Managed PHP hosting for performance fans

A switch makes sense as soon as your application needs to respond reliably at all times and peak loads can no longer be handled “on the side” – for example, during campaigns, when the number of users is growing, or when multiple systems access the same platform at the same time.

When simple hosting packages reach their limits in terms of traffic, response times, or required additional services such as caching or search, managed PHP hosting offers a more stable foundation. You get an environment that is designed from the outset for continuous load and use by developers and specialist departments.

For an overview of how the move to maxcluster works and what organizational and technical steps are involved, see our article on switching hosting providers.

PHP versions determine which language features your application can use and how efficiently the code is executed. At maxcluster, you can run PHP 8 and PHP 7 in parallel, so that existing applications continue to run stably while developers can already implement new projects or tests on a more current version.

Our PHP Extended Support helps when a PHP version you are using has reached the end of its official support period, but you cannot yet upgrade. You will continue to receive security updates and can use your application productively without interruption. The biggest advantage: you gain time for a planned switch to a new PHP version – without hectic pressure and in close coordination with your development team or agency.

For performance, Managed PHP Hosting offers various server services at no extra cost, such as Varnish, Redis, and Elasticsearch. These allow you to cache page views, reduce database access, and implement fast search and filter functions—an important factor for responsive applications from your users' perspective.

In addition, you and your developers benefit from a stack designed for web and API workloads and the ability to use profiling tools such as Tideways, Blackfire, or New Relic. This allows you to identify bottlenecks and optimize the application code step by step.

The hardware you book is billed daily for monthly terms. You only pay for the resources you actually use and remain independent of long-term contracts. This allows managers to align capacities closely with actual demand—for example, during seasonal load peaks or project-related peaks.

The environment can be scaled in seconds without interrupting the application or running services. You can increase resources at short notice for promotions or campaigns and then reduce them again without users noticing or without the need for costly migrations.

To plan your Managed PHP environment, you can use the hosting configurator, which provides a customizable start configuration based on a few details.

Your PHP applications are operated in a data center in Frankfurt am Main that is TÜV-certified and complies with certifications such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and ISAE 3402. Hosting is GDPR-compliant, supplemented by DDoS protection and firewalls, and secured by daily backups with a defined retention period.

For ongoing operations, maxcluster relies on proactive 24/7/365 monitoring with technical metrics such as utilization, response times, and error rates, as well as defined response times for critical alarms. Support is provided directly by experienced Linux system administrators who assist you with malfunctions and questions about the configuration, monitoring, and operation of your PHP applications.