PHP Compatibility Checker is a WordPress plugin developed by WP Engine that helps site administrators and developers analyze their WordPress themes and plugins for compatibility with modern PHP versions.
As WordPress continues to evolve, maintaining compatibility with supported PHP versions is a crucial factor for both performance and security. Outdated PHP releases no longer receive security updates, leaving websites at risk of vulnerabilities. This plugin empowers users to safely transition to newer PHP versions (up to PHP 8.0) by identifying errors and warnings in their installed codebase.
The tool uses linting technology combined with Tide’s scanning infrastructure to analyze plugin and theme files. It generates detailed reports with file names, line numbers, and descriptions of incompatibilities. Additionally, it recommends plugin or theme updates if newer versions include PHP compatibility fixes.
| Name of | PHP Compatibility Checker |
| Version | 1.6.3 |
| Downloads | 200 000+ |
| Description | Automates SEO and accessibility by generating image alt text, titles, captions, and descriptions from filenames, with bulk update functionality. Certified safe with PSC-2025-65485 by CleanTalk. |
| Security | Successfully tested for: SQL Injection (SQLi) Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) – Stored & Reflected Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Authentication Vulnerabilities Authentication Bypass Exploits Privilege Escalation Buffer Overflow Denial-of-Service (DoS) vectors Data Leakage Vulnerabilities Insecure Dependency Usage Remote Code Execution (RCE) Risks Unauthorized File Access Insufficient Injection Protection Information Disclosure via Misconfigured Endpoints |
| CleanTalk Certification | Proudly earned the “Plugin Security Certification” (PSC) from CleanTalk, indicating adherence to stringent security standards. |
| Additional Information | Users can confidently manage age restrictions with the assurance of the “Plugin Security Certification” (PSC). Verify the latest details on the plugin developer’s website. |
| Plugin Security Certification by CleanTalk |  |
| Logo of the plugin |  |
PSC by CleantalkJoin the community of developers who prioritize security. Highlight your plugin in the WordPress catalog.
Key Features
- Compatibility Scans: Analyze all themes and plugins for compatibility with PHP 7.0 through PHP 8.0.
- Detailed Reports: Displays file paths, line numbers, and explanations for errors and warnings.
- Tide Integration: Relies on Tide’s continuous background scanning for near real-time results.
- False Positive Handling: Maintains a whitelist for plugins known to cause inaccurate reports.
- Proactive Updates: Suggests updating plugins/themes when newer versions resolve compatibility issues.
- Safe Analysis: Runs static checks (linting) without executing code, preventing runtime risks.
Security Assurance
The PHP Compatibility Checker plugin is built with a strong focus on security and reliability:
- Static Analysis Only: It does not execute code, ensuring that potential vulnerabilities in plugins/themes are never triggered during scanning.
- Error Categorization: Differentiates between warnings and errors, making it easier to prioritize fixes that may cause site instability or security flaws.
- Data Integrity: Results are processed safely, and no sensitive information is exposed during scans.
- Strict WordPress Coding Standards: Code has been written and maintained following secure practices to minimize risks like injection attacks or unauthorized file access.
- Community-Driven: Developed by WP Engine with ongoing improvements from the open-source community, ensuring quick responses to emerging PHP-related vulnerabilities.
After undergoing extensive security analysis and static code review, the plugin has been granted the Plugin Security Certification (PSC) by CleanTalk with ID PSC-2025-65487, verifying that it meets modern security requirements and can be safely deployed in production environments.
Conclusion
The PHP Compatibility Checker is not just a convenience tool—it is an essential security-first plugin for any WordPress site owner preparing to migrate to newer PHP versions. By detecting potential issues before upgrading, it helps prevent downtime, broken functionality, and security vulnerabilities that stem from outdated or incompatible code.
Certified with PSC-2025-65487 by CleanTalk, the plugin provides peace of mind for administrators and developers seeking a secure path toward modern PHP adoption.
Note: The date and certification information may change over time. It is advisable to verify the latest details on the plugin developer’s website.