When I tested WordPress on 34SP, it became clear that while the platform does support WordPress, it isn’t necessarily the best fit for every type of website. Basic features like one-click installation and daily backups are included, but there are several limitations that are easy to overlook at first.

I found that performance constraints, restricted PHP version control, and limited developer tools can start to matter as a site grows. Shared hosting resources may struggle under moderate traffic, and although the UK-based support team is responsive, it isn’t designed for complex technical troubleshooting.

Here’s a quick summary of what stood out to me:

WordPress support with one-click setup and daily backups
UK-based support that’s helpful but not deeply technical
PHP limitations affecting compatibility and speed
Shared hosting performance issues as traffic increases
Limited scalability and developer features

I’ll explore these points in more detail to help you decide whether 34SP is the right choice for your WordPress site.

What Are the Benefits of Hosting WordPress with 34SP?

From a beginner’s standpoint, 34SP does make WordPress hosting simple. Their one-click WordPress installation through the control panel means I didn’t have to deal with FTP uploads or database configurations. Daily backups, built-in caching, and malware scanning offer some peace of mind for casual users.

Security-wise, features like FTP locking and automatic WordPress core updates are helpful. Plus, their UK-based data centres and support team give them a local edge.

However, these features only go so far. They work well for small personal blogs, portfolio sites, or basic business websites, but once your needs grow, the cracks start to show.

If you’re considering them as a hosting option, I’ve also put together a complete 34SP hosting review that breaks down their performance, support, and real-world usability in more detail.

Why Is 34SP’s PHP Support a Major Red Flag for WordPress Users?

One of the biggest frustrations I faced was the outdated PHP versions 34SP offers. WordPress regularly updates its core to keep up with newer PHP releases for both performance and security. Unfortunately, 34SP lagged behind on this critical front.

“I flagged this two years ago and repeatedly asked what to do as WordPress was giving me warning the PHP version was outdated. It has given me no choice but to find a new server provider, which is a real shame.” – Paul Dunne, Trustpilot Review

When my eCommerce plugin stopped working due to incompatible PHP, I contacted support, only to be told to wait for an update that never arrived. This lack of responsiveness left me unable to update several client sites. For anyone running WooCommerce, this is a deal-breaker.

PHP Support Comparison

Hosting Provider	Latest PHP Version Supported	Automatic Updates	WooCommerce Compatibility
34SP	PHP 7.4 (as of Jan 2023)	Core only	Limited
Competitor A	PHP 8.2	Full	Fully compatible
Competitor B	PHP 8.1	Full	Fully compatible

Outdated server technology isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a security risk and a barrier to functionality.

Can 34SP Handle High-Traffic WordPress Sites Effectively?

When I launched a promotional campaign for one of my client’s websites, I quickly discovered that 34SP’s shared hosting couldn’t cope. Pages slowed down, timeouts increased, and analytics showed a significant bounce rate spike.

“It looked like the site was offline to half our users. For a campaign we’d spent weeks preparing, it was a disaster,” a client remarked to me during the post-campaign review.

The truth is, 34SP’s hosting environment isn’t optimised for high-traffic WordPress sites. There’s no auto-scaling, no resource prioritisation, and certainly no dedicated environments unless you opt for costly custom solutions, which defeat the purpose of using them in the first place.

Performance under pressure isn’t just a technical issue, it directly affects conversions and user trust. If you’re planning to scale your website, this limitation alone should be a major warning sign.

Is 34SP a Good Fit for Developers and Agencies Using WordPress?

Absolutely not, and I say that as someone who frequently develops custom themes and plugins for clients. 34SP lacks many of the tools that developers expect as standard.

No SSH or Git access
No automated deployment pipelines
Limited access to server configs
No built-in staging beyond a simple clone

For one of my projects, I attempted to push updates via version control only to find out that I had to do everything manually through the control panel. It slowed down the workflow and introduced unnecessary risk.

34SP seems more tailored to DIY site builders than developers who need robust tools. For agencies, freelancers, or even advanced WordPress users, this limitation becomes a productivity bottleneck.

Does 34SP’s Support Truly Meet the Needs of WordPress Users?

Support is often praised as 34SP’s strong point, and to be fair, they are friendly and genuinely try to help. But when the issue goes beyond the basics, their limitations become clear.

“Fantastic company, fantastic product…but as others have said by far the best thing is their very good customer service… I have had to reduce this from 5 stars down to 3 as 34SP’s WordPress Reseller package no longer supports newer version of PHP.” – Paul Dunne, Trustpilot Review

In my experience, tickets about simple issues like restoring backups were resolved within a day. But more technical problems, like database timeouts or PHP conflicts, were met with vague replies or no resolution at all.

Worse still, there’s no 24/7 chat or phone line, just a support window between 8am and 8pm GMT. For mission-critical sites, this is simply not enough.

Conclusion

While it’s true that I can use WordPress with 34SP, whether I should depends entirely on my needs. If I’m running a simple personal blog or a basic brochure-style site and value UK-based support, 34SP may be sufficient.

However, when I need modern technology, scalability, developer flexibility, and reliable performance under higher traffic, the platform quickly starts to show its limitations.

In my experience, the restrictions around PHP support, performance under load, and the lack of proper developer tools make 34SP a risky option for any serious WordPress project. For long-term growth and flexibility, I’d approach 34SP with caution rather than confidence.