Server Requirements
This page lists everything your web server needs to run LeadHub. Do not worry โ none of this requires any technical expertise. If you are using a standard shared hosting account (cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin), almost everything on this list is almost certainly already in place. This guide will show you exactly how to check.
Quick Summaryโ
| Requirement | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PHP | 8.3 or higher | 8.2 will NOT work |
| Database | MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.4+ | Both are fine |
| Web server | Apache or Nginx | Both are fine |
| Disk space | ~500 MB | For files + database |
| RAM | 512 MB minimum | Works on shared hosting |
| SSH / terminal | NOT required | Everything is done in your browser |
| Redis | NOT required | Not needed at all |
| Composer | NOT required | Pre-built in the zip |
| Node.js / npm | NOT required | Pre-built in the zip |
| Supervisor | NOT required | cron.php handles everything |
PHP Version โ 8.3 or Higherโ
LeadHub requires PHP 8.3 or newer. PHP 8.2 will not work. PHP 8.4 is supported.
Think of PHP like the engine under the hood of your car โ it is what actually runs the application code. Most modern hosting accounts offer multiple PHP versions and let you switch between them without any technical knowledge.
How to check and change your PHP version in cPanelโ
- Log in to your cPanel account.
- Look for the "MultiPHP Manager" icon (it is usually in the "Software" section).
- Click it.
- Find your domain name in the list.
- Look at the PHP version shown next to it.
- If it shows anything lower than PHP 8.3 (for example, 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, or 8.2), click the dropdown and change it to PHP 8.3 (or 8.4 if available).
- Click Apply.
That is it. The change takes effect immediately.
How to check your PHP version in Pleskโ
- Log in to Plesk.
- Click on Websites & Domains.
- Find your domain and click PHP Settings (or look for "PHP version" in the domain row).
- Choose PHP 8.3 or 8.4 from the dropdown and click OK.
How to check your PHP version in DirectAdminโ
- Log in to DirectAdmin.
- Go to Domain Setup, then select your domain.
- Look for a "PHP Version" option and select 8.3 or higher.
Database โ MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.4+โ
LeadHub stores all of its data (leads, settings, users, automations, etc.) in a MySQL database. Think of the database as the filing cabinet where all of your information lives.
- MySQL 8.0 or newer โ perfectly supported
- MariaDB 10.4 or newer โ perfectly supported (MariaDB is a drop-in alternative to MySQL; many shared hosts use it by default)
You do NOT need to configure the database before running the installer. The installer wizard will walk you through creating the connection step by step.
Web Server โ Apache or Nginxโ
Your hosting provider runs one of these automatically. You do not need to install or configure anything yourself.
- Apache (the most common on cPanel shared hosting) โ works perfectly. LeadHub includes a pre-configured
.htaccessfile that handles all the necessary URL rewrites automatically. - Nginx (common on VPS and some managed hosting) โ works perfectly. Your hosting provider manages the Nginx configuration.
Required PHP Extensionsโ
PHP extensions are small add-ons that give PHP extra abilities. Think of them like apps on your phone โ the phone works fine without some of them, but certain features require specific apps to be installed.
The installer wizard automatically checks whether all required extensions are present and will show you a clear green tick or red warning for each one. Here is what each extension does, in plain English:
| Extension | What it does |
|---|---|
| pdo | The master "database connection" system โ lets PHP talk to databases at all |
| pdo_mysql | The MySQL-specific part of that database connection โ allows LeadHub to talk to your MySQL/MariaDB database specifically |
| mbstring | Handles multi-byte text โ essential for correctly displaying names, emails, and content in languages other than English (accented characters, emoji, etc.) |
| openssl | Handles encryption and security โ used for encrypting passwords, generating secure tokens, and making HTTPS connections to external services |
| tokenizer | Helps PHP read and parse its own code โ required by the Laravel framework that powers LeadHub |
| xml | Lets PHP read and write XML data โ used when communicating with some external services and APIs |
| ctype | Checks whether text contains only certain types of characters (e.g., only letters, only numbers) โ used in input validation |
| json | Lets PHP work with JSON data โ JSON is the universal language that web services use to send data back and forth |
| bcmath | Handles very precise mathematical calculations โ used for things like lead scoring calculations where decimal precision matters |
| fileinfo | Detects what type of file something actually is (not just by its name, but by reading the file itself) โ used when users upload logos, imports, etc. |
| curl | Lets PHP make outbound web requests โ used to connect to Facebook Lead Ads, Google Ads, webhooks, and all external integrations |
| zip | Lets PHP create and open ZIP archives โ used for bulk exports and file imports |
| gd | Image processing library โ used for resizing uploaded images like logos and avatars |
All of these extensions are enabled by default on the vast majority of shared hosting accounts. If any of them are missing, you can enable them through your hosting control panel.
How to enable a PHP extension in cPanelโ
- Log in to cPanel.
- Look for "Select PHP Version" in the Software section. (This is different from MultiPHP Manager โ this one controls which extensions are active.)
- Click it.
- Make sure your correct PHP version is shown at the top (e.g., PHP 8.3).
- You will see a long list of checkboxes โ one for each available extension.
- Find the extension you need (e.g.,
gdorcurl) and tick the checkbox. - Click Save.
The extension is now active immediately.
Writable Directoriesโ
LeadHub needs to be able to write files to certain folders: one for storing uploaded files, cached data, logs, and session data; and one for caching configuration files. Think of these like a scratch pad that the application uses behind the scenes.
These directories (and all the folders inside them) need to have write permissions:
storage/storage/app/storage/app/public/storage/framework/storage/framework/cache/storage/framework/sessions/storage/framework/views/storage/logs/bootstrap/cache/
In practice, setting these permissions is something you do once during installation using your hosting file manager. The Installation Wizard guide covers exactly how to do this step by step.
Email โ Any SMTP Providerโ
LeadHub can send emails (invitation emails, lead notifications, automation emails, etc.) using any standard SMTP email service. SMTP is simply the standard technology that all email servers use to send mail.
You do NOT configure email during installation. After installation is complete, you configure email in the admin panel under Settings โ Email. You will enter your SMTP host, port, username, and password โ all of which your email provider will give you.
Compatible email providers include (but are not limited to):
- Gmail / Google Workspace
- Outlook / Microsoft 365
- Amazon SES
- Mailgun
- SendGrid
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
- Postmark
- Any other standard SMTP service
SSL / HTTPSโ
HTTPS is very strongly recommended and practically required for a professional installation. LeadHub handles passwords, personal data, and API credentials โ all of which should travel over an encrypted connection.
Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt, which can be enabled in one click from your cPanel or Plesk dashboard. Look for "SSL/TLS" or "Let's Encrypt" in your control panel. Enable it before you start the installation so your LeadHub URL uses https:// from day one.
Disk Spaceโ
LeadHub itself (all application files, the vendor/ folder, and compiled assets) takes approximately 250 MB to 350 MB on disk. We recommend having at least 500 MB free to comfortably accommodate the application files, your database, uploaded files (logos, imports), and log files.
RAM (Memory)โ
LeadHub works comfortably on typical shared hosting plans. You do not need to worry about RAM on most plans. For reference:
- 512 MB RAM โ minimum, works fine for small installations
- 1 GB RAM โ comfortable for teams up to around 20 people and moderate lead volumes
- 2 GB+ RAM โ recommended for high-volume installations with thousands of leads per day
If your shared hosting plan specifies a PHP memory limit, LeadHub works well with 256 MB per request, which is the default on most shared hosts. You can check your PHP memory limit in cPanel by going to Select PHP Version and looking for memory_limit in the PHP options list.
What You Do NOT Needโ
This is important to know up front. Unlike some platforms, LeadHub is specifically designed to work without any of the following:
- No SSH / terminal access โ you never need to log into your server via a command line
- No artisan commands โ there are no
php artisancommands for you to run, ever - No Composer โ the
vendor/folder with all dependencies is already included in the download package - No Node.js or npm โ all JavaScript and CSS assets are pre-compiled and included in the package
- No Redis โ LeadHub uses file-based caching and sessions by default, which works on any shared host
- No Supervisor โ background job processing and scheduled tasks are handled entirely by
cron.php, which runs as a standard hosting cron job - No root / administrator server access โ standard web hosting user permissions are sufficient
At-a-Glance Checklistโ
Use this before you begin installation:
- PHP 8.3 or higher is active for my domain
- MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.4+ database is available (cPanel provides this)
- Apache (with mod_rewrite) or Nginx is my web server
- I have at least 500 MB of free disk space
- I have an FTP client or can use the cPanel File Manager to upload files
- I have an SMTP email account ready (can be configured after install)
- SSL certificate is active on my domain (strongly recommended)
If all of those are checked, you are ready to install. Proceed to the Installation Wizard guide.