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# Apache Derby vs MySQL Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Apache DerbyMySQL[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**Apache Derby** [

3.8/5(23)

](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-derby/reviews#reviews)

**MySQL** [

4.4/5(1,686)

](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**Apache Derby**
No pricing available

**MySQL**
 **$5,000** · MySQL Enterprise Edition

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Apache Derby**
Not enough reviews yet

**MySQL**
2 months

Based on 197 responses

Return on Investment

**Apache Derby**
Not enough reviews yet

**MySQL**
11 months

Based on 140 responses

Perceived Cost

**Apache Derby**
$$$$$

**MySQL**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Apache Derby**
Not enough reviews yet

**MySQL**
12%

Pros & Cons

**Apache Derby**
Not enough data

**MySQL**
[
Ease of Use (16)
](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1848750&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Reliability (9)
](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1848812&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Feature Limitations (12)
](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2298894&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Limited Database Support (8)
](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1848575&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**Apache Derby**
Not enough data

**MySQL**
[

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Apache HTTP Server Project

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Tomcat

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 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_3e93db37ce0af71d86cf0b4b0e8b89ab/asp-net.png "Product Avatar Image")

ASP.NET

](https://www.g2.com/products/asp-net/reviews)[

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Azure Data Factory

](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-data-factory/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/integrations)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Apache Derby**

8.2

8.222

**MySQL**

8.9

8.91,415

Ease of Use

**Apache Derby**

8.6

8.623

**MySQL**

8.7

8.71,419

Ease of Setup

**Apache Derby**

9.0

9.010

**MySQL**

8.6

8.6682

Ease of Admin

**Apache Derby**

8.2

8.210

**MySQL**

8.4

8.4640

Quality of Support

**Apache Derby**

8.1

8.119

**MySQL**

8.0

8.01,194

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Apache Derby**

8.0

8.09

**MySQL**

8.5

8.5526

Product Direction (% positive)

**Apache Derby**

6.4

6.423

**MySQL**

8.0

8.01,379

Features

Relational Databases[Hide 24 FeaturesShow 24 Features](javascript:void(0);)

7.4

20

8.7

1,301

Management 

Data Schema

Not enough data

9.1(won by default)

154

Query Language

Not enough data

9.2(won by default)

155

ACID - Complaint

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

139

Data Replication

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

134

Support 

Text Search

Not enough data

8.4(won by default)

143

Data Types

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

153

Languages

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

141

Operating Systems

Not enough data

9.1(won by default)

140

Security

Database Locking

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

142

Access Control

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

142

Encryption

Not enough data

8.6(won by default)

132

Authentication

Not enough data

8.7(won by default)

137

Performance 

Disaster Recovery

Not enough data

8.4(won by default)

131

Data Concurrency

Not enough data

8.6(won by default)

134

Workload Management

Not enough data

8.5(won by default)

135

Advanced Indexing

Not enough data

8.6(won by default)

138

Query Optimizer

Not enough data

8.7(won by default)

138

Database Features

Storage

7.3

20

8.8(won by 1.5)

1160

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Availability

8.0

20

9.0(won by 1.0)

1162

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Stability

7.9

20

8.7(won by 0.8)

1168

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Scalability

6.7

20

8.1(won by 1.4)

1135

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Security

7.0

19

8.4(won by 1.4)

1121

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Data Manipulation

7.3

20

8.7(won by 1.4)

1139

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Query Language

7.3

20

8.9(won by 1.6)

1162

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![Apache Derby](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b350900e1c1cde239f398145fc13d8f3/apache-derby.jpg "Apache Derby")](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-derby/reviews)

Apache Derby

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

39.1%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

30.4%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

30.4%

[![MySQL](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_240340edca859994ec71e4490aa20022/mysql.png "MySQL")](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews)

MySQL

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

36.7%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

30.8%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

32.5%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

39.1%

36.7%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

30.4%

30.8%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

30.4%

32.5%

Reviewers' Industry

[![Apache Derby](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_b350900e1c1cde239f398145fc13d8f3/apache-derby.jpg "Apache Derby")](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-derby/reviews)
Apache Derby

Computer Software

39.1%

Information Technology and Services

13.0%

Government Administration

13.0%

Education Management

8.7%

Medical Practice

4.3%

Other

21.7%

[![MySQL](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_240340edca859994ec71e4490aa20022/mysql.png "MySQL")](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews)
MySQL

Information Technology and Services

25.1%

Computer Software

20.3%

Internet

4.5%

Higher Education

4.0%

Education Management

3.3%

Other

42.6%

FAQs

## Apache Derby vs MySQL FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 16, 2026

### What is the difference between MySQL vs Apache Derby?

MySQL stands out from Apache Derby with a higher G2 rating, broader reviewer base, and stronger reviewer-cited strengths in ease of use and integrations.

| [MySQL](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews) | [Apache Derby](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-derby/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.4/5 (1,682 reviews) | 3.8/5 (23 reviews) |
| 8.6 | 9.0 |
| 8.0 | 8.1 |
| Ease of Use (17 all-time mentions) | — |

### How do the pricing models of MySQL and Apache Derby compare?

MySQL is perceived as a stronger value than Apache Derby, reflected in higher reviewer satisfaction on price and cost-related dimensions.

- **MySQL:** Reviewers consistently highlight MySQL as a cost-effective, open-source solution with no licensing costs for the community edition.
- **Apache Derby:** Reviewers note Apache Derby is open source and best suited for small-scale apps and prototyping, but mention fewer features compared to other databases.

### What are the best alternatives to MySQL and Apache Derby?

The top three alternatives to MySQL and Apache Derby are MS SQL, Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS), and PostgreSQL.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [MySQL](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews) | 4.4/5 (1,682) | — | Cost-effective, open source | Ease of Use (17 all-time mentions) |
| [Apache Derby](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-derby/reviews) | 3.8/5 (23) | — | Open source, lightweight | Embedded Java integration |
| [MS SQL](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-sql-server/reviews) | 4.4/5 (2,287) | Enterprise | — | Enterprise-grade reliability |
| [Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-relational-database-service-rds/reviews) | 4.5/5 (909) | Mid-Market | — | Managed cloud database |
| [PostgreSQL](https://www.g2.com/products/postgresql/reviews) | 4.4/5 (684) | Small-Business | — | Advanced SQL features |

### Which Relational Databases features should I prioritize when comparing MySQL and Apache Derby?

Buyers comparing MySQL and Apache Derby should prioritize ease of setup, ease of use, integration capabilities, reliability, and scalability.

- **Ease of Setup:** MySQL 8.6, Apache Derby 9.0
- **Ease of Use:** MySQL 8.7 (17 all-time mentions for ease of use), Apache Derby 8.6
- **Integration Capabilities:** MySQL cited for easy integrations (9 all-time mentions); Apache Derby noted for Java application embedding
- **Reliability:** MySQL cited for reliability (9 all-time mentions); Apache Derby reviewers mention stability for small-scale and embedded use
- **Scalability:** MySQL reviewers mention scalability as both a strength and a trade-off (3 all-time mentions); Apache Derby reviewers note limitations for large-scale enterprise applications

### What are the pros and cons of MySQL vs Apache Derby?

MySQL's headline strength is ease of use and integration, while Apache Derby's is lightweight embedded deployment for Java applications.

- **MySQL strengths:** Ease of use (17 all-time mentions), easy integrations (9), reliability (9), performance (7), open source (4), strong documentation (4), cost-effectiveness, and broad community support.
- **MySQL trade-offs:** Feature limitations (12 all-time mentions), limited database support (9), performance issues at scale (5), slow performance on complex queries (5), and scaling issues (4).
- **Apache Derby strengths:** Lightweight, easy to embed in Java applications, fast setup, open source, and suitable for prototyping and small-scale apps.
- **Apache Derby trade-offs:** Fewer features than other databases, not suitable for large-scale enterprise use, slower performance compared to C/C++ databases, and less popularity in the developer community.

### Is MySQL or Apache Derby better for small businesses?

MySQL is the better fit for small businesses, supported by reviewer sentiment and its strong ease-of-use and integration ratings.

- **MySQL:** Reviewers highlight MySQL's ease of use, fast setup, and strong documentation as valuable for small business and personal projects.
- **Apache Derby:** Reviewers recommend Apache Derby for prototyping and small-scale Java applications, but note feature limitations for broader small-business needs.

### Which Relational Databases platform has better integrations?

MySQL is favored over Apache Derby for integrations, with more reviewer-cited integration capabilities and higher mention counts.

- **MySQL:** Python integration cited in 35 all-time reviews; integrations with Zoho Books and other backend frameworks are also mentioned.
- **Apache Derby:** Reviewers mention Java application embedding and JDBC support for integration, but no third-party tool integrations reach the publish threshold.

### How do MySQL and Apache Derby compare on customer support?

MySQL and Apache Derby are rated at parity on Quality of Support, with scores of 8.0 and 8.1 respectively, indicating similar reviewer satisfaction.

- **MySQL:** Reviewers describe extensive community support and documentation, with official support noted as stronger on enterprise plans.
- **Apache Derby:** Reviewers mention adequate support for setup and troubleshooting, with some noting limited tutorials and documentation.

### Which is easier to implement, MySQL or Apache Derby?

Apache Derby scores higher on Ease of Setup (9.0 vs. MySQL's 8.6), making it the easier product to implement according to reviewers.

- **MySQL:** Reviewers consistently describe MySQL as easy to set up, with many citing fast installation and strong documentation for onboarding.
- **Apache Derby:** Reviewers highlight Apache Derby's very fast setup, lightweight installation, and suitability for quick prototyping and Java application embedding.

Alternatives

**Apache Derby Alternatives**

 ![SQLite](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_cf27b7c50adc61e4d44c2ef887f29fa3/sqlite.gif "SQLite")

[
SQLite
](/products/sqlite/reviews)

 ![PostgreSQL](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_251be2af3ae607c45c14e816eaa1cf41/postgresql.png "PostgreSQL")

[
PostgreSQL
](/products/postgresql/reviews)

 ![Microsoft SQL Server](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/a8a99a96fda235658139f710592f8a53/microsoft-sql-server.svg "Microsoft SQL Server")

[
MS SQL
](/products/microsoft-sql-server/reviews)

 ![Google Cloud SQL](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/a4f97d6f742e657968c8830b1a97c42e/google-cloud-sql.svg "Google Cloud SQL")

[
Cloud SQL
](/products/google-cloud-sql/reviews)

**MySQL Alternatives**

 ![Microsoft SQL Server](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/a8a99a96fda235658139f710592f8a53/microsoft-sql-server.svg "Microsoft SQL Server")

[
MS SQL
](/products/microsoft-sql-server/reviews)

 ![Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1533130188/amazon-relational-database-service-rds.svg "Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)")

[
Amazon Relational Database...
](/products/amazon-relational-database-service-rds/reviews)

 ![IBM Db2](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1553782253/ibm-db2.svg "IBM Db2")

[
IBM Db2
](/products/ibm-db2/reviews)

 ![PostgreSQL](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_251be2af3ae607c45c14e816eaa1cf41/postgresql.png "PostgreSQL")

[
PostgreSQL
](/products/postgresql/reviews)