Windows Server AppFabric vs Zend PHP Engine comparison

Microsoft and Zend are both solutions in the Application Infrastructure category. Microsoft is ranked #17 with an average rating of 8.5, while Zend is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.0. Microsoft holds a 0.5% mindshare in AIS, compared to Zend’s 1.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Zend users who would recommend it.

Windows Server AppFabric

Read 4 Windows Server AppFabric reviews

176 Views
95 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Zend PHP Engine

Read 11 Zend PHP Engine reviews

503 Views
210 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Windows Server AppFabric

Zend PHP Engine

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 5, 2025

Zend PHP Engine and Windows Server AppFabric compete in the field of software development and integration. Windows Server AppFabric seems to have the upper hand due to its superior features and integration capabilities.

Features: Zend PHP Engine offers PHP acceleration, code protection, and a fully-featured PHP stack optimized for performance and scalability. Windows Server AppFabric provides advanced caching, session state management, and comprehensive application hosting support, making it particularly beneficial for Microsoft technologies.

Room for Improvement: Zend PHP Engine could enhance its integration with non-PHP languages, offer better documentation, and improve scalability for enterprise-level applications. Windows Server AppFabric can improve by supporting cross-platform deployment, enhancing flexibility for non-Microsoft tech, and offering more competitive pricing models.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Zend PHP Engine is straightforward to deploy on various platforms with a strong support system. Windows Server AppFabric's deployment is optimized for Microsoft environments, offering seamless integration and extensive Microsoft support, making it preferable for those heavily invested in Microsoft technologies.

Pricing and ROI: Zend PHP Engine presents a more affordable setup cost with a straightforward pricing model and strong potential for ROI in web development environments. Windows Server AppFabric, while potentially higher in initial costs, provides a greater ROI in environments utilizing the Microsoft stack due to its comprehensive feature set and integration capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed Windows Server AppFabric vs. Zend PHP Engine Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Windows Server AppFabric vs. Zend PHP Engine

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Windows Server AppFabric

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

17th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Zend PHP Engine

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

15th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Application Infrastructure category, the mindshare of Windows Server AppFabric is 0.5%, down from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Zend PHP Engine is 1.6%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Infrastructure

Featured Reviews

VIJAY RAGAVAN

Team Manager at Waters Corporation

Ensure seamless deployment and networking with a focus on critical uptime

The most important issue I've found is the blue screen errors, particularly when customers use external displays with a P-type cable. I have advised against using external displays for crucial applications and recommended using VGA or laptop adapter screens to mitigate this issue. However, the blue screen error remains a major concern because it causes data loss during reboots.

Read full review

SatyendraGupta

External Consultant (Digital Tool Developer and Intervention Specialist) at IQVIA

The fact that it is available open-source is the best feature

The fact that it is available open-source is the best feature. A general scripting language should be further developed and should be embedded into it. I have been Zend PHP Engine for nine years. Multiple people are using the solution. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.…

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The product's deployment phase was very easy."

"The ability to seamlessly deploy, image, and patch without causing downtime is extremely helpful and user-friendly."

"The most valuable feature is AppFabric's hosting solution, which is what we need for running workflows."

"It is very usable and easy to understand. Antivirus and VPN are the main features being used now. It allows my clients to access the network from home, which was very crucial because of the pandemic."

"The solution's initial setup process is easy."

"Offers a complete environment to develop PHP applications. It is valuable because it allows you to have a complete stack (PHP, MySQL, Zend Server) enabling the building of a development environment, and to deploy to the production system."

"The fact that it is available open-source is the best feature."

"Faster web app implementation, when PHP dev is required by customers."

"Zend Engine gives the flexibility to use external modules to easily expand the functionalities you need for your web project."

"Zend PHP Engine is a good tool for developing and collecting data, offering strong performance."

"We have not encountered issues with scalability as long as we effectively use caching to optimize performance of our web applications as well as a proper use of database connectivity."

"Zend Engine is the core of PHP. It makes PHP fast, efficient, and basically, the language of choice for web applications."

More Zend PHP Engine pros

Cons

"Its price and licensing policy can be improved. It could be a little cheaper. Licensing is sometimes confusing. There are so many different options. It is difficult to find out what to buy or what to choose for my necessity."

"The most important issue I've found is the blue screen errors, particularly when customers use external displays with a P-type cable."

"The product is unable to connect with different cloud services."

"Microsoft will stop supporting the product next year, and we can't run unsupported programs in our systems."

"Zend PHP Engine needs to improve the loading time of its libraries and make it faster."

"The biggest problem with PHP is you have to write lot of conditions or have to use a framework."

"Integrating AI tools would make PHP more competitive, as other tools already have AI features."

"The solution can be quicker."

"SQL queries have always been an issue with PHP, especially if you use large tables, which require caution from the side of the developer."

"Integration of MVC with ORM tools for PHP is okay, but lacking a short list of decent ORM tools for PHP to choose from; there is ample room for improvement in both areas."

"Its object oriented programming language needs improvement."

"Although it offers a complete environment to develop and deploy PHP applications, it has some limitations. For example, when the volume of data increased exponentially, I had problems scaling the system."

More Zend PHP Engine cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is expensive, and its licensing is a bit confusing."

"The product is affordable, in my opinion."

"No problem with pricing and licensing, as tools are open source. You have to consider training cost, mindset setup cost, as part of the TCO."

"Its pricing depends on the number of users."

"Zend PHP Engine is not an expensive solution."

"The Zend PHP engine is open source technology, so there's no need for us to worry about licensing or other costs."

"The solution is open source and you just pay for the server cost."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

13%

University

10%

Government

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Windows Server AppFabric?

The product's deployment phase was very easy.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Windows Server AppFabric?

The product is affordable, in my opinion.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Windows Server AppFabric?

See all answers

What do you like most about Zend PHP Engine?

The fact that it is available open-source is the best feature.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zend PHP Engine?

PHP is an open-source solution.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Zend PHP Engine?

Integrating AI tools would make PHP more competitive, as other tools already have AI features.

See all answers

Comparisons

No data available

Apache Web Server vs Zend PHP Engine

Compared 100% of the time

More Zend PHP Engine Competitors

Product Reports

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Application Infrastructure

March 2025

Download Windows Server AppFabric product report

Buyer's Guide

Application Infrastructure

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Also Known As

No data available

PHP Engine

Overview

Windows Server AppFabric extends Windows Server to provide enhanced hosting, management, and caching capabilities for Web applications and middle-tier services. The AppFabric hosting features add service management extensions to Internet Information Services (IIS), Windows Process Activation Service (WAS), and the .NET Framework 4. This includes Hosting Services and Hosting Administration tools that make it easier to deploy, configure, and manage Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) based services. The AppFabric caching features add a distributed, in-memory object cache to Windows Server that makes it easier to scale out high-performance .NET applications, especially ASP.NET applications.

Microsoft

The Zend PHP Engine is designed to optimize PHP code and improve performance, making it a popular choice for web developers. It is easy to use, stable, does not require a lot of code, is open source, and only requires payment for server costs. The initial setup is straightforward, and there is no real need to set up the solution because it's built into the deployment.

Zend

Sample Customers

OSIsoft

Cisco

Buyer's Guide

Windows Server AppFabric vs. Zend PHP Engine

March 2025

Free Report: Windows Server AppFabric vs. Zend PHP Engine

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