If you work in web development, you’ve probably seen messages urging you to “upgrade your PHP version.” But it’s not always clear which versions are supported until when, or why upgrading matters. Today, we’ll explore PHP’s version support policy and the detailed EOS (End of Support)/EOL (End of Life) schedule for each version.
1. What is PHP and Why Does It Matter?
PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting language designed specifically for web development. Since its debut in 1995, it has established itself as a popular general-purpose scripting language that powers everything from blogs to the most popular websites in the world.
Currently, PHP powers over 70% of websites worldwide and serves as the foundation for major CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. Its biggest advantage is the ability to embed directly into HTML, making it easy to create dynamic web pages.
2. Understanding PHP’s Version Support Policy
Like any software, PHP has a clearly defined lifecycle. Each release branch of PHP is fully supported for two years from its initial stable release. During this period, bugs and security issues that have been reported are fixed and are released in regular point releases.
Important Change: The PHP Release Cycle was extended in March 2024 from 3 to 4 years: 2 years of bug fixes, and 2 years of security fixes. This gives developers more time to plan their upgrades.
Support phases are structured as follows:
- Active Support: Full bug fixes and security patches for 2 years after release
- Security Support: Only critical security fixes for an additional 2 years
- End of Life (EOL): After 4 years, no updates are provided
Additionally, the active support and end-of-life dates have moved to always end on the last day of the calendar year, making support schedules more predictable.
3. Currently Supported PHP Versions (As of October 2025)
As of now, the officially supported PHP versions are:
| Version | Release Date | Active Support Until | Security Support Until (EOL) | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 8.4 | 2024-11-21 | 2026-12-31 | 2028-12-31 | ✅ Active Support |
| PHP 8.3 | 2023-11-23 | 2025-12-31 | 2027-12-31 | ✅ Active Support |
| PHP 8.2 | 2022-12-08 | 2024-12-31 | 2026-12-31 | ⚠️ Security Only |
| PHP 8.1 | 2021-11-25 | 2023-11-25 | 2025-12-31 | ⚠️ Security Only |
PHP 8.1 EOL will occur on December 31, 2025, 8.2 on December 31, 2026, and PHP 8.3 on December 31, 2027.
Currently Recommended Versions:
- New Projects: PHP 8.4 (latest features and performance improvements)
- Stability Focus: PHP 8.3 (sufficient active support remaining)
4. Complete PHP Version Support Schedule
PHP 8.x Series (Modern Versions)
| Version | Release Date | Active Support Until | Security Support Until (EOL) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 8.4 | 2024-11-21 | 2026-12-31 | 2028-12-31 | Property Hooks, Asymmetric Visibility |
| PHP 8.3 | 2023-11-23 | 2025-12-31 | 2027-12-31 | Typed Class Constants |
| PHP 8.2 | 2022-12-08 | 2024-12-31 | 2026-12-31 | Readonly Classes, DNF Types |
| PHP 8.1 | 2021-11-25 | 2023-11-25 | 2025-12-31 | Enums, Fibers, Readonly Properties |
| PHP 8.0 | 2020-11-26 | 2022-11-26 | ❌ 2023-11-26 | JIT Compiler, Union Types, Named Arguments |
PHP 7.x Series (All EOL)
| Version | Release Date | Active Support Until | Security Support Until (EOL) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 7.4 | 2019-11-28 | 2021-11-28 | ❌ 2022-11-28 | Typed Properties, Arrow Functions |
| PHP 7.3 | 2018-12-06 | 2020-12-06 | ❌ 2021-12-06 | Flexible Heredoc/Nowdoc |
| PHP 7.2 | 2017-11-30 | 2019-11-30 | ❌ 2020-11-30 | Object Type Hints |
| PHP 7.1 | 2016-12-01 | 2018-12-01 | ❌ 2019-12-01 | Nullable Types, Void Return Type |
| PHP 7.0 | 2015-12-03 | 2018-01-04 | ❌ 2019-01-10 | Scalar Type Declarations, Return Types |
PHP 5.x Series (All EOL)
| Version | Release Date | Active Support Until | Security Support Until (EOL) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 5.6 | 2014-08-28 | 2017-01-19 | ❌ 2018-12-31 | Constant Scalar Expressions, Variadic Functions |
| PHP 5.5 | 2013-06-20 | 2015-07-10 | ❌ 2016-07-21 | Generators, finally keyword |
| PHP 5.4 | 2012-03-01 | 2014-09-14 | ❌ 2015-09-03 | Traits, Short Array Syntax |
| PHP 5.3 | 2009-06-30 | 2013-07-11 | ❌ 2014-08-14 | Namespaces, Late Static Binding |
| PHP 5.2 | 2006-11-02 | 2008-11-02 | ❌ 2011-01-06 | JSON Support |
| PHP 5.1 | 2005-11-24 | 2007-11-24 | ❌ 2006-08-24 | PDO Extension |
| PHP 5.0 | 2004-07-13 | 2006-07-13 | ❌ 2005-09-05 | Zend Engine 2.0, Enhanced OOP |
PHP 4.x Series (Legacy, All EOL)
| Version | Release Date | Active Support Until | Security Support Until (EOL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 4.4 | 2005-07-11 | 2007-07-11 | ❌ 2008-08-07 |
| PHP 4.3 | 2002-12-27 | 2004-12-27 | ❌ 2005-03-31 |
| PHP 4.2 | 2002-04-22 | 2004-04-22 | ❌ 2002-09-06 |
| PHP 4.1 | 2001-12-10 | 2003-12-10 | ❌ 2002-03-12 |
| PHP 4.0 | 2000-05-22 | 2002-05-22 | ❌ 2001-06-23 |
Note: PHP 3.x, 2.x, and 1.x versions also existed in the past but all reached EOL in the late 1990s to early 2000s.
5. Risks of Continuing to Use EOL Versions
Using end-of-life PHP versions poses several serious risks.
Security Vulnerability Exposure Using an EOL version doesn’t stop your application from working — but it does leave it vulnerable to new threats. Even a minor exploit can compromise your server, data, or users.
Performance Degradation PHP 7 is 400% faster than PHP 5.2, and PHP 8.0 and 8.1 process transactions per second significantly faster than earlier versions. Using outdated versions means accepting performance losses.
Compatibility Issues Modern CMS platforms like WordPress and Drupal, along with their plugins, are dropping support for older PHP versions. Over time, available plugins and themes become increasingly limited.
Legal and Compliance Issues Compliance with security regulations like GDPR and PCI-DSS requires using supported software versions.
6. Key Changes by Version
Revolutionary Changes in PHP 8.x
PHP 8.0 (2020) – Game Changer
- JIT (Just-In-Time) compiler introduction
- Union Types, Named Arguments
- Constructor Property Promotion
- Match expressions (improved switch)
PHP 8.1 (2021) – Enterprise-Grade Features
- Enums added
- Readonly Properties
- Fibers (lightweight threads)
- Intersection Types
PHP 8.2 (2022) – Stability Enhancement
- Readonly Classes
- Disjunctive Normal Form (DNF) Types
- Standalone null, false, true types
PHP 8.3 (2023) – Refinement and Improvement
- Typed Class Constants
- Dynamic class constant fetch
- Enhanced JSON validation
PHP 8.4 (2024) – Latest Version
- Property Hooks
- Asymmetric Visibility
- New array functions
- Enhanced HTML5 support
PHP 7.x Performance Revolution
The PHP 7 series achieved 2-3x performance improvements over PHP 5 and laid the foundation for a modern type system.
7. Safe PHP Version Upgrade Process
PHP version upgrades should be approached carefully. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Check Current PHP Version
php --version
Step 2: Set Up Testing Environment Never upgrade directly in production.
Step 3: Verify Compatibility
- WordPress: Use PHP Compatibility Checker plugin
- Custom code: Use PHPCompatibility or Phan tools
Step 4: Backup Fully backup databases and all files.
Step 5: Gradual Upgrades Incremental approaches are recommended over major version jumps.
Step 6: Monitor Carefully monitor error logs after upgrading.
8. If You Can’t Upgrade Immediately
Consider Long-Term Support (LTS) Solutions TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support (ELS) delivers ongoing security patches for outdated PHP versions, such as PHP 5.x to 7.x, across both Linux and Windows environments.
Check OS Vendor Support Some Linux distributions like Ubuntu LTS, RHEL, and CentOS provide their own security patches for older PHP versions.
Upgrade Planning is Essential LTS is only a temporary measure. You must establish and execute a long-term upgrade plan.
PHP version management is critical work directly affecting website security and performance. Each release branch receives 2 years of active support and 2 years of security support for a total of 4 years.
Unfortunately, as of October 2025, up to 55% of PHP-powered sites in the top 1 million are running software that is End of Life. This represents a serious security risk.
Using end-of-life versions is like leaving your door wide open. Even if immediate upgrades are difficult, you must plan and execute them.
The PHP community continues to evolve, and new versions are faster, more secure, and more developer-friendly. While it may be inconvenient, maintaining current versions brings far more benefits in the long run.
References
- PHP Official Supported Versions
- PHP EOL Information – endoflife.date
- PHP Release Cycle Update Announcement
- Andreas Möller’s PHP Lifecycle Guide
- PHP Changelog