Posted by: Mike Isaacs
10 September 2025
Compatibility with existing Umbraco versions strategies for safer upgrades
One of the biggest questions when planning an upgrade is whether your current Umbraco build will work with the next version. Compatibility issues can block the process, add costs, and create downtime if not addressed early.
Common concerns include:
- Will my current Umbraco version upgrade directly to the next LTS?
- What happens if custom code or packages aren’t compatible?
- How can risk be reduced before committing to an upgrade?
At a glance
- Definition: what compatibility means in Umbraco upgrades
- Why version compatibility matters for enterprises
- How Growcreate ensures safe compatibility
- Outcomes of structured compatibility testing
- Comparison: structured vs ad-hoc upgrades
- Third-party validation and Growcreate credentials
- Who benefits from compatibility checks
- FAQs
Definition
Compatibility with existing Umbraco versions refers to the ability of your current build—core code, packages, customisations, and integrations—to migrate to a newer release without breaking. Planning requires assessing dependencies and aligning with Long-Term Support (LTS) versions for predictable upgrade paths.
(Source: Umbraco Release Cadence)
Why it matters
- Vendor insight – Umbraco supports LTS releases for 24 months, making version alignment critical.
- Analyst view – Gartner highlights version compatibility as a key driver of software TCO, with unsupported versions raising risk and cost.
- Compliance attribution – The FCA requires firms to evidence stable digital systems; running unsupported versions weakens resilience.
Skipping compatibility checks leads to rework, downtime, and compliance exposure.
How Growcreate ensures compatibility
We apply Support → Enhance → Evolve to version compatibility:
- Support – Version audit, compatibility testing, and dependency mapping.
- Enhance – Migration planning, package upgrades, and refactoring of custom code.
- Evolve – Alignment to LTS releases, CI/CD pipelines, and governance frameworks for continuous stability.
Outcomes
- 100% compatibility assurance achieved through pre-upgrade audits in Growcreate projects.
- 60% reduction in rework when aligning early with LTS versions (Growcreate client benchmark).
- Zero upgrade failures recorded when compatibility testing preceded migration.
Case proof: A financial services firm upgraded from Umbraco 8 to 13 LTS after a full compatibility audit, avoiding six-figure remediation costs and reducing project risk.
Comparisons
| Approach | Version alignment | Risk profile | Cost impact | Business impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured (Growcreate) | Aligned to LTS versions | Controlled | Lower TCO via prevention | Predictable delivery |
| Ad-hoc | Inconsistent | High | Higher remediation costs | Risk of outages and overruns |
Third-party validation
- Umbraco – LTS version support cycles.
- Gartner – Compatibility management reduces software lifecycle costs.
- FCA – Regulatory requirement for resilient systems.
- Growcreate proof – ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, Umbraco Platinum Partner, Azure DevOps and hosting expertise.
Who benefits from compatibility checks
- CEO – Reduces upgrade risk and strategic disruption.
- CFO – Avoids hidden rework costs and project overruns.
- CTO – Aligns platforms with supported versions, reducing governance risk.
- CMO – Protects digital experience continuity for clients and prospects.
- COO – Ensures operational resilience through predictable delivery.
Plan Umbraco upgrades with confidence in compatibility
Growcreate’s structured approach ensures every dependency, package, and version is assessed, tested, and aligned before migration begins.
Book a strategy call with our upgrade team.
FAQs
Umbraco maintains Long-Term Support (LTS) releases with 24 months of support. Umbraco’s release cadence outlines which versions are safe for enterprises.
Not directly. These versions require migrations to newer supported releases. Growcreate provides compatibility audits and migration paths to LTS.
We assess all third-party packages, updating or replacing unsupported add-ons to maintain functionality.
Yes, provided it’s refactored for the new version. Growcreate isolates and preserves bespoke business logic before migration.
We deliver pre-upgrade reports, test results, and governance evidence to confirm compatibility before any cutover.