Usage: General usage, including food preparation areas, sink runs and around hobs and cookers.

Appearance: Can accurately mimic other worktop materials, including granite, slate and wood, so will suit modern and traditional schemes.
Maintainance: Very low maintenance. Clean with mild detergent
Sealing: Not required
Durability: Resistant to most stains and chemicals, but not to heat or steam. Not suitable as a cutting surface.  
Flexibility and fitting: One of the few materials that can be cut and fitted by the kitchen fitter.

Usage: A very practical and beautiful choice that can be used anywhere, including next to hobs and around the sink.
Appearance: Dramatic colours look fabulous in modern and contemporary kitchens. If your room design is quite traditional, stick to neutral colours.
Maintainance: Wipe up spills to prevent marks. Keep clean with a soft, damp cloth and a mild detergent.
Sealing: Not required
Durability: Composite is very tough and more durable than many natural stones. As the colour runs right the way through the material, any scratches can be sanded out.
Flexibility and fitting: This worksurface can be thermoformed into different shapes without joints to create streamlined, seamless worktop runs. Composite worktops have to be fitted by the stone mason.

Usage: Any area of the kitchen, including around the sink and next to the hob or oven. A large expanse of glossy granite makes a striking island worktop
Appearance: It's a luxury material that never falls out of fashion and suits traditional and modern styles. Choose from a classic polished finish, or a honed matt for a more contemporary look.
Maintainance: Very low maintenance. Clean using a damp cloth and a mild detergent
Sealing: Granite requires an initial sealing, and then another every year (depending on use).
Durability: The best of all the natural materials, it can withstand high temperatures, is water resistant and impervious to most stains, but wine and citric acids must be cleaned up at once. 
Flexibility and fitting: With advances in modern technology, granite can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes, although it is very heavy to transport and difficult to manoeuvre. It has to be fitted by the stone mason.