Craft 4 vs Craft 5: Key differences explained

At launch, Craft CMS 4 introduced significant improvements in performance, accessibility, and the overall authoring experience. Craft 5 has built on this strong foundation with more refined workflows, enhanced security, and modernised dependencies. These improvements bring clear benefits for both content authors and developers alike.

Here’s a closer look at the key differences between the two versions, and why upgrading to Craft 5 is probably a smart move.

Usability and productivity improvements in Craft 5

One of the standout updates in Craft 5 is improved usability. The refreshed control panel means the layout has been tweaked, the sidebar is toggleable and there are slideout components. All of this makes for a much more usable interface. When you log on, you won’t be bamboozled by the changes, but you will notice a subtle difference, and everything will just feel, well, nicer. 

You’ll also find that the rich text editor is much more flexible when you're writing long-form content. For example, you can now embed entries within it. This might sound minor, but if you’re responsible for uploading content such as articles, you’ll notice a major difference because it makes adding images, quotes and other content much, much quicker. You pop them into your rich text; no need to spend time creating an entry for every type of content. We’re continually building articles for ourselves and our marketing clients, and this feature has been a real game-changer for us! 

Custom element index views are another helpful addition to Craft 5. This means that you can customise how your entries look on the next page. The card view is a great way to view and scan your pages and is ideal for content-heavy sites. Another win for content authors! 

Support and security differences between Craft 4 and Craft 5 

One of the most significant differences between Craft 4 and Craft 5 is long-term support and security. Craft 4 has reached the end of active development, and its security support is set to end in April 2026. That’s just a few weeks away now! After this, it will no longer receive security patches or updates, which increases potential risk over time. 

In contrast, Craft 5 continues to receive regular updates, bug fixes, and ongoing security patches. Pixel and Tonic have announced that support for Craft 5 will continue until 2030, with security support extended to 2031. Craft 5 also includes improvements such as enhanced security features like two-factor authentication (2FA). As a result, it’s the safer long-term option, particularly once Craft 4’s security support officially ends.

 

Version	Released On	Active Support Until	Security Support Until
Craft CMS 4	4th May 2022	30th April 2025	30th April 2026
Craft Commerce 4	4th May 2022	30th April 2025	30th April 2026
Craft CMS 5	26th March 2024	31st December 2030	31st December 2031
Craft Commerce 5	30th April 2024	31st December 2030	31st December 2031

 

Performance and stability: Craft 4 vs Craft 5

Craft 4 was already a big step forward when it launched. It was faster, more stable, and generally felt like a solid foundation for modern websites. Craft 5 doesn’t reinvent the wheel here; it builds on that foundation and strengthens it. Behind the scenes, it’s better equipped to handle larger, more complex sites and higher traffic levels. So if your website has grown (or you expect it to), Craft 5 is more prepared for that reality.

There’s also a general sense that things just run more smoothly. Saving entries, moving between sections, and managing larger areas of content feels that bit quicker, especially on content-heavy sites. 

Upgrades and plugins

One of the areas people often wonder about when moving from Craft 4 to Craft 5 is plugins. The good news is that, for most sites, there aren’t major differences. Most Craft 4 plugins work well in Craft 5, so the transition is usually smooth.

When we upgrade a site, we take a thorough, methodical approach to make sure everything continues to work smoothly. We check all your Craft 4 plugins for Craft 5 compatibility, updating or replacing anything that isn’t supported. A few older or custom plugins may need minor updates to match Craft 5’s architecture or new features. Custom modules or bespoke functionality are also reviewed and adjusted as needed.

Our approach takes the stress out of the process. You don’t need to worry about compatibility issues or complex changes because we manage all of it, testing and fine-tuning along the way. By the end of the upgrade, your site is fully functional, stable, and ready to take advantage of everything Craft 5 has to offer.

If your site is still on Craft 4, now is the time to consider moving to Craft 5. With careful planning, plugin checks, and server updates handled by experts, the transition can be smooth and stress-free. 

Upgrading ensures your site stays secure and ready for whatever comes next. All while taking advantage of the latest features Craft 5 has to offer.