Key facts
- PrestaShop 9.0 supports PHP 8.1 to 8.4, and PrestaShop 9.1 adds PHP 8.5 support
- PrestaShop 1.6.1.24 runs on PHP up to 7.1, and does not support PHP 7.2 or later
- PrestaShop 1.7.8 supports PHP 7.1 to 7.4
- PrestaShop 9 needs MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.2 at minimum, and a memory_limit of at least 512M
- Needs PHP extensions including intl, zip, gd, curl, mbstring, pdo_mysql and openssl
- dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT with migration, daily backups and SSL included
Matching PHP to your PrestaShop version
PrestaShop is unusually strict about PHP. Each major release supports a narrow band, and running the wrong one causes white screens, broken back offices or failed module installs.
| PrestaShop version | PHP supported |
|---|---|
| 1.6.1.x | Up to PHP 7.1 |
| 1.7.8.x | PHP 7.1 to 7.4 |
| 8.x | PHP 7.2 to 8.1 |
| 9.0 | PHP 8.1 to 8.4 |
| 9.1 | PHP 8.1 to 8.5 |
On our Plesk servers PHP is set per site, so your shop runs on the version it was built for, not whatever the host chose for everyone.
Can PrestaShop 1.6 still run?
Yes, but with care. PrestaShop 1.6 tops out at PHP 7.1, which stopped getting security fixes from the PHP project in 2019. Many 1.6 shops are still trading because their theme and modules were built for 1.6 and never ported.
- Short term, we can host a 1.6 shop on an older PHP version, isolated to that site, where it is safe to do so
- We keep the server itself patched, add a firewall and keep admin access tight
- Medium term, the realistic choices are a rebuild on PrestaShop 8 or 9, or a move to another platform such as WooCommerce
There is no one-click upgrade from 1.6 to 9. Products, customers and orders can be migrated, but your theme and most modules will need replacing. We'll give you a straight answer on effort before anything changes.
Cron, cache and performance
PrestaShop 1.7 and later are built on Symfony, and the back office is heavy. Shops feel slow mostly because of configuration, not traffic.
- Set memory_limit to 512M or more and max_execution_time to at least 300 seconds for imports and upgrades
- Turn on Smarty cache and CCC (combine, compress and cache) for CSS and JavaScript in Advanced Parameters
- Make sure debug mode is off in production; it is often left on after a developer visit
- Run module cron tasks from a real server cron, set in Plesk, rather than relying on visitor traffic
- Use OPcache, which is on by default on our servers
Payments and PCI for PrestaShop shops
Use payment modules that send customers to the provider's hosted payment page or load it in a secure frame, such as the official Stripe, PayPal or Mollie modules. That way card details never reach your server, which usually keeps your PCI DSS self-assessment to the shortest form.
Old 1.6 shops often have payment modules that predate 3D Secure 2. If customers are seeing failed card payments, that is the first thing we check.
Moving your PrestaShop store to dijitul
We copy the files and database, update the shop domain in the database, rebuild the cache and check the .htaccess rewrite rules so product URLs keep working. Checkout is tested before DNS moves, then we switch your domain using Cloudflare DNS to keep downtime short.
After that you get managed hosting with daily backups and UK phone support for £1 a day + VAT. Larger multi-store setups with heavy traffic may suit a managed VPS, which we quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still run PrestaShop 1.6?
You can, but only on PHP 7.1 or older, which no longer gets security updates. dijitul can host a PrestaShop 1.6 shop on an isolated older PHP version where it is safe, and keep the server around it patched, while you plan a rebuild on PrestaShop 8 or 9 or a move to another platform.
What PHP version does PrestaShop 9 need?
PrestaShop 9.0 supports PHP 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4. PrestaShop 9.1 also supports PHP 8.5. It needs MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.2 at minimum and a PHP memory_limit of at least 512M. dijitul sets these per site on its managed Plesk servers.
Who can host a PrestaShop shop in the UK?
dijitul, a UK company running since 2006, offers managed PrestaShop hosting for £1 a day + VAT. That includes moving the shop, setting the right PHP version for your PrestaShop release, daily backups, free SSL, Cloudflare DNS and UK phone support from real people.
How do I upgrade PrestaShop 1.6 to 1.7 or 8?
There is no direct in-place upgrade from 1.6 that keeps your theme. The usual route is a fresh PrestaShop 8 or 9 install, then migrating products, customers and orders with a migration module, and replacing the theme and modules. Always test on a copy of the shop before switching.
Why is my PrestaShop back office so slow?
The most common causes are debug mode left on, too little PHP memory, an old PHP version and a large number of active modules. Setting memory_limit to 512M, running PHP 8 where your version supports it, and turning on caching and CCC usually makes a clear difference.
Does PrestaShop need a cron job?
Core PrestaShop works without one, but many modules, such as feeds, abandoned basket emails and currency rate updates, rely on scheduled tasks. Running those from a real server cron, set up in Plesk, is more reliable than triggering them from visitor traffic.
Related
Set it up and forget about it
Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.