MariaDB Platform vs. MySQL

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
MariaDB Platform
Score 7.7 out of 10
N/A
MariaDB is an open-source relational database made by the original developers of MySQL, supported by the MariaDB Foundation and a community of developers. The community states recent additional capabilities as including clustering with Galera Cluster 4, compatibility with Oracle Database, and Temporal Data Tables, allowing one to query the data as it stood at any point in the past.N/A
MySQL
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
MySQL is a popular open-source relational and embedded database, now owned by Oracle.N/A
Pricing
MariaDB PlatformMySQL
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
MariaDB PlatformMySQL
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
MariaDB PlatformMySQL
Considered Both Products
MariaDB Platform
Chose MariaDB Platform
We migrated away from MySQL because of stability issues; when choosing a new database system we considered FirebirdSQL (having some experience from other projects) and did not use it because of stability and lack of standard SQL features in its query language; and Amazon's …
Chose MariaDB Platform
We selected MariaDB over MySQL because of their true open source model and performance optimizations. It was also helpful that it is a drop-in replacement for MySQL so there was no need to update our various software drivers.
Chose MariaDB Platform
Thanks to MySQL compatibility, everything you've learned while using it can be utilized when using MariaDB. Therefore it's a better choice than MongoDB and MSSQL if you're looking to switch away from MySQL. MariaDB is also a very mature and stable product, unlike MongoDB that …
Chose MariaDB Platform
We had previously used MySQL, but our database has grown very large. MariaDB offers faster queries.
Chose MariaDB Platform
MariaDB provided the best fit for our business in upgrading legacy systems which were originally designed to use MySQL as a backend. By using MariaDB, no changes to the overall systems needed to be altered, reducing the time needed to upgrade everything. Other solutions …
Chose MariaDB Platform
MySQL is still a great solution, but MariaDB offers a more extensive set of free features than are available for MySQL. We also feel more confident that MariaDB will remain free to use over time. End users haven't noticed much of a difference, but from a development cost …
Chose MariaDB Platform
We tried Percona also, but we sometimes having trouble with it and on some cases it having lesser performance than MariaDB.
MySQL is the the facto standard, we use this only in scenario that it cannot be replaced by MariaDB.
MSSQL is used only if the client ask for Windows …
Chose MariaDB Platform
MariaDB is very similar to MySQL, but MariaDB has more alternative database engines and ideas for the future where MySQL is offers the stable and more mature version (if not stale).

Chose MariaDB Platform
MariaDB is the clear winner compared to any other database I've used. Reliable, scale-able, affordable--you name the consideration and MariaDB is the winner.
Chose MariaDB Platform
MariaDB is cheaper than Oracle Database and MSSQL server. MySQL owned by Oracle. So MariaDB has too many forks, but enough people in the community. PostgreSQL has a larger community and better administration. However, it s not like MariaDB w/ Galera. MariaDB is not good for …
Chose MariaDB Platform
MariaDB stacks up the the competition just fine. Due to is ture open source nature we do not have to worry about licencing and spending money on nothing. Moreover, MariaDB does everything that we need to get done. We can run data that is a million rows or many smaller projects …
MySQL
Chose MySQL
A bit on the more complex side, but definitely one of the more popular solutions between our customers. As a stable alternative to the sometimes really pricy Oracle DB, it performed well for most of our not-database-heavy projects. It was a bit slower than no-SQL solutions on …
Chose MySQL
It is one of the tools that we had stopped using some time ago and in the last year we amplified its use thanks to its benefits and new functionalities.
Chose MySQL
Of course compare to no SQL databases it's slower but there is a completely different use case for them... In my opinion it is better than PostgreSQL, it's easier to configure and has the same performance, or approximately the same. Of course Oracle Database is a way bigger …
Chose MySQL
We had been using indexes on our MySQL databases for a while now but never before properly learned about them. Generally I put an index on any fields that I will be searching or selecting using a WHERE clause but sometimes it doesn't seem so black and white.
Chose MySQL
After Oracle bought MySQL, I have pivoted some projects to use MariaDB instead, which is a fork of MySQL and maintained by the community and original developers of MySQL. This is free under the GNU GPL, and is not impacted by decisions Oracle makes for MySQL. RDS has the …
Chose MySQL
I'm not that expert on MariaDB, but as far as I know, it has great support from tools and frameworks, but it's not that usual to find hosting with it installed rather than MySQL. Since MariaDB is a 'fork' from MySQL (since it was bought by Oracle), the transition from MySQL is …
Chose MySQL
Although big players in the market such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora jumped ship to use MariaDB, we found it more viable to use MySQL as a company. This was because MySQL was open source and offered a lot more functionality than other same priced software that were …
Chose MySQL
I prefer MySQL because of the simplicity of getting started and the ease of use. It has a very simple to use editor where one is able to input their SQL code and execute it from in application.
Chose MySQL
MySQL provides a feature to easily move to another technology. As we know, most of the users like to use MySQL in the backend because it reduces the overall business cost. No need to pay additional charges. Regularly updated.
Chose MySQL
The main argument of this decision was by popularity. At the time (2010), MySQL was the most popular open source database. Between 2010 and today, we evaluated different databases and PostgreSQL is a great competitor. SQL Server is good for windows applications but it's not …
Chose MySQL
I have used more than 10 different SQL databases over the course of my career. Of those, the three I find myself using over and over include MySQL, Oracle and SQL Server. I have actually replaced smaller deployments of Oracle and SQL Server with MySQL as a way to reduce …
Chose MySQL
Cost: StartUp companies don't have the money to invest large amount of money in pricey databases. By using Mysql, the saving is huge.
Top Pros
Top Cons
TrustRadius Insights
MariaDB PlatformMySQL
Highlights

TrustRadius
Research Team Insight
Published

MySQL and MariaDB are both open-source database software that allow for the storage and querying of data. Though MariaDB is a fork of MySQL, its features have diverged from the source over time.

MariaDB is a popular choice for open-source companies, while more commercial enterprises are more likely to use MySQL. Businesses of varying sizes use both database solutions.

Features

Though MariaDB and MySQL initially had the same set of features, over time, they have developed standout features that set them apart from each other.

MariaDB provides key management features out of the box at all price points through an AWS plugin. Additionally, Maria DB updates more frequently than MySQL, meaning bug fixes release more often than MySQL. Though Maria DB and MySQL both offer GPLv2 community licenses, Maria DB provides more features as part of its community offering.

MySQL supports JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) files, allowing for easy access to any data within JSON documents. Native support for JSON may improve efficiency for organizations with many JSON files. MySQL also provides an improved authentication plugin compared to Maria DB’s default plugin, improving security. Lastly, MySQL offers a robust shell that supports SQL editing as well as JavaScript and Python coding.

Limitations

Though MySQL and MariaDB both offer essential database features, each solution also has a few limitations.

MariaDB’s frequent updates mean that administrators must be vigilant to keep servers up to date. MariaDB also does not offer native support for JSON, though there are workarounds for accessing JSON data there may be a loss of speed compared to MySQL’s native support. Lastly, MariaDB’s default authentication plugin is not as robust as MySQL, which has more secure authentication features out of the box.

MySQL updates at a slower pace compared to MariaDB, while more infrequent updates are less strain on administrators, it could also result in more delayed bug fixes. Though MySQL offers a community license, some MySQL features such as key management aren’t available by default without the premium license. Maria DB provides more features in its community license.

Pricing

MySQL and MariaDB are both open-source software that provide free access to their source code. Both also offer enterprise solutions with customer support or additional features. Larger enterprises may require an enterprise license for either software.

MySQL offers several different server clusters, each with 24/7 support and the complete MySQL feature set. Enterprise clusters start at $2,000 and reach as high as $60,000, depending on what the needs of the business are.

MariaDB offers two enterprise licenses. The first offers the MariaDB platform while the other is a managed service for business. Both packages are quoted depending on the size and needs of the business.

Maria DB (fork of MySQL)

Features
  • Offers AWS key management as a default feature
  • More frequent updates means quicker bugfixes
  • includes entire feature set in the GPLv2 community license
Cons
  • Frequent updates requires vigilance from managers to keep servers up to date
  • Does not support JSON datatype, due to developer belief that it is not part of the SQL standard
  • Weaker default authentication plugin
Price
  • open source, so code is available
  • offers their platform, as well as a managed service for businesses that is quoted depending on business size and needs

MySql

Features
  • supports json datatype
  • improved authentication through upgraded plugin
  • MySQL shell allows for scripting in javascript and python, as well a SQL editing
Cons
  • Has a key management plugin, but isn’t available below the premium price point
  • Some features are locked behind a premium price point, rather than being included in the GPLv2 community license, including key management
  • Slower updates can mean bugs are slower to be fixed
Price
  • open source, code available
  • Enterprise clusters available starting at $2,000 with 24/7 support and full features
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User Ratings
MariaDB PlatformMySQL
Likelihood to Recommend
7.0
(29 ratings)
8.2
(134 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
9.9
(4 ratings)
Usability
6.4
(3 ratings)
10.0
(6 ratings)
Support Rating
8.7
(16 ratings)
8.6
(2 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
MariaDB PlatformMySQL
Likelihood to Recommend
MariaDB
  • Applications where the users need [to] execute many short queries.
  • With new storage engines such as Aria, which allows to replace MyISAM with some improvements, and XtraDB, which evolves InnoDB.
  • To fuse the legacy features with the features available in NoSQL databases.
  • Connection management, which allows multiplying the number of concurrent accesses.
  • New clustering engines, such as Galera, which allow interesting possibilities for Cloud adoption.
Read full review
Oracle
From my own perspective and the tasks that I perform on a daily basis, MySQL is perfect. It has a reasonable footprint, is fast enough and offers the security and flexibility I need. Everyone has their preferred applications and, no doubt, for larger data warehouses or more intensive applications, MySQL may have its limits, but for the area that I operate in, it's a great match.
Read full review
Pros
MariaDB
  • Simpler learning curve. MariaDB is a cleaner, simpler system that is (IMO) easier to learn and easier to manage effectively than many other database systems.
  • Lower hardware requirements. After migrating to MariaDB from another database software system, we find that our hardware needs have substantially decreased.
  • MariaDB support is very responsive. It's like they actually care. On the few occasions we've run into technical issues, support has always come through with what we needed. Once it was showing me a relatively new feature the server supported that I wasn't aware of, that, once I was able to properly make use of it helped me resolve a serious production performance issue.
  • Architectural flexibility. As an example, the ready availability of synchronous (Galera) versus asynchronous replication schemes without being locked into one of the other by enormous technical complexity or punitive licensing, allows the customer to find what really works best for their needs.
Read full review
Oracle
  • Security: is embedded at each level in MySQL. Authentication mechanisms are in place for configuring user access and even service account access to applications. MySQL is secure enough under the hood to store your sensitive information. Also, additional plugins are available that sit on top of MySQL for even tighter security.
  • Widely adopted: MySQL is used across the industry and is trusted the most. Therefore, if you face any problems, simply Google it and you shall land in plenty of forums. This is a great relief as when you are in a need of help, you can find it right in your browser.
  • Lightweight application: MySQL is not a heavy application. However, the data you store in the database can get heavy with time, but as in the configuration and MySql application files, those are not very heavy and can easily be installed on legacy systems as well.
Read full review
Cons
MariaDB
  • Driver Support - Some third party applications use database drivers that cause unexplained slowness with MariaDB. This can be worked around by using the MySQL drivers, but it's not clear what causes the problem in the first place.
  • Support - While online communities are helpful in diagnosing problems, there isn't as much professional documentation/support available for MariaDB as some of the other major database options.
  • Data Visualization - It would be helpful if there were more built in options for analyzing statistics and generating reports.
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Oracle
  • Although you can add the data you require as more and more data is added, the fixity of it becomes more critical.
  • As the demand, size, and use of the system increase, you may also need to change or acquire more equipment on your servers, although this is an internal inconvenience for the company.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
MariaDB
No answers on this topic
Oracle
For teaching Databases and SQL, I would definitely continue to use MySQL. It provides a good, solid foundation to learn about databases. Also to learn about the SQL language and how it works with the creation, insertion, deletion, updating, and manipulation of data, tables, and databases. This SQL language is a foundation and can be used to learn many other database related concepts.
Read full review
Usability
MariaDB
MariaDB is very usable and stable to be used in production settings as an alternative to MySQL. The shortcomings of SQL are present but well understood in the community, and if the decision were to be made again, I would choose MariaDB over MySQL on future projects.
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Oracle
I give MySQL a 9/10 overall because I really like it but I feel like there are a lot of tech people who would hate it if I gave it a 10/10. I've never had any problems with it or reached any of its limitations but I know a few people who have so I can't give it a 10/10 based on those complaints.
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Support Rating
MariaDB
We have launched several inquiries to MariaDB support and they have always responded very quickly and have not been tutoring for the duration of the incident/problem.
Likewise, they want to hold constant meetings with the client to get their opinion as well as how they can help.
I see a very human support and concerned about the customer.
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Oracle
The support staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. I only had to get part way through my explanations before they had a solution. They will walk you through a fix or actually connect in and fix the problem for you--or would if you can allow it. I've done it both ways with them. They are always forthcoming with 'how to do this if it happens again' information. I love working with MySQL support.
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Implementation Rating
MariaDB
No answers on this topic
Oracle
1. Estimate your data size. 2. Test, test, and test.
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Alternatives Considered
MariaDB
MariaDB stacks up the the competition just fine. Due to is ture open source nature we do not have to worry about licencing and spending money on nothing. Moreover, MariaDB does everything that we need to get done. We can run data that is a million rows or many smaller projects on the same environment with little overhead. One of the best features that MariaDB has is the ability of backup or dump data to standard text sql statements. That was one of the reasons why we choose MariaDb because it makes backups or transferring data a snap
Read full review
Oracle
MongoDB has a dynamic schema for how data is stored in 'documents' whereas MySQL is more structured with tables, columns, and rows. MongoDB was built for high availability whereas MySQL can be a challenge when it comes to replication of the data and making everything redundant in the event of a DR or outage.
Read full review
Return on Investment
MariaDB
  • Low CAPEX if you have a team that use open source software day by day
  • Medium OPEX if you have a team that use open source software day by day
  • Perfect to use in academic ambient to support researchers and students
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Oracle
  • As it is an open source solution through community solution, we can use it in a multitude of projects without cost license
  • The acquisition by Oracle makes you need to contract support for the enterprise version
  • If you have knowledge about oracle databases, you can get more out of the enterprise version
Read full review
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