7 Best (Most Reliable) PHP MySQL Hosting Services in 2023

Most web hosts support PHP and MySQL, which you’ll need to run applications like WordPress and Drupal. But there’s a big difference between simply supporting PHP + MySQL and offering a plan that has the features and functionality you need.

My colleagues and I have tested the most popular web hosts out there to find the best offers. I’ve examined our results and narrowed down the list to the top 7 web hosts for PHP MySQL.

Each host on my list brings something unique that sets it apart from the rest. The one thing they do have in common: If you want a reliable PHP MySQL web host, these hosts get more things right than any others.

Does that make them perfect? No. But they come pretty close.

What We Look For in the Best Web Hosting for PHP MySQL

So what does it take to be one of the best PHP MySQL web hosts? Here’s what I looked for:

• Up-to-date PHP versions. Not all web hosts support the latest version of PHP, which is currently version [8.0] – but they should. WordPress itself recommends you use version 7.4 or later.
• Number of MySQL databases. If you have just one site and one CMS installed, you’ll only need one database.But if you have multiple sites or stores, you’ll need more. While unlimited databases may be overkill, at least you know you’ll be covered.
• Sufficient resources and scalability. The size and complexity of your site dictate the resources you need. If your business grows or your site visits surge, you’ll want a flexible host that allows you to increase storage, CPU, RAM, and bandwidth as needed.
• SSH and FTP access. If you want more control and don’t want to fully rely on your control panel interface, SSH and FTP access let you log directly into your server, upload your content, and transmit data.
• Advanced security and SSL. Surprisingly, not all web hosts provide adequate levels of security, which can leave your site vulnerable to malware and other attacks. I looked for web hosts that are equipped with first-rate security and offer free SSL.
• phpMyAdmin. All the hosts on my list offer phpMyAdmin, which is an easy-to-use tool to manage your MySQL database. It lets you create, import, and export MySQL database tables, and from here you can also manage tables, indexes, permissions, and more.

1. InterServer – Unlimited Resources for Your Site

This web host offers one-size-fits-all shared hosting plans that provide some of the best values on the market. InterServer’s Standard Web Hosting plan is built on optimized LiteSpeed servers, uses cPanel that includes phpMyAdmin, and comes with unlimited SSD storage, bandwidth, websites, MySQL databases, FTP accounts, and email.

In addition to its shared standard plan, InterServer also has competitively-priced Windows and WordPress Web Hosting plans, cloud VPS plans that you can easily customize to fit your resource needs, and a PHP.JS plan that is optimized for PHP functions in JavaScript.

If your target audience is in the US, InterServer is a solid PHP MySQL web host, with data centers conveniently located on both coasts. It also provides free Cloudflare CDN with an expansive global network so you can reach a worldwide audience.

Features:

• Enable multiple PHP versions. InterServer merges cPanel with DirectAdmin to give you a Linux-based control panel that, among other things, supports legacy PHP versions alongside the latest versions.
• InterShield security. The proprietary InterShield security solution gives you advanced protection against viruses and web attacks, and includes a machine learning firewall and in-house malware database.
• Inter-Insurance. If something does go wrong with your account, InterServer will clean up your compromised, hacked, or exploited account, get you back online, and prevent future problems.
• Free website migration. With a 24/7 managed website migration service, InterServer’s experts will transfer your website from your old host with little to no downtime.

For more details on InterServer’s specialized hosting plans, check out our in-depth review.

2. FastComet – Best Global Reach for a PHP MySQL Host

FastComet brings you several budget-friendly plans that have plenty of resources for PHP MySQL hosting. And it has 11 data centers across the globe, so your target audience will get top speed and performance no matter where they are in the world.

All FastComet plans offer support for PHP 5.6 through 8.0, unlimited MySQL databases, and unlimited FTP accounts. Compared to InterServer, shared hosting plans have limited resources: less SSD storage (up to 35GB), less bandwidth (fair usage, with a maximum cap around 100,000 monthly visits), and number of hosted websites (just one on the entry-level plan).

If the FastCloud shared hosting resource caps won’t be enough to run your busy sites or stores, you may want to consider FastComet’s fully managed Cloud VPS Hosting or Dedicated CPU Servers with advanced optimization and security. These plans will give you more dedicated resources, although you’ll need a bigger budget.

Features:

• FTP Manager. If your site requires several levels of administrators, FastComet’s easy-to-use FTP Manager can help you set up accounts, configure FTP directories, set read/write permissions, and terminate FTP connections.
• PHP caching. FastComet allows  Alternative PHP Caching (APC), which speeds up page loading by caching PHP objects from your site instead of the whole page. It also offers OPcache, which is another caching extension designed specifically for PHP.
• Apache Mod_Lsapi. Apache Mod_Lsapi uses LiteSpeed technology to give PHP pages higher levels of performance and stability while using less memory.
• BitNinja Server Security. In addition to security measures like firewalls, two-factor authentication, and daily backups, FastComet protects its servers by using BitNinja to fight off automated attacks like XSS, DDos, malware, brute force, and more.

Read our in-depth FastComet review to see how fast our pages loaded.

3. Hostinger – Ease of Use at a Low Price

Hostinger is the one of the cheapest PHP MySQL hosting providers on my list, especially when you sign up to one of its long-term plans, but that doesn’t mean you sacrifice quality.

While it may not include the extensive features others do, Hostinger doesn’t skimp on performance or usability.

That said, Hostinger is number three on my PHP MySQL list because in addition to including fewer features, its entry-level plans give you fewer resources, MySQL databases, and FTP accounts than InterServer and FastComet. And you only get SSH access with higher-priced plans.

Still, Hostinger is one of the top options for PHP MySQL hosting, and if your budget is flexible, you’ll get more with advanced plans. It has decently-priced specialized hosting plans for WordPress, Cloud, and VPS that provide more resources. These plans even provide cPanel Hosting if you’d rather not use Hostinger’s custom control panel.

Features:

• hPanel. An easy-to-use, custom control panel that includes all the basic features you need (and would find with cPanel), like a one-click Auto Installer, email manager, and a website builder, as well as easy access to phpMyAdmin and MySQL databases.
• LiteSpeed Cache for WordPress. An acceleration plugin that caches at the server level and has a number of optimization features, LiteSpeed Cache is available forWordPress Multisite and is compatible with other popular plugins like WooCommerce, bbPress, and Yoast SEO.
• FTP over SSL (SFTP). With the mid-range Hostinger Premium Shared Hosting plan, your FTP is protected by an SSL certificate for better security than what you’d get with regular FTP.
• Free domain. Not all web hosts provide you with a free domain. Hostinger does – but only with its mid- to high-tier plans, and only for one year.

We had 30 experts around the world sign up and test Hostinger: these were the results.

4. A2 Hosting – Top Performance and Reliability for a PHP MySQL Site

When we tested A2 Hosting, the speed and reliability we saw for the price was outstanding. It has faster speeds than most other shared hosting providers, and my colleague got 100% uptime over a two-month period.

A2 Hosting gives you 100GB of SSD storage with its entry-level Startup plan, which is more than you get with any FastComet shared web hosting plan. It also includes unlimited data transfer. Even with higher-tier plans that offer optimized Litespeed Cache servers, pricing is still on the low end while performance remains consistent.

A2 Hosting’s PHP Web Hosting is optimized for applications that use MySQL databases like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. These plans also offer multi-version support for stability and security. However, the cheapest plan does limit your MySQL databases to 5 and some of its best caching functionalities are not available.

Features:

• A2 Optimized Site Accelerator. Available on shared servers, A2 Optimized is a caching plugin that gives you faster speeds and better performance by using Turbo Cache, APC/OPcache, and Memcache. All these work together to speed up the loading times for PHP and MySQL.
• Website staging. A2 Hosting lets you easily create a clone of your site so you can test updates, plugins, and themes before you make the changes live.
• Managed WordPress hosting with Jetpack personal license. Design, grow, and secure your site with Jetpack, which offers audience stats, SEO optimization, site acceleration, automatic daily backups, brute force attack protection, malware scanning, and more.
• Perpetual Security. A2 Hosting takes security seriously, and all plans come equipped with KernelCare, reinforced DDos protection, dual web hosting firewall, brute force defense, auto-healing, virus scanning, server hardening, and free HackScan to block hacks before they happen.

Curious to see how A2 Hosting performed in our tests? Read our in-depth review.

5. SiteGround – PHP MySQL Basics at the Cheapest Price

SiteGround is a good option if you’re on a budget and you only need the basics. Its shared hosting has the lowest prices on our list (with the exception of Hostinger), but aside from unlimited MySQL databases, FTP accounts, and unmetered bandwidth, it won’t wow you with resources. However, all plans come with free SSL, CDN, email, and SSH access.

With managed hosting, SiteGround supports PHP version 7.4 only, but you can opt to use versions 7.3, 7.4, 8.0, or 8.1 if you’re willing to manage it yourself.

The entry-level StartUp plan is very bare bones. SiteGround does offer a number of great developer-centric features on its shared hosting plans, but you have to upgrade to one of its higher-priced plans to get them.

Features:

• Ultrafast PHP. With higher-priced shared hosting plans, you get an optimized PHP setup that increases overall site speed, including time to first byte, and helps your server process visits faster while using less memory.
• Site Tools control panel. SiteGround’s proprietary control panel looks good, is easy to use, and boasts all the basic functions you’ll need to run your site.
• Scalable on-demand backups. You can purchase single backups on the StartUp plan. With the higher-priced GrowBig and GoGeek plans, you can have up to 5 on-demand backups at any time as part of your plan.
• SiteGround Migrator WordPress plugin. Automigration from your old host to SiteGround takes just a couple of basic steps when you use SiteGround’s Migrator plugin. It’s a great tool for simple websites, but for more complex sites, you’ll want to use the paid migration service.

Read our comprehensive SiteGround review for more info about its plans.

6. Hostwinds – Best Business Hosting Features

Hostwinds offers two types of shared hosting plans: the standard Shared Hosting and Business Hosting. Business Hosting is basically Shared Hosting but with more resources, and it offers higher PHP memory limits, fewer websites on the same server, and unlimited nightly backups.

Hostwinds also has managed and unmanaged VPS, Cloud, and Dedicated Server hosting.

Shared hosting plans feature Apache2 optimized web servers, CloudLinux, and cPanel. They give you unlimited bandwidth, SSD storage, MySQL databases, and FTP accounts, and range from one to unlimited hosted websites.

But the most recent version of PHP supported is only 7.2 and there is no SSH access. To get SSH access and the option to install the most recent version of PHP, you’ll need a VPS, Cloud Server, or Dedicated Server plan.

Hostwinds has tiers of support based on the type of plan you select. When it comes to PHP, the support team will perform PHP software upgrades, but it won’t fix bugs in your PHP script.

Features:

• 24/7 website monitoring. Hostwinds monitors every aspect of its network and infrastructure all day, every day to make sure nothing goes wrong and, if it does, it will immediately resolve the issue. Personal website monitoring, however, is an add-on feature for basic Shared Hosting.
• Softaculous. The popular auto-installer is paired with cPanel to give you one-click installs for hundreds of web applications like WordPress and Joomla.
• LiteSpeed web servers. All Business Hosting plans are on LiteSpeed web servers. The advanced technology helps your site’s content load extremely fast.
• Route-optimized networking. Another Business Hosting feature, this optimization tool makes sure your site loads quickly by ensuring the fastest network path is always selected.

You can read more about Hostwinds’ performance in our expert Hostwinds review.

7. InMotion Hosting – Supports The Most PHP Versions

InMotion Hosting gives you everything you need from a PHP MySQL hosting provider, including support for the latest versions of PHP. You also get SSH access, free SSL, 2 hosted websites, and up to 3 MySQL databases on the most basic In Motion Hosting Launch plan.

Using cPanel, it’s easy to manage your site from a central dashboard, and with the free Softaculous installer, you can set up your website in minutes.

One thing that sets InMotion Hosting apart is its unlimited bandwidth. You also get a free domain or domain transfer with each plan, but shared hosting is limited to 100 websites and 200GB of SSD storage. If you need more, you’ll have to opt for In Motion Hosting’s VPS or Dedicated Server hosting.

All in all, InMotion Hosting is a solid PHP MySQL host if you’re just getting started with PHP and MySQL and want the comfort of managed hosting and cPanel (in fact, most plans will automatically be upgraded to the latest, most stable version of PHP).

Features

• Multi-PHP Manager. A cPanel function, Multi-PHP Manager allows you to select the  version of PHP you want for your website by simply picking from a drop-down list of supported PHP versions. You can also customize each PHP version for multiple sites.
• Free marketing tools. InMotion Hosting gives you $150 in online advertising credit, access to the BoldGrid Website Builder, professional email address leads, and a variety of statistics to help inform your marketing choices.
• UltraStack caching. InMotion Hosting utilizes a proprietary caching system called UltraStack to enhance performance. UltraStack leverages PHP to cache web content, eliminating the need for your site to load the same code for every visitor. This feature proves particularly beneficial for PHP-intensive applications such as WordPress.
• 90-day money-back guarantee. Most PHP MySQL hosts have money-back guarantees, but not nearly as long as InMotion Hosting. And cancellation is easy if you decide it’s not the host for you.

In our InMotion Hosting review, we also noted that InMotion Hosting makes it super easy to get your website up and running.

Which PHP MySQL Host Is for You?

Because most web hosts support PHP and MySQL, finding the best one that has the features, functionality, and reliability that you need, while providing the best value, can be tough.

If you want the web host with the most unlimited resources that supports the PHP versions recommended by WordPress, go with InterServer. It also happens to provide the best overall value. 

If you’re trying to reach a worldwide audience and want advanced caching tools and security, FastComet will give you the best global reach, with some of the most advanced website tech available.

On the other hand, you’ll get the best speed and reliability with A2 Hosting.

And Hostinger is quite simply one of our favorite web hosts. It doesn’t have as many features for PHP MySQL projects, but it’s number one on our list of the best web hosting providers in 2023 thanks to its affordable plans and superior performance.

Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of all the best options.

FAQ

Can you get PHP MySQL hosting for free?

In short, yes. But I wouldn’t recommend it. There are very few web hosts out there that offer free PHP MySQL hosting and none of them made our list of the best web hosting providers in 2023.

Why? Because they’re often not as reliable or secure, and most give you such a basic service that they don’t tick any of the boxes for what we look for in a top PHP MySQL host.

What is the best PHP MySQL host?

InterServer gives you the best value for your money with unlimited MySQL databases, FTP accounts, websites, SSD storage, bandwidth, and more.

It also uses fast and reliable LiteSpeed servers, has cPanel with phpMyAdmin, and supports PHP 7.4 and later, which is the bare minimum to run WordPress.

InterServer and the other hosts on my list often run promotions, and you can find some great deals on our coupon page.

How does MySQL work with PHP?

Your MySQL database is where your website content is stored. But you still need a way to pull this information and present it to your site visitors. That’s where PHP comes in. PHP is an open-source scripting language that communicates with your database to fetch the content for your web pages.

What can I do with PHP and MySQL?

When you use PHP and MySQL, you can create almost anything, including an e-commerce site, a mailing list, blog, forum, Intranet, and more.