System Requirements
Ensure your server meets these requirements before installing PaywallWP Pro.
Minimum Requirements
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | 6.4+ | Latest |
| PHP | 8.0+ | 8.2+ |
| MySQL | 5.7+ | 8.0+ |
| Memory Limit | 128MB | 256MB+ |
| Max Execution Time | 30s | 60s+ |
Required Components
SSL Certificate (HTTPS)
An SSL certificate is required for:
- Accepting payments via Stripe or PayPal
- Secure data transmission
- User trust and SEO
How to get SSL:
- Many hosts offer free SSL (Let's Encrypt)
- Or purchase from your domain registrar
- Contact your host for assistance
cURL Extension
PHP cURL is required for:
- Payment gateway API calls
- Webhook verification
- External service communication
Check if installed:
<?php var_dump(function_exists('curl_version')); ?>
// Should output: bool(true)
JSON Extension
PHP JSON is required for:
- API communication
- Data serialization
- WordPress REST API
Usually installed by default with PHP.
WordPress Configuration
Permalinks
Required: Pretty permalinks (not "Plain")
Check: Settings → Permalinks
Any structure except "Plain" works:
- Post name (recommended)
- Day and name
- Month and name
- Custom structure
REST API
The WordPress REST API must be enabled for:
- Webhook endpoints
- AJAX functionality
- Admin operations
Check if working:
https://yoursite.com/wp-json/
Should return JSON data.
File Permissions
Standard WordPress permissions:
| Directory/File | Permission |
|---|---|
/wp-content/ | 755 |
/wp-content/plugins/ | 755 |
| Plugin files | 644 |
PHP Configuration
Required Extensions
| Extension | Purpose |
|---|---|
curl | API communication |
json | Data handling |
mbstring | String handling |
openssl | Secure connections |
Recommended Settings
memory_limit = 256M
max_execution_time = 60
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_input_vars = 3000
Check PHP Configuration
View your settings in PaywallWP → Help → System or create a phpinfo file:
<?php phpinfo(); ?>
Server Requirements
Web Server
Supported:
- Apache 2.4+
- Nginx 1.18+
- LiteSpeed
Apache Configuration
Ensure mod_rewrite is enabled for pretty permalinks.
Nginx Configuration
Ensure WordPress rules are in your config:
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;
}
Browser Support
The frontend supports modern browsers:
| Browser | Minimum Version |
|---|---|
| Chrome | 88+ |
| Firefox | 85+ |
| Safari | 14+ |
| Edge | 88+ |
Internet Explorer is not supported.
Payment Gateway Requirements
Stripe
- Valid Stripe account
- API keys (test and live)
- Webhook endpoint accessible
- SSL certificate
PayPal
- PayPal Business account
- REST API app credentials
- Webhook endpoint accessible
- SSL certificate
Checking Requirements
Built-in System Check
Go to PaywallWP → Help → System to see:
- PHP version and settings
- WordPress configuration
- Plugin status
- Database information
- Server environment
Resolve Issues
Common issues:
PHP Version Too Old:
- Contact your host to upgrade
- Most hosts offer PHP 8.0+
Memory Limit Too Low:
- Add to
wp-config.php:define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); - Or contact host
cURL Not Installed:
- Contact your host
- Required for any modern host
SSL Not Enabled:
- Enable through your host
- Usually free with Let's Encrypt
Hosting Recommendations
Recommended Hosts
Quality WordPress hosts that meet all requirements:
- SiteGround
- WP Engine
- Kinsta
- Cloudways
- Bluehost (with optimizations)
Hosting Features to Look For
- PHP 8.0+ available
- Free SSL certificates
- SSD storage
- Automatic backups
- WordPress optimized
- Quality support
Avoid
- Free hosting (limited PHP, no SSL)
- Very old servers
- Hosts without SSL options
- Shared hosting with strict limits
Performance Recommendations
For best performance:
-
Use caching:
- Page caching plugin
- Object caching (Redis/Memcached)
-
Use a CDN:
- Cloudflare (free tier available)
- StackPath
- KeyCDN
-
Optimize images:
- Compress before upload
- Use lazy loading
-
Keep updated:
- WordPress core
- PHP version
- All plugins
Getting Help
If you're unsure about requirements:
- Check PaywallWP → Help → System
- Contact your web host
- Visit our Support Center