Joomla 5 vs Joomla 6: which should you test on?

Joomla 6 is the current major release, and Joomla 5 is the one most live sites are still running. The two are not just a version number apart: Joomla 6 needs a newer PHP, ships automatic core updates, and has a support window that runs years past Joomla 5’s. If you are deciding which one to rehearse changes on, the short answer is both, but for different reasons. This guide lines up the requirements, the support dates, and the testing question, then shows how to open a free Joomla test site on either version in one click.

What is the difference between Joomla 5 and Joomla 6?

Joomla 6 is the current major line, which began with Joomla 6.0 on 14 October 2025 and added automatic core updates built on The Update Framework, the Cassiopeia child template, and advanced versioning for custom fields. Joomla 5 is the previous major line, now in its 5.4 release, which shipped the same day as 6.0 and remains a stable, widely deployed version while it runs out its support window.

The newest minor release in the 6 line, Joomla 6.1 (Nyota), landed 14 April 2026 with a Proof-of-Work CAPTCHA, a Visual Workflow Editor, Media custom fields, and smarter modules, none of which exist in Joomla 5. Our post on what’s new in Joomla 6.1 covers those features in full. Joomla 5 has not received an equivalent feature release and will not, since new features land in the current major line, not the one being phased out.

What do Joomla 5 and Joomla 6 need to run?

Joomla 5.4 runs on PHP 8.1, 8.2, or 8.3, while Joomla 6 needs PHP 8.3.0 at minimum and recommends 8.4, per the official Joomla Technical Requirements. PHP 8.3 is the only version that satisfies both, so an environment built for Joomla 6 will also run a 5.4 install, but a server still on PHP 8.1 or 8.2 cannot run 6 at all. The table below lines up the rest.

A default XAMPP install often ships an older PHP than either line needs, which is one reason a local stack can fall short before you even open the installer. Our guide on trying Joomla without XAMPP covers why, and how a hosted test site sidesteps the version juggling entirely.

How long is each version supported?

Joomla 5 reaches the end of regular bugfix support on 13 October 2026 and continues with security-only fixes until 12 October 2027. Joomla 6 has regular support through 17 October 2028, according to the official Joomla Project Roadmap. That gap, about two years, is the main reason to start testing on 6 now rather than waiting until 5’s support runs out.

The roadmap caveats that future dates are tentative, but the cut-off for Joomla 5 is close enough, under four months away as of this writing, that it is worth planning around rather than reacting to later. If your live site still runs 5, the move to 6 is not optional forever; it is a question of when you rehearse it.

Which version should you test extensions and templates on?

Test on whichever version your live site runs today, since that is the environment an extension or template update actually has to work in. If you run a live Joomla 5 site, a clean 5.4 install is the right baseline for checking compatibility before you touch production, the same pattern covered in our guide on testing a Joomla extension online.

If you are starting a new project, picking a template club, or evaluating Joomla for the first time in 2026, test on 6.1 first. It is the version with the longer support runway, and new extensions and templates are increasingly built and tested against it rather than the line being phased out. Either way, the safest move is testing on a throwaway copy rather than your live install, which is the whole point of a disposable sandbox in the first place.

How do you test the Joomla 5 to 6 update before going live?

The safest way is a clean copy of the upgrade path, not a live attempt. Open a 5.4 test site, then a 6.1 one, and walk through what changes: settings, custom fields, and any extensions you depend on. Our step-by-step walkthrough on how to test a Joomla update before going live covers the full rehearsal in detail, including what to check before you let the update anywhere near production.

Because each test site is a real, isolated install rather than a shared demo, you can install extensions, change settings, and break things on purpose without any risk to a live site. The 4-hour auto-delete means there is nothing to clean up afterward either; you simply open a fresh one the next time you need to check something.

Which version should you pick for a new test site?

For evaluation work in 2026, Joomla 6.1 is the version to default to, because it is the current release and Joomla 5’s regular support ends 13 October 2026. If your job is specifically to verify Joomla 5 behavior, such as a live site still running it, open a 5.4 test site instead; matching the version you are actually responsible for matters more than defaulting to the newest one.

The good news is that picking is not a one-time decision. With Joomla 5.4 and Joomla 6.1 both one click away, you can open whichever you need for the task in front of you, and switch the next time you need the other. For the full menu of ways to get a test environment, including local stacks and the official trial, see the pillar guide on the free Joomla test site.

Conclusion

Joomla 6 and Joomla 5 differ in PHP requirements, automatic updates, and how long each is supported, with Joomla 5’s regular support ending 13 October 2026 and Joomla 6’s running to 17 October 2028. Test on the version your live site actually runs, and start getting familiar with 6.1 if you have not already, since that is the line with the longer runway. You can open a free Joomla test site on either version in one click and let it delete itself when you are done.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Joomla.org, “Joomla 6.0 and Joomla 5.4 are here!” release news (14 October 2025, retrieved July 1, 2026).
• Joomla.org, “Joomla 6.1 is here!” release news (14 April 2026, retrieved July 1, 2026).
• Joomla! Project Roadmap (retrieved July 1, 2026).
• Joomla! Programmers Documentation, Technical Requirements (retrieved July 1, 2026).
• W3Techs, Usage Statistics and Market Share of Joomla (retrieved July 1, 2026).