The Real Cost of Running Laravel 8 in 2025

The timeline problem

Laravel 8 was released in September 2020. It was a solid release—model factories, job batching, rate limiting improvements. But here's the thing: its security support ended on 24 January 2023. That's nearly two years ago.

If you're still running Laravel 8, you're running on borrowed time.

What you're actually risking

1. No security patches

When a vulnerability is discovered in Laravel 8, it won't be patched. The Laravel team focuses on supported versions (currently Laravel 10 and 11). Your only option is to hope the vulnerability doesn't affect you, or scramble to patch it yourself.

2. PHP version lock-in

Laravel 8 requires PHP 7.3 or higher, with official support up to PHP 8.0. But PHP 8.0's security support ended in November 2023. PHP 8.1's ends in December 2025. You're running deprecated PHP on a deprecated framework.

3. Dependency hell

Your Composer packages are aging. Many popular packages have dropped Laravel 8 support. You can't update to versions with security fixes. Each dependency becomes a potential vulnerability.

4. Hiring difficulty

Developers want to work with modern tools. "We're on Laravel 8" is a red flag in interviews. Good developers will pass on your job posting, or demand higher compensation for the technical debt they'll inherit.

The upgrade path

The good news: Laravel maintains excellent upgrade documentation. The path from 8 to 11 is well-documented. The bad news: it's not trivial.

Step 1: Assess your situation

Before touching code, understand what you're dealing with:

• How many custom packages do you have?
• Which third-party packages are you using?
• How much of your code relies on deprecated features?
• Do you have test coverage?

Step 2: Plan incremental upgrades

Don't try to jump from Laravel 8 to 11 in one go. Go version by version:

• Laravel 8 → 9: PHP 8.0 requirement, Symfony 6 components
• Laravel 9 → 10: PHP 8.1 requirement, various deprecations
• Laravel 10 → 11: Streamlined structure, new defaults

Step 3: Fix tests first

If you don't have tests, write them for critical paths before upgrading. You'll thank yourself when something breaks.

How AI tools can accelerate your migration

Here's where things get interesting for 2025. AI-powered development tools have matured significantly, and an experienced developer wielding these tools can dramatically accelerate a Laravel migration.

The AI advantage

Tools like Claude Code, OpenCode, and Codex can assist with:

• Codebase analysis: Quickly identify deprecated methods, outdated patterns, and potential breaking changes across your entire codebase
• Automated refactoring: Generate updated code for deprecated APIs, with context-aware replacements
• Test generation: Create characterisation tests for legacy code before making changes
• Documentation: Explain complex legacy code and generate upgrade guides specific to your codebase
• Debugging: Quickly diagnose issues that arise during migration

The human-AI partnership

The key phrase here is "experienced developer wielding AI tools." These tools are force multipliers, not replacements. An experienced Laravel developer can:

• Guide the AI with proper context about architectural decisions
• Validate AI suggestions against Laravel best practices
• Make judgment calls about edge cases
• Ensure the migrated code follows your team's conventions

Practical AI-assisted migration steps

1. Audit phase: Use AI to scan for deprecated Laravel 8 patterns and generate a prioritised list of changes
2. Test phase: Generate test coverage for untested critical paths before making changes
3. Migration phase: Let AI handle repetitive updates while you focus on complex business logic
4. Validation phase: Use AI to review changes and catch inconsistencies

The cost of waiting

Every month you wait, the gap widens. Laravel 12 is on the horizon. The longer you stay on Laravel 8, the more painful the eventual migration becomes.

And the risks compound:

• More potential security vulnerabilities
• Harder to find compatible packages
• Developers less willing to work on the project
• Larger gap to bridge when you finally upgrade

When to get help

Consider bringing in external expertise if:

• Your team lacks Laravel upgrade experience
• The codebase has significant technical debt
• You need to maintain feature velocity during migration
• The application is business-critical

An experienced developer with AI tools can often complete migrations faster than internal teams learning the process for the first time.

Takeaway

Running Laravel 8 in 2025 isn't just technical debt—it's active risk. The security implications alone should drive urgency. But the good news is that migration has never been more accessible, especially with AI tools that can handle the mechanical heavy lifting.

The best time to start your upgrade was two years ago. The second best time is now.

Need help planning or executing your Laravel upgrade? I specialise in legacy modernisation with AI-assisted workflows. Let's talk.