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October 13, 2025

When (and When Not) to Use Laravel Shift to Update Laravel

Yeshua Hall
Yeshua Hall

Migration,

Modernization

Working to update Laravel applications can be a tricky undertaking for any team. From hidden deprecations, to third-party package issues, to lengthy test cycles, many are left looking for a better and minimally disruptive upgrade solution. As manual upgrades are tedious and error-prone, most turn to automated tools such as Laravel Shift to speed up the process. However, while Laravel Shift is an excellent solution for some Laravel update projects, it isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.

In this blog, I break down what Laravel Shift is, where it shines, and when a Laravel Shift alternative makes more sense. I'll also recommend a few options and services available for those working with complex systems or juggling limited developer time, resources, or skill sets.

Table of Contents

  1. Laravel Shift: Overview
  2. When Laravel Shift Is the Best Option to Update Laravel Apps
  3. When to Use a Laravel Shift Alternative
  4. The Top Laravel Shift Alternative
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Laravel Shift: Overview

Before I dive into the best use cases for using Laravel Shift — and outline when a Laravel shift alternative may be required — let’s first make sure to cover Shift basics: what it is, how it can benefit your team, and what limitations to watch for while using this tool to update Laravel applications.

What Is Laravel Shift?

Laravel Shift is an automated service designed to help developers update Laravel applications quickly and with minimal hassle.

Instead of manually combing through files to make framework-related changes, Shift scans your codebase and applies the necessary updates to bring it in line with the new Laravel version. This includes updating configuration files, adjusting namespaces, and even handling common deprecations.

The Benefits of Laravel Shift

The main benefit of Laravel Shift is its ability to save time and reduce human error during the upgrade process. It’s particularly effective for projects that closely follow Laravel’s conventions, as the tool can recognize and update patterns with high accuracy. 

For many teams, Laravel Shift acts as a reliable assistant. It takes care of repetitive upgrade tasks so developers can focus on reviewing changes, testing the application, and fine-tuning any project-specific code.

Laravel Shift Limitations

While Laravel Shift is a powerful tool, it is not the most appropriate option for all Laravel updates.

Laravel Shift is less effective for projects that stray from Laravel’s conventions. Highly customized codebases or older legacy applications may require significant manual fixes after the automated updates, which reduces the time savings Shift is known for.

It also doesn’t handle everything, which means that third-party packages, APIs, and custom modules usually need separate adjustments. This makes thorough testing and manual review essential, with Shift serving best as a starting point rather than a complete upgrade solution.

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When Laravel Shift Is the Best Option to Update Laravel Apps

Laravel Shift's effectiveness depends heavily on your application's architecture and complexity. For many projects, particularly those built squarely within the Laravel ecosystem, it presents an ideal solution. Understanding the scenarios where Shift excels — from standard applications to the process of incremental upgrades — is the first step in formulating a successful Laravel upgrade strategy.

Standard Laravel Applications With Minimal Customization

One of the main reasons for Laravel’s popularity is the one-stop-shop nature of its ecosystem. If you’re using Laravel, chances are that you haven’t had to go outside of its ecosystem to address your needs. There are solutions for database ORMs, sockets, single sign-on, social authentication, payment and subscription systems, API authentication, and much more.

All this to say, you can build most if not all of your application without ever leaving the Laravel space. If this is the case, Laravel Shift is a good option for you to explore.

Small- to Mid-Size Web Applications

Laravel Shift works great for smaller applications as well, even those that do have a non-Laravel module here and there. Due to the size and inherently lower complexity, smaller applications are much easier and more efficient to test thoroughly. Just make sure to take note of all parts that leverage source code that isn’t related to Laravel, because these parts will most likely require manual intervention.

Incremental Upgrades to Address Large Version Gaps

Regardless of size, complexity, or even without Laravel Shift (but especially with), it’s very important to upgrade in stages. The best practice is to isolate areas, start simple, and test in between each migrated area. 

If your application is all Laravel-based, it’s fairly straightforward. Calculate that the upgrade is possible, then validate updates will be smooth by running Laravel PreShift, which will tell you all the “shifts” you need to run to successfully upgrade. This will include which portions of your application aren’t compatible or might run into issues. Once ready, run Laravel Shift for each minor version upgrade (Laravel 5.1 -> 5.2 -> 5.3, etc) and test your application thoroughly after each iteration.

For large version gaps, you will simply need to complete a longer process of incremental upgrades. For example, if you’re on Laravel 5.4 and need to get to Laravel 12.x, you’ll have to go through a lot of steps, but it should work. For Laravel 5, you have to upgrade to each minor version before moving to the next, but after that, you can jump major versions. Using the example just mentioned, this would look like: 5.4 -> 5.5 -> 5.6 -> 5.7 -> 5.8 -> 6 -> 7 -> 8 -> 9 -> 10 -> 11 -> 12.

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When to Use a Laravel Shift Alternative

Upgrading your Laravel application can be a complex process, and while automated tools like Laravel Shift are powerful, they are not a universal solution for every project. Let's take a look at when a Laravel Shift alternative may be your best option to update Laravel.

Highly Customized Codebases

If you’ve used Laravel as your main framework, but you’ve highly customized all the features, Laravel Shift may not be an option. For example, you may have wrapped a lot of the Laravel functionality with your own custom classes, methods, and functions. In this case, Shift will upgrade all the Laravel code, but some of the parameters and returns of your wrappers might be broken.

It could also be true that while Laravel is your underlying framework, perhaps you never leaned heavily into it and preferred to do most of the code without leveraging Laravel. Again, all that custom code will need to be upgraded outside of Laravel Shift.

In either case, Laravel Shift can be used to do some of the work, but all that custom code will need manual intervention. If you wrote a lot of it and rarely took advantage of Laravel, it might not even be worth running Laravel Shift.

Applications Containing Many Third-Party Dependencies

As previously stated, the Laravel ecosystem is huge and has many tools for many problems faced by web application developers. Still, it can’t catch everything, especially all those pesky proprietary tools that enterprise developers end up being forced to utilize. There are plenty of unique use cases out there that require us to use a third-party dependency that isn’t baked into the Laravel ecosystem.

In cases like these, Laravel Shift can be used to do the bulk of the work, but all the code that utilizes that dependency outside of the Laravel ecosystem will require manual intervention to upgrade.

Learn More About PHP Dependency Management

Large, Complex Enterprise Web Systems

I hinted at it earlier, but Enterprise Systems is where complex, custom, and proprietary code begin to become a problem for automated tools like Laravel Shift. 

Enterprise applications typically require a lot of custom code. They can also require proprietary, third-party libraries and extensions the open source community has never even heard of. These are all enemies to Laravel Shift, and they’ll require a lot of manual intervention, to the point that Laravel Shift may become pointless to run.

However, failure to update Laravel within these enterprise systems means that you are leaving your critical applications exposed to vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, and other potentially costly problems. The longer an upgrade is delayed, the more expensive it will be to complete down the road.

Can You Afford a Web Application Security Breach?

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The Top Laravel Shift Alternative

In many cases, the most effective Laravel Shift alternative is not a different tool, but partnering with a team of proven PHP experts. For instance, Zend offers comprehensive support to help update Laravel applications, with experience upgrading and modernizing Enterprise applications across nearly every industry. 

If you face complex integrations, legacy code, proprietary libraries, or other factors that require specialized attention, our Professional Services team can help. With years of expertise navigating complicated systems, we have encountered and upgraded even the most obscure components, providing tailored migration and modernization support that automated tools like Laravel Shift are not equipped to deliver.

Here are a few ways that we can help.

PHP LTS While Completing Laravel Upgrades

Laravel's fast release cycle often leaves apps on outdated PHP versions, increasing security risks and maintenance costs. The further out of date your PHP version becomes, the more difficult it is to keep pace with the latest Laravel releases, leaving you open to malicious attacks and increasingly vulnerable to exploitation.

By implementing third-party PHP Long Term Support (LTS), such as the services offered by Zend, you access ongoing security patches, bug fixes, and compliance support. This allows you to update Laravel applications on your schedule without sacrificing security or performance.

Learn More About Zend PHP LTS

Custom Migration Planning and Implementation

Laravel applications often come with a unique set of challenges, including intricate architectures, legacy code, and reliance on third-party dependencies. These complexities make it difficult for standard migration tools like Laravel Shift to fully address the needs of customized applications.

By partnering with Zend, you gain access to a team of experts who specialize in tackling these challenges. We conduct thorough code audits, resolve version compatibility issues, and develop upgrade strategies specifically designed for your application's architecture. Additionally, we provide dedicated support for updating third-party dependencies and collaborate with your team to pinpoint critical testing areas, ensuring a smooth and secure migration process.

Learn More About Laravel Migration Support

Mission-Critical PHP Made Possible

The Zend Professional Services team is ready to take on the toughest problems in PHP, including your next Laravel upgrade. Partner with our experts to minimize disruptions, accelerate timelines, and minimize risk for your critical apps.

Explore Professional Services  Contact Us

Additional Resources

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