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PHP vs WordPress Multisite

Based on 1030 and 39 real audits

View PHP details | View WordPress Multisite details
MetricPHPWordPress MultisiteWinner
Performance4639PHP
Accessibility8988PHP
Best Practices8883PHP
SEO9188PHP
Security6564PHP
TTFB421ms419msWordPress Multisite
Composite7473PHP
Performance
PHP
46
WordPress Multisite
39
Accessibility
PHP
89
WordPress Multisite
88
Security
PHP
65
WordPress Multisite
64
SEO
PHP
91
WordPress Multisite
88
Composite
PHP
74
WordPress Multisite
73

PHP outperforms WordPress Multisite in 6 of 7 categories, with a stronger composite score (74 vs 73). WordPress Multisite leads in TTFB.

When to choose PHP

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

When to choose WordPress Multisite

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

How this comparison was built

Scores are medians across 1030 audited PHP sites and 39 audited WordPress Multisite 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, PHP or WordPress Multisite?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, PHP sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (46 vs 39 on average).
Which has better security, PHP or WordPress Multisite?
PHP sites score higher on security analysis (65 vs 64 on average).
Which has better accessibility, PHP or WordPress Multisite?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor PHP (89 vs 88). 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, PHP or WordPress Multisite?
PHP sites score higher on Lighthouse SEO signals (91 vs 88 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), PHP or WordPress Multisite?
WordPress Multisite sites show lower Time to First Byte (419 ms vs 421 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 PHP or WordPress Multisite for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. PHP scores higher on overall composite score while PHP 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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