ASP.NET V/S PHP – Essential Factors to Decide a Better Framework

When it comes to choosing a programming framework for designing and developing a website, ASP.NET and PHP are the two most widely used web languages that you can opt for. While ASP is an extension of dot net manufactured by Microsoft, PHP on the other hand, is a highly popular scripting language. Although, both are equally significant but there are certain factors when one outweighs the other. Below are few differences between the two frameworks:

·         Developing and Designing Cost

PHP is open-source in nature and thus can be downloaded from the Internet at free of cost. PHP offers free modules and plug-ins to download, which is an advantage for programmers as it helps them to carry out PHP development easily without incurring huge development cost. Whereas in case of ASP.NET you will need to purchase Microsoft products like Dreamweaver, visual studio etc. which makes ASP.NET a costlier option when compared to PHP.

·         Performance

Performance is one of the most important factors that ensure success for most web applications. Most of the web applications that are written in PHP use Linux as the operating system (OS), Apache as the web server, and MySQL as the database. The web applications written in the above mentioned manner are said to be extensively optimized that ensures improved performance.

On the other hand, in case of ASP.NET the database used is MS SQL (Microsoft SQL Server), even though you can also use MySQL with it.

What’s more, operating system and the file system used on the web server are considered two important factors for enhancing performance. And some tests show that Linux OS and ext4 file system ensures enhanced I/O performance as opposed to Windows OS and NTFS file system. All this makes PHP a better alternative compared to ASP.NET when it comes to application performance.

  • Language Support
ASP.NET offers multiple language support, be it C++, Visual Basic, cSharp etc. On the contrary, PHP supports C++.

  • Security
ASP.NET scores over PHP when it comes to rendering customer support and carrying out security updates. Even though, PHP does provide customer support services and even ensures security but it is not frequent like ASP.NET.

  • Community Support
PHP consists of rich community support, and boasts vast open source developer community. The community keeps on making contributions regarding the PHP development framework.
ASP.NET, in contrast, is a Microsoft property, although it has its own community which is developing with each passing day, but it is not as rich as the PHP community.

  • Tools and Editors
PHP developers favor using text editors such as Notepad++ and VIM rather than utilizing a full-fledged IDE. But in case you wish to use an IDE, you can opt for free editors like Eclipse in PHP.

ASP.NET, on the other hand, gets support from most of the IDEs but it is extensively used with Microsoft Visual Studio – the most powerful and flexible IDEs. But it’s not free! So, if you are ready to shun out some money then ASP.NET Visual Studio fits your bill.


Aforementioned are few factors that help you in deciding which one is better, but make sure to get familiar with the ASP.NET and PHP, as the final decision depends on your requirements which may vary. If you are looking for a completely free framework then PHP is your best bet, and can do nearly everything that ASP.NET does.