Pros of PhpSpreadsheet

• Actively maintained and regularly updated
• Supports PHP 7.1 and later versions
• Improved memory usage and performance

Cons of PhpSpreadsheet

• May require code changes when migrating from PHPExcel
• Slightly steeper learning curve for new users

Code Comparison

PHPExcel:

$objPHPExcel = new PHPExcel();
$objPHPExcel->getProperties()->setCreator("Your Name");
$objPHPExcel->setActiveSheetIndex(0);
$objPHPExcel->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('A1', 'Hello World');
PHPExcel_IOFactory::createWriter($objPHPExcel, 'Excel2007')->save('myfile.xlsx');

PhpSpreadsheet:

$spreadsheet = new Spreadsheet();
$spreadsheet->getProperties()->setCreator("Your Name");
$spreadsheet->setActiveSheetIndex(0);
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('A1', 'Hello World');
IOFactory::createWriter($spreadsheet, 'Xlsx')->save('myfile.xlsx');

The code structure is similar, but PhpSpreadsheet uses updated class names and namespaces. PHPExcel is no longer maintained, while PhpSpreadsheet is its successor with improved features and compatibility with modern PHP versions. Users familiar with PHPExcel will find the transition to PhpSpreadsheet relatively straightforward, although some code adjustments may be necessary.

Pros of Spout

• Significantly faster and more memory-efficient for large files
• Simpler API, easier to use for basic read/write operations
• Streaming approach allows processing of files that don't fit in memory

Cons of Spout

• Limited formatting options compared to PHPExcel
• Fewer advanced features (e.g., no support for charts, pivot tables)
• Less mature ecosystem and community support

Code Comparison

PHPExcel:

$objPHPExcel = new PHPExcel();
$objPHPExcel->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('A1', 'Hello');
$objWriter = PHPExcel_IOFactory::createWriter($objPHPExcel, 'Excel2007');
$objWriter->save('myfile.xlsx');

Spout:

$writer = WriterFactory::create(Type::XLSX);
$writer->openToFile('myfile.xlsx');
$writer->addRow(['Hello']);
$writer->close();

Both libraries allow reading and writing Excel files, but Spout's API is more straightforward for simple operations. PHPExcel offers more advanced features at the cost of increased complexity and resource usage. Spout is better suited for handling large datasets efficiently, while PHPExcel excels in scenarios requiring extensive formatting and advanced Excel features.

Pros of PHP_XLSXWriter

• Lightweight and memory-efficient, suitable for large datasets
• Faster execution time for generating Excel files
• Simple API, easy to use for basic Excel operations

Cons of PHP_XLSXWriter

• Limited formatting options compared to PHPExcel
• Fewer advanced features and cell types supported
• Less active community and fewer updates

Code Comparison

PHP_XLSXWriter:

$writer = new XLSXWriter();
$writer->writeSheetHeader('Sheet1', array('Name' => 'string', 'Age' => 'integer'));
$writer->writeSheetRow('Sheet1', array('John Doe', 30));
$writer->writeToFile('example.xlsx');

PHPExcel:

$objPHPExcel = new PHPExcel();
$objPHPExcel->setActiveSheetIndex(0);
$objPHPExcel->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('A1', 'Name')->setCellValue('B1', 'Age');
$objPHPExcel->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('A2', 'John Doe')->setCellValue('B2', 30);
$objWriter = PHPExcel_IOFactory::createWriter($objPHPExcel, 'Excel2007');
$objWriter->save('example.xlsx');

PHP_XLSXWriter is more concise and straightforward for simple tasks, while PHPExcel offers more flexibility and control over cell formatting and advanced features. PHPExcel has a steeper learning curve but provides more comprehensive Excel manipulation capabilities.

Pros of SimpleXLSX

• Lightweight and easy to use, with minimal dependencies
• Faster parsing and lower memory usage for large files
• Supports both reading and writing XLSX files

Cons of SimpleXLSX

• Limited functionality compared to PHPExcel's extensive feature set
• Less active community and fewer contributors
• May not support some advanced Excel features or complex formatting

Code Comparison

SimpleXLSX:

$xlsx = SimpleXLSX::parse('file.xlsx');
foreach ($xlsx->rows() as $row) {
    print_r($row);
}

PHPExcel:

$objPHPExcel = PHPExcel_IOFactory::load("file.xlsx");
$worksheet = $objPHPExcel->getActiveSheet();
foreach ($worksheet->getRowIterator() as $row) {
    // Process row data
}

SimpleXLSX offers a more straightforward approach to reading Excel files, with fewer lines of code required for basic operations. PHPExcel, while more verbose, provides greater flexibility and advanced features for complex Excel manipulations.

Both libraries have their strengths, and the choice between them depends on the specific requirements of your project. SimpleXLSX is ideal for simple, lightweight operations, while PHPExcel is better suited for more complex Excel file handling and manipulation.