PHP VS ASP.NET: Picking the Right Tech Stack for Your Next Project

Dinesh Thakur

03 Jul 2023

PHP and ASP.NET are the two prominent back-end technologies. And, differentiating between the two in order to choose the right one for your next project is quite an arduous task. On one side, there is PHP, one of the most popular programming languages for web development with a thriving community of PHP developers. On the other side, we have ASP.NET, a robust Microsoft platform and a C# based framework with endless opportunities for web development. But, which one should you choose for your upcoming project?

Let’s drill down!

Before we discuss the key differences between the two, let’s first understand both technologies in brief.

A Brief About PHP and ASP.NET

PHP

PHP is a popular server-side and most-liked scripting language for creating dynamic web applications or websites. PHP can be embedded into HTML code and executed with a command line interface or can be used in combination of other web frameworks. Thanks to its advanced features, PHP can also be used for programming tasks other than web context, like graphical applications. 

• Below are some of the top features of PHP:
• Server-side scripting language embedded with HTML.
• Highly scalable.
• Huge community of dedicated PHP developers.
• Comes with numerous open-source libraries, tools and extensions.
• PHP supports database systems, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, etc.
• PHP is compatible with major operating systems, like Linus, macOS, Windows, etc.

ASP.NET

ASP.NET is a server-side web application framework developed by Microsoft to create dynamic web pages. The best thing is, Microsoft keeps on rolling out new features and updates to assist developers in building a scalable web application that delivers high performance. One can use multiple languages, like C#, Visual Basic.Net, JavaScript, etc. to write ASP.NET applications. 

• Some of the features of ASP.NET are:
• ASP.NET Core and Kestrel web service contribute to high performance of ASP.NET.
• Cross-platform or compatible with all operating systems.
• ASP.NET applications can be deployed on a variety of servers.
• Provides built-in support for AJAX, which allows developers to create interactive web apps.
• Provides a bunch of APIs and many additional features to further ease the work for developers.

PHP VS ASP.NET: A Brief Comparison

Both technologies have existed in the market for a long time and have been used for creating scalable web applications. But, the question still remains: Which platform to choose for developing web apps for your next project? On one hand, PHP is a free and open-source platform, and on the other hand, ASP.NET is a powerful platform managed by Microsoft.

Further, PHP is a combination of a programming language and web framework, whereas .NET is a cross-platform web app framework. Thus, making a choice between the two technologies corresponds to the project’s ongoing needs, i.e., the project’s requirements or functionalities needed to build a web application.

So, whether you should hire dot net developers or PHP developers, it requires you to go through a detailed comparison between PHP and ASP.NET on different parameters.

A Detailed Comparison Between PHP and ASP.NET

Statistics

According to a survey, among all the websites with a server-side programming language, 78.9% are PHP-powered and 9.7% are powered by ASP.NET. Further, talking of market position also, PHP seems to rule the list.

While ASP.NET seems to lag behind, market position is not the only deciding factor. There are many other factors that need to be considered while selecting a programming language or a web development framework.

Scalability

Measuring from a scalability viewpoint, both PHP and ASP.NET are equal. However, the scalability of an application depends more on the tech complexity, and PHP has fewer learning complexities as compared to ASP.NET. Thus, PHP can be a good choice for startups. 

Remember: Whether you choose PHP or ASP.NET, the focus should be on the skill and experience of the developers. With a dedicated team of developers on your side, you can make your website or application more scalable, no matter the tech stack you choose.

Performance

There is a myth that programming language or framework determines the performance of an application. But, the truth is, the performance of a framework depends on the way coding is done. ASP.NET performs better than PHP though. Reason? ASP.NET allows parallel programming which allows codes to run simultaneously. However, PHP does not support threading.

Security

One big difference between ASP.NET and PHP is the security options they provide. ASP.NET has built-in security features, like SQL injection. In simple words, ASP.NET automates the work, whereas PHP provides you with tools to accomplish a task. Thus, ASP.NET is the right choice when it comes to security.

Community Support

PHP is open-source and boasts a vibrant community of developers who post regularly on forums to assist fellow developers in solving a problem. Further, PHP has a larger support community than ASP.NET as it is free. But, this is not the one and only thing to say about community support. ASP.NET also enjoys a robust community of dedicated developers who offer support and come up with great solutions to challenges faced by their peers during web application development.

Cost

Well, this is the only arena where PHP comes up as a clear winner because it is an open-source development framework. You can easily find thousands of PHP resources to work with for free. On the other hand, ASP.NET comes with a web hosting fee. Given the functionality and array of features .NET offers, the fee should not deter you from using it. Further, if you are already leaning towards ASP.NET for your next web app development project, you can outsource .net development to offshore developers. 

What are the Advantages of ASP.NET Over PHP?

Though the comparisons done above point towards opting for PHP over ASP.NET, there are some good reasons to choose ASP.NET over PHP:

• ASP.NET provides SQL security feature that automatically applies to applications and offers unlimited data storage.
• With ASP.NET, you have the freedom to choose from different languages, like C#, C++, VB.NET, etc.
• It allows code threading, which means multiple codes can run at the same time.
• There are multiple .NET libraries unlike in the case of PHP development.

When to Choose What?

Making the choice between PHP and ASP.NET depends on your project or business requirements. To make it easier for you, below we have listed some facets that suggest which one is suitable for you-

PHP is best to choose for -

• Startups
• POS software
• Beginner-level CRMs, etc.

ASP.NET is fit for-

• ERP applications
• Heavy traffic websites
• Enterprise-level web applications and websites, etc.

Wrapping Up

Undeniably, PHP proves itself as a powerful web development framework with sophisticated features and open-source libraries. But, ASP.NET also offers plenty of benefits in terms of security and functionality. What’s more, Microsoft features a diverse community of .NET pros who can offer assistance at any stage of development. 

Again, the choice between the two technologies becomes easy when you define your project’s technical requirements. Then, consider the benefits each tech has to offer. Thus, it is imperative to assess your needs before you jump to any decision.

Need help with choosing the right technology stack for your project? Talk to our experts! We have a dedicated team of software development pros who will help you pick the right technology for developing a robust and scalable web app that fulfills your specific business requirements.