CakePHP
CakePHP is an open-source PHP MVC framework, released in 2005, that enables rapid web application development for developers, startups, and enterprise teams. It is governed by the nonprofit Cake Software Foundation, Inc., with commercial development, consultancy, and training services offered through CakeDC.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLas Vegas, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CakePHP does
CakePHP is an open-source PHP Model-View-Controller web development framework first released in 2005 and governed by the Cake Software Foundation, Inc., a U.S. nonprofit. The framework is built on PHP 8.2+, uses Composer for dependency management, and ships with an integrated ORM (DataMapper pattern supporting MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite), caching, authentication, validation, and localization. Notable technical components include code generation/scaffolding (Bake), built-in security tooling (CSRF, form tampering, SQL injection, XSS protections audited under the Mozilla Secure Open Source program by NCC Group in 2017), and PSR-15/16/18/3-compliant standalone packages (HTTP, Cache, Log, I18n, Event, Validation, Form, Utility, Chronos). The most recent release is CakePHP 5.3 "Chiffon" (January 2026), which introduced SelectQuery::projectAs() DTO projections, RateLimitMiddleware, and Redis Cluster support.
The framework is distributed under the MIT license at no cost through Composer/Packagist and GitHub, targeting PHP developers, startups, and enterprise teams building web applications, APIs, e-commerce platforms, and content management systems. The primary commercial entity, CakeDC, was established by CakePHP founder Larry Masters and provides paid development, consultancy, training, and code review services as the framework's principal monetization stream; pricing is negotiated and not publicly disclosed. Community engagement is anchored in forums (Discourse, Slack, Discord, Stack Overflow), the Bakery blog, multi-language documentation (English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, French), the CakeFest annual conference, and local meetups. The supporting organization has no disclosed headcount, revenue, or funding rounds.
CakePHP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CakePHP
- Legal name
- Cake Software Foundation, Inc.
- Website
- https://cakephp.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CakePHP is an open-source PHP MVC framework, released in 2005, that enables rapid web application development for developers, startups, and enterprise teams. It is governed by the nonprofit Cake Software Foundation, Inc., with commercial development, consultancy, and training services offered through CakeDC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CakePHP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Web Application Framework
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Platform Engineering & Internal Developer Platforms (IDP) (BPAEAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Application Security & DevSecOps Services (BPAKAHAJ)
Keywords
Where CakePHP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Las Vegas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
CakePHP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Open Source Framework (Free): CakePHP framework is distributed free of charge under the MIT license, allowing unlimited commercial use without licensing fees.
- Commercial Support & Services (CakeDC): CakeDC, the commercial entity behind CakePHP founded by creator Larry Masters, provides paid development services, consultancy, training, and code review. This is the primary commercial revenue stream supporting the framework's development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Open Source Framework - Free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
CakePHP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CakePHP is an open-source PHP MVC web application framework, distributed free under the MIT license, that enables developers to build web applications rapidly using convention over configuration. It includes built-in ORM, caching, authentication, validation, internationalization, and security middleware (CSRF, SQL injection, form tampering, XSS protection). The framework is complemented by official plugins, a set of standalone PSR-compliant packages, and paid development, consultancy, training, and code review services offered commercially through CakeDC.
Product overview
CakePHP is an open-source PHP MVC framework for rapid web application development. The core product is the CakePHP Framework itself, supplemented by official plugins including the Authentication Plugin for handling user authentication and the Authorization Plugin for access control. The framework is distributed under the MIT license. CakeDC, the commercial entity founded by CakePHP creator Larry Masters, offers paid development, consultancy, and training services. The framework also publishes standalone packages including ORM, Database, HTTP, Cache, Log, Collection, I18n, Event, Validation, Form, and Utility libraries that can be used independently of the full framework.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CakeDC: The commercial entity behind the CakePHP framework established by Larry Masters, offering CakePHP development, consultancy, training and code review services.
- CakeFest
- CakeUniversity
- CakeTalent
Products and services
- CakePHP Framework An open-source PHP MVC web application framework distributed free under the MIT license, featuring convention over configuration, built-in ORM, caching, authentication, validation, internationalization, and security middleware. Designed for PHP developers and teams building web applications, APIs, e-commerce platforms, social networks, and content management systems ranging from prototypes to enterprise systems.
- CakePHP Authentication Plugin Official CakePHP plugin providing middleware and components for handling user authentication in CakePHP applications. Distributed as a separate installable package for developers building access-controlled web applications.
- CakePHP Authorization Plugin Official CakePHP plugin for user authorization and access control policies, integrated as middleware. Distributed as a separate installable package for developers requiring policy-based authorization in CakePHP applications.
- CakeDC Paid Development, Consultancy, Training, and Code Review Services Commercial services offered by CakeDC, the commercial entity behind CakePHP founded by Larry Masters. Provides paid CakePHP development, consultancy, training, and code review services to enterprise customers, startups, social networks, e-commerce, and large-scale applications. This is the primary commercial revenue stream supporting the framework's development.
Quantifiable outcome
- Eliminates need for complex XML or YAML configuration files - just set up database and start building
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CakePHP
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CakePHP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
CakePHP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CakeDCcoreCakeDC is the commercial entity behind the CakePHP framework, established by Larry Masters (founder of CakePHP). It provides the highest quality CakePHP development available - from startups and social networks to e-commerce and enterprise level applications. CakeDC is committed to supporting the CakePHP framework and community through development services, consultancy, training, and code review.
- LinodeminorLinode is the largest independent open cloud provider serving over 800,000 customers worldwide with 10 global data centers. They sponsor the CakePHP project as part of their commitment to supporting the developer community.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CakePHP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CodeIgniter: Lightweight PHP MVC framework with a small footprint and minimal configuration philosophy — a direct philosophical peer to CakePHP's convention-over-configuration and batteries-included approach.
- Laravel: The dominant PHP MVC web framework. Directly competes with CakePHP for PHP developer mindshare, offering a richer ecosystem, more extensive documentation, and stronger enterprise traction.
- Yii Framework: High-performance PHP framework targeting web application development. Competes with CakePHP for the same PHP developer base building data-driven applications.
- Phalcon: PHP framework implemented as a C extension for high performance. Targets PHP developers building performance-sensitive web applications — directly comparable to CakePHP's full-stack framework positioning.
- Slim Framework: PHP micro-framework for building APIs and web applications. Shares CakePHP's PHP-centric developer audience but focuses on lightweight, minimal-footprint application development.
- Symfony: Established PHP framework with reusable components (HttpFoundation, Console, Mailer). Competes with CakePHP in the enterprise PHP segment and shares several PSR-compliance standards.
- Laminas (Zend Framework): Enterprise-focused PHP framework formerly known as Zend Framework. Competes with CakePHP and CakeDC for enterprise PHP application development and modernization projects.
Emerging players
- Ruby on Rails: Influential MVC web framework whose convention-over-configuration philosophy directly inspired CakePHP's design. Comparable as the category-defining peer for the rapid application development approach CakePHP embodies.
- Django: Python-based MVC web framework with a similar batteries-included philosophy and convention-over-configuration approach. Comparable as a cross-language peer for the same developer needs CakePHP addresses.
Broad incumbents
- CakeDC: Commercial services arm of CakePHP providing development, training, and code review. Comparable as a consultancy focused on CakePHP, but in the broader services peer set for PHP framework expertise providers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CakePHP social profiles
Digital presenceCakePHP compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CakePHP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CakePHP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CakePHP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CakePHP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CakePHP
What does CakePHP do?
CakePHP is an open-source PHP MVC web application framework, distributed free under the MIT license, that enables developers to build web applications rapidly using convention over configuration. It includes built-in ORM, caching, authentication, validation, internationalization, and security middleware (CSRF, SQL injection, form tampering, XSS protection). The framework is complemented by official plugins, a set of standalone PSR-compliant packages, and paid development, consultancy, training, and code review services offered commercially through CakeDC.
Is CakePHP a public or private company?
CakePHP is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CakePHP founded?
CakePHP was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CakePHP based?
CakePHP is headquartered in Las Vegas, United States, in the North America region.
How does CakePHP make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Open Source Framework (Free) is the primary driver. The others are commercial Support & Services (CakeDC).
Who are CakePHP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CodeIgniter, Laravel, Yii Framework, Phalcon, Slim Framework, Symfony and Laminas (Zend Framework). Emerging players are Ruby on Rails and Django. CakeDC is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does CakePHP have an API?
Yes. CakePHP provides a public API documentation portal at api.cakephp.org containing class and method references for the framework. The documentation is freely accessible without authentication. Developer documentation is at api.cakephp.org.
What industry is CakePHP in?
CakePHP's product category is Web Application Framework. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAKAC, Platform Engineering & Internal Developer Platforms (IDP), with a secondary code of BPAKAHAJ, Application Security & DevSecOps Services. Its SIC code is 7372.