# MultiPHP vs Select PHP Version
Source: https://docs.webgee.com/en/development/what-is-the-difference-between-the-multiphp-and-select-php-version



cPanel offers **Select PHP Version** and **MultiPHP Manager**, and both set a PHP
version. Applies to shared and reseller hosting.

**Use Select PHP Version.** Reach for MultiPHP only when you need different
versions on different domains within one account.

## The difference [#the-difference]

|                  | Select PHP Version                          | MultiPHP Manager    |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------- |
| Scope            | The **whole account**                       | **Per domain**      |
| PHP builds       | `alt-php` — security-patched                | Stock cPanel builds |
| Versions offered | More, including patched older ones          | Fewer               |
| Extensions       | Enable and disable per account              | Not available       |
| Settings         | `memory_limit` and others, in the interface | Not available       |

## Why Select PHP Version is the default answer [#why-select-php-version-is-the-default-answer]

**It uses `alt-php`**, CloudLinux's hardened builds. These carry security patches
backported to versions upstream no longer supports — so an older version remains
patched against known vulnerabilities, where the stock build of the same version
does not.

**It manages extensions and settings.** Enabling `redis`, or raising
`memory_limit`, is done here. MultiPHP cannot do either — see
[Change your PHP version and settings](/en/development/change-php-version).

## When MultiPHP is the right tool [#when-multiphp-is-the-right-tool]

Only for genuinely different versions across domains in one account — an old
application on `legacy.example.com` needing PHP 7.4 while the main site runs 8.3.

<Callout type="warn">
  Setting a version in MultiPHP for a domain **overrides** the account-level
  version from Select PHP Version for that domain — including its extensions and
  settings. A domain switched in MultiPHP loses the `redis` extension you enabled
  in the Selector, with no indication that it has.

  This is the usual explanation for "I enabled the extension and the site still
  cannot see it".
</Callout>

## Which is actually in effect [#which-is-actually-in-effect]

```php
<?php echo PHP_VERSION;
```

Delete the file afterwards. If it disagrees with Select PHP Version, check
MultiPHP Manager for a per-domain override.

<Callout type="info">
  Neither applies on **Bolt-Cache**, which runs NGINX with PHP-FPM. There the
  version is set when Bolt-Cache is configured, and settings come from
  `.user.ini` — see
  [Change your PHP version and settings](/en/development/change-php-version).
</Callout>

## Related [#related]

* [Change your PHP version and settings](/en/development/change-php-version)
* [Why PHP-FPM is not enabled](/en/development/php-handlers-why-php-fpm-is-not-enabled-on-webgee-accounts)