MySQL vs MariaDB: Complete Comparison Guide
Compare MySQL and MariaDB on functionality, licensing, storage engines, and compatibility. Discover which relational database is the best fit for your project.
MySQL
The most popular open-source relational database in the world, owned by Oracle. MySQL provides reliable ACID transactions via InnoDB, extensive replication options, and a massive ecosystem of tools and hosting providers. It is the standard database for millions of web applications, from WordPress to large enterprise systems.
MariaDB
A community-driven fork of MySQL, created by MySQL's original founder Monty Widenius. MariaDB offers full MySQL compatibility plus additional storage engines (Aria, ColumnStore, Spider), improved performance optimizations, and a strong focus on open-source freedom without corporate control.
Comparison table
| Feature | MySQL | MariaDB |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Oracle Corporation — dual-licensed (GPL + commercial) | MariaDB Foundation — fully open-source (GPL v2) |
| Storage engines | InnoDB (default), MyISAM, NDB Cluster | InnoDB, Aria, ColumnStore, Spider, MyRocks, and more |
| Compatibility | Reference implementation — all tools work with MySQL | Drop-in replacement for MySQL 5.7; versions diverge afterwards |
| Performance | Solid performance with InnoDB — focus on stability | Thread pool, query optimizer improvements, and parallel replication |
| JSON support | Native JSON type with functions since MySQL 5.7 | JSON as alias for LONGTEXT — less native support |
| Encryption | Tablespace encryption in Enterprise Edition | Data-at-rest encryption available in the community edition for free |
Verdict
MySQL and MariaDB are closely related but increasingly diverging. MySQL remains the most popular choice with the largest ecosystem and Oracle support, but corporate control concerns some open-source advocates. MariaDB offers extra features like Aria and ColumnStore storage engines, better encryption in the community edition, and no vendor lock-in. For most web applications, they are interchangeable. The choice depends on whether you value the broader MySQL ecosystem or MariaDB's open-source philosophy.
Our recommendation
At MG Software, we recommend PostgreSQL over both MySQL and MariaDB for most new projects due to its superior feature set, extensions, and scalability. When a client specifically needs a MySQL-compatible database, we recommend MariaDB for its open-source license and additional features like data-at-rest encryption. We recommend MySQL when specific compatibility with MySQL-only features or Oracle support is required.
Frequently asked questions
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