10 Best PHP Hosting Services (With Latest Versions) in 2024

It’s not hard to find a web host that supports PHP – in fact, more than three-quarters of all websites use a PHP-based content management system (CMS). What is hard, however, is finding a high-quality host that supports PHP and offers you the tools you need for complete and secure management. If you want your site to remain competitive, you’ll need a host that can keep up with the latest releases, and provide you with additional tools for optimizing your experience.

I researched and tested dozens of services to find the best PHP hosting providers for all kinds of users, from tech wizards to beginners. Besides looking at a diverse range of PHP tools, I’ve also prioritized performance, security, and support for PHP-based applications.

Overall, it’s tough to compete with Hostinger’s affordable, feature-packed, and easy-to-manage PHP hosting. Still, each of these 10 hosts offers a high-quality service that will serve a wide range of different needs.

What We Look For in the Best PHP Hosting Providers

In my list, I’ve included fast and reliable web hosts with these extra features:

• Multiple PHP versions. I’ve looked for hosts that let you choose your own PHP version for each website or application. I also made sure that it’s easy to switch between different PHP releases.
• PHP updates. I’ve included only those providers that make the latest PHP versions available to you shortly after their release. You’ll still have the option to use an older version until you’re ready to switch.
• PHP-based applications. I’ve selected hosts that support popular PHP-dependent CMSs like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. In addition to one-click installers, some providers on my list also offer automatic updates for these applications.
• Extra features. Handlers like suPHP or FastCGI can help you better secure your website and improve its performance. Some of the hosts on my list have these tools preinstalled.
• Pricing. PHP is a free, open-source scripting language, so PHP hosting should be budget-friendly. There’s no room on my list for sneaky hosts that charge extra for basic features like PHP updates.

1. Hostinger: Cheap, Fast, and Reliable PHP Hosting1

Hostinger is the cheapest PHP hosting provider on my list, and surprisingly, it’s also the fastest web host I’ve tested. Its shared hosting platform supports the latest PHP releases (including 8.0, 8.1, and 8.2), and you can easily switch between versions using the proprietary control panel.

Hostinger is also pretty generous with resources. Even on the Premium shared hosting plan, you get 100 GB of storage space and unlimited bandwidth, which is more than enough for a regular PHP-based website.

That said, if you’re a PHP developer, you might want to upgrade to the Business Premium plan, which is slightly more expensive but includes 60 PHP workers, daily backups, and a free CDN.

Features

• PHP-optimized servers. Hostinger offers PHP and MySQL updates as soon as these become available. Its servers use LiteSpeed technology for improved performance and stability, and the HTTP/3 protocol is enabled by default to process more concurrent user requests.
• PHP cache plugin. LSCache is one of the best caching solutions for websites built with PHP-based CMSs like WordPress or Joomla. With Hostinger, LSCache is already integrated into your dashboard, so you can activate it with just a couple of clicks.
• User-friendly control panel. Hostinger’s hPanel is more streamlined and far less cluttered than cPanel. For example, you can quickly switch between different PHP versions by visiting the PHP Configuration menu in the Advanced settings.
• Access Manager. If you’re working with a PHP developer to build or maintain your website, this feature allows you to grant access only to certain sections within your hosting account.

Read our expert Hostinger review for more PHP features.

2. IONOS: Affordable Hosting for Older PHP Versions1

Support for a new PHP version usually lasts about four years from the initial release – two years to roll out updates and another two to patch security issues. If you’re still using the same PHP version after that point, your website or app will stop receiving any automatic security updates, leaving you vulnerable to security risks. In some cases, you could also experience performance limitations. Luckily, IONOS has a solution for that.

With IONOS’ PHP Extended Support hosting, you can still use the following versions of PHP without issues: 4.0, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, and 7.0–7.4. Whether you built your website with an older version of PHP, have compatibility issues with newer versions, or simply want to keep your site on a stable version of PHP, IONOS will provide security checks and updates to keep your website running without any performance or security issues.

IONOS’ PHP Extended Support does come with extra fees – and the older your version of PHP, the more you’ll pay. However, IONOS offers competitive plans and a deep discount for new customers and offers competitive plans so it’s still an affordable host overall.

Features

• Unique control panel. While some hosts stick with cPanel for account admin, IONOS’ Control Center lets you manage your websites, domain, and cloud services all in one place. You’ll also be able to access a range of tools, performance metrics, and settings configurations from the Control Center’s dashboard.
• Change your PHP version at any time. In the IONOS Control Center settings, you can easily select the most suitable PHP version for your apps and scripts. You can upgrade or roll back your PHP version at any time.
• Speed optimizations. For PHP versions 7.0 and higher, OPcache is automatically activated. This allows your site to load faster, ensuring a better experience for all your site’s visitors.
• Hosting with plenty of resources. All IONOS plans include unlimited bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, daily backups, and 24/7 support. Depending on the plan you choose, you can also host unlimited websites with no limits on storage or databases.

For more features, see our expert IONOS review.

3. InterServer: Unlimited PHP Hosting With FastCGI1

InterServer has a single Standard shared hosting plan with unlimited storage, websites, MySQL databases, and bandwidth. PHP versions 5.5 and 5.6, as well as 7.0 and higher, are all supported. Several performance tools for PHP-based sites are also included.

The cPanel control panel is preinstalled, so you can switch between PHP versions and change PHP settings using a simple interface.

Given that the Standard plan is packed with features, you’d expect it to be expensive, but it isn’t. Although it’s not as cheap as Hostinger’s entry-level plan, it’s still more affordable than most of the others on my list.

If you aren’t ready to make a long-term commitment, InterServer’s low-cost monthly billing1 is much cheaper than the month-to-month plans offered by most other providers.

Features

• Support for hundreds of PHP scripts. InterServer’s one-click installer can help you quickly set up PHP-based CMSs like WordPress, PHPFusion, phpBB, and more. It’s also easy to add galleries, contact forms, and other functions to your website.
• PHP Selector. InterServer’s version of cPanel comes with a PHP menu that makes it easier to select your version and enable extensions. For example, you can easily activate OPcache to enhance your website’s performance.
• Comprehensive security services. If your site suffers an attack or gets hacked, InterServer will clean up and restore your site free of charge. This also applies to new clients – migrate your compromised site to InterServer and it will get your site back up and running.
• LiteSpeed web server. LiteSpeed is arguably the best web server software for PHP-based CMSs like WordPress. It’s faster than the more traditional Apache, and far more dependable during traffic spikes.

Read our full InterServer review to see our performance tests.

4. HostArmada: NGINX Web Servers With Powerful Caching Features1

HostArmada offers the powerful NGINX web server software on all its plans, which greatly optimizes the performance of PHP-based CMSs. It also has a proprietary service called Cache Commander, which provides you with useful caching tools for full control over your site’s dynamic and static element caching.

Don’t worry if that all sounds a bit complicated. HostArmada’s intuitive and user-friendly dashboard makes hosting management easy, even if you don’t have a lot of experience managing PHP. On top of that, HostArmada provides access to the Symfony, Laravel, and Zend PHP frameworks, as well as unlimited MySQL databases.

For all it offers, HostArmada delivers surprising value. It’s not the cheapest host you’ll find, but considering its performance, advanced PHP management features, and overall offering, you’ll be hard-pressed to find such a complete option at similar prices.

Features

• Additional PHP security. HostArmada’s hardened PHP ensures that your server will always remain secure by automatically patching all available PHP versions against known vulnerabilities.
• Daily backups. HostArmada is one of the few hosts to offer free daily backups even on its cheaper plans, meaning you get added peace of mind regardless of the price tag on your hosting.
• Developer-friendly plans. Besides the standard shared and WordPress hosting plans, HostArmada offers a series of managed hosting exclusively for developers. In addition to compatibility with a number of coding languages, these plans give you access to advanced SSL and database features.
• NGINX and LiteSpeed web servers. Besides the aforementioned NGINX web servers, HostArmada also offers LiteSpeed servers on its top plan, which can help you get extraordinary performances with PHP-based CMSs.

Read our in-depth HostArmada review to learn more about its plans.

5. ScalaHosting: Scalable Cloud-Based PHP Hosting1

So far, all our recommendations have offered something special for PHP hosting at the shared hosting level. ScalaHosting, on the other hand, saves its advanced PHP support for its cloud-based VPS hosting. While this option is more expensive, it does offer premium performance and security that make it worth the investment. That’s not to say that you still can’t try one of ScalaHosting’s shared hosting plans, which also have the latest versions of PHP.

To aid PHP performance, ScalaHosting enables PHP-FPM by default. PHP-FPM offers improved optimization for better site performance, tighter security, and easier resource management.

ScalaHosting’s highly scalable infrastructure allows PHP websites to seamlessly handle changes in traffic volume and accommodate site growth without performance issues. If you’re running a high-load PHP website or app, you can easily scale horizontally or vertically with any of ScalaHosting’s VPS plans.

Features

• Managed PHP environment. ScalaHosting offers managed hosting tailored for optimal performance. If you’d rather leave the optimizations to the experts, you can let ScalaHosting handle server management for your PHP project.
• Beginner- and developer-friendly control panel. SPanel is available on all of ScalaHosting’s cloud VPS plans and its Entry Cloud VPS package. Unlike cPanel, SPanel offers Nginx and OpenLiteSpeed support, SShield security suite, and a WordPress and Joomla manager.
• Proprietary tools and programs. In addition to the SPanel control panel, ScalaHosting has innovated SShield, a site security program that successfully blocks 99.998% of potentially compromising attacks. SWordPress Manager is a WordPress management tool integrated right into SPanel that makes your WordPress site easier to administer while adding extra security for your site.
• Advanced security measures. In addition to SShield, ScalaHosting provides a secure hosting environment for PHP projects, safeguarding against common threats such as malware injections and DDoS attacks through continuous monitoring and robust protocols.

To discover more benefits, see our in-depth review of ScalaHosting.

6. FastComet: Best PHP Hosting for Global Reach1

PHP optimizations can only do so much. If you want your website or application to load as quickly as possible, you should choose a data center near your target audience. Enter FastComet and its impressive global network of 12 data centers.

FastComet is not only present in North America and Europe, but also in Mumbai, Tokyo, São Paulo, and Sydney. If your audience resides in one of the last four regions, FastComet is essentially one of the very few low-cost, reliable hosts that can reach them.

FastComet’s cheapest shared hosting plan comes with 15 GB of storage space and unmetered bandwidth, which is more than enough for a small to medium site. Unlike Hostinger, though, FastComet’s shared hosting plans lack generous storage space that can hold more than 40 GB of website content.

Features

• Automatic updates for PHP applications. Softaculous is primarily a one-click app installer, but you can also use it to set up automatic updates for popular PHP-based CMSs like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal. Softaculous is included with all FastComet plans.
• Apache mod_lsapi. Included in the FastCloud Extra plan, this Apache module is a drop-in replacement for several PHP tools like suPHP and FastCGI. In short, it enhances the performance and stability of your website, and it’s super easy to activate.
• Additional layers of caching. The FastCloud Extra plan also includes Varnish, Memcached, OPcache, and APC (Alternative PHP Cache). These tools streamline the delivery of PHP-driven content so your visitors can enjoy faster loading speeds.
• PHP tech support. Unlike other hosts, FastComet will offer assistance with issues related to open source PHP applications like WordPress.

For more on FastComet, take a look at our expert review.

Other Notable Hosts for PHP Hosting

7. InMotion Hosting1

InMotion Hosting has a data center on each US coast, which makes it best suited to serve a US audience. Its entry-level shared hosting plan is fairly affordable, and it comes with 100 GB of storage and unmetered bandwidth. The latest PHP versions are all supported, from 7.4 to 8.3.

In many ways, InMotion Hosting is similar to InterServer. For instance, they’re both US-based, and they both offer cPanel to help you manage your PHP versions. That said, InMotion Hosting is significantly pricier, especially after renewals kick in. But the one advantage that InMotion Hosting has over InterServer is its customer support. Although a little slow to respond, the agents are knowledgeable and helpful, which is more than I can say for InterServer.

8. A2 Hosting1

A2 Hosting’s proprietary plugin, A2 Optimized, works with PHP-based applications like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, PrestaShop, OpenCart, and Magento. A2 Optimized is a free tool that analyzes your site and creates personalized, specific recommendations for improving your site’s security, performance, and compliance. It also offers an easy one-click activation of caching and security features.

In addition to A2 Optimized, A2 Hosting has a solid reputation for fast loading speeds and reliable uptime. It does an outstanding performance even on cheaper plans and supports PHP versions of up to 8.1. Its customer support could use an overhaul, but you can still find answers to most PHP-related questions on its extensive knowledge base.

9. SiteGround1

SiteGround’s biggest advantage is Site Tools, a proprietary control panel that makes it easy to manage your websites, PHP versions, and software. You can also create subdomains, FTP accounts, and activate caching and CDN. If you’re after a polished dashboard that makes web hosting as simple as possible, this is it.

SiteGround supports PHP versions 7.4 to 8.2. To enhance your site’s performance, you can enable static cache, dynamic cache, and Memcached through SiteGround’s SuperCacher feature. To take advantage of SiteGround’s PHP optimization, however, you’ll have to upgrade to either the GrowBig or GoGeek plans, neither of which is as affordable as most of the other options on this list.

10. GreenGeeks1

Currently supporting PHP versions 5.2 to 8.0, GreenGeeks stands out for two things: its eco-friendly practices and policies, and its superior customer support. GreenGeeks’ support goes out of its way to make you feel important and more confident when managing your website.

Unlike most of the providers in this list, GreenGeeks lacks notable standout features, so I only recommend it if you want to keep web hosting simple with the basics. Most GreenGeeks plans offer unlimited emails, unmetered bandwidth, free daily backups, free SSL certificates, and a free domain name for a year. All plans run on GreenGeeks’ eco-friendly servers.

These Are the Best PHP Hosting Providers, but Which Is Right for You?

When it comes to PHP hosting, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution, so you must determine which features matter most to you. Each web host in my list provides PHP 8.0 or PHP 8.2, along with a few earlier releases, but there are noteworthy distinctions among them.

For instance, if you want a cheap PHP hosting provider that also delivers outstanding performance, Hostinger is your best bet1. Its servers are optimized for PHP-based websites, and you can take advantage of LSCache to get the best possible website loading speeds.

If you prefer to run your site using an older version of PHP and still want quality service and support, IONOS can provide you with all you need1. With its Extended Support feature, you can go all the way back to PHP 4.0 and still have the support to keep your website running smoothly and securely.

Alternatively, if you ‘re looking for unlimited resources to go along your PHP hosting, consider InterServer’s Standard shared hosting plan1. InterServer is also FastCGI enabled and your cheapest option if you’d like the flexibility of monthly billing. 

Here’s a quick recap of my top PHP hosting providers.

FAQ

What is PHP hosting?

PHP hosting is a type of web hosting service that supports websites and apps that use the PHP programming language. PHP code allows HTML pages to communicate with a database to show dynamic content, like an ever-changing list of the latest blog posts in WordPress. Pretty much every web host supports the PHP scripting language, but only some providers keep up with the latest PHP versions.

What is the best hosting for PHP?

While there are some outstanding PHP hosting providers out there, you won’t find one host that suits everyone’s needs. For instance, InterServer has an affordable shared hosting plan with tools like FastCGI and Softaculous, but its customer support is mediocre at best. Other hosts – like GreenGeeks, for example – have excellent customer support for PHP-based applications, but they’re also more expensive.

Why is my PHP version important?

After 4 years, a PHP version no longer receives update or patch support for security or performance issues. When you run your website on an older version of PHP, you open yourself up to issues, such as memory corruption and poor code execution. If you either can’t or don’t want to upgrade your site to the latest stable PHP version available, IONOS offers support for older PHP versions so you can keep your site or app running smoothly.

Can I host a PHP site for free?

You can, in theory. But the truth is that most free web hosts fill your site with cheap-looking ads, compromise on security and performance, or just don’t offer the tools you need for a satisfactory hosting experience. That’s not to say that there aren’t any wallet-friendly options out there. In fact, some of our favorite hosting providers deliver exceptional value for their price. If you’re interested in learning more, check out our list of the best hosting providers in 2024.