Bluehost does not support MySQL 5.6 on Shared Hosting

It really is a shame !

I don’t use BH and I expect Luke will stop by with a definitive answer, but this page seems to indicate that 5.6 is supported:

https://my.bluehost.com/hosting/help/htaccess-php-handlers

According to the text at the bottom of that page:

PHP 5.6 (Still In Beta Phase, use at your own risk.)

So I’m not sure that constitutes support ??

I think there is a little confusion here. What Scott is referring to is our MySQL version on our shared hosting plan. For PHP all of our plans default to PHP 5.4 and have 5.6 available. For MySQL on our shared boxes we are indeed at 5.5.42, which is below the recommended version. We are currently in the process of upgrading MySQL on shared to use a higher version. That being said all of our other plans Cloud, Optimized WP Hosting, VPS, and Dedication all support higher versions of MySQL by default.

Link for reference:
https://www.ads-software.com/about/requirements/

Exact! The question is when will be available?

Seems really inconvenient to have to purchase a VPS package just to update MySQL to 5.6. The services I have had with Bluehost have been great, except for this issue.

@mike Hansen: +1 to when will 5.6 be available to shared hosting users?

Not a Bluehost employee or customer myself, but just weighing in with some helpful context here.

Upgrading MySQL on a shared server environment is much more complicated than just flipping a switch, like upgrading WordPress. Even with PHP, hosting providers can offer multiple versions on the same server and allow you the customer to choose which version is used by your site.

MySQL is very different, it can only exist as one version on the server, which means that an upgrade to MySQL is going to affect every single site on the server, not just yours, and not everyone’s site is going to be compatible with the latest and greatest MySQL (not everyone is lucky enough to run WordPress).

This is why managing your own server via VPS/Cloud/Dedicated is often recommended to folks who want the latest and greatest ASAP. If your site is the only site on the server, and it can support the latest and greatest MySQL, then there’s no barrier to upgrade.

So, just keep in mind that while most decent shared hosting providers do their best to pursue the latest and greatest as quickly as possible, they have to do so in a manner that will not leave the rest of their paying customers in the dust.

If always being on the latest and greatest as soon as possible is very important to you, I highly recommend considering some sort of VPS/Cloud/Dedicated hosting, so that you can be in control of that.

And, please keep in mind that, while the recommended version of MySQL is 5.6, WordPress only requires at least MySQL 5.0: https://www.ads-software.com/about/requirements/

@james Huff: I am aware of all that, however I’d appreciate to know the estimated horizon of the upgrade and I am hoping @mike Hansen (being a Bluehost employee) might be able to answer that and full fill my curiosity. After all Bluehost does claim to specialise in WP.

Why Bluehost? We design and build our servers to run WordPress like a dream. Our exclusive technology gives you the proven performance, reliability, and functionality you need.

They do put a lot of effort into WordPress, their contributions alone are solid proof of that, but just because they specialize in WordPress doesn’t mean they’re going to leave the rest of their non-WordPress paying customers in the dust without careful consideration, planning, and contingencies. (is the shorter version of what I said above)

ETAs are great, all I was saying is don’t be upset if it isn’t tomorrow. ??

I know they do put a lot of effort into WP and development of its core. I wasn’t mocking Bluehost, I’m very happy with their service.