Plugin Compatibility Checker

Description

The Plugin Compatibility Checker helps you keep your WordPress site stable and secure by scanning installed plugins for PHP, Database, and WordPress version compatibility.

🆕 WordPress 7.0 Database Readiness
WordPress 7.0 introduces stricter database requirements (MySQL 8.0+ / MariaDB 10.6+). Many hosting environments still run older database versions which may silently block updates. This plugin now detects database compatibility and warns you before upgrading.

🆕 PHP Security Notice
The plugin now checks your PHP version against a list of known PHP vulnerabilities (for example PHP2Shell, CVE-2026-109618 / CVE-2026-109619). If your PHP version is affected, a warning appears on the plugin dashboard with the vulnerability name and CVE, and asks you to update PHP or contact your hosting provider. This warning is shown to all users, no license needed.

$2/month License Required (Entry Plan)
You must subscribe to the CompatShield Portal ($2/month recurring) to obtain a license key. Once activated, you will be able to see plugin compatibility results (up to PHP 8.5) and database compatibility directly inside your WordPress admin.

📺 Video Tutorial
Watch step-by-step how to activate your license & run your first scan:

Quick Setup Steps
1) Subscribe Get your license key from the Portal
2) Add your domain inside the License tab
3) Copy your License Key
4) Paste License Key inside Plugin Settings in WP Admin
5) Click Validate License
6) Click Save Settings
7) Go to Plugin Main Page Click Rescan

Pro Version (Upgrade)
Upgrading to Pro unlocks the full CompatShield Portal Dashboard with advanced features — vulnerability summary, detailed scan results, notifications, historic analysis, plugin issues overview, premium ZIP upload scanning, and multi-layer compatibility intelligence including database upgrade readiness.

Subscribe / Upgrade to Pro: https://www.compatshield.com/

✨ Key Features

  • PHP Compatibility Check – Scan plugins for PHP compatibility.

    • $2/month license: Shows PHP compatibility results directly inside WP Plugin backend (up to PHP 8.5)
    • Pro license: Deeper breakdowns, insights, and analysis inside Portal Dashboard
  • Database Compatibility Check (NEW 🚀) – Detect MySQL/MariaDB version and ensure WordPress 7.0 readiness.

    • Detects outdated MySQL (< 8.0) and MariaDB (< 10.6)
    • Warns if hosting environment may block WordPress updates
    • Helps prevent upgrade failures
    • Pro: Advanced insights and upgrade recommendations
  • PHP Security Notice (NEW 🚀) – Detects if your PHP version is affected by a known vulnerability.

    • Shows the vulnerability name and CVE ids
    • Tells you which PHP version to update to, or to ask your host to update
    • The list is updated regularly by CompatShield, no plugin update needed
    • Available to all users, no license required
  • Plugin Rescan – Quickly rescan whenever you install or update plugins.

  • Email Notifications (Pro) – Get notified when scans complete or risks are detected.

  • Portal Integration (Pro) – View full detailed results in the CompatShield Portal Dashboard.

  • Vulnerability Summary (Pro) – Basic vulnerability insights available in the Portal.

  • “No Data” Plugins Handling – Easily identify custom/premium plugins or removed versions not available on WordPress.org.

🔑 Entry Plan vs Pro Plan

  • PHP Compatibility Check
    $2 Plan: WP Admin Results up to PHP 8.5
    Pro Plan: Detailed compatibility insights in Portal Dashboard

  • Database Compatibility Check
    $2 Plan: Basic DB version detection in WP Admin
    Pro Plan: Full upgrade readiness insights + risk analysis + recommendations

  • Vulnerability Summary
    $2 Plan: Not available
    Pro Plan: Available in Portal

  • Email Notifications
    $2 Plan: Not available
    Pro Plan: Available

  • Portal Dashboard
    $2 Plan: Not available
    Pro Plan: Full access (compatibility + vulnerabilities + detailed summaries + site overview)

  • Custom/Premium Plugins ZIP Scanning
    $2 Plan: Not available
    Pro Plan: Supported via Portal ZIP uploader

External services

This plugin connects to the following services. No personal data or site address is sent in any of these requests unless stated.

WordPress.org API (api.wordpress.org) – Used on the dashboard to look up the latest WordPress version and public plugin details (plugin slug). Only the public plugin slug is sent. Provided by WordPress.org: Privacy Policy.

WPTide (wptide.org) – Used on the dashboard to read the published PHP compatibility audit of a WordPress.org plugin (plugin slug and version). Only the public plugin slug and version are sent. Provided by the WordPress Tide project: Privacy Policy.

CompatShield PHP security list (www.compatshield.com/portal-api/php-vulnerabilities) – Used to download a public list of known PHP vulnerabilities so the dashboard can warn you if your PHP version is affected. The request sends no data about your site; the comparison with your PHP version happens locally. The list is cached for 6 hours. Provided by CompatShield: Terms | Privacy Policy.

CompatShield Portal (www.compatshield.com/portal-api) – Used only after you enter a license key. Sends your license key, your site’s domain name, the WordPress, PHP and database versions, the server operating system and type, and the name, slug and version of your installed plugins and active theme, so that it can run the scan and return results. Provided by CompatShield: Terms | Privacy Policy.

Screenshots

Installation

  1. Upload plugin-compatibility-checker to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  2. Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress.
  3. Subscribe inside the Portal ($2/month) and enter your license key to unlock compatibility up to PHP 8.5 and database checks.
  4. (Optional) Upgrade to Pro to enable Portal Dashboard and advanced features.

FAQ

What happens if I don’t activate a license?

You must subscribe to the $2/month entry plan and activate your license to see compatibility results. Without license activation, visibility will be limited. Pro unlocks dashboard analytics, notifications and vulnerability insights.

Why is database compatibility important?

Starting with WordPress 7.0, database requirements are stricter (MySQL 8.0+ / MariaDB 10.6+). If your hosting is outdated, your site may not receive updates.

Will my site break if database is outdated?

Not immediately, but your site may stop receiving future WordPress updates, which can lead to security risks.

Why does a plugin show “No Data”?

This usually means the plugin is either custom/premium or its version has been removed from WordPress.org.

Do I need to rescan after adding new plugins?

Yes, please click Rescan to include new plugins in the compatibility check.

Reviews

October 22, 2026
Had a slightly outdated wordpress installation still running php 7.4 and a whole bunch of plugins that where blocking the update to php 8.5 right away. With the plugin is was able to identify which plugins where not maintained anymore and therefore causing the trouble. Did manage to remove all troublesome plugins and now upgrade went through. Will use it again once major updates appear or I'll happen to earn another outdated install.
July 30, 2026
My Wordpress was using a very old version of PHP and I kept getting warnings that I soon would not be able to upgrade Wordpress any longer because my version of PHP would no longer be supported. I wanted to make sure that all my plugins would be compatible with PHP 8.3 because I didn't want the PHP upgrade to somehow break my site. I paid the reasonable $1 that the Compatibility Checker asked for a monthly subscription, and it noted which of my plugins were not supported. I removed them and had a successful upgrade to PHP 8.3 without breaking my site. The support folks for this plugin respond instantly in their webchat when I had questions.
June 10, 2026
This is a fantastic plugin that saves a lot of time and prevents problems during version upgrades to PHP and also Wordpress itself. We can highly recommend it and it is worth the optional paid subscription.
November 4, 2025
The free version gave me a basic idea, but the paid version was way more useful. It caught PHP issues that I wouldn’t have noticed before updating. Glad I upgraded because it saved me time fixing errors later. Definitely more helpful when running sites on newer PHP versions.
November 3, 2025
The plugin will only check major-version compatibility (6, 7, 8) without paying $20/month for a service subscription. If you want to try that, go for it. The free version, though, will not tell you much that is useful.
Read all 12 reviews

Contributors & Developers

“Plugin Compatibility Checker” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

“Plugin Compatibility Checker” has been translated into 1 locale. Thank you to the translators for their contributions.

Translate “Plugin Compatibility Checker” into your language.

Interested in development?

Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.

Changelog

7.0.9

  • Improved: clearer PHP security notice with simpler guidance (ask your host for the patch, or update PHP).
  • Improved: PHP versions that are no longer supported (7.4 and older) now get their own guidance, since the fix is applied by hosts without a new version number.

7.0.8

  • New: PHP security warning on the dashboard when your PHP version is affected by a known vulnerability (currently PHP2Shell, CVE-2026-109618 / CVE-2026-109619).
  • Docs: added External services disclosure.