WordPress
wordpress.org › about › requirements
Requirements – WordPress.org
PHP version 8.3 or greater. MariaDB version 10.6 or greater OR MySQL version 8.0 or greater. HTTPS support. That’s really it. Apache or Nginx is recommended as the most robust and featureful server for running WordPress, but any server that ...
WordPress
make.wordpress.org › core › handbook › references › php-compatibility-and-wordpress-versions
PHP Compatibility and WordPress Versions – Make WordPress Core
December 2, 2025 - WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or higher as much as possible, most commonly in the major version of WordPress that’s released around the same time as the new version of PHP in November each year.
PHP and Wordpress versions
I’m using php 8.1 on all my sites now. All reputable themes and plugins support it. You should always be running the latest version of wordpress. More on reddit.com
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September 24, 2023Should I update from PHP 7.4 ?
PHP versions below 8.1 are no longer being supported ( https://php.watch/versions ) i.e. if a bug or vulnerability is discovered in 7.4 or 8, it ain't getting fixed. There's not really any reason to NOT upgrade. Recent versions offer performance improvements. You should always be running up to date WP, theme and plugins anyway - if you're running a plugin or theme that requires php 7.4, it's just a matter of time until you're hacked, because the theme/plugin isn't getting patched. More on reddit.com
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December 13, 2024What version of PHP is your WordPress site running ?
The place for news, articles and discussion regarding anything related to WordPress, the open source software. Wordpress.com-related questions should be posted to https://wordpress.com/forums/ · Create your account and connect with a world of communities More on reddit.com
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May 20, 2024Anyone running their site on PHP 8.3?
I usually wait to go to the next version until the previous one sunsets, just in case plugins aren't keeping up. Is there an upside to getting the newest one as it comes out? More on reddit.com
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December 5, 2023How do I safely upgrade my WordPress PHP version?
Back up your site, test the upgrade on a staging environment, and then upgrade via your hosting dashboard or SSH command line.
cloudways.com
cloudways.com › home › php 5.6 to 8.4: wordpress performance benchmarks for 2025
WordPress Performance On Different Versions of PHP
Which PHP version is best for WordPress in 2025?
PHP 8.4 is the recommended version for WordPress sites in 2025, offering the fastest load times, highest success response counts, and full compatibility with plugins and themes.
cloudways.com
cloudways.com › home › php 5.6 to 8.4: wordpress performance benchmarks for 2025
WordPress Performance On Different Versions of PHP
Does PHP version affect WordPress plugin performance?
Yes. Many modern plugins require PHP 8.x for optimal performance. Older PHP versions may cause errors, slow loading, or incompatibility.
cloudways.com
cloudways.com › home › php 5.6 to 8.4: wordpress performance benchmarks for 2025
WordPress Performance On Different Versions of PHP
Videos
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What Is The Best PHP Version For WordPress Performance? - YouTube
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How to update PHP version in WordPress (Easiest Way)(2026 Guide) ...
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How to Update PHP Version in WordPress (LiteSpeed Web Server) | ...
HostArmada
hostarmada.com › hostarmada blog › best php version for wordpress in 2026: what to use and why
Best PHP Version for WordPress in 2026: What To Use and Why
January 17, 2026 - With each new release WordPress updates the PHP version it supports. So, for example, if you’re still way behind running on WordPress 5.0, you can use it with a PHP version as early as 5.6.20. Still, the recommended version is PHP 7.0+.
GoDaddy
godaddy.com › help › recommended-php-version-for-wordpress-32201
Recommended PHP version for WordPress | WordPress - GoDaddy Help US
Programming languages like PHP constantly evolve to be faster and more secure than their older versions. Updating to a newer version will positively affect your site's performance and safety. WordPress recommends PHP version 8.3 or higher.
Pressidium
pressidium.com › home › wordpress stories › wordpress php support and compatibility across all versions
WordPress PHP Version: Support and Compatibility Guide - Pressidium® Managed WordPress Hosting
October 10, 2025 - WordPress always provides, upon each release, the best choice of PHP versions to use. Currently, WordPress recommends using PHP 8.0 or higher for the best performance, security, and feature support.
Pressable
pressable.com › home › blog › wordpress php compatibility guide
WordPress PHP Compatibility Guide
August 15, 2024 - At the time of writing this article, the latest major version of PHP is 8.3. The latest WordPress release of 6.6 recommends using PHP 7.4 and newer, but this WordPress release can work with PHP versions up to 7.2.24.
Astra
wpastra.com › blog › guides and tutorials › wordpress php version: recommended php versions and upgrade guide
WordPress PHP Version: Which PHP Version to Use in 2026
July 3, 2024 - However, all PHP versions prior to PHP 7.4 are end of life (EOL), meaning they no longer receive updates. Because of this, your site may be exposed to security vulnerabilities. WordPress themselves recommend running PHP 7.4 as a minimum and ...
Cloudways
cloudways.com › home › php 5.6 to 8.4: wordpress performance benchmarks for 2025
WordPress Performance On Different Versions of PHP
October 22, 2025 - Q1. Which PHP version is best for WordPress in 2025? PHP 8.4 is the recommended version for WordPress sites in 2025, offering the fastest load times, highest success response counts, and full compatibility with plugins and themes.
Zend
zend.com › blog › wordpress-php-support
WordPress PHP Support: The State of WordPress PHP Compatibility | Zend
In this blog, we’ll walk through ... end of life PHP. ... Yes, WordPress supports PHP. WordPress recommends using PHP 8.0 or higher to produce the best results....
MPWR Design
mpwrdesign.com › home › which php version works best for wordpress?
Which PHP version works best for WordPress? - MPWR Design
December 12, 2025 - WordPress 6.6, released on July 16, 2024, officially dropped support for PHP 7.1 and older, and WordPress itself recommends at least PHP 8.3. It’s important to note again, though, that PHP versions 8.0 and below are no longer receiving security ...
Kinsta®
kinsta.com › home › resource center › blog › wordpress development › the ideal wordpress php and server requirements
The Ideal WordPress PHP and Server Requirements
January 15, 2026 - Our recommendations from above have two PHP versions in the “Active Support” stage. PHP Version 8.0 is in the “Security Fixes Only” stage, making it the bare minimum you’d want for running a WordPress site.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/wordpress › php and wordpress versions
r/Wordpress on Reddit: PHP and Wordpress versions
September 24, 2023 -
Hi,
I need some help, if possible.
I am looking to upgrade PHP and Wordpress to latest versions and not sure which PHP version is ok.
8.2/8.3 is in beta.
7.4 I understand is a security risk.
Is it fine to consider installing PHP 8.0 or 8.1 and the upgrading Wordpress to 6.3?
Top answer 1 of 5
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I’m using php 8.1 on all my sites now. All reputable themes and plugins support it. You should always be running the latest version of wordpress.
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I'm running 8.2 on all my sites and not one thing has been broken. As u/bluesix said, you should have the most current version of Wordpress.
Bluehost
bluehost.com › home › wordpress › wordpress php versions explained: best practices, comparisons & how to choose the right one
WordPress PHP Version: Recommended Settings & Update Guide
January 29, 2026 - Before diving deeper, here’s a simple snapshot of where WordPress PHP versions stand today. This quick overview shows the difference between what technically works and what’s actually safe and recommended for performance, security and long-term stability.
HostAdvice
hostadvice.com › blog › web-hosting › php › which-php-version-is-best-for-wordpress
Choose The Best: Which PHP Version Is Best For WordPress?
November 21, 2025 - The developers of PHP decided to skip PHP 6 and instead released PHP 7, which included many of the features that were originally planned for PHP 6, such as improved Unicode support. WordPress recommends using PHP version 7.4 or higher for optimal ...
ScalaHosting
scalahosting.com › scala home › blog › wordpress hosting
How to Update the PHP Version of Your WordPress Site | ScalaHosting
December 8, 2025 - When WordPress 2.0 came out in ... better on PHP 4.3 or newer. By WordPress 2.5, PHP 4.3 was the minimum requirement, and PHP 5.0+ was recommended for the best possible performance....
DreamHost
help.dreamhost.com › hc › en-us › articles › 360001331703-Upgrading-your-WordPress-site-to-the-latest-PHP-version
Upgrading your WordPress site to the latest PHP version – DreamHost Knowledge Base
Also, make sure to regularly check ... they may provide valuable insights on when to update. ... DreamHost recommends at least PHP 8.4 since PHP 8.1 has already been deprecated by php.net, and support for it will end ...
Web Aloha
webaloha.co › recommended-php-version-for-wordpress
Recommended PHP Version for WordPress in 2026
July 23, 2025 - Why? Because PHP 8.5 is the best choice for performance, security, and future-proofing. If your WordPress site is updated, your plugins are maintained, and you can test properly, PHP 8.5 is the recommended version for you.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/wordpress › should i update from php 7.4 ?
r/Wordpress on Reddit: Should I update from PHP 7.4 ?
December 13, 2024 -
Hello,
I am wondering if I should update my php version from 7.4 to 8.0. I see a lot of people claiming they are on later versions of php like 8.0 - 8.3.
From what the research I have been doing it seems the most stable one is 7.4 and from 8.0 onwards it's "compatible with exceptions".
Since I am not a dev I would like to ask if its okay to stay on php 7.4 and wait a bit more for it to be fully compatible with wordpress before updating to a higher version.
Thanks.
Edit: I already updated it and all seems well. Thanks for the advice.
Top answer 1 of 14
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PHP versions below 8.1 are no longer being supported ( https://php.watch/versions ) i.e. if a bug or vulnerability is discovered in 7.4 or 8, it ain't getting fixed. There's not really any reason to NOT upgrade. Recent versions offer performance improvements. You should always be running up to date WP, theme and plugins anyway - if you're running a plugin or theme that requires php 7.4, it's just a matter of time until you're hacked, because the theme/plugin isn't getting patched.
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Yes, absolutely. We run 8.2 on our servers with no issues running Wordpress 6.7.x Ideally we all should be upgrading to PHP 8.4 now but Wordpress hasn't been well tested on it yet. Edit: we host around 80 websites across a few servers, they are a variety of small-medium business sites. Some with really low traffic and minimal plugins, some medium sized woocommerce stores with around a dozen plugins.
Cloudways
cloudways.com › home › php 8.3: how to update the php version of your wordpress site
PHP 8.3 WordPress: How to Update Your PHP Version in 2025
February 14, 2024 - Still, if any questions are popping up in your head, please feel free to comment with your queries. We will answer all of them ASAP. ... A. Yes, WordPress supports PHP 8, and it is recommended to use PHP 8.3 with WordPress 6.4.2 for optimal ...
WordPress
wordpress.org › support › topic › which-php-version-should-we-use-in-our-server
Which PHP version should we use in our server? | WordPress.org
May 5, 2025 - Kindly note that, as per our WooCommerce Server Recommendations support documentation, we recommend PHP version 7.4 or greater. You are also able to see other server recommendations in that support document.