for agencies

    We sign NDAs on request and work white-label, so your end clients never need to know who wrote the code. All IP is yours.

  • Flexible capacity

    Add PHP developers for a busy quarter and step back down later, without recruiting, onboarding paperwork or notice-period delays on your side.

How to vet a PHP developer

PHP experience ranges from modern framework development to maintaining code written many years ago, so test for both depending on your needs. A strong PHP developer writes typed, object-oriented code for PHP 8, uses Composer and PSR standards, writes tests with PHPUnit or Pest and uses static analysis tools such as PHPStan. Ask candidates which recent PHP features they actually use and why.

For legacy work, look for patience and method. Good developers add tests before changing behavior, upgrade PHP versions step by step with tools such as Rector, and fix security issues such as SQL injection and missing output escaping first. Ask how they approached a large legacy codebase and what they changed in the first month. Our PHP development page outlines our modernization approach.

Security knowledge is non-negotiable. Candidates should explain prepared statements, password hashing, CSRF protection, file upload validation and secure session handling without hesitation, since many PHP applications handle payments, personal data or administrative functions. A short code review exercise tests this quickly.

  • Writes modern, typed PHP 8 code.
  • Uses Composer, PSR standards and static analysis.
  • Tests code with PHPUnit or Pest.
  • Has upgraded legacy applications step by step.
  • Applies secure coding practices by default.
  • Comfortable with Laravel, Symfony or plain PHP as needed.

Interview questions we use for PHP developers

Our questions mix modern PHP practices with legacy rescue scenarios, because most PHP work involves both. Candidates review short code samples, spot security and design problems, and explain how they would improve the code safely without disrupting the business that depends on it every day.

Strong candidates prioritize risk: they fix security issues and add tests before refactoring, and they explain upgrade paths realistically. We also look for developers who can explain technical debt to non-technical stakeholders, since legacy work often requires agreeing priorities with business owners.

  • How would you find and fix SQL injection risks in an old codebase?
  • What changed between PHP 7 and PHP 8 that affects upgrades?
  • How would you add tests to code that was never designed for testing?
  • How does Composer autoloading work, and how would you introduce it to a legacy app?
  • How do you store passwords and handle sessions securely?
  • When would you recommend a rewrite instead of gradual refactoring?

In-house vs dedicated PHP developer

Many businesses depend on PHP systems built years ago by developers who have since moved on. An in-house hire can take months to find, and the work often comes in bursts, such as an upgrade, a security fix or a new integration. A dedicated developer can start quickly, stabilize the system and then continue on a lighter maintenance schedule.

For projects moving toward a modern framework, our Laravel developers can rebuild modules gradually alongside the existing code. Agencies can also use dedicated PHP developers under their own brand, working within the agency's processes and client communication. Either way, the developer follows your review, testing and deployment practices.

Hiring PHP Developers: from first call to first commit

Every stage has an owner and an exit, so you always know where your hire stands.

  1. Stage 1

    Assess the codebase

    We ask about PHP version, framework, hosting and code health so we can match the right profile.

  2. Stage 2

    Present candidates

    You receive PHP developer profiles with relevant project examples and a note on legacy or greenfield strengths.

  3. Stage 3

    Interview and select

    Talk to candidates directly, set a practical task if you like, and pick the developer you trust.

  4. Stage 4

    Trial on live work

    The developer joins your repository and delivers real fixes or features during a short trial period.

  5. Stage 5

    Monthly engagement

    Continue month to month, with Nexzem handling replacement, leave cover and administration in the background.

Where PHP Developers make a difference

  • Upgrading a legacy PHP application

    A company running business-critical software on an unsupported PHP version adds a developer who upgrades it step by step to PHP 8, adds tests around key workflows and removes security risks without disrupting daily use.

  • Security hardening after an incident

    After a security scare, a PHP developer audits the application for injection, cross-site scripting and authentication weaknesses, fixes them, updates dependencies and adds monitoring so similar problems are caught early.

  • White-label support for an agency

    A digital agency adds dedicated PHP developers who work under its brand on client projects, following the agency's processes, code standards and communication style, giving the agency capacity without new permanent hires.

  • New integrations for an old system

    A business needs its legacy PHP system to connect with a payment gateway, CRM and shipping provider. A developer builds clean integration modules with logging and error handling without destabilizing the existing code.

Tools our PHP Developers work with

Proven, well-supported tools chosen for your scale, budget and team, never for novelty.

  • PHP
  • Laravel
  • MySQL
  • JavaScript
  • WordPress
  • Redis
  • Docker
  • GitLab CI

Developers who work alongside PHP Developers

All 46 developer roles

More in Backend & CMS

Hiring PHP Developers: FAQs

Something else on your mind? Ask a consultant and get a reply within one business day.

How is the cost of a PHP developer worked out?

It depends on seniority, whether the role involves a framework like Laravel or legacy core PHP, overlap hours and duration. Billing is monthly per developer with a short trial first, and we confirm numbers after a free consultation.

Can your developers work on old PHP 5 or PHP 7 code?

Yes. Many clients come to us with older applications. Our developers can stabilise them, plan an upgrade path to PHP 8 and refactor in stages without taking the site offline.

Do you offer white-label PHP developers for agencies?

Yes. Developers can work under your agency's name, inside your tools and processes, with an NDA covering your client relationships.

Do your PHP developers write tests?

They write PHPUnit or Pest tests for new code and add coverage around risky areas of legacy code before changing it, so regressions are caught early.

What happens if the developer is not a good fit?

You can stop during the trial. If issues appear later, we arrange a replacement and a handover so work continues.

Can a PHP developer work on code without any documentation?

Yes. Experienced PHP developers are used to undocumented systems. They start by mapping the codebase, database and integrations, writing notes as they go, and add tests around critical paths before making changes. The result is documentation your team keeps after the engagement.

Do your PHP developers use frameworks or plain PHP?

Both. For new work, we usually recommend Laravel or Symfony for structure, security and maintainability. For existing plain PHP applications, developers work within the current structure and introduce framework components gradually where they reduce risk.

We work with clients across the USA, UK, Australia, UAE, New Zealand and India.

Where we work

Tell us who you need on your team.

Share the role, stack and start date. We reply within one business day with matching profiles and next steps.

Book a free consultation+91-7302622997