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The current WordPress database requirement
The clearest current baseline is published on the WordPress.org Requirements page. It recommends either of these database servers:
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| Database server | Recommended minimum | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| MySQL | 8.0 or newer | Use this baseline when selecting a new host or building a new server. |
| MariaDB | 10.11 or newer | Use this baseline when the host offers MariaDB instead of MySQL. |
These are minimum recommendations, not performance guarantees. A newer release is not automatically proven compatible with every WordPress release merely because its version number exceeds the minimum. The official material available for this topic does not publish a complete WordPress-release-by-database-release test matrix, so verify the exact versions offered by your provider and consult the documentation for the WordPress release you plan to run.
Does WordPress support MariaDB as well as MySQL?
Yes. WordPress identifies both MySQL and MariaDB as supported database servers. MariaDB is a separate database project, so its version numbers cannot be compared directly with MySQL numbers. MariaDB 10.11 is not “the same version” as MySQL 8.0; treat the two recommendations as separate baselines.
The WordPress installation FAQ says that other database engines, including PostgreSQL and SQLite, are not supported at present. A host advertising a database service therefore needs to specify MySQL or MariaDB, not simply “SQL-compatible” storage.
Legacy versions: what may still run and why they are a poor new-install choice
WordPress.org’s current Requirements page states that “WordPress will still run on PHP 7.4+ and MySQL 5.5.5+.” That statement describes legacy compatibility, not the preferred configuration for a new site.
- Legacy database floor: MySQL 5.5.5 or newer.
- Legacy PHP floor: PHP 7.4 or newer.
- Security warning: the page says these older versions have reached official end of life and may expose a site to security vulnerabilities.
If an existing site is running one of these versions, “it loads” is not the same as “it is a sound platform.” Plan an upgrade with your host or administrator rather than treating the legacy floor as a hosting target. Before changing a production database server, make a verified backup and confirm that your themes, plugins, PHP version, and hosting control panel support the target stack.
Why two different sets of numbers appear in WordPress documentation
Readers may find an older set of thresholds in WordPress Developer Resources’ “Before You Install” page, which was last updated December 17, 2025. That page lists PHP 7.4 or greater, MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3 or greater, and HTTPS.
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| WordPress page | Database figures shown | How to use the information |
|---|---|---|
| Current Requirements page | MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+ | Use this as the current recommendation when choosing or requesting a new hosting environment. |
| Developer Resources, “Before You Install” (updated December 17, 2025) | MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+ | Explains why an older number may appear in documentation or host material; it should not replace the current recommendation. |
The published pages do not explain the policy history behind the difference. Do not assume the thresholds are equivalent, and do not average them into a third requirement. When the pages conflict, use the current Requirements page for a new deployment and ask the provider which exact server version your account will receive.
The rest of the recommended WordPress stack
Database compatibility is only one part of the installation checklist. The current Requirements page also recommends:
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- PHP 8.3 or newer. PHP runs WordPress itself and its extensions; a suitable database cannot compensate for an obsolete PHP runtime.
- HTTPS. Your site should have a working TLS certificate and be configured to serve its URLs securely.
- Nginx or Apache with
mod_rewrite. The host request supplied by WordPress includes this web-server/rewrite support for normal WordPress URL handling.
Ask a host to confirm all of these items together. A plan that advertises MySQL 8.0 but limits the account to PHP 7.4, lacks HTTPS, or does not provide the required rewrite support does not meet the current recommended stack.
What to ask a hosting provider
Send a prospective host a precise request instead of asking whether it “supports WordPress.” WordPress.org provides a copyable formulation that can be adapted as follows:
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I’m interested in running the open source WordPress web software, and I was wondering if my account supports PHP 8.3 or greater, MariaDB 10.11 or greater or MySQL 8.0 or greater, Nginx or Apache with mod_rewrite, and HTTPS.
Ask the support representative to identify the actual database product and version assigned to your account, not just the maximum version available somewhere on the provider’s network. Also ask whether the version is shared across the plan, changeable on request, or fixed for the life of the account.
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Check the hosting control panel
Look for a page labeled MySQL, MariaDB, Databases, Server information, or PHP information. Hosts often show the database engine and version separately from the PHP version. Record both values and the date you checked them; shared-hosting environments can be upgraded without changing the plan name.
Use phpMyAdmin when the host provides it
phpMyAdmin is an optional web-based administration tool for MySQL and MariaDB. It is not a WordPress runtime requirement. If your host supplies it, sign in, open the database server’s home or information screen, and read the displayed server version. Do not confuse the phpMyAdmin application version with the MySQL or MariaDB server version.
Ask support when the interface is ambiguous
Send the provider the exact question: “Which MySQL or MariaDB server version does my WordPress account use today, and can it be upgraded to MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+?” Request the answer in writing before migrating a site or purchasing a plan.
Choosing between MySQL and MariaDB
When the host offers both
Start with the current minimum supported by the provider: MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+. Compare the host’s backup, upgrade, monitoring, and support policies rather than choosing solely by the database brand. The WordPress requirements identify both products as supported; they do not declare one universally faster or safer.
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When a host offers only an older release
Ask whether the server can be upgraded without moving accounts. If it cannot, treat the older version as a migration risk, especially for a new site. An old release may satisfy a legacy compatibility statement while still being outside the current recommendation and outside the vendor’s own security-support window.
When a host advertises another engine
Do not assume PostgreSQL, SQLite, or a proprietary “SQL” service will work with a standard WordPress installation. The installation FAQ currently names MySQL and MariaDB as the supported choices and says other engines are not supported.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Upgrading an older WordPress database safely
- Inventory the current stack. Record the WordPress version, database product and version, PHP version, web server, active plugins, and theme.
- Confirm the target. Ask the host for MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+, PHP 8.3+, HTTPS, and the required rewrite support. Get the target versions in writing.
- Create and test backups. Keep a complete database export and a copy of the WordPress files. A backup that has never been restored is not a verified recovery plan.
- Use a staging copy. Restore the backup on the proposed database server, load the site, and exercise log-in, publishing, media uploads, search, forms, and any commerce or membership workflows.
- Check application compatibility. Update plugins and themes through their normal maintenance process, and resolve warnings before the production cutover. Database compatibility alone does not certify third-party code.
- Schedule the cutover. Freeze content, take a final backup, switch the site, and monitor errors and scheduled tasks. Keep the old environment available until the new copy is confirmed.
- Document the result. Save the final database and PHP versions, backup location, and rollback procedure for the next administrator.
Troubleshooting common version problems
The host says “WordPress supported” but will not disclose a version
Ask for the exact MySQL or MariaDB major and minor release attached to your account. A generic compatibility badge does not tell you whether the account meets the current 8.0 or 10.11 recommendation.
The database meets the minimum but installation still fails
Check PHP first, then HTTPS and web-server rewrite support. The current WordPress checklist requires all of these components; a compliant database is only one prerequisite. Also verify that the database user has permission to create and alter tables and that the host has supplied the connection details correctly.
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Keep the site backed up and schedule a controlled upgrade. The fact that WordPress continues to run on MySQL 5.5.5+ and PHP 7.4+ does not remove the security warning attached to those versions. If the provider cannot offer the current baseline, compare migration options before the old platform becomes unavailable.
A migration changes MySQL to MariaDB (or the reverse)
Both engines are supported by WordPress, but extensions, SQL modes, character settings, and administration tools can differ. Test the restored site on staging, inspect error logs, and verify every critical workflow before changing DNS or directing visitors to the new server.
What the official requirements do—and do not—promise
The published numbers are requirements and recommendations, not benchmark results. The official pages do not provide named usage statistics, performance comparisons, vulnerability rates, or a complete compatibility matrix covering every WordPress release and every database release. Therefore:
- Do use MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+ as the practical baseline for a new installation.
- Do verify the provider’s exact server specification and the PHP, HTTPS, and rewrite requirements.
- Do not claim that a particular newer database release is tested with every WordPress version solely because it exceeds the minimum.
- Do not treat the legacy MySQL 5.5.5+ statement as a recommendation for new hosting.
For a precise release-to-release compatibility decision, consult the documentation for the WordPress version you will deploy and the hosting provider’s current server specifications.
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