If you are thinking about developing apps, then I’m sure you are familiar with the popular Laravel PHP framework. Designed by Taylor Otwell, the PHP framework uses the full potential of PHP language and facilitates the quick development of apps.
Laravel is, therefore, an ideal framework for using unique features, such as Blade Tempting, Query Builder, among others.
Table of Contents
What is Laravel?
Initially released in June 2011, Laravel is a free, open-source PHP framework that uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern to develop web apps. The framework includes in-built features that make app creation easier and faster, making it popular among web developers.
Some of Laravel’s notable features include a modular packaging system with:
- A dedicated dependency manager.
- Utilities for app deployment and maintenance.
Laravel’s source code is hosted on GitHub and is accredited under MIT license terms.
What is the Model-View-Controller (MVC) Architectural Pattern?
MVC or Model-View-Controller is a popular software design pattern used for creating user interfaces that partition the correlated program logic into three interrelated components. This separates internal representations of the info from how it is accessible to and accepted by the user.
- Model – this represents JAVA POJO or object conveying the information, and can also include lucidity to update controller if its data changes.
- View – this represents the visualization of the model data.
- Controller – it acts on model and view, and controls the data flow into the model element and updates the view when data changes. It also separates the model and view.
What Do You Need to Host Laravel?
Shared hosting is not mostly recommended for hosting Laravel, as not all plans in this category offer the necessary control and suitable setting for hosting this framework. You need a compatible hosting plan to host Laravel so you can set up web apps easily.
So, what are the requirements?
- The host must support PHP 7.0 +.
- A hosting plan with Softaculous auto-installer in the cPanel.
- SSH feature access for easy compilation of assets and installers.
- Fast and secure hosting services.
Alternatively, you can deploy the Laravel server easily and instantly using Laravel Forge.
What is Laravel Forge?
Laravel Forge is a server management service that enables you to install apps such as PHP, SSL, Nginx, MySQL, and more, on your favorite cloud service. While it comes with a 5-days trial, it is not a free service. The server management service’s low-priced plan costs $12 per month.
Laravel Features
Laravel modules offer all the critical features for web apps, including user login and database abstraction, and Laravel Cashier module (for payment processing). Laravel manages its packages using Composer, which is easy to create (for developers), and to add a simplified set of features.
That feature comes in handy for software development teams creating several apps in a linked industry. Laravel security features include:
- Password reset and reminders.
- Encryption.
- Secure routes.
- Password storage.
- Verification of users.
- HTTP basic confirmation.
- Authentication drivers.
- Manual user logins.
- Configuration.
5 Best Hosting for Laravel
- A2 Hosting – Easy to run, scalable cloud VPS.
- InMotion – Offers easy one-click Laravel installation.
- HostGator – Includes free SSL and domain for the first year.
- LiquidWeb – offers high-performance VPS plans.
- WebHostFace – offers regular Laravel updates and customer support.
Hosting Plan Choosing Criteria
The review included hundreds of hosting providers with good services, but we narrowed our list down by focusing on issues such as:
- Scalability – ability to upgrade as the needs of a client increase, plus website growth.
- Speed – the higher the speed, the better your site’s conversions.
- Developer friendliness – availability of resources, features, and control of web development projects.
- Performance – the effective your on-page performance, the better the engagement, and high revenue.
- Server configuration – how much database can the hosting servers handle?
Are you an up-and-coming PHP developer or a veteran? These hosting companies will offer almost everything you need to host Laravel.
Reviews of Best Hosting for Laravel
A2 Hosting
Launched in 2001, A2 Hosting offers a scalable product line, including VPS, managed WP, and Dedicated hosting solutions. The provider has the upper hand in offering an affordable app development method.
A2 Hosting has a reputation for offering speedy web hosting services, in addition to high-performance servers and SSDs (solid-state drives).
A2 Hosting Shared Hosting for Laravel
To ensure a reasonably priced Laravel hosting, A2 Hosting shared hosting plans offer access to all necessary tools. They offer several PHP versions, such as PHP 4.x, 5.x, and 7.x, giving you the flexibility to utilize your preferred Laravel version compatibly.
Other offerings include SSH access, a feature that makes it beginner-friendly, as well as fast hosting services through free CDN. A2 Hosting shared plans facilitate easy deployment via cPanel, starting at $3.92/m, and comes with unlimited SSD storage and data transfer. It also includes a free SSL certificate.
Laravel UK
A2 Hosting offers the best Laravel hosting for UK clients via its Europe data center location, with four data centers in Asia, Michigan, Amsterdam, and Arizona.
VPS Hosting for Laravel
A2 Hosting provides three separate management levels for Laravel hosting, giving you the freedom to choose your preference per your needs. It provides unmanaged VPS plans costs $5/m. Quite cheap, right? However, it does not comprise cPanel but offers complete root access to the server.
A2 Hosting pricing offers anytime refund policy (30-days) and includes robust 24/7 live chat, tickets, and phone support.
InMotion Hosting
Another 2001 founded host provider, InMotion offers perfectly-packed hosting services that gives confidence to clients on their projects. Its hosting services include shared, WordPress, VPS, and Dedicated servers hosting.
InMotion is reputable for offering fast hosting services, backed by SSD.
InMotion Shared Hosting for Laravel
Its shared hosting offers three different packages, with InMotion’s basic plan allowing two domain hosting. Other features include unlimited data transfer and storage, one-click installation cPanel for Laravel, SSH access, and multiple PHP versions.
InMotion shared hosting plans include free SSD storage.
InMotion Datacenters
The company has data centers in multiple locations to facilitate speedy services, where you can choose your preferred location, based on your target clients. You can pick between the US West Coast or East Coast datacenter regions.
VPS Hosting for Laravel
InMotion VPS packages are an appealing option, available in two separate management levels – managed and self-managed. The self-managed VPS plan gives all hosting services to the owner, giving you the freedom to get server root access. You can also install your Linux OS.
The managed plan VPS plan lets you focus on writing codes, and includes cPanel, server root access, and scheduled snapshot. It is backed by excellent client support and email hosting.
InMotion offers a 90-days refund policy, and support via 24/7 live chat, Skype, ticketing, and phone.
HostGator
Launched in October 2002, HostGator ranks as our cheap Laravel hosting provider, a perfect option for building a small personal or business sites. The provider is among the largest EIG (Endurance International Group)-managed hosting firm.
HostGator Shared Hosting for Laravel
Its shared hosting plans come equipped with instant app installer for Laravel and cPanel, plus other basic requirements. The package supports programming languages, such as several PHP versions, Python, and Perl. It also offers SSH access to make it beginner-friendly.
Pricing starts at $2.75/m and comes with unmetered bandwidth and storage, 99.9% uptime, a free domain for annual billing option, and a free SSL certificate.
HostGator Cloud Hosting for Laravel
The plan includes cPanel for easy and quick Laravel installation, with its basic Hatchling package starting at $4.95/m. It comes with a free SSL certificate, Dual-Core CPU, and 2GB RAM.
HostGator VPS Hosting for Laravel
While this plan does not include cPanel, it comes with server root access and lets you install your favorite software.
HostGator offers a 45-day refund policy for its annual packages, and quality support via Knowledge Base, tickets, 24/7 live chat, and phone.
LiquidWeb
Launched in 1997, LiquidWeb has a reputation for offering excellent web hosting services and manages more than one million large sites like Audi. The provider boasts (which is true) top-quality servers with reliable uptime and excellent speeds.
Other than performance, LiquidWeb values your security by employing multiple security measures, firewalls, and Server Secure Advanced Security. Each LiquidWeb’s servers include DDoS protection and local backups.
LiquidWeb VPS Hosting for Laravel
LiquidWeb Laravel hosting is only under its VPS plans and starts at $29/m. The managed package comes with features such as 2vCPU, 2GB RAM, 2TB bandwidth, and 40GB SSD.
The managed VPS package offers 100GB free backup space, but there are steep discounts that cut the price of a Laravel server by almost half at times. They also come with local backups, dedicated IP addresses, and Cloudflare CDN.
When you choose a VPS plan, you can then select the control panel, such as cPanel Pro, Interworx, and Plesk web pro. My recommendation is cPanel, as it is a robust and intuitive control panel that comes with hosting features and a one-click installer. Users also get free SSH access.
In terms of scalability, LiquidWeb got you covered with up to 10TB bandwidth and 16GB RAM. They also offer quality support via phone, 24/7 live chat, knowledgebase, and email.
WebHostFace
Founded in 2013, WebHostFace is a relatively new player in the web hosting industry that focuses on offering reliable web hosting and support. The provider offers hosting services such as shared, VPS, and Dedicated Servers.
WebHostFace has its data centers in regions like Singapore, Kansas City (Missouri), Chicago (Illinois), and Nuremberg (Germany). WebHostFace Laravel hosting is user-friendly for both veterans and beginners.
WebHostFace Laravel Hosting
WebHostFace Laravel hosting starts at $2.94/m, and comes with an automatic one-click app installation for Laravel, with no extra set-up. The provider offers regular automatic updates for the up-to-date Laravel versions to ensure your site’s security and stability.
WebHostFace Shared Hosting for Laravel
The platform provides ultra-fast performance using its cutting-edge tech cachers and accelerators. Its shared hosting includes three plans that come with unmetered bandwidth, free SSL certificates, and Cloudflare CDN.
WebHostFace VPS Hosting for Laravel
WebHostFace VPS plans are fully managed and come with frame-work specific features, like one-click installation for Laravel. Others include cPanel, multiple PHP versions, and 99.9% uptime.
WebHostFace offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its pricing plans. The guarantee, however, does not include costs for domain names, admin and custom services, and set-up. Their support includes phone and LiveChat.
NOTE: Free domain names that come with WebHostFace’s shared hosting plan are deducted from your refund.
Who is Laravel Hosting for?
Other than being popular among SMBs and personal developers, Laravel is also a useful tool for companies such as the BBC, 9GAG, Pfizer, Invoice Ninja, and more.
Laravel installation
There are several ways to install Laravel, including via Laravel installer, composer create-project, and download. Since Laravel manages its dependencies through Composer, you must begin by downloading a copy of composer.phar. If you are using Windows, you can use the Composer Windows installer. Installing Laravel through:
- Laravel Installer
- Download the Laravel installer via Composer.
composer global require “laravel/installer=~1.1”
- Place the ~/.composer/vendor/bin directory in your path to make the executable Laravel in your command line.
- When installed, the simple command (laravel new) will create a new Laravel installation in the specified directory.
- Composer Create Project
Issue your command this Composer create-project command.
composer create-project laravel/laravel {directory} 4.2 –prefer-dist
- Download
- Install Composer.
- Download Laravel 4.2 framework version. Extract the contents into your server’s directory.
- Run this command php composer.phar install or composer install to install the entire framework’s dependencies. Note: Git must be installed on the server.
To update the Laravel framework, issue this command php composer.phar update.
FAQ
What Makes Laravel the Best PHP Framework for Web Development?
Several factors, including authorization, responsive interface, perceptive tutorials, security, MVC, objected-oriented libraries, artisan, database migration, and more.
Wrap-Up
Laravel PHP framework is based on MVC architecture design, which makes it easy to understand. It includes a straightforward and decent routing, and it offers enhanced, slicker, and unfussy products compared to any other PHP framework.
My name is Nate Reiner and I am the editor here at 10Webtools. I have 8 years of experience using 50+ different web tools ranging from podcast, web hosting, email marketing, and much more. I previously managed a team offering support services to a large conglomerate that utilized tens of software solutions. I now run this blog full-time and when I am not reviewing or testing software, I enjoy riding bikes and supporting my clients achieve internet success. You can reach me directly at [email protected]