The short answer
Choose the newest PHP version that your CMS, theme and plugins explicitly support, test it on a copy first, and never stay on a version that no longer receives security fixes. On Goji hosting you can switch the version per site from the control panel.
What PHP is, and why the version matters
PHP is the programming language behind WordPress, Laravel and most Nepali business websites. The hosting server runs your site’s PHP code with a particular version. Newer versions are generally faster and, crucially, are the only ones that still receive security fixes.
Each version has a life span
Every PHP release gets a period of active support and then a period of security-only fixes before it is retired. After that date, a newly discovered flaw is never patched. The official calendar is on php.net/supported-versions: check it rather than trusting any article, including this one, for exact dates. As a rule, a version that has left that list is a risk you should plan to remove.
How to pick one
- Find what your software supports. WordPress publishes its recommended and minimum PHP versions on wordpress.org; your theme and plugins list theirs on their own pages. A shop plugin that has not been updated in years is the usual reason a site cannot move to a newer version.
- Choose the newest version everything supports. Not necessarily the very latest release: wait until your plugins say they work with it.
- Test before you switch the live site. Copy the site to a test subdomain, change that copy’s version and click through it, especially checkout, contact forms and the admin area.
- Switch, then watch. Change the version on the live site, load the main pages and check the site’s error log for warnings.
Switching on Goji hosting
The PHP version can be switched per site from the control panel, without a support ticket. Keep a note of the version you were on, so you can go back to it in a minute if something breaks.
Signs a PHP version is the problem
- A white page, or a message about a “fatal error” right after an update or a version change.
- Warnings mentioning “deprecated” functions: the code still works but relies on features the new version is removing.
- A plugin that works on the old version and fails on the new one; replace or update that plugin rather than staying on an unsupported PHP.
A note on speed
Upgrading PHP is one of the cheapest ways to make a PHP site faster, but it is not magic: a slow site is more often caused by large images, too many plugins or no caching. See the speed checklist.
Common questions
Will changing PHP version delete my site?
No, the files and database are untouched. If the site breaks it is because some code does not support the new version, and switching back restores it.
Can different websites on one account use different versions?
On Goji hosting the version is switchable per site, so an old project and a new one can be handled separately.