Link copied to clipboard # MariaDB vs MySQL Comparison - What are their main differences? Share [ Export ](/compare/mariadb/mysql/export.csv) MariaDBMySQL[+ Add Product](#) Pricing **MariaDB** Free Trial **Free** Per Month · Foundation (MariaDB Cloud) **MySQL** **$5,000** · MySQL Enterprise Edition **Pricing Insights** from reviews Time to Implement **MariaDB** 2 months Based on 5 responses **MySQL** 2 months Based on 197 responses Return on Investment **MariaDB** 13 months Based on 34 responses **MySQL** 11 months2 months sooner Based on 140 responses Perceived Cost **MariaDB** $$$$$ **MySQL** $$$$$ Average Discount **MariaDB** 12% **MySQL** 12% **Pros & Cons** from reviews **MariaDB** [ Ease of Use (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1695307&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Easy Integrations (2) ](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1695340&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Beginner Unfriendliness (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2292152&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Connectivity Issues (1) ](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2077327&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) **MySQL** [ Ease of Use (17) ](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1848750&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Easy Integrations (9) ](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1848798&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 (9) ](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1848575&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Integrations **MariaDB** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_da633d2d1c1fd43e5e3cc46236965f55/elastic-elasticsearch.png "Product Avatar Image") Elasticsearch ](https://www.g2.com/products/elastic-elasticsearch/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_da16878589afcd15c61bcb8a7b6b66a7/kubernetes.png "Product Avatar Image") Kubernetes ](https://www.g2.com/products/kubernetes/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_7d87090e40241ba0477cf10c6812db14/american-cloud-kubernetes.png "Product Avatar Image") Kubernetes ](https://www.g2.com/products/american-cloud-kubernetes/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_0864c27fe20b07ec3ed3d780e010ea02/laravel.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Laravel ](https://www.g2.com/products/laravel/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/integrations) **MySQL** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_dc7900ca8b7b1ffa938cf62c40bfe2bf/apache-http-server-project.png "Product Avatar Image") Apache HTTP Server Project ](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-http-server-project/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_d99c715051d74e27de9fd48624b6561e/apache-tomcat.png "Product Avatar Image") Tomcat ](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-tomcat/reviews)[ ![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)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_f176b4154a751d10150daa67a57b7dc5/azure-data-factory.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Azure Data Factory ](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-data-factory/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/integrations) Screenshots **MariaDB** ![MariaDB screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/121371/Screen-Shot-2019-11-13-at-10.10.31-AM.png) **MySQL** No screenshot available **Ratings** from reviews Meets Requirements **MariaDB** 8.9 8.9185 **MySQL** 8.9 8.91,415 Ease of Use **MariaDB** 8.9 8.9187 **MySQL** 8.7 8.71,419 Ease of Setup **MariaDB** 8.7 8.7117 **MySQL** 8.6 8.6682 Ease of Admin **MariaDB** 8.4 8.4112 **MySQL** 8.4 8.4640 Quality of Support **MariaDB** 7.8 7.8143 **MySQL** 8.0 8.01,194 Has the product been a good partner in doing business? **MariaDB** 8.1 8.189 **MySQL** 8.5 8.5526 Product Direction (% positive) **MariaDB** 8.9 8.9178 **MySQL** 8.0 8.01,379 **Features** ratings from reviews Relational Databases 8.7 177 8.7 1,301 Columnar Databases 9.0 10 Not enough data User Insights **Reviewers' Company Size** Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 41.8% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 31.4% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 26.8% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 41.8% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 31.4% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 26.8% 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.) 36.7% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 30.8% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 32.5% **Reviewers' Industry** [![MariaDB](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1546027546/mariadb.svg "MariaDB")](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/reviews) MariaDB Information Technology and Services 25.9% Computer Software 20.5% Internet 5.0% Telecommunications 5.0% Computer & Network Security 3.6% Other 40.0% [![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% Alternatives **MariaDB 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) ![Oracle Database](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_82f55e945509bff7b8009e8024cfe73c/oracle-database.jpg "Oracle Database") [ Oracle Database ](/products/oracle-database/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) **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) ## MariaDB vs MySQL FAQs Generated using AI Last updated: August 14, 2026 ### What is the difference between MySQL vs MariaDB? MySQL and MariaDB are both highly rated open-source relational databases, but reviewers highlight MySQL's ease of use and MariaDB's performance and open-source governance as key distinctions. | [MySQL](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews) | [MariaDB](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/reviews) | | --- | --- | | 4.4/5 (1,682 reviews) | 4.4/5 (226 reviews) | | Small-Business | Small-Business | | 8.6 | 8.7 | | 8.0 | 7.9 | | Ease of Use (17 all-time mentions) | Performance and Open Source (recent reviews) | ### How do the pricing models of MySQL and MariaDB compare? MariaDB is rated as the stronger value on price and cost satisfaction, with a higher Price/Cost-related score than MySQL. - **MySQL:** Reviewers appreciate the strong free community edition and cost-effectiveness for most use cases, but note that enterprise-tier support and advanced tooling come at additional cost. - **MariaDB:** Reviewers consistently highlight MariaDB's open-source model and cost efficiency, stating it is free to use and saves on licensing expenses, making it attractive for businesses seeking to minimize costs. - **Switching Reason:** Several reviewers mention switching to MariaDB to avoid vendor lock-in and licensing costs associated with MySQL's parent company. ### What are the best alternatives to MySQL and MariaDB? The top three alternatives to MySQL and MariaDB 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 reviews) | Small-Business | Strong free community edition, enterprise features cost extra | Ease of Use (17 all-time mentions) | | [MariaDB](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/reviews) | 4.4/5 (226 reviews) | Small-Business | Free and open source, cost-efficient for businesses | Performance and Open Source (recent reviews) | | [MS SQL](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-sql-server/reviews) | 4.4/5 (2,287 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Enterprise-grade reliability and scalability (recent reviews) | | [Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-relational-database-service-rds/reviews) | 4.5/5 (909 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Managed service and scalability (recent reviews) | | [PostgreSQL](https://www.g2.com/products/postgresql/reviews) | 4.4/5 (684 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Advanced features and extensibility (recent reviews) | ### Which Relational Databases features should I prioritize when comparing MySQL and MariaDB? Buyers comparing MySQL and MariaDB should prioritize ease of use, performance, integrations, storage, and support. - **Ease of Use:** MySQL (8.7), MariaDB (8.9); MySQL has 17 all-time mentions for ease of use, MariaDB has 2. - **Performance:** MySQL (7 all-time mentions), MariaDB (recent reviews highlight performance as a key strength). - **Integrations:** MySQL (9 all-time mentions for easy integrations), MariaDB (recent reviews mention easy integrations). - **Storage:** MySQL (4 all-time mentions for database options), MariaDB (recent reviews highlight data storage as a benefit). - **Support:** MySQL (8.0), MariaDB (7.9); both products have reviewer-cited support experiences. ### What are the pros and cons of MySQL vs MariaDB? MySQL's headline strength is ease of use, while MariaDB's is performance and open-source flexibility. - **MySQL strengths:** Ease of use (17 all-time mentions), easy integrations (9), reliability (9), performance (7), strong documentation (4), open source (4), setup ease (4). - **MySQL trade-offs:** Feature limitations (12), limited database support (9), performance issues (5), slow performance (5), scaling issues (4). - **MariaDB strengths:** Performance (recent reviews), open-source and cost efficiency (recent reviews), easy integrations (2), backup services (1), data security (1), fast querying (1), large datasets (1). - **MariaDB trade-offs:** Beginner unfriendliness (1), error handling (1), limited features (1), not user-friendly (1), some reviewers note complex setup and documentation. ### Is MySQL or MariaDB better for small businesses? Both MySQL and MariaDB are primarily used by small businesses, but MySQL receives more frequent praise for ease of use and setup in this segment. - **MySQL:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers consistently highlight ease of use, straightforward setup, and strong community support for small business needs. - **MariaDB:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers note reliable performance and cost efficiency, but some mention a steeper learning curve for initial setup. ### Which Relational Databases platform has better integrations? MySQL is favored for integrations, with more reviewer-cited integration mentions and a broader ecosystem. - **MySQL:** Python (35 all-time mentions), Zoho Books (recent reviews), and strong integration with backend frameworks and programming languages are frequently cited. - **MariaDB:** Reviewers mention easy integration with Java, PHP, and various frameworks, but with fewer all-time mentions than MySQL. ### How do MySQL and MariaDB compare on customer support? MySQL and MariaDB are rated at parity on Quality of Support, with scores of 8.0 and 7.9 respectively, below the materiality threshold for a meaningful difference. - **MySQL:** Reviewers describe extensive community support, comprehensive documentation, and responsive support channels, though some note that official support is stronger on enterprise plans. - **MariaDB:** Reviewers highlight a helpful user community and reliable support, but some mention that documentation and error messages could be improved for troubleshooting. ### Which is easier to implement, MySQL or MariaDB? MySQL and MariaDB are rated at parity on Ease of Setup, with scores of 8.6 and 8.7 respectively, indicating similar implementation experiences. - **MySQL:** Reviewers consistently describe MySQL as easy to set up, with straightforward installation, strong documentation, and a low learning curve for new users. - **MariaDB:** Reviewers note that MariaDB is generally easy to install and configure, but some mention that initial setup and advanced configuration can be less intuitive, especially for beginners. ### Which product has better Storage? MySQL and MariaDB are both recognized for strong storage capabilities, with reviewers citing reliable structured data storage and performance. - **MySQL:** Storage is a frequently cited benefit, with 4 all-time mentions for database options and structured data storage; reviewers highlight fast data retrieval and efficient handling of large datasets. - **MariaDB:** Reviewers highlight data storage as a key benefit, noting high performance, support for large datasets, and robust storage management in recent reviews.