What they work on
What a dedicated PHP developer
takes off your plate.
Most teams hire PHP developers for one or more of these. A dedicated PHP developer works only on your code, so the context they build up stays with your product.
How hiring works
How to hire a PHP developer
through us, in four steps.
No sign-up, no long form. The first step is a conversation about the work, and nothing starts until you have agreed the scope and said go.
A 20-minute call
Your stack, the work, the hours overlap you need and your budget range. Rates are discussed here, openly.
A developer who fits
A developer matched to your stack and your kind of work, and a clear explanation of why they fit.
Scope & start, in writing
The work, the hours and the start date agreed with you in writing. Nothing starts without your go-ahead.
Working in your tools
Your repository, your tracker, your chat. Code is reviewed before release and a written update arrives every week.
Three ways to hire
Hiring a PHP developer three ways,
compared honestly.
Each route suits a different situation. This is where a dedicated PHP developer through us fits, and where it doesn't.
| Freelance marketplace | In-house hire | Dedicated developer through us | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who reviews the code | Usually nobody; you review it yourself. | Your senior developers, if you have them. | A lead engineer, before release. |
| How releases happen | Often straight to the live site. | Your own process. | Tested on a staging copy first. |
| Day-to-day management | All on you. | All on you. | You set priorities; code quality is handled for you. |
| Knowledge if they leave | Often leaves with them. | Depends on your documentation. | Written notes and a handover document. |
| Employment overhead | None. | Salary, benefits, equipment and recruiting. | None. One invoice. |
| Best for | Small, well-defined one-off tasks. | A core product with a long roadmap and budget for a team. | Ongoing PHP work without building a team. |
CodeIgniter
Hire CodeIgniter developers
for the app nobody wants to touch.
A lot of business software still runs on CodeIgniter: CRMs, portals, booking and billing systems built years ago. The original developer has usually moved on, and the app still has to work on Monday. When you hire CodeIgniter developers through us, this is the work they know.
Stack
The PHP stack
our developers work in.
The same stack we build and maintain ourselves, so the lead engineer reviewing the work knows it first-hand.
Before you hire
What to check before you hire
any PHP developer.
Whether you hire PHP developers through us, a marketplace or directly, these six checks catch most bad hires before they cost you anything.
Offshore, honestly
Hiring PHP developers in India:
the real trade-offs.
We're based in Chennai, India. Cost is the reason most people look offshore; it shouldn't be the only thing you check.
Hire, or something else?
When hiring a developer
is the wrong answer.
Who you're dealing with
Who reviews
your developer's code.
A dedicated developer is only as good as the person checking their work.
Naveen Kumar
Founder & lead engineer · Based in Chennai, India, working with clients across the US, UK, Europe and Australia
I have written, reviewed and deployed PHP for years: WordPress and WooCommerce builds, CodeIgniter applications, custom CRMs, and the servers they run on. Developers placed through PixelGravitas work under my technical lead, so their code is reviewed by someone who knows the stack, not just a project manager. More about me →
Questions, answered
Hiring PHP developers:
common questions.
How much does it cost to hire a PHP developer?
It depends on seniority, the hours you need and how long you need the developer. We share rates on the first call, once we know what the work is, rather than publishing a figure that may not match your situation.
Can I hire a dedicated PHP developer?
Yes. A dedicated PHP developer works only on your code, as part of your team, in your tools. The hours and duration are agreed on the first call.
How is the developer chosen?
From the first call. We match a developer to your stack and the kind of work you described, explain why they fit, and agree the scope, hours and start date with you in writing before anything begins.
Who manages the developer day to day?
You set priorities and review progress in your own tracker. A lead engineer reviews code before release and looks after quality, so you are not the only line of defence.
Can I hire CodeIgniter developers, not just Laravel?
Yes. CodeIgniter 3 and 4 maintenance, feature work and upgrades are a core part of the work, including older applications whose original developer has gone.
What time zone do your PHP developers work in?
India Standard Time. The working-hours overlap you need with the US, UK, Europe or Australia is agreed on the first call, and day-to-day work is coordinated in writing.
Why hire PHP developers in India?
Cost is usually lower than hiring locally. The trade-offs are time zones and communication, which is why written updates, code review and staging-first releases matter more than the rate.
Will the developer work in our tools?
Yes. Your repository, your issue tracker and your chat. You control access and can remove it at any time.
Can I hire a PHP developer for a single project?
If you have a defined project rather than an ongoing role, we scope it on the first call and tell you honestly whether a dedicated developer or a single quoted piece of work fits better.
What happens when we stop?
You get a written handover: what was built or changed, where everything is, and what is still pending, so the next developer can pick it up.
Do you also maintain PHP applications after they are built?
Yes. Updates, security, backups and small fixes can move onto a maintenance plan once active development slows down.