The upstream calendar
Every host policy hangs off PHP's own support calendar. As of 30 October 2026, php.net lists four supported branches. 8.2 is in its final security-only period and reaches end of life on 31 December 2026. 8.1 reached end of life on 31 December 2025, 8.0 on 26 November 2023 and 7.4 on 28 November 2022.
For a course site this matters because LMS plugins track the same calendar. LifterLMS says it supports all PHP versions receiving active and security support and recommends PHP 8.3. A site on 8.2 today has about two months before upstream security fixes stop.
| PHP branch | Active support until | Security support until |
|---|---|---|
| 8.2 | 31 Dec 2024 | 31 Dec 2026 |
| 8.3 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Dec 2027 |
| 8.4 | 31 Dec 2026 | 31 Dec 2028 |
| 8.5 | 31 Dec 2027 | 31 Dec 2029 |
| 8.1 | End of life | 31 Dec 2025 |
| 7.4 | End of life | 28 Nov 2022 |
Host-by-host policy
The table summarises each host's documentation. Where a page does not state a default or a notice period, the table says so rather than guessing.
| Host | Versions documented | End-of-life handling | Notice described | Opt-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsta | 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5; oldest officially supported is 8.1 | Automatically upgrades to the latest supported version when a version reaches end of life | MyKinsta notification when the update completes; advance notice period not stated | Choosing an LTS version disables automatic updates; LTS versions get security patches only |
| WP Engine | 7.4, 8.2, 8.4; 8.4 beta support only for WordPress 6.7 and newer | Removes end-of-life versions and upgrades all sites | Technical contacts emailed several times before the change | None: automatic upgrades cannot be deferred; temporary extended support offered for 7.4 |
| SiteGround | Not listed on the pages reviewed; check Site Tools > Devs > PHP Manager | Managed PHP periodically moves sites to a new server default once SiteGround considers it mature | Schedule and notice not stated | Select a PHP version manually or switch Managed PHP off per site |
| Liquid Web managed VPS (cPanel, Plesk, InterWorx) | Whatever is installed on your server; docs point to php.net's timeline | No automatic end-of-life migration described | Not stated | You change versions in EasyApache 4 and MultiPHP Manager, Plesk or InterWorx |
| KnownHost | Web hosting lists 5.6 through 8.5; WordPress plans list 8.2 | WordPress hosting page says KnownHost handles PHP updates | Not stated | Not stated |
What forced upgrades mean in practice
WP Engine is the clearest case. Its supported list includes 8.2, its policy upgrades every site when a version reaches end of life, and upstream security support for 8.2 ends on 31 December 2026. A course site on 8.2 at WP Engine should therefore plan to be on 8.4 soon, whether or not it chooses the date. WP Engine has not published a date for this on the pages reviewed; the inference comes from combining its policy with php.net's calendar.
Kinsta's auto-upgrade is on by default and goes to the latest supported version, not the next one. A jump from an old branch straight to the newest is a bigger compatibility step than most site owners would choose, which is why some pick an LTS version, accepting security-only patches and the reduced performance Kinsta warns about.
SiteGround's Managed PHP is gentler: it moves the server default and leaves sites with a manually selected version alone. The risk there is the opposite one: a pinned version that nobody revisits.
Testing tools each host offers
WP Engine's PHP Test Driver previews the site on another PHP version for your browser only, while visitors keep the live version, and each environment can run its own version, so staging can be upgraded first. Kinsta lets you change PHP per site or in bulk across sites including staging, and an update usually takes about three minutes. On a Liquid Web cPanel VPS, MultiPHP Manager assigns versions per domain, so you can run a staging domain on the new version alongside production and roll back the same way.
- Upgrade staging first and walk through enrolment, checkout, a lesson, a quiz and certificate generation.
- Check the PHP error log for deprecation warnings from the LMS, membership and payment plugins.
- Confirm every premium plugin's changelog lists the target PHP version.
- Keep the host's technical contact email current so upgrade notices reach someone.
- Book the production change for a low-traffic window, not the morning of a cohort start.
Who should care most
Sites with older premium add-ons, custom code or abandoned plugins are most exposed to forced upgrades, because a version jump can break them without warning to students. If that describes your stack, prefer a host that lets you test on staging with the target version and gives advance notice, and do the upgrade yourself before the host does it for you. Sites running current plugins on 8.3 or 8.4 can mostly let automatic upgrades happen, provided staging tests run first.
Questions before you decide
When does PHP 8.2 reach end of life?
php.net lists security support for PHP 8.2 until 31 December 2026. Active support ended on 31 December 2024.
Can I stop WP Engine from upgrading PHP?
No. WP Engine says that when a PHP version reaches end of life it automatically upgrades all websites and that automatic PHP upgrades cannot be deferred. It emails technical contacts several times beforehand.
Does Kinsta upgrade PHP automatically?
Yes, by default. Kinsta says that when a PHP version reaches end of life it upgrades the site to the latest supported version, and that selecting a Long-Term Support version disables automatic updates.
How do I stop SiteGround changing my PHP version?
SiteGround says Managed PHP can be switched off per site in Site Tools, and that if you manually select a PHP version it will not be updated automatically.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- PHP: supported versions Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- PHP: unsupported branches Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Kinsta docs: PHP Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Kinsta docs: restart and update PHP Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- WP Engine: PHP version guide Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- WP Engine: PHP on WP Engine Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: what is Managed PHP Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: check which PHP version is running Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Nexcess documentation (Liquid Web): PHP versions and why they matter Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- KnownHost: compare web hosting plans Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- KnownHost: compare WordPress hosting plans Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- KnownHost: WordPress hosting Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- LifterLMS: minimum system requirements Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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