Title: PHP 4 or PHP 5 ?
Last modified: August 18, 2016

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# PHP 4 or PHP 5 ?

 *  [alberto](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alberto/)
 * (@alberto)
 * [21 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-4-or-php-5/)
 * Hi,
    I’m running a WP (1.5.1.2) powered blog on Dreamhost and I can choose between
   PHP 4 or PHP 5 (as CGI). What PHP version should I use with 1.5.1.2? Is WP faster
   on PHP 5? Could I have some problems with installed plugins (Get Custom Field
   Values, etc.)
 * Many thanks

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [rustindy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rustindy/)
 * (@rustindy)
 * [21 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-4-or-php-5/#post-213238)
 * So far, WordPress 1.5x and every plugin I’ve installed on it has worked fine 
   with PHP5 🙂
 *  Thread Starter [alberto](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alberto/)
 * (@alberto)
 * [21 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-4-or-php-5/#post-213270)
 * Of course WP 1.5.x is PHP5 friendly, but my dilemma is: PHP4 or PHP5?
    Many thanks
 *  [rustindy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rustindy/)
 * (@rustindy)
 * [21 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-4-or-php-5/#post-213386)
 * Personally, I choose PHP5 for a couple of reasons.
 * First, it’s the newest version of PHP, and while there is some breakage with 
   older PHP scripts and some more recent large projects (I’m looking at you, Mambo),
   for the most part it is backwards compatible with PHP4.
 * Second, from a programming perspective, it is much more powerful than PHP4.
 * Third, at least on my server, PHP5 does seem to respond slightly faster with 
   database-based applications than PHP4. I don’t know if this is due to changes
   in PHP itself or changes to the database plugins, but it’s measurable on my server.
 * Of course, your mileage may vary.
 *  [nateomedia](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nateomedia/)
 * (@nateomedia)
 * [21 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-4-or-php-5/#post-213394)
 * Do you need any features introduced in PHP 5? If not, then wouldn’t it make more
   sense to use PHP 4, which has had far more testing done to eliminate bugs and
   security issues?
 * Remember, it’s all fun and games until someone hacks your site and destroys your
   database.
 *  [tarachan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tarachan/)
 * (@tarachan)
 * [21 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-4-or-php-5/#post-213663)
 * I tried switching to 5, but went back to 4 because my dashboard stuff disappeared.*
   shrugs* No biggie, but that’s the only “problem” I’ve encountered. Other than
   that, it’s all good.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘PHP 4 or PHP 5 ?’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [php](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/php/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 5 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [tarachan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tarachan/)
 * Last activity: [21 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-4-or-php-5/#post-213663)
 * Status: not resolved

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