CodeIgniter to Laravel Migration Services
Still running CodeIgniter? I move CI applications to Laravel and Vue one module at a time, with both running side by side on the same database, so your business keeps working the entire way through.
Your CodeIgniter app still works. That's what makes it risky.
CodeIgniter was the framework you reached for when you wanted to ship fast, and a lot of businesses did. Those apps are still running checkouts, portals, and back offices. They work, so nobody touches them, and the ground keeps shifting underneath.
None of these are emergencies on their own. Together, they're a slow-moving one.
- Framework support. CodeIgniter 3 is no longer maintained, and CI4 is a different framework in everything but name: moving 3 to 4 is a rewrite, not an upgrade.
- PHP version lock. CI2 and older CI3 apps often can't move past PHP 7.4 without significant work, which leaves you on runtimes that no longer receive security patches.
- Everything is bolted on. Auth (Ion Auth, Tank Auth), queues, mail, testing: none of it came with the framework, so every app has its own hand-built version.
- Hiring. Few developers in the US want to work in CodeIgniter. When the one person who understands the codebase leaves, you're stuck.
- Fear of change. No tests, no migrations, no staging. Every deploy feels dangerous, so improvements stop happening.
A stack you can hire for, host anywhere, and build on for the next decade.
Hireable
Laravel is the most widely used PHP framework, with a large US hiring pool and an active package ecosystem.
Batteries included
First-class queues, scheduling, auth, billing (Cashier/Stripe), and testing out of the box, instead of the bolt-ons every CodeIgniter app grew on its own.
Modern interface, one codebase
Vue 3 with Inertia.js gives you a modern, fast interface without maintaining a separate API project, or a clean API + SPA if that's what you need.
Deploys you can trust
Deploys through Forge or your existing AWS setup with zero-downtime releases.
No big-bang rewrite. No cutover weekend.
The biggest risk in any migration is the rewrite that takes a year and launches all at once. I avoid that entirely using the strangler pattern:
- 01
Laravel goes in front
A new Laravel application is deployed alongside your CodeIgniter app, sharing the same database and domain.
- 02
Shared sessions and auth
Users log in once. Existing password hashes are preserved, so nobody is forced to reset their password.
- 03
Route by route
Requests for migrated sections go to Laravel. Everything else still goes to the CodeIgniter code, untouched.
- 04
Module by module
Each module (orders, users, reporting, admin) is rebuilt, tested against the original behavior, and switched over on its own.
- 05
The old app retires quietly
When the last route moves, the CodeIgniter code is removed. There's no launch day because the launch already happened in pieces.
You get working improvements in weeks, not a year from now, and you can pause or reprioritize at any point.
Everything, mapped to its Laravel equivalent.
| CodeIgniter | Laravel |
|---|---|
| Models with Query Builder | Eloquent models, relationships, casts |
| index.php/controller/method URLs | Explicit routes + redirects for the old shapes |
| $this->load->model() / libraries | Dependency injection via the service container |
| form_validation library | Form Requests |
| Ion Auth / Tank Auth / custom auth | Laravel auth with legacy hash compatibility |
| Hooks and MY_Controller | Middleware and base controllers |
| Helpers | Helper functions or service classes |
| PHP views + jQuery | Vue 3 components or Blade |
| CI migrations / raw SQL changes | Laravel migrations (existing schema preserved) |
| CLI controllers on cron | Artisan commands + scheduler + queues |
| CI4 Entities, Filters, Services | Eloquent, middleware, container bindings |
Data stays where it is. The schema is migrated in place and improved gradually, not dumped and reloaded.
From first call to retired CodeIgniter app.
-
01
Migration Fit Call
We talk through your app, your team, and your constraints. You leave with a realistic ballpark range and an honest read on whether migrating now makes sense.
-
02
Migration Assessment
I audit the codebase: framework and PHP versions, dependencies, custom modules, security exposure, and data model. You receive a module-by-module migration map, a phased roadmap, and a fixed-price quote. The full fee is credited toward the migration if you proceed within 60 days.
-
03
Phased Migration
Laravel is deployed alongside the existing app, then modules move over in priority order. You see progress in production every few weeks.
-
04
Support & Handoff
Documentation, tests, and a clean handoff to your team, or an ongoing support and hosting retainer if you would rather not manage it.
What does a CodeIgniter to Laravel migration cost?
It depends mainly on four things.
As a rough guide, the Fit Call gives you a ballpark range for your specific app. The assessment turns that range into a fixed quote.
- Size of the codebase Number of modules, controllers, and custom screens.
- How much structure exists Framework conventions make a codebase faster to map than hand-rolled pages.
- Integrations Payments, CRMs, ERPs, third-party APIs.
- Test coverage and documentation Less of both means more discovery.
Who you'll work with
I'm Kelly Brintle, a principal architect and full-stack developer based in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. I run CraftWeb as a senior, hands-on consultancy: when you hire me, I'm the one reading your code, designing the migration, and writing the Laravel.
I specialize in legacy PHP migrations and full platform rebuilds on Laravel, Vue, and AWS, including payments, CRM, and communications integrations with Stripe, HubSpot, and Twilio. The same approach works for Yii, CodeIgniter, CakePHP, and custom PHP.
CodeIgniter migration questions, answered
Can we migrate in phases instead of all at once?
Yes, and I recommend it. Laravel runs alongside CodeIgniter, sharing the database and domain, and takes over one module at a time. There is no single high-risk launch.
Will our users have to reset their passwords?
No. Ion Auth and Tank Auth hashes (bcrypt, sha1, or md5 depending on the version and config) are verified in Laravel and upgraded transparently the next time each user logs in. Custom auth is handled the same way.
What happens to our data?
It stays in your existing database. Both applications read and write the same tables during the migration, and schema changes are additive until CodeIgniter is gone.
Should we upgrade to CodeIgniter 4 instead?
If you want to stay on CodeIgniter, CI4 is a real, maintained framework. But the 3 to 4 move is effectively a rewrite, so the effort is similar, and afterwards you are still hiring from a smaller pool. I'll give you an honest comparison on the call.
We use HMVC (Modular Extensions). Does that matter?
It helps. HMVC modules map naturally onto migration phases, because each module already has a boundary.
Can our in-house developers work alongside you?
Yes. I set up the architecture and patterns, and your developers take on modules as they get comfortable with Laravel.
How long does a migration take?
It depends on scope. Small applications can move in a couple of months; larger platforms run longer. Because work ships in phases, you see results in production well before the end.
Do you work with companies outside North Carolina?
Yes. I work with clients across the US, remotely.
Find out what your migration would actually take.
A 30-minute call. You'll leave with a ballpark range, the main risks in your codebase, and a clear next step, whether or not we work together.