This article covers the minimum and recommended System Requirements for WP Go Maps.
We highly recommend keeping your WordPress site and all core components updated to the latest versions for optimal performance, security, and access to all new features.
Technical Requirements #
To run WP Go Maps reliably and securely, we suggest meeting or exceeding the following specifications:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended | Notes |
| WordPress | WordPress 5.9 | Latest stable version (e.g., WordPress 6.5 or greater) | Keeping WordPress updated protects your site from security vulnerabilities and provides the latest core features. |
| PHP | 8.1 | 8.3 or greater | PHP 8.1 is the Minimum Secure Version: All versions below 8.1 are considered deprecated and are no longer receiving security patches from the PHP community. Using an older version poses a significant security risk. |
| MySQL / MariaDB | MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.2 | MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.4 or greater | Newer database versions offer superior performance, better query optimization, and stability for managing large datasets. |
| Protocol | HTTP (Discouraged) | HTTPS (SSL/TLS) | HTTPS is mandatory for most third-party map providers (Google, Azure, etc.) to securely load map tiles and data. Using HTTP will likely cause map errors. Free SSL certificates are available from providers like Let’s Encrypt. |
Our suggestions align with the WordPress core suggested requirements.
Importance of Updates for Security #
Running any version of PHP or WordPress that has reached its end-of-life status (i.e., not receiving security updates) is strongly discouraged.
Doing so leaves your website vulnerable to known security exploits. Meeting the recommended requirements ensures you are on the most stable and secure platform.
Where can I get an SSL Certificate #
The use of HTTPS (secured by an SSL/TLS certificate) is now a mandatory requirement for nearly all third-party map providers (including Google, Azure, Stadia, etc.) to load map tiles and execute geocoding requests. If your site is not secured with HTTPS, your maps will likely fail to load correctly.
Fortunately, securing your website is easier and often free today.
Free SSL Options #
- Let’s Encrypt: This is a free, automated, and open Certificate Authority (CA) provided by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG). Most modern web hosts provide simple, one-click installation of Let’s Encrypt certificates.
- StartSSL: Provides free SSL certificates for non-commercial use.
Hosting Provider #
- Many hosting providers (SiteGround, Bluehost, WP Engine, etc.) now include free SSL certificates automatically as part of your hosting package. Check your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.) first for easy activation.
We strongly recommend enabling HTTPS on your entire site before configuring your map provider API keys.
Archived Support #
While we strive to support as many environments as possible, and WP Go Maps is technically coded to be compatible with older environments, we highly discourage using the plugin with outdated versions of WordPress and PHP.
We will only update and maintain support for the latest industry-supported versions of WordPress and PHP.
Our development benchmark is set by the security and performance standards of the broader WordPress ecosystem. If you choose to run WP Go Maps on an environment listed above, you do so at your own risk, as we cannot guarantee security or fix bugs that are caused by the limitations of that archived environment.
| Component | Technical Compatibility | Warning |
| WordPress | 3.5 | WordPress versions below 5.9 no longer receive security patches from Automattic. |
| PHP | 7.0 | PHP versions below 8.1 are unsupported by the PHP community and pose a severe security risk to your entire website. |
⚠ Note: This section is only for historical purposes, and should not be used when deciding on the technical specification to follow.
