Joomla 4 end of life has already happened. Security support for Joomla 4 ended in October 2025, and the last release was 4.4.14. Joomla 3 ended earlier, in August 2023. If your site runs either one, it no longer gets security fixes from the Joomla project. You have two sensible options: upgrade one major version at a time to Joomla 6, or move to WordPress.
We sell Joomla work and WordPress migrations, so weigh our view with that in mind. This guide stays neutral. Our Joomla development team can upgrade your site, and our Joomla to WordPress migration service can move it. Dates were checked on 14 November 2026.
Joomla 4 end of life: the support dates
| Version | Bug fixes end | Security fixes end | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joomla 3 (3.10) | Ended August 2023 | Ended August 2023. Paid extended security ran to 17 February 2025 | Unsupported |
| Joomla 4 (4.4) | Ended 15 October 2024 | Ended October 2025. Last release 4.4.14 | Unsupported |
| Joomla 5 (released 17 October 2023) | Ended 13 October 2026 | 12 October 2027 | Security fixes only |
| Joomla 6 (released 14 October 2025) | 17 October 2028 | 16 October 2029 | Fully supported |
Sources: the Joomla roadmap for Joomla 5 and 6, and the Joomla CMS versions page for Joomla 3 and 4. The project’s release cycle gives the rule behind these dates: after the x.4.0 release, bugs are fixed for one year and security for two. We found no Joomla 7 dates.
Note the Joomla 5 line. Its regular bug fixes ended on 13 October 2026, only a month ago. It still gets security fixes until October 2027. It is supported, but it is not the place to settle.
What an unsupported Joomla version means
- The Joomla project no longer releases security fixes for it. A flaw found in core stays open on your site.
- Extension developers move on. Newer extension versions may need a newer Joomla.
- Upgrades get harder the longer you wait. The official path is one major version at a time.
- The release-cycle page says updates from end-of-life releases are, by definition, not supported.
That does not mean your site stops working. It means the risk grows each month, and the fix gets bigger.
Option 1: upgrade to Joomla 6, one major version at a time
The official Joomla guides have a separate page for each jump. The route is not a single leap:
- Joomla 3: update to the latest 3.10.x.
- Joomla 3.10 to Joomla 4.4.
- Joomla 4.4 to Joomla 5.4.
- Joomla 5.4 to Joomla 6.
The guides say to update to the latest patch of your current version first, then to the latest minor of the next major. Run each stage on a test copy, not on the live site.
What Joomla 6 needs
The Joomla 5 to 6 guide lists the server minimums. If your server falls short, the upgrade option does not appear in Joomla Update.
| Requirement | Minimum for Joomla 6 |
|---|---|
| PHP | 8.3 |
| MySQL | 8.0.13 |
| MariaDB | 10.6 |
| PostgreSQL | 14.0 |
Check your current setup under System, then System Information. Ask your host if you need a newer PHP.
Three traps from the official guides
- Backward compatibility plugin. The Joomla 5 plugin called Behaviour – Backward Compatibility must be disabled before you upgrade to Joomla 6. The guide says the old and new compatibility plugins cannot both be on during the upgrade.
- Templates. The Joomla 3 to 4 guide says the Protostar template is not compatible with Joomla 4 and disappears when you migrate. Third-party templates need a Joomla 4 version from their developer.
- Extensions. The pre-update check is a rough guide, not a final verdict. Check each extension with its developer.
The Joomla guide calls the last step “an upgrade, not a migration”. For a site that is already on 5.4, it is a lighter job. For a site on Joomla 3, it is three upgrades in a row.
Option 2: move to WordPress
Moving to WordPress means a new build with your content carried over. It is not an upgrade. It can make sense when:
- Your site is mostly pages and blog posts.
- You use few extensions, or ones with clear WordPress equivalents.
- Your team already knows WordPress, or wants an easier editing screen.
- The old site has fallen so far behind that three upgrades cost as much as a rebuild.
The official Joomla guide says something similar. When you skip several major versions and have many outdated extensions, it may be less work to rebuild from scratch with the latest version. The same logic applies to a move to WordPress.
What to check before you choose WordPress: Joomla features such as access levels, multilingual content, custom fields and component-based data may need plugins or custom work. A developer should review them. If you run a shop through a Joomla extension, see Joomla to WooCommerce migration.
Upgrade or move? A decision table
| If this describes you | Lean towards |
|---|---|
| Site is on Joomla 4.4 or 5.4 and extensions have Joomla 6 versions | Upgrade to Joomla 6 |
| Heavy use of Joomla-specific components, access levels or multilingual | Upgrade, or plan a careful move |
| Site is on Joomla 3 with many unmaintained extensions | Compare the cost of three upgrades with a move |
| Mostly pages and posts; editors find Joomla hard | Move to WordPress |
| Server cannot run PHP 8.3 and your host will not change | Fix hosting first, whichever route you take |
| Search traffic matters and URLs must stay the same | Either route works if redirects are planned |
Five checks before you choose
- Know your versions. Joomla version, PHP version and database version. System Information shows them.
- Audit your extensions. List every extension and template. For each, check whether the developer supports Joomla 6, and whether it is still maintained.
- Back up and test the restore. The official guide stresses this: test that the backup actually works.
- Work on a copy. Test on a subdomain or local copy, never first on the live site.
- Save your URLs. Export your top pages from Search Console and a crawl. You need them for either route.
If you cannot answer all five, you are not ready to choose yet. A short audit comes first.
A sensible order of work for either route
Whichever route you pick, the first weeks look the same. This order keeps risk low.
- Audit. Record versions, extensions, template, hosting and the main pages and forms. Take screenshots of key pages so you can compare later.
- Fix hosting. Make sure PHP and the database meet the targets. For Joomla 6, that means PHP 8.3 or later.
- Build a test copy. Restore your backup on a subdomain or local machine.
- Trial the route. Run the first upgrade on the copy, or load a sample of content into WordPress. Note every break.
- Fix and repeat. Work through the list. Replace extensions that have no future.
- Test as a visitor and as an editor. Forms, search, logins, payment, email, mobile view.
- Go live in a quiet week. Keep a fresh backup and a way back for at least the first few days.
- Watch Search Console. Check crawl errors and indexing after launch.
The trial step is the most useful one. It turns guesses into a list. After the trial, you know whether the project is a weekend or a month.
What not to do
- Do not update the live site first and hope.
- Do not upgrade without a tested backup.
- Do not leave an old template in place and assume it will work. Protostar does not work on Joomla 4.
- Do not buy new extensions before you know what your site really uses.
- Do not wait for a hack to force the decision.
Protect your search traffic
An upgrade on the same domain usually keeps URLs unchanged, so redirects are rarely the issue. Check that URL settings, such as SEF and URL rewriting, still work after each step. A move to WordPress changes the platform, so Google’s site move guide applies: map old URLs to new ones, use permanent redirects, and keep them for at least a year.
Cost and next step
We quote Joomla upgrades after a free site check, because the work depends on your extensions, template and version. A website migration to WordPress starts from US$49 (₹3,000), depending on complexity. A Joomla site with many extensions will cost more than the starting price. We give a fixed quote after a free consultation.
Get a free site check if you want to stay on Joomla. We will tell you your version, what blocks the upgrade and what it takes. If you are leaning towards WordPress, use the same form to book a free consultation before migration. Either way, our maintenance plans keep updates and backups on schedule afterwards. For moves from other platforms, see our website migration services.
FAQ
Is Joomla 4 still supported?
No. Joomla 4 security support ended in October 2025. The last release was 4.4.14. Joomla 5 and 6 are supported.
Which Joomla version should I be on?
Joomla 6 has the longest support: bug fixes to 17 October 2028 and security fixes to 16 October 2029. Joomla 5 gets security fixes only, until 12 October 2027.
Can I upgrade from Joomla 3 straight to Joomla 6?
The official guides describe one major version at a time: 3.10 to 4.4, then 5.4, then 6. Skipping steps is not the supported route.
What does Joomla 6 need on the server?
PHP 8.3, and MySQL 8.0.13, MariaDB 10.6 or PostgreSQL 14. Check System Information in your Joomla admin.
Will my extensions work on Joomla 6?
Only if their developers support it. Check each one. Some run through the Backward Compatibility 6 plugin, but the official guide treats fully updated extensions as the goal.
Is it cheaper to move to WordPress?
Not always. A site on Joomla 5.4 with updated extensions is a lighter job than a move. A Joomla 3 site with many old extensions can make a rebuild competitive. A site check shows which case you are in.
Will I lose Google rankings?
An upgrade on the same URLs rarely changes rankings. A platform move can, for a few weeks. Planned 301 redirects and Search Console monitoring lower the risk.
