What LifterLMS documents
LifterLMS's system requirements page, read on 29 October 2026 and last modified in January 2026, says it has no additional requirements beyond those needed to run WordPress. It recommends WordPress 6.7, PHP 8.3, MySQL 8.0 or greater or MariaDB 10.6 or greater, and Nginx or Apache with mod_rewrite. It supports the five most recent major WordPress releases and all PHP versions receiving active and security support. Add-ons list a minimum of WordPress 5.9 and PHP 7.4.
WordPress.org's own recommendation is slightly stricter on the database (MariaDB 10.11 or greater) and adds HTTPS support. Use the stricter of the two when you compare plans.
| Item | LifterLMS recommends | WordPress.org recommends | Buy for |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress | 6.7 (five most recent majors supported) | Current release | Current release |
| PHP | 8.3 | 8.3 or greater | 8.3 |
| Database | MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+ | MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+ | MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+ |
| Web server | Nginx or Apache with mod_rewrite | Not specified | Either, with pretty permalinks working |
| HTTPS | Not stated | Recommended | Automatic free certificate |
LifterLMS's own line: shared hosting versus $30 a month
LifterLMS states that it can function on low-cost, shared hosting setups, and that websites with lots of traffic, users and concurrent logins should expect to spend at least $30 per month on hosting. That is a vendor rule of thumb rather than a benchmark, but it is a useful budget anchor because it comes from the plugin maker rather than a host.
Read concurrent logins literally. A site with 2,000 enrolled students who study at different times can behave like a small site; a site with 60 students who all start a timed quiz at 7:00 PM cannot.
Below the line: shared plans that still give you a safety net
SiteGround's plan comparison, read on 29 October 2026, lists StartUp at $2.99 a month for the first 12-month prepaid invoice (renewing at $17.99, one website, about 10,000 visits) and GrowBig at $4.99 (renewing at $29.99, unlimited websites, about 100,000 visits). Both list automated daily backups and on-demand backups. Note that GrowBig's renewal price is effectively at LifterLMS's $30 line anyway.
Staging matters more than visit estimates at this stage, because you will test LifterLMS and add-on updates before applying them to a live course. SiteGround's features page lists staging on all three shared plans, while its WordPress hosting page lists it from GrowBig; confirm on the checkout page if you are considering StartUp.
Above the line: plans built for concurrent logins
Kinsta's knowledge base says it does not recommend running dynamic sites such as membership or LMS sites on its 2-thread plans (Single 35k and WP 2) unless traffic is light. Kinsta's Single 65k plan, listed at $50 a month or $500 a year, has 4 PHP threads and a 1 GB pool according to its PHP documentation, with 14-day backup retention and staging.
WP Engine's Essential plan was shown at $28 a month billed annually ($336 upfront) for the first year, with a 25,000 to 400,000 visit range, 1-click staging and daily backups kept 30 to 60 days. WP Engine states the first-year price is for new customers on Essential and renewal pricing is subject to change, so ask for the year-two price before choosing it over a plan with a stable rate.
| Plan | Published price | Relevant published spec | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiteGround StartUp | $2.99/mo first invoice, $17.99/mo renewal | 1 site, ~10,000 visits, daily backups | Building courses, very small cohorts |
| SiteGround GrowBig | $4.99/mo first invoice, $29.99/mo renewal | Unlimited sites, ~100,000 visits, staging | Self-paced catalogs with staggered use |
| Kinsta Single 35k | $35/mo or $350/yr | 2 PHP threads | Light traffic only, per Kinsta |
| Kinsta Single 65k | $50/mo or $500/yr | 4 PHP threads, 1 GB pool | Overlapping logins and quizzes |
| WP Engine Essential | $28/mo billed annually, first year | Staging, 30 to 60 day backups | Overlapping logins; check year-two price |
Caching: the setting that breaks LifterLMS sites
LifterLMS's requirements page says that if users see login state problems or content not displaying correctly, your web host may be caching dynamic content, and to ask your host to avoid caching dynamic LifterLMS pages. Before buying, ask each host how page cache exclusions work on the plan: self-serve in a dashboard, a plugin setting, or a support ticket. On a membership-style course site this is a recurring task, because each new checkout, dashboard or account page needs to stay uncached.
Pre-purchase checklist
- PHP 8.3 selectable, and a staging copy where you can test the switch first.
- MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+ confirmed in writing or visible in Site Health.
- Page cache bypass for logged-in users and for LifterLMS account, checkout and course pages.
- Daily backups with a self-serve restore, plus a way to download a copy off the host.
- A published or quoted PHP concurrency figure if you plan live sessions.
- The renewal price, not only the first-invoice price, in your two-year budget.
Questions before you decide
Does LifterLMS need a special host?
No. Its documentation says it has no requirements beyond running WordPress and can run on low-cost shared hosting, while recommending at least $30 a month for sites with lots of traffic and concurrent logins.
Why do students see the wrong logged-in state?
LifterLMS says this usually means the host is caching dynamic content, and recommends asking the host not to cache dynamic LifterLMS pages.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- LifterLMS: System requirements Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- WordPress.org: Hosting requirements Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SiteGround: Shared hosting features and plan comparison Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- SiteGround: WordPress hosting plans Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kinsta: PHP thread recommendations for eCommerce and membership sites Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kinsta Docs: PHP threads and memory by plan Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kinsta: Pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- WP Engine: Plans Accessed 29 Oct 2026
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