WordPress PHP compatibility is version-specific. The table below transcribes the current WordPress Core compatibility matrix for the three most recent major WordPress branches listed there. It is a dated snapshot, not a live compatibility check for a particular theme, plugin, or hosting account.

Snapshot checked November 3, 2026. WordPress.org's recommended hosting baseline is PHP 8.3 or newer. The separate Core compatibility table marks WordPress 7.1, 7.0, and 6.9 compatible with PHP 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5. Compatibility in Core does not establish that every plugin or theme supports that PHP version.

WordPress core compatibility snapshot

“Compatible” means the Core handbook marks the version pair with Y. “Not listed” means the current table marks it N; it is not a recommendation to run an older PHP release. The handbook currently lists PHP 7.0 and 7.1 as N for these branches as well.

How to use this when choosing a host

1. Check the PHP version assigned to the specific domain or site in the host control panel, and ask which versions are available for the plan and region you intend to buy.
2. Compare that version with the WordPress Core matrix and the recommended PHP baseline. WordPress says legacy PHP 7.4+ may still run WordPress, but identifies those releases as end-of-life; that legacy statement is not a security recommendation.
3. Check the PHP requirements of the exact theme and plugins you use, then test an upgrade on a staging or backed-up copy before changing a production site's runtime.
4. Confirm the PHP version actually used by the website, not just the command-line version shown by a shell. Hosting panels may configure these separately.

This data does not check your site, host account, extensions, database, or third-party code. A compatible Core pairing is not a guarantee that a whole WordPress installation will work without changes.

Recorded changes in the official compatibility guidance

• November 2024, WordPress 6.7: PHP 8.4 was added to the matrix as beta support at that time.
• July 2025: WordPress 6.8's PHP 8.3 entry was raised to fully compatible.
• December 2025, WordPress 6.9: PHP 8.5 was added to the matrix as beta support at that time.
• May 2026: WordPress Core retired the beta-support label; the handbook now marks PHP 8.3–8.5 compatible for the listed current branches.
• May 2026, WordPress 7.0: support for PHP 7.2 and 7.3 was dropped.

This page records the matrix as checked on November 3, 2026. When the upstream table changes, compare it with this dated snapshot and update the rows and history rather than assuming the values remain current.

For workload assumptions, use the WordPress resource needs estimator. It models only values you enter and does not infer PHP compatibility or recommend a hosting plan. The shared vs managed WordPress comparison explains how to compare documented plan terms.

Official sources checked November 3, 2026

• WordPress Core: PHP Compatibility and WordPress Versions — compatibility matrix and recorded changes to PHP support labels and version support.
• WordPress.org: WordPress history — major version launch dates for 6.9, 7.0, and 7.1.
• WordPress.org: Hosting requirements — recommended PHP 8.3+ baseline and legacy runtime caveat.