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For a new WordPress site in 2026, choose hosting with PHP 8.3 or newer, MySQL 8.0 or newer or MariaDB 10.11 or newer, HTTPS, and Apache or Nginx with working rewrite rules. Those are the current WordPress.org requirements for a secure, supportable installation. Older PHP and database versions may still run some WordPress releases, but they are past upstream support and are a poor choice for a new deployment.

WordPress does not publish one universal CPU, RAM, storage, or visitor limit. The right size depends on traffic, plugins, theme code, media processing, scheduled jobs, and caching. Use the compatibility and operations checklist below to decide whether an existing plan is suitable and what to ask a host before ordering.

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The 2026 WordPress server baseline

WordPress.org’s current recommendation is deliberately short: current PHP, a supported MySQL or MariaDB release, HTTPS, and a capable web server. The project describes Apache or Nginx as the most robust and featureful server choices and requests Apache’s mod_rewrite module when you contact a host. You can send this exact checklist to a provider:

I’m interested in running the open source WordPress https://wordpress.org/ web software, and I was wondering if my account supported the following:

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  • PHP 8.3 or greater
  • MariaDB 10.11 or greater OR MySQL 8.0 or greater
  • Nginx or Apache with mod_rewrite module
  • HTTPS support

Ask the host to identify the actual branch, patch level, and upgrade policy rather than accepting a generic “PHP supported” answer.

Component 2026 recommendation What to verify
PHP 8.3 or newer Which security-supported branches are available, whether you can switch versions, and whether your plugins and theme support the target branch
Database MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+ Exact version, patching responsibility, backup and restore procedure, and available LTS branches
Web server Apache or Nginx Permalink rewrites; Apache should have mod_rewrite working
Transport security HTTPS Certificate issuance, renewal, redirects, and secure WordPress administration
PHP extensions Extensions recommended for your WordPress release and workload Image, archive, XML, database, and internationalization support as applicable to your plugins

Some older environments can still install or run WordPress. The project has documented a legacy floor around PHP 7.4 and MySQL 5.5.5 or later, while an older developer installation page lists PHP 7.4+, MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3+, and HTTPS. Those figures describe historical compatibility, not a sensible target for a fresh 2026 site. PHP 7.4 and old database branches are out of official support and may lack security fixes.

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Running on an obsolete branch also creates practical problems: hosts may stop supplying patches, plugins can drop compatibility, and a later WordPress upgrade may require a newer runtime. If you inherit such a site, treat the old versions as a migration starting point. Make a tested backup, check plugin and theme support, and schedule upgrades rather than exposing a new production site on them.

Choose a supported branch, not just the minimum

The WordPress Hosting Team reports PHP 8.5 as actively supported and fully supported by WordPress 6.9 and later. Its long-term-support database list includes the following end-of-life dates:

Branch Published lifecycle date Planning implication
MySQL 8.4 LTS April 2032 Longest runway among the listed MySQL LTS options
MySQL 8.0 LTS April 2026 At or beyond its listed end date; confirm your provider’s replacement and security policy
MariaDB 11.8 LTS June 2030 Long support window if your application stack is compatible
MariaDB 11.4 LTS May 29, 2029 Supported medium-term choice
MariaDB 10.11 LTS February 16, 2028 Meets the WordPress minimum; plan a future upgrade
MariaDB 10.6 LTS July 6, 2026 Near or past the listed end date; do not select it without a documented support plan

Lifecycle dates can change as vendors revise policies. Before purchasing, ask who applies security patches, how quickly they are deployed, and what happens when a branch reaches end of life.

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WordPress release compatibility in 2026

Compatibility is release-specific. The Hosting Team’s matrix shows these combinations as context, not as a guarantee that every plugin or theme supports every branch:

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WordPress release Release date PHP shown in matrix Database branches shown
6.9 December 2, 2025 8.1–8.5 MySQL 8.0, 8.4, 9.5; MariaDB 10.6, 10.11, 11.4, 11.8, 12.1
7.0 May 20, 2026 8.2–8.5 Newer MySQL and MariaDB branches listed by the matrix
7.1 August 19, 2026 8.2–8.5 MySQL 8.4 and 9.7; MariaDB 10.11, 11.4, 11.8 and 12.3

Check the matrix for the exact WordPress version you intend to run, then check every critical plugin, theme, host-provided control panel and deployment tool. Core compatibility does not override a plugin that depends on a removed PHP function or an untested database behavior.

PHP: version, switching and extensions

Request PHP 8.3 or newer. A good host lets you select a supported branch per site, exposes the active version in its control panel, and provides a documented process for testing and rolling back. Do not upgrade production PHP blindly: copy the site to staging, update WordPress, plugins and themes there, exercise the main workflows, and inspect logs for deprecation or fatal errors.

Extensions your workload may need

WordPress core and plugins rely on PHP extensions for tasks such as database access, image editing, compressed archives, XML parsing, internationalization and secure network requests. The exact list varies by WordPress release and by plugin. Ask the host for the extension set recommended in the WordPress Hosting Handbook and compare it with the requirements of your largest plugins. A plan that meets the PHP version number but cannot enable a required extension is not adequate.

Account isolation

WordPress notes that hosting is more secure when PHP applications run under the individual account’s username instead of a server-default shared username. Ask whether each site is isolated at the operating-system and file-permission level, especially on shared hosting. Isolation limits the damage if another account on the server is compromised.

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MySQL or MariaDB: what to choose

Use MySQL 8.0 or newer or MariaDB 10.11 or newer as the minimum 2026 target. Prefer a currently supported LTS branch with a clear patching schedule. MySQL and MariaDB are not interchangeable in every edge case: plugins may use specific SQL syntax, collations or storage behavior. Confirm that your application vendor supports the branch your host offers.

Backups matter as much as the version

Ask how database backups are taken, how many versions are retained, where they are stored, and whether you can restore a single database independently of the entire account. Request evidence that restores are tested. A daily backup that cannot be restored is not a recovery plan.

Apache, Nginx and rewrite rules

Apache and Nginx are the recommended web-server families. On Apache, WordPress commonly relies on mod_rewrite for human-readable permalinks. Nginx implements equivalent routing in its server configuration rather than through .htaccess. Either can work well when the host has configured PHP execution, file permissions, static-file delivery and rewrites correctly.

A quick rewrite test

  1. Create or open a test page and set a “Post name” permalink in Settings > Permalinks.
  2. Save the setting, then open the page in a private browser window.
  3. If the home page works but the page URL returns a 404, ask the host to verify Apache mod_rewrite or the corresponding Nginx location rules and to permit WordPress’s front-controller configuration.

Do not “fix” a rewrite problem by switching every URL to a query-string format; correct the server configuration so future migrations and caching behave normally.

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HTTPS is a requirement, not an optional add-on

Confirm that the host can issue and renew a certificate, redirect HTTP to HTTPS, and let you access both the public site and /wp-admin/ securely. After enabling HTTPS, set the WordPress Address and Site Address consistently, update hard-coded HTTP media or script URLs, and test forms, logins, REST API requests and webhooks. Mixed-content warnings often come from old URLs stored in the database or from a plugin that still generates HTTP links.

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Can your current hosting plan run WordPress?

Use this audit before moving hosts:

  1. Record the active software: note PHP, MySQL or MariaDB, web server, WordPress, plugins and theme versions from the control panel and WordPress Site Health.
  2. Compare with the baseline: PHP must be 8.3+, the database must be MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+, and HTTPS must be available.
  3. Check upgrade control: verify that you can change PHP and that the provider publishes security-support and end-of-life policies.
  4. Test rewrites: open a pretty permalink, not just the home page.
  5. Check extensions and limits: compare required extensions, maximum upload size, memory limit, execution time, process limits and cron behavior with your workload.
  6. Exercise recovery: create a backup and perform a restore to staging or a separate test account.
  7. Measure headroom: review error logs, slow requests, scheduled jobs and resource graphs during a normal traffic peak.

If any minimum is missing, ask the provider for a written remediation date. If the plan cannot provide a supported PHP or database branch, migration is safer than relying on an exception.

Operational features that determine whether hosting is usable

WordPress core does not require a particular amount of RAM, CPU, disk space or monthly traffic. Capacity changes with page complexity, logged-in users, search and import jobs, image resizing, backups, object caching and traffic bursts. Compare plans on operational behavior rather than an advertised “WordPress” label.

  • Patch cadence: who updates the operating system, PHP, web server and database, and how maintenance is announced.
  • Staging: whether you can clone production, test updates, and push selected changes back.
  • Backups: frequency, retention, off-site storage, encryption and restore testing.
  • Resource limits: CPU shares, memory, PHP workers, I/O, inode counts and throttling rules.
  • Cron: whether scheduled tasks run reliably and whether real server cron is available for high-volume sites.
  • Observability: access and error logs, slow-query visibility, uptime alerts and clear incident communication.
  • Support: response times and whether staff can diagnose PHP, database, DNS and TLS faults.
  • Upgrade path: the process and downtime risk when traffic or database size outgrows the current plan.
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How much hardware does WordPress need?

There is no authoritative 2026 number for CPU cores, RAM, storage or concurrent visitors. A small brochure site with page caching can use far fewer resources than a store with search, image processing and background imports. Instead of choosing from an invented universal specification, measure the running site and leave upgrade headroom.

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Useful sizing signals

  • PHP worker saturation during peak requests indicates a need for more workers or faster application code.
  • High database latency points to query optimization, indexes, caching or a larger database tier.
  • Disk and inode growth reveal whether media, backups or logs are consuming the account.
  • Long-running cron and import jobs may require dedicated workers or a separate queue.
  • Cache hit rate and real-user timings show whether additional CPU will improve the visitor experience.

Collect these measurements for at least a normal busy period, then choose a plan that can scale without an emergency migration.

A safe upgrade or migration sequence

  1. Inventory WordPress, PHP, database, plugins, themes, scheduled jobs, DNS records and external integrations.
  2. Obtain a complete files-and-database backup and verify that it can be downloaded and opened.
  3. Clone the site to staging on the target PHP and database branches.
  4. Update WordPress, plugins and themes in staging; resolve fatal errors, deprecations, login issues and failed background jobs.
  5. Test publishing, media uploads, contact forms, payments, email delivery, REST API consumers and pretty permalinks over HTTPS.
  6. Lower DNS time-to-live before cutover, schedule a quiet window, and freeze content changes.
  7. Restore the tested copy to the new host, verify URLs and certificates, then switch DNS.
  8. Monitor logs, response times, queues and error rates; keep the old environment available until the rollback window closes.

Common requirement failures and fixes

PHP cannot be upgraded

Ask whether the restriction is a control-panel setting, an account plan limit or an application incompatibility. Test on staging, update incompatible plugins, and request a supported branch. If the host cannot offer one, move the site.

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Database version is below the floor

Request a managed database upgrade and a tested restore. Do not change the database engine or collation on production without a backup and staging test.

Permalinks return 404 errors

Verify Apache mod_rewrite or the Nginx equivalent, directory overrides, and the document root. Re-save Settings > Permalinks only after the server rule is corrected.

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HTTPS causes loops or warnings

Check proxy TLS settings, the site URL values, HTTP-to-HTTPS redirects and mixed-content references. Ensure the certificate covers the exact hostname, including the chosen www or non-www form.

Updates fail with memory or timeout errors

Review PHP memory, execution-time, worker and process limits with the host. Disable one problematic plugin on staging, split large imports into batches, and schedule resource-heavy jobs outside peak traffic.

The practical decision

A 2026-ready WordPress plan is one that supplies PHP 8.3 or newer, MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.11 or newer on a supported patch policy, HTTPS, and correctly configured Apache or Nginx rewrites. Select a currently maintained LTS branch where possible, validate plugin compatibility, and judge the host by backups, isolation, monitoring and upgrade procedures as well as by version numbers. Hardware should be sized from measurements and expected workload, with enough headroom for growth.

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