Important Notice PHP Version Support and Security – September Update 2025

At HOSTAFRICA South Africa, keeping your website secure, fast, and reliable is always a priority. To help you stay informed, we’re sharing our September 2025 PHP version support update. This notice explains which PHP versions remain supported, the potential risks of sticking to outdated versions, and why upgrading ensures the best results for your site.

Why Staying Updated on PHP Matters

PHP powers many of today’s most popular platforms, including WordPress, Joomla, and Laravel. Like any software, PHP regularly receives updates designed to improve:

• Security – Protecting your site against vulnerabilities.
• Performance – Delivering faster load times and smoother user experiences.
• Compatibility – Ensuring plugins, apps, and frameworks work as intended.

Over time, older PHP versions reach “end-of-life” (EOL). At that point, they no longer receive official security fixes or improvements from the PHP development team.
See the official PHP supported versions list.

Current PHP Support Policy – South Africa

To maintain strong security and performance across all hosting plans, HOSTAFRICA South Africa aligns its PHP support with global best practices.

Fully Supported Versions (Free and Maintained)

• PHP 8.1 and above
  These are the safest and fastest versions, and they are included at no extra cost.

Legacy Versions (Security Patched Only – Extra Fee)

• PHP 8.1 (from 1 January 2026)
• PHP 8.0
• PHP 7.x
• PHP 5.x
• PHP 4.x

Although these versions are no longer officially supported by the PHP Group, HOSTAFRICA South Africa provides patched versions with essential security fixes.

Why You Should Upgrade Now

While we continue to provide limited protection for legacy versions, upgrading to a fully supported PHP release offers several advantages:

• Better security standards to protect your site and data
• Faster performance and improved server efficiency
• Compatibility with the latest themes, plugins, and CMS platforms
• A smoother user experience that also supports stronger SEO

For guidance on whether now is the right time to upgrade, see our guide: What to Consider Before Updating PHP.

How to Upgrade Your PHP Version

You can switch to a newer PHP version quickly from your hosting control panel.

• For cPanel Users: How to Change PHP Version in cPanel
• For DirectAdmin Users: How to Update PHP in DirectAdmin

Need Assistance?

Our South African support team is ready to assist you with any questions or with the upgrade process itself. Simply reach out through your client portal or start a live chat session with us.