Supported Software
Last Updated: October 26, 2026
We aim to keep your servers running on secure, maintained software. This page explains which operating system and PHP versions we currently support, and what level of help you can expect for each.
Table of Contents
Operating Systems
Ubuntu 18.04 – Not supported
Ubuntu 18.04 has reached the end of standard support and no longer receives standard updates. We’re unable to provide support for servers running this version. If you’re still on 18.04, you need to update immediately.
Ubuntu 20.04 – Limited support (migration only)
Ubuntu 20.04 is also past the end of standard support. Our help for servers on this version is limited to assisting you with migrating to a supported release, and we can’t help troubleshoot other issues. Security updates are also rarely backported to Ubuntu 20.04 or the software packages it runs (such as PHP, Redis, Percona, and MariaDB). Begin steps to migrate off of this release as soon as possible.
Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, and 26.04 – Supported
Servers running any of these versions are supported.
PHP Versions
Latest PHP versions – Supported once WordPress confirms compatibility
We fully support a new PHP version once WordPress officially states that it’s compatible. Until then, we classify it as Experimental: you’re welcome to use it, but some plugins, themes, or WordPress features may not work as expected, and we do not provide support for experimental releases.
PHP 8.1 and earlier – Limited support (varies by plan)
Older PHP versions may still work, but they’re no longer actively maintained and may contain unpatched security issues. The level of support we offer depends on your plan:
- Agency and fully managed hosting clients: We offer best-effort support.
- PeakFreq and self-managed servers: Support is at our discretion and isn’t guaranteed. We’ll help where we reasonably can.
We recommend upgrading to a newer PHP version. Staying up to date gives your websites access to the latest security releases and keeps them compatible with the wider WordPress ecosystem.
Exceptions: Software and Changes You Make
GridPane’s tooling makes every effort to keep the default software stack up to date. Any software you install yourself isn’t covered, so you’re responsible for keeping it updated. It should also be noted that any other software you install, if configured incorrectly or not kept up to date, may block these update mechanisms.
When Updates Can’t Run
Automatic updates rely on your server staying in a state where they can run. Updates may fail to install if something on the server gets in the way, such as running out of disk space, package conflicts, software you’ve installed, or changes you’ve made to the server’s configuration. The same applies if you disable automatic updates or remove or change GridPane’s SSH keys or access.
If something you do, whether intentionally or not, prevents us from maintaining your server or applying updates, the server and anything that results, including security issues, failed updates or data loss, are your responsibility. Any support we provide in these situations is entirely at our discretion and isn’t guaranteed. We may ask you to reverse the changes, or restore our standard configuration where we can.
Your Monit notifications are the best early warning that updates aren’t running, so it’s worth acting on them promptly.
Non-Standard Ubuntu Installations
GridPane’s scripts are built for the standard Ubuntu installation. In very rare cases, a cloud provider modifies its Ubuntu installation in a way that stops our scripts from installing correctly, or causes problems later on. This is more likely with very low-cost providers. In either case, we’re unable to support that server.
If you’re using a provider for the first time, we recommend asking them whether they modify their standard Ubuntu installation in any way, and provisioning a test server before moving any production sites to it.