Does it make sense to upgrade your Joomla 3 website to Joomla 4 now that Joomla 5 and later versions are available? Our experts recommend upgrading from Joomla 3 straight to a supported version, because Joomla 3 support ended in August 2023, Joomla 4 support has ended too and a newer version keeps working for you for years.
Serving businesses across North America from Toronto, IDL Web Inc has worked with Joomla for more than 2 decades, ask for a FREE audit or a FREE quote and we will tell you which Joomla version and which upgrade path suit your website.
Joomla 3 to Joomla 4 to Joomla 5
Joomla 4 was good enough in its time, however, there are many reasons to move to Joomla 5 or later, from speed and features to security adjustments and support for the newest PHP and MySQL versions. Joomla 3 works up to PHP 8 and Joomla 4 can match PHP 8.2, but with those newer PHP versions some extensions and features do not work perfectly, while Joomla 5 matches PHP 8 and higher, which means better performance and more options for integrations.
Smaller websites gain improved security and fewer issues from the migration and bigger websites with more than 1000 unique users a day and complex setups benefit the most from the latest version of Joomla.
What Joomla 5 Adds
Overall core speed improvements, a better search and file manager, an image editor, modern technologies and a focus on security help businesses improve the experience of their users and admins:
- Support for newer PHP versions.
- An overhaul of Joomla core.
- Improved system speed.
- Faster searches.
- Prepared SQL statements.
- PHPMailer 6.
- An image file editor.
- Bootstrap 4 and jQuery 3.
- A clean admin UI.
Which Joomla version fits your website?
IDL Web Inc can audit your Joomla 3 website and tell you which version to target and what the upgrade will involve.
How an Upgrade to Joomla 4 or Joomla 5 Is Planned
Our team of Joomla specialists analyzes the upgrade and prepares a strategic plan, so you and we are prepared for any hiccups.
Analysis of your website
We identify any hard-coded PHP and any custom code, components and plugins. This list shows which parts of your website carry the most risk in the upgrade.
Extension upgrades
We check which upgrades exist for your components and how your modules and components work together, so every extension has a clear upgrade or replacement path.
Alternatives where needed
If a component is outdated and has not been maintained by its developer for ages, the chance that it works with Joomla 4 and PHP 8 is pretty low, so we find an alternative.
A plan that avoids hurdles
Proper planning helps to avoid any major hurdle down the upgrade path. We agree the order of the steps, the testing and the go-live date with you before we start.
Why Choose Joomla 5 When You Migrate from Joomla 3
Joomla 3 is out of date and out of updates, which means it is not secure and its performance goes down rapidly. Joomla 4 also stopped receiving updates before Joomla 5 did, so by updating straight to Joomla 5 or later you give your online presence an edge, a modern and updated system that works for longer and brings more profits.
How to Make the Right Choice
- Understand the life cycle of each version and your own strategic goals.
- Prepare a clear and full guide of your features, integrations and customizations, so a web development company can estimate the scope of work and the budget for you.
- Calculate the budget and the possible gains from the transition before you commit.
Want a scope and a price for your Joomla upgrade?
Send IDL Web Inc your features, integrations and customizations and we will estimate the work and the budget.
How IDL Web Inc Can Help
Joomla is at the core of IDL Web Inc and we have provided Joomla development and support across North America and we help at every stage of your upgrade. IDL Web Inc is a Canadian web design company that assists North American businesses with their website.
Upgrade analysis
We analyze your website and plan the upgrade, see our free audit.
Joomla migration
We move your website to a supported Joomla version, see our Joomla migration services.
Custom components
We build replacements for outdated extensions, see our Joomla development service.
Joomla support
We keep your Joomla website updated and secure, see our Joomla maintenance and support plans.
Don't forget
Remember that a Joomla component that nobody has maintained for years is unlikely to work on Joomla 4 or Joomla 5 with PHP 8. Check every extension before you choose the target version.
If you are facing challenges with a Joomla migration or update, leave it to the Joomla specialists at IDL Web Inc, ask for a FREE audit or a FREE quote and we will tell you what to do first. We assist North American businesses with their websites from our Toronto base. Keep up with us to know more of Joomla news/fixes!
Schedule Consultation with An Expert
IDL Web Inc has worked with Joomla for more than 2 decades, ask for a FREE audit or a FREE quote and we will tell you which Joomla version and which upgrade path suit your website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Joomla 3 extensions work on Joomla 4?
In most cases no, because Joomla 3 and Joomla 4 are significantly different, the database and the API work in a different mode and that creates issues and drawbacks.
Is Joomla 5 backwards compatible?
Joomla 5 is largely backward compatible with Joomla 4 but not with Joomla 3 and a built-in plugin helps bridge the differences between Joomla 4 and Joomla 5. Some extensions may need updates, so test every feature, extension and component carefully.
