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# CodeIgniter vs Laravel Comparison - What are their main differences?

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CodeIgniterLaravel[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**CodeIgniter** [

4.4/5(58)

](https://www.g2.com/products/codeigniter/reviews#reviews)

**Laravel** [

4.7/5(159)

](https://www.g2.com/products/laravel/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**CodeIgniter**
No pricing available

**Laravel**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**CodeIgniter**
2 months

Based on 8 responses

**Laravel**
2 months

Based on 25 responses

Return on Investment

**CodeIgniter**
Not enough reviews yet

**Laravel**
10 months

Based on 20 responses

Perceived Cost

**CodeIgniter**
$$$$$

**Laravel**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**CodeIgniter**
Not enough reviews yet

**Laravel**
15%

Pros & Cons

**CodeIgniter**
Not enough data

**Laravel**
Not enough data

Integrations

**CodeIgniter**
Not enough data

**Laravel**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_764bdd3b0bc81b470d93f18d12c826d2/amazon-web-services-aws-amazon-dynamodb.png "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon DynamoDB

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-web-services-aws-amazon-dynamodb/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_027d9cd6e62f6ad87e5082f5d204392f/cloudpanel.png "Product Avatar Image")

CloudPanel

](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudpanel/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_521403d6a48eb17eca3614f7ae90d517/google-gemini.png "Product Avatar Image")

Gemini

](https://www.g2.com/products/google-gemini/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_2cbe8c25d49763e01a3f3db6bf003e92/google-maps-platform.png "Product Avatar Image")

Google Maps Platform

](https://www.g2.com/products/google-maps-platform/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/laravel/integrations)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**CodeIgniter**

8.4

8.445

**Laravel**

9.3

9.3122

Ease of Use

**CodeIgniter**

9.6

9.646

**Laravel**

8.9

8.9122

Ease of Setup

**CodeIgniter**

9.2

9.223

**Laravel**

8.8

8.864

Ease of Admin

**CodeIgniter**

8.3

8.321

**Laravel**

8.8

8.847

Quality of Support

**CodeIgniter**

8.3

8.340

**Laravel**

8.6

8.6108

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**CodeIgniter**

7.8

7.817

**Laravel**

8.9

8.941

Product Direction (% positive)

**CodeIgniter**

7.1

7.144

**Laravel**

9.5

9.5120

Features

Database DevOps Software[Hide 6 FeaturesShow 6 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

9.7

21

Functionality

Automation

Not enough data

9.3(won by default)

15

Change validation

Not enough data

9.6(won by default)

16

Version control

Not enough data

9.0(won by default)

15

Management

Visibility

Not enough data

9.4(won by default)

16

Rollbacks

Not enough data

9.2(won by default)

15

Post-deployment validation

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

14

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![CodeIgniter](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_61bcc8ef23c7ae782110c3bb77645be7/codeigniter.png "CodeIgniter")](https://www.g2.com/products/codeigniter/reviews)

CodeIgniter

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

69.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

24.5%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

5.7%

[![Laravel](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0864c27fe20b07ec3ed3d780e010ea02/laravel.jpg "Laravel")](https://www.g2.com/products/laravel/reviews)

Laravel

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

71.9%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

21.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

6.8%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

69.8%

71.9%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

24.5%

21.2%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

5.7%

6.8%

Reviewers' Industry

[![CodeIgniter](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_61bcc8ef23c7ae782110c3bb77645be7/codeigniter.png "CodeIgniter")](https://www.g2.com/products/codeigniter/reviews)
CodeIgniter

Computer Software

37.7%

Information Technology and Services

20.8%

Internet

9.4%

Management Consulting

3.8%

Accounting

1.9%

Other

26.4%

[![Laravel](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0864c27fe20b07ec3ed3d780e010ea02/laravel.jpg "Laravel")](https://www.g2.com/products/laravel/reviews)
Laravel

Information Technology and Services

27.6%

Computer Software

24.8%

Internet

9.0%

Program Development

6.2%

Marketing and Advertising

4.1%

Other

28.3%

FAQs

## CodeIgniter vs Laravel FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between CodeIgniter vs Laravel?

Laravel stands out from CodeIgniter with a higher G2 rating, more robust built-in features, and a stronger reviewer-cited strength in rapid, secure application development.

| [CodeIgniter](https://www.g2.com/products/codeigniter/reviews) | [Laravel](https://www.g2.com/products/laravel/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.4/5 (58 reviews) | 4.7/5 (159 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| 9.2 | 8.8 |
| 8.3 | 8.6 |
| Lightweight, quick setup, and ease of use for rapid development | Comprehensive built-in features, security, and rapid, scalable application development |

### How do the pricing models of CodeIgniter and Laravel compare?

Laravel is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its cost and feature set compared to CodeIgniter.

- **CodeIgniter:** Reviewers highlight its free and open-source nature, making it a cost-effective choice for small to medium-sized projects.
- **Laravel:** Reviewers consistently praise Laravel for offering extensive features at no cost, emphasizing its strong value for both small and large projects.

### What are the best alternatives to CodeIgniter and Laravel?

Angular, CakePHP, and Laravel are the top alternatives to CodeIgniter.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [CodeIgniter](https://www.g2.com/products/codeigniter/reviews) | 4.4/5 (58 reviews) | Small-Business | Lightweight, quick setup, and ease of use for rapid development |
| [Laravel](https://www.g2.com/products/laravel/reviews) | 4.7/5 (159 reviews) | Small-Business | Comprehensive built-in features, security, and rapid, scalable application development |
| [Angular](https://www.g2.com/products/angular/reviews) | 4.5/5 (168 reviews) | Mid-Market | Robust framework for building dynamic web applications |
| [CakePHP](https://www.g2.com/products/cakephp/reviews) | 3.9/5 (43 reviews) | Small-Business | Rapid development and strong MVC architecture |

### Which PHP Web Frameworks features should I prioritize when comparing CodeIgniter and Laravel?

Buyers comparing CodeIgniter and Laravel should prioritize ease of setup, quality of support, built-in features, security, and scalability.

- **Ease of Setup:** CodeIgniter scores 9.2, Laravel scores 8.8.
- **Quality of Support:** CodeIgniter scores 8.3, Laravel scores 8.6.
- **Built-in Features:** Laravel is consistently cited for its comprehensive built-in features, while CodeIgniter is noted for requiring more third-party libraries for advanced tasks.
- **Security:** Both frameworks are praised for security, but Laravel receives more frequent mentions for robust built-in security features.
- **Scalability:** Laravel is highlighted for supporting both small and large-scale applications, while CodeIgniter is often recommended for small to medium-sized projects.

### What are the pros and cons of CodeIgniter vs Laravel?

CodeIgniter's headline strength is its lightweight, rapid setup, while Laravel's is its comprehensive feature set and scalability.

- **CodeIgniter strengths:** Lightweight and fast, easy to set up, ideal for rapid development, strong documentation, and active community support.
- **CodeIgniter trade-offs:** Limited built-in features compared to modern frameworks, lacks built-in ORM, less modular, and not as suitable for large or complex projects.
- **Laravel strengths:** Comprehensive built-in features (authentication, validation, ORM), strong security, scalable for both small and large projects, organized project structure, and robust community support.
- **Laravel trade-offs:** Can feel heavy for small projects, steeper learning curve for beginners, performance requires attention in large applications, and version upgrades may require extra work.

### Is CodeIgniter or Laravel better for small businesses?

CodeIgniter is the better fit for small businesses, as both products' largest reviewer segment is Small-Business, but CodeIgniter is frequently praised for its simplicity and rapid setup for smaller projects.

- **CodeIgniter:** Small-Business segment; reviewers highlight its ease of use, quick setup, and suitability for small to medium-sized applications.
- **Laravel:** Small-Business segment; reviewers note its strong feature set but mention it can be more complex and heavier for small projects.

### Which PHP Web Frameworks platform has better integrations?

Laravel is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing its ability to connect with third-party platforms like Shopify.

- **CodeIgniter:** No recent reviewer-cited integrations mentioned.
- **Laravel:** Shopify integration is mentioned in recent reviews.

### How do CodeIgniter and Laravel compare on customer support?

Laravel and CodeIgniter are rated in close parity on Quality of Support, with Laravel scoring 8.6 and CodeIgniter 8.3, a difference below the materiality threshold.

- **CodeIgniter:** Reviewers describe support as strong, with helpful documentation and community resources.
- **Laravel:** Reviewers highlight excellent documentation, a large community, and responsive support experiences.

### Which is easier to implement, CodeIgniter or Laravel?

CodeIgniter is rated higher for Ease of Setup, scoring 9.2 versus Laravel's 8.8, a difference above the materiality threshold.

- **CodeIgniter:** Reviewers consistently praise its quick and straightforward setup, making it easy to start new projects rapidly.
- **Laravel:** Reviewers note that while setup is generally easy, the framework's structure and number of files can be confusing for beginners, and initial setup may take longer for those new to the platform.

Alternatives

**CodeIgniter Alternatives**

 ![Angular](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_98d4e0320aa8550aeeda473f45903fd3/angular.jpg "Angular")

[
Angular
](/products/angular/reviews)

 ![CakePHP](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_5ff34fc2be2039f864f1f70e417a1478/cakephp.png "CakePHP")

[
CakePHP
](/products/cakephp/reviews)

 ![Slim Framework](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_92f8ebe926388e656cd6b8ffd2c94a1a/slim-framework.jpg "Slim Framework")

[
Slim Framework
](/products/slim-framework/reviews)

 ![Symfony](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1545319789/symfony.svg "Symfony")

[
Symfony
](/products/symfony/reviews)

**Laravel Alternatives**

 ![Angular](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_98d4e0320aa8550aeeda473f45903fd3/angular.jpg "Angular")

[
Angular
](/products/angular/reviews)

 ![Laminas Project (formerly Zend Framework)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/0c6764d27de4c2d6be59d56773ee5d15/laminas-project-formerly-zend-framework.svg "Laminas Project (formerly Zend Framework)")

[
Laminas Project (formerly...
](/products/laminas-project-formerly-zend-framework/reviews)

 ![Symfony](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1545319789/symfony.svg "Symfony")

[
Symfony
](/products/symfony/reviews)

 ![Slim Framework](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_92f8ebe926388e656cd6b8ffd2c94a1a/slim-framework.jpg "Slim Framework")

[
Slim Framework
](/products/slim-framework/reviews)

## CodeIgniter vs Laravel

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found CodeIgniter easier to use and set up. However, Laravel is easier to administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with Laravel overall.

- Reviewers felt that Laravel meets the needs of their business better than CodeIgniter.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Laravel is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Laravel over CodeIgniter.