Is Node.js better for microservices than Laravel?

Node.js has a lighter footprint per service and faster cold start, which suits fine grained microservices and serverless functions. Laravel services are heavier per instance but Octane and Vapor make Laravel viable in serverless and microservice contexts too. The deeper question is whether you should be doing microservices at all. Most products that adopt microservices early would have shipped faster on a well structured monolith. If you genuinely need many small independently deployed services, Node.js has an edge. If you need one or two well built services, the runtime matters less than the architecture quality.