Compare a real workflow, not a feature count.
Choose one task your users must finish and prepare identical sample data for every candidate. Include the setup effort, administration model, upgrade process and exit path. Shortlisting is an editorial judgment, not a claim that a product is the fastest or most secure.
A useful starting point
Composer
Composer: PHP dependency management and reproducible package installation.
PHPUnit
PHPUnit: Automated testing for PHP code and application behavior.
PHPStan
PHPStan: Static analysis to find PHP type and code issues.
Adminer
Adminer: Compact database management through a PHP interface.
What to verify
For each candidate, inspect the official installation guide, supported environment and edition boundaries. Identify who will maintain the system and how you will recover it. Prefer the smallest option that meets the actual requirements; a paid product still needs backups, and an open-source product may require paid expertise.
