It is important to carefully consider which PHP version you use. The latest PHP version offers significant advantages, such as improved speed, more functionality, and reduced load on your available resources. Therefore, always choose the latest PHP version if your website supports it.
Best PHP version per CMS
Below, you will find the best PHP version for each CMS, assuming that you are running the latest version.
- WordPress (6.1 or later): PHP 8.2 or, in case of problems, PHP 8.1
- Joomla (4.3.2 or later): PHP 8.2 or, in case of problems, PHP 8.1
- Drupal (10.2 or later): PHP 8.2
- Magento (2.4.6 or later): PHP 8.2
- PrestaShop (8.0 or later): PHP 8.1
Changing the PHP version
With the PHP selector in DirectAdmin, you can switch between PHP versions effortlessly. This makes it easy to test whether certain parts of your website are running correctly with a specific version.
Before changing your PHP version, it is important to check whether your website or application supports the selected version. If you are using a CMS, always make sure that the system itself, along with its plugins and themes, is fully up to date.
If an unexpected problem arises on your website when switching to a different PHP version, you can always switch back to the previously installed version. After resolving the issue, simply switch back to the newer version.
End of life PHP versions
The PHP versions listed below have been designated as end of life by the developers. This means that these versions are no longer supported or updated by PHP. As a result, any bugs or security vulnerabilities in these versions will no longer be fixed or patched.
| End of life since | |
| PHP 5.3 | 14 augustus 2014 |
| PHP 5.4 | 3 september 2015 |
| PHP 5.5 | 21 juli 2016 |
| PHP 5.6 | 31 december 2018 |
| PHP 7.0 | 10 januari 2019 |
| PHP 7.1 | 1 december 2019 |
| PHP 7.2 | 30 november 2020 |
| PHP 7.3 | 6 december 2021 |
| PHP 7.4 | 28 november 2022 |
If you are still using a version older than PHP 7.4, it is strongly recommended to switch to a newer version. This will ensure that your website is faster, more secure, and more efficient. You can easily change the PHP version via the PHP selector.
Default PHP version
New hosting packages are delivered with PHP 8.2 by default. However, you have the flexibility to choose which PHP version you want to use.
If you prefer an older supported version, you can switch to it using the PHP selector. Likewise, if you are running an older version and want to upgrade to a newer one, you can easily make this change in DirectAdmin.