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PEAR (PHP Extension and Application Repository) is the older of two PHP package systems. Most modern PHP projects use Composer instead, but a few legacy applications and CGI-style scripts still depend on PEAR packages. This tool lets you install them without SSH.
PHP PEAR Packages with installed list and search

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Install a package

1

Search the catalog

Type the package name into the search box. cPanel queries the upstream PEAR repository and lists matches.
2

Click Install next to the package

cPanel pulls the package and dependencies into your account’s PEAR tree, under ~/php/.
3

Use it from PHP

Add ~/php/ to PHP’s include_path, or require the package directly:
require_once 'Mail.php';
PEAR packages live under ~/php/<Package>/<Package>.php once installed.

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Update or uninstall

Both options sit next to Install in the Installed PEAR Packages list at the top of the page. Updates pull a newer version from PEAR if one is available; uninstall removes the package and its files.

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Why this is rarely the right tool

PEAR is in maintenance mode. The vast majority of useful PHP libraries are now on Packagist and installed with Composer. If a package is available both via PEAR and via Composer, prefer Composer: 
composer require monolog/monolog
Composer doesn’t need root, doesn’t go through cPanel, and resolves dependencies properly per project. Use PEAR only when:
  • A specific legacy script demands it (e.g., older Horde or osTicket installs).
  • You’re maintaining a script that already imports PEAR-style packages and changing it is out of scope.

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Common issues

The PEAR repository was unreachable when cPanel last refreshed. Wait a minute and reload. If it’s still empty, the upstream pear.php.net may be down. Check pear.php.net directly.
Either the include path doesn’t include ~/php/, or you imported the wrong file. Run pear list over SSH to confirm the package is registered, then check its install location.
Many PEAR packages depend on extensions like mbstring or xml. Toggle them on via Select PHP Version.

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