PHP, also known as Hypertext Preprocessor is a progamming language that allows you to create dynamic websites. PHP is used by some of the best CMS systems such as WordPress. PHP has a lot of useful functions including create dynamic content, data collection, send/receive cookies and data encryption.
The php.ini file controls how your PHP code influence the website. The majority of the web hosting companies will give you access to modify the php.ini file. PHP is compatible with various types of servers and databases. The following are the top 5 web hosting companies that support PHP.
Best Web Hosting with PHP: Hostgator
Hostgator supports PHP on all their web hosting plans. It supports all versions of PHP, from PHP 5.2 – PHP 5.5. The PHP versions it supports vary across the web hosting plans. The Hostgator web hosting plans that support all the PHP versions include shared hosting, reseller hosting, and VPS hosting. There is a chart that lists which version of PHP is supported by the web hosting.
For some PHP versions, you need to request it from the customer support by creating a ticket. Some PHP versions are not available or officially supported in certain web hosting plans. For example, PHP 5.5 is not available on Windows shared hosting. If you are on a shared or reseller hosting plans, you can use the PHP configuration plugin to change the PHP version. If you are on a dedicated hosting plan, you will have to contact ther customer support to change the PHP version.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy offers PHP on the majority of their web hosting plans. If your hosting plan support PHP, you will be able to see the PHP version on the Server section of your Account Manager. You can modify the version of your PHP from your hosting account. GoDaddy also support custom PHP modules. To enable the custom PHP modules, you must add the PHP intiation file or change the version of your PHP away from native 5.4.
iPage
iPage supports both PHP 4 and PHP 5 on their shared hosting plans. IPage regularly carries out PHP updates to lower the chances of security risks. They carry out quarterly updates on PHP security issues such as bugs and errors. The default PHP version on iPage is PHP 5.3.
You can contact their 24/7 technical support team if you have any problem with the PHP scripting. When you sign up for iPage PHP hosing, you will get a free domain and free ad credits. iPage provides a 30 days money back guarantee for their shared hosting plans.
Fat Cow
Fat Cow supports PHP 5 on their shared hosting plans. They provide an extensive range of tutorials on PHP. Fat Cow has imposed memory and run time restrictions on the PHP. The limit for the memory use for PHP application is 64 MB. There is a 60 seconds run time limit for the PHP. Old PHP applications can only be run with an old version of PHP. Similarly, new PHP applications can only be run with a new version of PHP. For this reason, Fat Cow offers a number of pre installed PHP versions.
Dream Host
Dream Host supports the latest version of PHP on their web hosting plans. They have a knowledgebase center that is dedicated to provide information on how to install PHP on the web hosting plans. They are going to remove PHP 5.3 and PHP 5.4 in 2016. They recommend PHP 5.5 and PHP 5.6 for their customers.
DreamHost allows you to carry out a number of configurations on the PHP through the control panel. Dream Host no longer give webmasters the ability to switch between PHP 4 and PHP 5. However, webmasters can choose to run PHP as Apache module.
Web Hosting with PHP Supported
In conclusion, getting a web hosting plan that support PHP is necessary for webmasters who want to publish their PHP websites. About 75% of the websites on the internet run on PHP scripts. Web hosting with PHP support is essential for webmasters who want to run CMS websites such as WordPress, Joomla and Drupal. When choosing a PHP hosting provider, make sure they offer the new version of PHP. The provider should also be willing to help you to install PHP extensions on your request.