Choosing the right PHP version for your WordPress site can be daunting. With so many different versions available, it can be difficult to know which one is best for you and your website.
Fortunately, there are some guidelines that can help make this decision easier. In this article, we’ll discuss what PHP version is best for WordPress and why it matters. We’ll also provide some tips on how to find out which version you should use and how to upgrade or downgrade if needed.
By the end of this article, you should have all the information you need to choose an optimal PHP version for your WordPress site.
So let’s dive in and get started!
What is PHP?
First, a little refresher course: PHP is a server-side scripting language used to create dynamic web pages and applications. It's an open-source language that powers many popular content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Drupal.
It's important to note that WordPress websites require PHP for many of their functions. To ensure your website runs smoothly and efficiently, you need to choose the right version of PHP for your site.
PHP Versions and Their Compatibility with WordPress
WordPress is a powerful content management system (CMS) that works best with the latest version of PHP. It is important to ensure that your WordPress website is running the currently recommended version of PHP for optimal performance, security, and compatibility with plugins and themes.
The earliest version of WordPress to support PHP was 4.1 which added support for PHP 5.6. Since then, WordPress has continued to add support for newer versions of PHP, including 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 8.0 & 8.1 as of 2021. 8.2 is the latest release as of this writing.
What is The Recommended PHP Version for WordPress Users?
WordPress recommends using the latest version of PHP for the best performance, security, and compatibility. As of March 8th, 2023, the recommended version of PHP for WordPress users is 7.4.
Using an outdated version of PHP can cause compatibility issues with plugins and themes, as well as slow down your website's performance. Additionally, older versions may be vulnerable to security risks due to a lack of support from developers. To make sure your website is running optimally, it's important to keep your version of PHP up-to-date.
How to Check Which PHP Version You're Currently Running
If you don’t know what version of PHP your website is running, there are several ways you can determine this. The easiest way is to use a plugin such as WP PHP Version Display which will show the current version on your site’s dashboard.







