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5 min read
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If you're planning a new website in 2025 and exploring your tech stack options, Laravel may have crossed your radar - especially if you're aiming for long-term flexibility, performance, or future scalability.
But here’s the big question:
Is Laravel overkill if your needs are simple?
Not every site needs custom architecture, headless frontends, or advanced integrations. Sometimes, a fast, clean, brochure-style presence is all you need - and investing in Laravel might seem like using a rocket to light a candle.
Let’s unpack when Laravel is the right choice, when it isn’t, and how agencies like Redberry make it accessible even for lean teams or modest scopes.
Laravel is a full-stack PHP framework that shines in complex builds - from SaaS platforms and eCommerce systems to admin dashboards and internal tools.
Typical Laravel projects include:
In these cases, Laravel helps structure code, enforce security, and scale over time - all while staying developer-friendly.
But does that mean you must have a massive product idea to justify Laravel?
That depends on your definition of "simple."
If you're building a one-off microsite or a five-page brochure for your local café, yes - Laravel is probably overkill. You don’t need a backend framework to serve a few static pages. A CMS or even a static site generator will serve you better.
But “simple” is a moving target. What’s simple today may need:
And that’s where Laravel starts making sense - not for what you need now, but for where you're headed.
At Redberry, we often build Laravel websites that feel as simple as a CMS for editors - even if they’re built on enterprise-grade tech behind the scenes.
Here’s how we bridge the gap between Laravel and small teams:
It’s a beautifully crafted Laravel admin dashboard that requires no effort from your team. Editors can manage pages, content, SEO metadata, and more through an intuitive UI.
Built in-house, our plugin gives clients WordPress-like flexibility - block-based content, live previews, reusable sections - all without needing a developer for every copy change.
Rather than overbuilding, we start with the leanest Laravel setup possible. As your needs grow, you plug in modules: multilingual support, form handlers, search, blogs, dashboards, etc.
So even if you start small, you don’t have to rebuild when things get bigger.
Use this checklist to guide your decision:
Laravel might be overkill if:
Laravel might be perfect if:
We don’t push Laravel on every project. In fact, for ultra-simple campaign sites, we sometimes recommend alternatives (like Statamic or headless CMS with static hosting).
But when Laravel does fit - even for small marketing websites - we make sure it’s:
It’s about future-proofing, not over-engineering.
If your site is truly short-lived and static, Laravel might not be worth it.
But if you plan to grow - more features, more content, more integrations - Laravel is one of the smartest long-term bets you can make.
With the right setup, Laravel can be:
Still unsure?
👉 Book a free discovery call and we’ll help you decide if Laravel is right for your roadmap.
Yes - but not always drastically. Our Laravel builds for marketing sites typically take 3-5 weeks, thanks to our reusable architecture and design systems. CMS builds may be faster, but they usually require trade-offs in performance, flexibility, or control.
With Redberry’s Filament + Page Builder combo, you can manage most content without touching code - including SEO fields, page layouts, and custom blocks. It’s Laravel underneath, but CMS-like on the surface.
Laravel is secure by default - CSRF protection, XSS filters, and more are baked in. It’s often more secure than CMS platforms because you’re not relying on third-party plugins that need constant patching.
Absolutely. That’s one of its biggest strengths. Many startups begin with a Laravel marketing site and expand into dashboards, user portals, or full SaaS products without needing to migrate
We are a 200+ people agency and provide product design, software development, and creative growth marketing services to companies ranging from fresh startups to established enterprises. Our work has earned us 100+ international awards, partnerships with Laravel, Vue, Meta, and Google, and the title of Georgia’s agency of the year in 2019 and 2021.