PHP Support & Upgrades
for Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane businesses.
PHP version upgrades, security patching, framework migrations, performance optimisation, and ongoing support. If your PHP app is on an old version or needs a developer, we can help.
We also take over PHP codebases from previous developers. Perth-based, Australia-wide.
Your PHP application needs attention — let us handle it
PHP powers 77% of the web. But a PHP application that has not been maintained is a ticking clock. Old PHP versions have known security vulnerabilities. Outdated Composer packages have unpatched CVEs. Deprecated functions start throwing warnings and then errors as versions advance.
The most common scenario: a PHP application was built years ago by a freelancer or agency. It works fine. Then the hosting provider announces PHP 7.x end-of-life. Or a security scan flags vulnerabilities. Or the developer has moved on and nobody understands the code.
We upgrade PHP versions, patch security issues, migrate frameworks, take over codebases, and provide ongoing support. If your PHP application needs a developer, we are that developer.
PHP support services — by type
Version upgrades, security fixes, framework migrations, ongoing support, and performance optimisation. Whatever your PHP application needs.
PHP Version Upgrades
PHP 5.6, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 — all end-of-life. No security patches, no bug fixes. Hosting providers are dropping support. If your application runs on an EOL PHP version, upgrading is not optional — it is a security requirement.
We upgrade PHP applications to PHP 8.1, 8.2, or 8.3. This means fixing deprecated functions, updating type declarations, handling strict typing changes, resolving incompatible library versions, and testing everything. It is not just changing a version number.
PHP 8 introduced significant changes: named arguments, union types, match expressions, constructor promotion, fibers, and enums. Some of these require code changes. We handle the compatibility work so your application runs correctly on the new version.
Security Patching & Vulnerability Remediation
PHP applications with known vulnerabilities — SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, insecure file uploads, session management issues, or outdated dependencies with CVEs. We audit, identify, and fix security issues.
Composer dependency audit. Every package checked against known vulnerability databases. Outdated packages updated or replaced. Abandoned packages swapped for maintained alternatives.
Server-level PHP security: disable dangerous functions, restrict file uploads, configure session security, enable HTTPS enforcement, set proper Content-Security-Policy headers. The application and the server both need to be secure.
Framework Version Upgrades
Laravel 5.x, 6.x, 7.x, 8.x to Laravel 10 or 11. CakePHP 2.x to 5.x. Symfony 3.x to 7.x. CodeIgniter 3 to 4. Framework upgrades require migrating deprecated features, updating routing, handling breaking changes, and testing.
Laravel upgrades are the most common request. Each major version introduces breaking changes — middleware, routing, authentication, queue configuration, and Eloquent. We follow the official upgrade guides and test thoroughly.
Sometimes a framework upgrade is not practical — the application is too old, the framework version gap too large, or the codebase too tangled. In those cases, we recommend a rebuild using the modern framework version as the foundation.
Ongoing PHP Application Support
Monthly support plans for PHP applications. Bug fixes, security patches, performance monitoring, and small feature requests. A developer who knows your codebase, available when you need them.
Proactive monitoring: uptime checks, error tracking, performance metrics, and dependency vulnerability scanning. Issues caught before they become outages. Monthly reports showing what was done and what needs attention.
Previous developer left? We take over PHP codebases. Audit the code, document the architecture, set up proper deployment pipelines, and start maintaining it. No judgement about the state of the code — we just fix it and move forward.
PHP Performance Optimisation
Slow PHP application? We profile, identify bottlenecks, and fix them. Common issues: N+1 database queries, missing indexes, no caching, synchronous processing of heavy tasks, and unoptimised Composer autoloading.
OPcache configuration, query optimisation, Redis or Memcached caching, queue workers for background processing, and CDN configuration for static assets. The combination of these improvements is usually dramatic.
Load testing to verify the application handles expected traffic. If the server infrastructure is the bottleneck, we recommend scaling strategies — horizontal scaling, load balancing, or moving to a more appropriate hosting tier.
Client portal that cut email volume by 70%
We built a secure document exchange and task tracking portal for an accounting firm. Clients upload, review and approve — all in one place instead of email.
Read the full case study →Why trust us with your PHP application
Deep PHP experience across frameworks and versions
We have worked with PHP since version 4. Laravel, Symfony, CakePHP, CodeIgniter, WordPress, Drupal, and plain PHP applications. From PHP 5.2 procedural code to PHP 8.3 with Fibers and enums. We know the language inside out.
This matters because PHP upgrades are not straightforward. Each version introduced changes that can break existing code in subtle ways. PHP 7 changed error handling. PHP 7.4 added typed properties. PHP 8.0 changed string-to-number comparisons. PHP 8.1 deprecated passing null to non-nullable internal function parameters. Experience means knowing where to look.
We also understand the Australian hosting landscape. Shared hosting on cPanel, VPS providers like Vultr and DigitalOcean, AWS, and Azure. Each has different PHP configuration options and constraints.
No lock-in — your code, your hosting, your choice
We work on your existing hosting, your existing codebase, and your existing deployment process. We do not require you to move to our infrastructure or use our tools. The code and the server are yours.
If you want to bring another developer on later, or take development in-house, everything is documented and accessible. No proprietary frameworks, no encrypted code, no dependency on our continued involvement.
Source code in your Git repository. Documentation in your wiki. Deployment scripts that anyone can run. We set things up so you are not dependent on any single provider — including us.
Honest advice about when to upgrade vs rebuild
Not every PHP application should be upgraded. Sometimes the codebase is so old, so poorly structured, or so far behind that a rebuild is cheaper and faster than trying to upgrade. We will tell you honestly which path makes sense.
The decision depends on: how old the PHP version is, the quality of the existing code, whether the framework is still actively maintained, and how much the application needs to change. An upgrade is usually cheaper. A rebuild is sometimes necessary.
We scope both options and give you the numbers. A PHP 5.6 to 8.3 upgrade on clean code: $5,000 to $15,000. A messy codebase with no tests: the upgrade might cost $20,000 and a rebuild $30,000. At that point, the rebuild gives you a better long-term result.
Thorough testing — upgrades do not break things
PHP upgrades can introduce subtle bugs. A function that returned false now throws an exception. A type coercion that worked in PHP 7 behaves differently in PHP 8. These are not always caught by automated tests.
We use a combination of automated testing (PHPUnit, Pest), static analysis (PHPStan, Psalm), and manual testing of critical workflows. Existing test suites are updated for the new PHP version. Missing tests are added for critical paths.
Staging environment testing before production deployment. The upgrade is verified on a copy of your production environment before touching the live system. Rollback plans in place. No surprises.
PHP support and maintenance services
Emergency fixes, security audits, code takeovers, and monthly support plans. Whatever your PHP application needs, we handle it.
Emergency PHP Fixes
Site down? Security breach? Critical bug in production? We respond quickly to PHP emergencies. Diagnose, fix, and deploy — often same day.
Composer Dependency Management
Outdated packages, abandoned libraries, and version conflicts. We untangle Composer dependencies, update to maintained versions, and resolve conflicts.
Security Audit
Full security audit of your PHP application. SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, authentication, session management, file uploads, and dependency vulnerabilities.
Code Takeover
Previous developer left? We audit the PHP codebase, document the architecture, set up CI/CD, and start maintaining it. Bug fixes and feature development resume.
Server & Hosting Migration
Move from shared hosting to VPS, from old servers to AWS or DigitalOcean. PHP, database, files, cron jobs, and email configuration migrated with zero downtime.
Monthly Support Plans
Retainer-based support. Allocated hours for bug fixes, updates, security patches, and small feature requests. Proactive monitoring and regular dependency updates.
PHP Support
Need your PHP application upgraded or maintained?
Send us access to the codebase and we will audit it. You get a clear report of what needs attention, how much it costs, and how long it takes.
PHP support situations we handle regularly
If one of these sounds familiar, we can help.
PHP 5.6/7.x → PHP 8
End-of-life PHP version upgraded to a supported version. Hosting provider deadline approaching, or security audit flagged the old version.
Laravel 5/6/7 → Laravel 11
Older Laravel application upgraded to the latest version. Middleware, routing, authentication, queue, and Eloquent changes handled.
Security Vulnerability Fix
Penetration test or security scan flagged vulnerabilities. SQL injection, XSS, outdated dependencies, or insecure configuration fixed.
Developer Left — Need a Takeover
Previous PHP developer or agency gone. Code needs to be understood, documented, and maintained by a new team.
Slow PHP Application
Performance degradation. Slow page loads, high server CPU, or database timeouts. Profiling, query optimisation, and caching implemented.
Legacy PHP Modernisation
Old procedural PHP code incrementally modernised. Introduce namespaces, Composer, OOP patterns, and eventually a framework — without a full rewrite.
PHP upgrade process — step by step
From audit to post-upgrade monitoring. No surprises, no untested changes to production.
Technologies alongside PHP support
PHP applications do not exist in isolation. These are the related technologies we handle as part of PHP support engagements.
Laravel
The most popular PHP framework. If your application is Laravel, version upgrades and PHP upgrades go hand in hand.
WordPress
WordPress sites need PHP upgrades too. Themes, plugins, and custom code all need to be compatible with the target PHP version.
MySQL / MariaDB
PHP application databases. MySQL version upgrades are often needed alongside PHP upgrades for compatibility and security.
Linux Server Administration
PHP runs on Linux. Server configuration, PHP-FPM tuning, OPcache, and security hardening.
AWS / DigitalOcean
Cloud hosting for PHP applications. EC2, Lightsail, or DigitalOcean droplets with proper PHP configuration.
PHPUnit / Pest
Testing frameworks for PHP. We write and maintain tests as part of the upgrade process to catch regressions.
Our hosting provider gave us 60 days to upgrade from PHP 7.2. Our old developer was gone. HELLO PEOPLE audited the codebase in a week, upgraded to PHP 8.2 in three weeks, and set us up with monthly monitoring. Smooth as. Should have called them sooner.
Common questions about PHP support and upgrades
My hosting provider says I need to upgrade PHP — is it urgent?
If your hosting provider is removing support for your PHP version, yes. Once they drop the version, your site will stop working. More importantly, running an end-of-life PHP version means no security patches — your application is vulnerable to known exploits. Treat it as urgent.
How much does a PHP upgrade cost?
Simple site (WordPress or small application) on clean code: $2,000 to $5,000. Medium application with Composer dependencies and some custom code: $5,000 to $15,000. Complex application with heavy VBA or extensive custom PHP: $15,000 to $30,000. We audit first and provide a fixed-price quote.
Will upgrading PHP break my website?
It can — which is why we never upgrade production directly. We set up a staging environment, run the upgrade there, fix all compatibility issues, test thoroughly, and only then deploy to production. The goal is zero issues on the day of the production upgrade.
My PHP app is on version 5.6 — can it be upgraded?
Usually, yes. The gap from 5.6 to 8.x is significant — many deprecated functions, changed behaviour, and removed features. It takes more work than a 7.4 to 8.x upgrade. We audit the codebase and give you an honest assessment of whether an upgrade or rebuild is more cost-effective.
What about my WordPress plugins?
Each plugin needs to be compatible with the target PHP version. We check every active plugin. Most major plugins support PHP 8.x. Abandoned or poorly maintained plugins may need to be replaced with alternatives. We identify these during the audit.
Can you take over our PHP application from another developer?
Yes. We audit the codebase, document the architecture, set up proper version control (if missing), configure CI/CD, and start maintaining it. This is common — developers move on, agencies close, and someone needs to pick up the code.
Do you offer ongoing PHP support plans?
Yes. Monthly retainer plans starting from $500/month. Includes security monitoring, dependency updates, bug fixes, and small feature requests. Larger plans include proactive performance monitoring and more development hours.
Should I upgrade my PHP application or rebuild it?
Upgrade if the code is reasonably clean, the framework is still maintained, and the application meets your business needs. Rebuild if the code is unmaintainable, the framework is abandoned, or the business has outgrown what the application does. We scope both options and give you the cost comparison.
Get Started
PHP application need a developer?
Upgrade, security fix, code takeover, or ongoing support — tell us what your PHP application needs and we will come back with a plan.
Tell Us About Your PHP Application
Describe the application, the PHP version, and what you need — upgrade, security fix, or ongoing support. We will audit and come back with a plan.
Prefer a quick chat? Call 0425 531 127 – we're Perth-based and we answer the phone.