Guides for specific software problems · PHP Extended Support

"PHP Extended Support" on your hosting bill — and your application breaks on the new version?

"PHP Extended Support" is a monthly fee that hosts such as GoDaddy, IONOS, one.com or DreamHost charge when your website or application runs on a PHP version that no longer receives official security updates. You can only cancel it after choosing a current version in your hosting control panel. That is where it often goes wrong: after the switch, the application shows a blank page or "Fatal error". The good news: this can almost always be fixed without a rebuild — usually in a few hours.

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Does this sound familiar?

Your hosting bill lists "PHP Extended Support" and you don't know what it is.
After switching PHP versions, your application shows a blank page or "Fatal error".
Your host announces the end of PHP 8.2.
The developer who built it is no longer around.
An agency wants to rebuild everything from scratch.

Why this happens

Every PHP version has a fixed end date

Each PHP version gets about four years of updates. PHP 8.1 has had no security updates since 31 December 2025, PHP 8.2 ends on 31 December 2026, PHP 8.3 at the end of 2027 and PHP 8.4 at the end of 2028.

Hosts charge for old versions

Instead of switching old versions off, many hosts keep running them for a fee. The older the version, the higher the fee — at IONOS in Germany, for example, from €7.81 a month for PHP 8.1 up to €27.36 for PHP 4.

New PHP versions remove old functions

Functions such as mysql_connect(), each() or create_function() no longer exist; old-style constructors and dynamic properties cause errors or warnings. Raise the version without adapting the code and these are exactly the messages you see.

The fee only buys time

It runs every month and grows as the version ages. Long-term support from vendors such as TuxCare or Zend works the same way. The fee only goes away for good when the code runs on a current version.

What to do now

1

Find the code and the version

Your hosting control panel shows which PHP version is set. You get the code via FTP/SFTP or from your Git repository — that is all the check needs.
2

Have the code checked automatically

A checking tool (PHP_CodeSniffer with the PHPCompatibility ruleset) runs over the whole codebase in a few minutes and lists every place that no longer works on the new PHP version — file and line.
3

Fix exactly those places

Only the reported places are rewritten in today's PHP style. With AI assistance and the tool Rector this takes no more than an hour for most applications. Nobody touches the rest of the code.
4

Test, upload, switch

Click through the most important pages and functions, upload the changed code and choose the new PHP version in the control panel. If anything goes wrong, switch back to the old version and the application runs again immediately.
5

Cancel the fee

Once everything runs on the new version, cancel the extended support in your hosting account.

How we help

We move legacy PHP applications to a current version so the fee goes away — without a rebuild. Our route is exactly the one above: checking tool, targeted fixes with AI and Rector, and a senior developer reviews every change. For most applications that is realistically no more than two hours of work.

A check of your code: which places are affected, and how much work is it?
Fixing exactly those places with AI and Rector — a senior developer reviews every change
Moving to PHP 8.4 or newer: security updates until at least the end of 2028
Custom code, Laravel, Symfony, shop or CMS — including code written by others
You pay for the hours actually worked, in quarter hours

Frequently asked questions

What is "PHP Extended Support" on my bill?

A monthly fee your host charges for keeping your outdated PHP version running. PHP is the programming language your website or application is written in. The fee goes away as soon as you choose a current version.

Can I simply cancel the fee?

Only once you have chosen a current PHP version in your control panel. If your application doesn't run on it, the code has to be adapted first.

My site broke after the switch — what now?

First switch back to the old PHP version in your control panel. The site runs again immediately, and you can have the code adapted without pressure.

Does the application have to be rebuilt?

Almost never. Only the places the checking tool reports are adapted. Everything else stays as it is.

How long does the switch take?

The automatic check takes a few minutes, the AI-assisted fixes usually no more than an hour. Including testing and uploading, most applications need no more than two hours.

What does the switch cost?

It runs on a Development plan: a fixed monthly base fee plus the hours actually worked. Our prices are public on the pricing page. How much work it is in your case, we tell you in the free 15-minute call.

Is it worth it if the fee is only a few pounds?

The fee runs every month and grows as the version ages. If your application is small and rarely used, paying the fee may be cheaper — we will tell you that openly in the call.

How long will I be covered afterwards?

PHP 8.4 receives security updates until 31 December 2028. The next switch after that is much less work thanks to the small steps.