Compare
Wharfbase and phpMyAdmin
phpMyAdmin is the long-standing PHP web interface for MySQL and MariaDB, open source.
| phpMyAdmin | Wharfbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | MySQL and MariaDB | MySQL and MariaDB, and PostgreSQL, SQLite, Redis, MongoDB; ten more on Pro |
| Finding databases | Configured servers, or entered at sign-in | Found in your containers by itself |
| MySQL administration (users, privileges, server variables) | Extensive | Not the focus: browse, edit, query, export, back up |
| What uses a database, what’s wrong with it | — | Consumers, exposed ports, missing passwords, end-of-life versions |
| Users and roles | MySQL accounts | Wharfbase accounts, roles, per-database permissions, an audit log |
Use phpMyAdmin when
- You administer MySQL or MariaDB in depth: privileges, server variables, replication settings.
- Your hosting already provides it.
Use Wharfbase when
- You have more than MySQL: PostgreSQL, Redis, MongoDB, SQLite in the same set of containers.
- You want to see what is running where, and what needs attention, before you open anything.
They also work side by side: Wharfbase doesn't mind other clients, and shows them as consumers.
Checked in October 2026 against phpMyAdmin's own documentation. Something out of date? Tell us.