Key facts
- Zen Cart 2.1.0 is designed for PHP 8.0 to 8.3 and shows some deprecation notices on PHP 8.4
- Zen Cart 1.5.x versions each support a narrower band of PHP 7 and early PHP 8
- Zen Cart 1.3.x was written for PHP 4 and 5 and needs heavy work to run on modern PHP
- Zen Cart needs MySQL or MariaDB and a writable cache folder
- Zen Cart's own docs advise using the highest PHP version your Zen Cart release supports
- Managed Zen Cart hosting from dijitul is £1 a day + VAT
Zen Cart and PHP versions
Zen Cart is a long-running, community-built shop that grew out of osCommerce. It has a loyal following among UK hobby, craft and parts retailers. Each release supports a set range of PHP versions:
- Zen Cart 2.1.0: PHP 8.0 to 8.3. It runs on 8.4 but logs deprecation notices.
- Zen Cart 1.5.7 and 1.5.8: PHP 7.x into early PHP 8, depending on the point release.
- Zen Cart 1.5.5 and older: PHP 5.x to early 7.x.
- Zen Cart 1.3.x: PHP 4 and 5 era code.
The Zen Cart team recommend running the highest PHP your version supports, because it has the latest security fixes. We set PHP per site in Plesk, so we can match your version exactly.
The trouble with old Zen Cart shops
Many Zen Cart shops have years of add-ons layered on top: Easy Populate, image handlers, custom shipping modules, a template that has been edited directly. That's what makes upgrading hard. Zen Cart has no one-click update between major versions. The supported route is a fresh install of the new version, then running the database upgrader and re-applying add-ons and template changes.
In the meantime, we can host an older Zen Cart on the PHP version it needs, isolated to that site and behind a firewall, where it is safe to do so. If the shop is already broken, start with website rescue.
Security basics for Zen Cart
- Rename the admin folder; Zen Cart prompts you to do this at install
- Remove the zc_install folder once the shop is installed or upgraded
- Make configure.php files read-only
- Apply security patches published on the Zen Cart forum promptly
- Use admin two-factor login where your version allows it
Older Zen Cart shops are a common target for automated attacks because the admin paths and file names are well known. Our servers add a web application firewall and malware scanning on top.
Payments on Zen Cart
Zen Cart supports Square, PayPal and other gateways through payment modules. Choose modules that send customers to a hosted payment page or use embedded secure fields. Old direct-card modules written before 3D Secure 2 decline more UK cards and bring card data onto your server, which makes PCI compliance much harder.
Moving your Zen Cart shop to dijitul
We move the files and database, update both configure.php files with the new server paths, set the cache folder permissions and test the checkout on a temporary address. Then the domain is switched through Cloudflare DNS.
You get managed hosting with daily backups, free SSL, your own Plesk login and UK phone support on 01623 650333, all for £1 a day + VAT. Order online or ask us to look at your shop first.
Frequently asked questions
Who can host an old Zen Cart shop in the UK?
dijitul, a UK hosting company trading since 2006, hosts older Zen Cart shops on managed Plesk hosting for £1 a day + VAT. Where it is safe, we run them on the PHP version they need, keep the server patched around them, and help you plan an upgrade to Zen Cart 2.x.
What PHP version does Zen Cart 2.1 need?
Zen Cart 2.1.0 is designed for PHP 8.0 to PHP 8.3. It works on PHP 8.4 but will log some deprecation messages. Zen Cart recommends using the highest PHP version your release supports, because it receives the most current security fixes.
How do I upgrade Zen Cart 1.5 to 2.x?
Upload a fresh copy of the new Zen Cart version, copy across your configure.php settings, run zc_install to upgrade the database, then re-apply your template and add-ons using versions made for 2.x. Do it on a copy of the shop first and keep a full backup.
Is Zen Cart still being developed?
Yes. Zen Cart is still maintained by its community team, with the 2.x series running on PHP 8. It is a sensible choice for shops that already use it. Many older shops are simply out of date rather than on a dead platform.
Why does my Zen Cart shop show a blank page?
Most often the PHP version on the server has changed and the shop's code or add-ons are not compatible with it. Wrong paths in configure.php after a move, or a cache folder that is not writable, are the other usual causes. The PHP error log in Plesk shows which.
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.