Composer
7.4#10 in package managersFree planFree planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows
VisitComposer vs npm
What both publish
| Fact | Composer | npm |
|---|---|---|
| Dependency resolution | Composer determines which package versions need to be installed and can update all dependencies in one command. | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Lockfile support | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | PHP packages; ZIP; TAR; VCS repositories | package.json folders,gzipped tarballs,URLs,name@version,name@tag,Git URLs |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Supported platforms | PHP; Windows; Linux; macOS | macOS,Windows,Linux,and other operating systems via Node.js installers or version managers |
| Workspace support | Yes | Yes |
Composer plans
- ComposerFree
npm plans
- FreeFree
- Paid user account$7 a month
- Pro$7 a month
- Teams$7 a month
Pick Composer if…
Composer suits PHP developers who need to install and update project libraries across Windows, Linux, or macOS. Its package auditing and repository options may also suit teams managing dependency policies or custom package sources.
Pick npm if…
npm suits JavaScript developers who need to publish or install public packages, or manage private packages individually or in teams. It also supports workflows involving CI/CD and Docker.