Laravel vs Django: Detailed Pros & Cons, Security, Routing, and more

If you’ve done any research as a new developer, two names probably stand out within popular web development frameworks, Laravel vs Django.

The former is a PHP Framework and the later is Python based. Both are elegant languages, and both offer easy to learn frameworks. So which should you start with?

Let’s break it all down in our Laravel vs Django review.

Laravel vs Django Framework Overview

Laravel vs Django is a battle of the most powerful. Both offer potent solutions for big projects on the web. These aren’t just your personal websites. Instead, you can use these for building enterprise solutions or B2B projects.

Here are the most significant differences.

Programming Language

Laravel uses model-view-controller (MVC) and object-relational styles of programming. The model is information or data. View is how the program presents the user with information, and the controller is the list of options the user has for manipulating that information. Object-relational systems create relationship oriented bands of data.

Django uses the model-view-template approach. It follows MVC pretty closely, but it takes care of organizing information options within the framework itself through templates. Essentially, the data is “stateless” meaning that when changes happen, you forget previous information and start over. It’s cleaner but not quite as intuitive.

Winner: Depends. Laravel for intuitive, creative building, and Django for precise builds across multiple platforms.

PHP vs Python

Laravel is a PHP framework. PHP is a beloved web application language. Over 80% of web pages use this language, giving it an extensive database of uses with vast documentation. If you’re primarily a web developer, learning PHP will cover the vast majority of your projects.

PHP does have a learning curve. Laravel’s templates and libraries do help beginner developers whip up smaller scale projects in relatively little time (including quick prototyping), but for enterprise solutions, you’ll spend longer learning your way around. Once you do, you’ve got a powerful and dynamic solution with easy maintenance, but getting there takes work.

Django uses Python. Python isn’t specifically for web applications, but it makes up for that lack by having integration with mobile apps (including iOS and Android). It’s not as intuitive to work in, but it’s much simpler regarding lines of code.

Python is a beloved language. It’s one of the easiest to learn, and readability is better. If you need a quick win, the nearly instant gratification of Python is a better solution.

Winner: Django

Security

Here’s a big Laravel vs Django difference. PHP frameworks are notoriously vulnerable. You can overcome these potential breaches, but again, the learning curve is steep. If you’re building applications that won’t be huge targets, PHP is a dynamic build with some time built in for you to bolster security as you go.

Python is secure. Really secure. NASA uses Python. Enough said.

Winner: Django

Routing

Building a client-rich application is a lot smoother with Laravel. Users can build an elegant REST API in a matter of hours, launching quickly and with little startup cost. It’s the framework for artisans, allowing beautiful rendering of information for businesses and enterprises that want to showcase, not just tell, information and services.

Django has no built-in API, so you’re going to have to work around it individually. It’s very possible to create elegant and secure solutions, but your routing is going to be much harder than it is in Laravel.

As far as Laravel vs Django templating goes, that’s a tie. Laravel uses Blade while Django uses its own template system. Both offer rich potential for applications and give developers excellent options.

Winner: Laravel

The Good And The Bad – Pros & Cons

Laravel vs Django is primarily a question of PHP versus Python. It depends on how comfortable you are within each framework. Django is the most common language across the top 10,000, but if you expand to the top 100,000, Laravel takes over as most common.

Laravel

We recommend Laravel for developers who need elegant, artisan builds with minimal security risks. It’s scalable and suitable for showcasing information for B2B and enterprise builds.

Pros:

• Powerful template system through Blade
• Routing is simple and intuitive
• IOC support and built-in CI
• Maintenance is easier with changing web trends
• Dynamic and intuitive language

Cons:

• Beginners can have serious security holes
• The learning curve is steeper compared to Python
• Web application oriented with little mobile support

Django

We recommend Django for those already familiar with Python and who need more precise builds for security reasons.

Pros:

• Almost no learning curve compared to other languages
• Precise language is better at patching security issues
• Offers mobile integration
• Some of the best documentation around
• Mature software with plenty of plugins

Cons:

• Can be bloated for small applications (unlike Laravel which is suitable for both)
• Routing is difficult
• Errors in templates fail silently (no error message to alert you)

Final Thoughts

It’s hard to declare an outright Laravel vs Django winner because it depends on your background knowledge and goals for your application. Consider what sort of projects you’ll be creating in the future and choose accordingly.