Best solution to protect PHP code without encryption
One solution to protect PHP code without encryption is to use code obfuscation. This involves manipulating the code to make it difficult for human readers to understand, but still functional for the server.
Another solution is to use a code minifier which will remove any unnecessary white space and comments from the code, making it harder to read. Additionally, placing the PHP code in a separate file and including it in your script rather than directly writing it in the script, can also help to protect your code.
Another way is to use a PHP code protector like ionCube, ZendGuard, or SourceGuardian to encrypt and protect the code and only authorized server can decrypt the code.
It's important to note that no method of protection is completely foolproof and all these solutions can be bypassed if someone is determined enough to do so.