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Apache vs PHP

Based on 506 and 1203 real audits

View Apache details | View PHP details
MetricApachePHPWinner
Performance5148Apache
Accessibility8688PHP
Best Practices8888Tie
SEO9091PHP
Security6667PHP
TTFB589ms468msPHP
Composite7375PHP
Performance
Apache
51
PHP
48
Accessibility
Apache
86
PHP
88
Security
Apache
66
PHP
67
SEO
Apache
90
PHP
91
Composite
Apache
73
PHP
75

PHP outperforms Apache in 5 of 7 categories, with a stronger composite score (75 vs 73). Apache leads in performance.

When to choose Apache

Choose Apache when your primary concern is performance. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

When to choose PHP

Choose PHP when your primary concern is server response time and accessibility. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

How this comparison was built

Scores are medians across 506 audited Apache sites and 1203 audited PHP sites in the BeaverCheck database. Every audit runs the same 100+ checks — Lighthouse performance, security headers, accessibility, SEO, server response time — against a real URL. No vendor input, no sponsorship, no affiliate links. Read the full methodology →

FAQ

Which is faster, Apache or PHP?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, Apache sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (51 vs 48 on average).
Which has better security, Apache or PHP?
PHP sites score higher on security analysis (67 vs 66 on average).
Which has better accessibility, Apache or PHP?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor PHP (88 vs 86). Both technologies can be made fully accessible with care — the difference reflects common patterns in the sampled sites, not inherent platform limits.
Which is better for SEO, Apache or PHP?
PHP sites score higher on Lighthouse SEO signals (91 vs 90 on average), which cover meta tags, crawlability, mobile friendliness, and structured data. Content strategy and backlinks still matter more than platform choice for ranking.
Which has faster server response (TTFB), Apache or PHP?
PHP sites show lower Time to First Byte (468 ms vs 589 ms on average). TTFB depends heavily on hosting and CDN setup rather than the technology itself, but the sampled sites suggest a meaningful difference in common deployment patterns.
Should I choose Apache or PHP for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. Apache scores higher on overall composite score while Apache may excel in metrics you care about most. Run a free BeaverCheck audit on a real site using each to compare the metrics relevant to your use case.
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