Is PHP 8.1 Still Supported? Short Answer: No

Is PHP 8.1 still supported?

No. The PHP project's October 2026 announcement states that PHP 8.1 and older no longer receive updates (php.net). The supported-versions table no longer lists 8.1 at all. Your site may still run on it, but it gets no routine security fixes from the PHP team.

Hosting companies can sell their own paid patches for old versions. GoDaddy, for example, moved PHP 8.1 to a paid "PHP Extended Support" add-on on January 1, 2026 (GoDaddy). That is a stopgap sold by the host, not support from the PHP project.

Which PHP versions are supported right now?

Four lines get security fixes today. As of October 27, 2026, the PHP supported versions page lists these dates. Anything older than these four no longer receives security fixes from the PHP team, so a site on 8.1 or earlier is running unsupported software. Compare your own version with the table below.

PHP 8.1, 8.0 and 7.4 are gone from the table. Version 8.2 loses security support in about two months, so a move to 8.2 only buys a short time. Most sites should aim for 8.3 or newer.

What is the difference between end of life and security-only support?

Active support means bug fixes and security fixes. Security-only support means only security fixes. End of life means nothing: no fixes of either kind from the PHP project. Each PHP version moves through those stages over roughly three years. Only the first two stages are safe places to stay.

For a business owner, the stage that matters most is whether security fixes still arrive. A version in security-only mode is still safe to run if it is kept updated. A version past end of life is not, because any new flaw stays open.

Is it dangerous to keep running PHP 8.1?

Yes, and more so now. In October 2026, two serious flaws nicknamed PHP2Shell were announced, tracked as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619. The PHP team shipped fixes for 8.5, 8.4, 8.3 and 8.2, and minimal source backports for 8.1, 8.0 and 7.4 because of the severity (php.net).

CISA added both to its list of flaws used in real attacks on October 26. Its guidance says organizations that cannot patch, or that continue to use PHP 8.1 or earlier, should take PHP-based systems offline until patched (CISA alert). The backports are a one-time exception, not a plan.

How common is PHP 8.1 or older?

Very. W3Techs reports that PHP runs 69.2 percent of sites with a known server-side language, and that 34.4 percent of those PHP sites use PHP 7, 5 or 4, versions that ended years ago (October 27, 2026). Many business sites are therefore running software that no longer gets fixes.

Among WordPress sites, the WordPress.org statistics feed shows 33.63 percent on PHP 8.1 or older, by our calculation from the feed that day. So if you are on 8.1, you are not alone, but the numbers do not make it safe.

Does PHP end of life affect my WordPress site if WordPress is updated?

Yes. WordPress runs on top of PHP, so updating WordPress does not update PHP. PHP is installed by your host. A fully updated WordPress site on PHP 8.1 still has an unsupported engine under it, and an unsupported PHP can be attacked no matter how current the site is.

Our PHP2Shell guide for WordPress owners explains this in more detail. To see where you stand, use the free PHP version checker.

What should I do if my site is on PHP 8.1?

Plan a move to PHP 8.3 or newer. Do it in a safe order, because old plugins or themes can break on a newer PHP version. Back up first, test on a copy of the site, then switch the live site and check forms, checkout and logins afterward.

• • Check your version. Use the PHP version checker and note the exact number.
• • Back up the site and database before any change.
• • Test on a staging copy with the new PHP version, if your host offers one.
• • Update plugins and themes first, and replace any that are abandoned.
• • Switch the PHP version in your hosting panel and test forms, logins, checkout and email.
• • Keep a rollback ready for the first few days.

If your host is pressing you to move, see my host says I have to upgrade PHP. If you are already on 8.2, read PHP 8.2 ends December 31.

How much does the move cost, and how does Cuanto Labs help?

We start with a PHP Health Check for $295. It covers your version and end-of-life status, a plugin and theme scan, your host's options and a written plan. The fee is credited toward any upgrade you book within 30 days.

A standard WordPress PHP upgrade is $3,500 for up to 20 plugins, with a staging copy and a 30-day fix of regressions. A WooCommerce or complex site is $4,500, with checkout and payment testing. See the PHP upgrade service for details. We cannot promise nothing will ever break, but we test before and after.

Next step

Find your version now with the PHP version checker. If it says 8.1 or older, book a call and tell us your hosting provider. We will tell you what the move involves.

This article is general information, not legal or compliance advice. Written by Eliran Yihye, founder of Cuanto Labs, on October 27, 2026.