The use of a plugin is easier, but requires WordPress to work. Plugins can go on strike, for example, if the database is not responding, if the WordPress core is corrupted, or if there is a server error. Also, the use of a plugin is subject to fewer possibilities of detailed influence than the other two methods.
The use of WP CLI offers a good compromise between power and user-friendliness. However, software must be installed on the server to use WP-CLI. You also need SSH access to the server. However, WP-CLI may also refuse to function under certain circumstances. This can happen, for example, if there is a version conflict between the WordPress installation and the installed WP-CLI or if PHP fails completely on the server.
The manual method is powerful and always works as long as one has access to the server or its resources. Besides SSH, access can be achieved via (S)FTP, cPanel and phpMyAdmin. While the manual method is powerful, it still requires the largest address. Without the required knowledge, serious damage can be incurred.
In summary, we evaluate the three approaches as follows:
