If you’re hosting your website with Hostrago, you’ll be glad to know that cPanel supports the installation of Laravel using Softaculous or manual methods. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what is Laravel framework? How to install the Laravel framework in cPanel, step by step.
Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks designed for web artisans who aim to build robust, secure, and elegant web applications. With built-in features like routing, MVC architecture, Blade templating, authentication, and more — Laravel simplifies even the most complex development tasks.
Need more Laravel hosting tutorials? Explore the Hostrago Knowledge Base for advanced cPanel and PHP setup tips.
What is Laravel Framework?
Laravel is an open-source PHP web application framework created by Taylor Otwell. It follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) design pattern and aims to provide an expressive and elegant syntax that makes development more enjoyable for developers.
Key Features of Laravel:
- Blade Templating Engine
- Routing and Middleware
- Artisan CLI (Command Line Tool)
- Built-in Authentication
- RESTful Controllers
- Migration and Schema Builder
- Package Management with Composer
Laravel is well-suited for modern web applications — from basic blogs to full-scale e-commerce platforms.

🔗 Learn more at Laravel’s official documentation
How to Install the Laravel Framework in cPanel
If you want to install Laravel in your cPanel hosting environment, here’s the full process — no terminal required!
Step 1. Log in to Your cPanel Account
Start by accessing your cPanel dashboard.
- Go to
https://yourdomain.com/cpanel
- Enter your cPanel username and password
Once inside, you’ll find tools for file management, PHP settings, databases, and Softaculous installer.
Step 2. Open Softaculous App Installer
To install Laravel easily, use Softaculous, which is available in most Hostrago hosting plans.
- Scroll down to the Software section
- Click on Softaculous Apps Installer

Once inside Softaculous, search for Laravel using the search bar on the left.
Step 3. Select Laravel Framework
From the list of available scripts:
- Click on Laravel
- On the Laravel information page, click the Install Now button

Step 4. Configure Installation Settings
Here, you’ll need to set a few parameters:
- Choose Protocol:
https://
(if you’ve installed SSL) - Choose Domain: Select the domain where Laravel should be installed
- In Directory: Leave blank to install in root or enter a folder name (like
laravel
)

Also, you’ll see optional settings like Admin Email, Site Name, and Database Name — these can be customized as per your preference.
Step 5. Start the Installation
Once everything is configured:
- Scroll down and click Install

Softaculous will begin installing Laravel. This may take a few seconds. Once complete, it will display:
- Admin URL
- Front-end URL
- Path to your Laravel project
Tips for Laravel on Shared Hosting
- Make sure your PHP version is 8.0 or higher
- Enable required PHP extensions:
mbstring
,openssl
,pdo
,tokenizer
, etc. - Always update Laravel and dependencies using Composer
Security Note
After installing Laravel:
- Delete the
/install
directory (if present) - Configure
.env
securely and never expose it publicly - Set correct file and folder permissions (e.g.,
755
for directories,644
for files)
FAQs
Q1. Can I install Laravel manually via FTP or SSH?
Yes, you can manually install Laravel by uploading files and running Composer via SSH, but Softaculous is easier for beginners.
Q2. What PHP version is required for Laravel?
Laravel 10+ requires PHP 8.1 or later. Ensure your hosting supports it.
Q3. Can I run multiple Laravel projects on the same domain?
Yes. Just install them in separate folders or use subdomains.
Final Thoughts
Laravel is a modern framework that brings power and simplicity to PHP development. By following this guide, you now understand what is Laravel framework? How to install the Laravel framework in cPanel easily using Softaculous.
At Hostrago, we provide Laravel-ready hosting environments with PHP version control, SSH access, and Composer support — everything you need to deploy Laravel apps efficiently.
📚 Browse our Knowledge Base for more in-depth Laravel and cPanel guides.