MySQL vs MariaDB
type: Article
description: MariaDB is a MySQL fork with more advanced features, better performance optimizations, and faster development cycles, while MySQL remains the industry standard with broader enterprise support and larger user base. Both are open-source relational databases, but MariaDB offers enhanced functionality while MySQL prioritizes stability and compatibility.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-09T04:17:07.974Z
date created: 2026-07-09T04:17:07.974Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T04:17:08.272Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T04:17:08.272Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: MySQL
about: MariaDB
abstract: MariaDB is a MySQL fork with more advanced features, better performance optimizations, and faster development cycles, while MySQL remains the industry standard with broader enterprise support and larger user base. Both are open-source relational databases, but MariaDB offers enhanced functionality while MySQL prioritizes stability and compatibility.
text: Development & Release Cycle. Storage Engines. Query Optimizer. Market Adoption & Enterprise Support. Windows Installation Support. Replication Features. Commercial Licensing & Support
conclusion text: Choose MySQL if you need maximum enterprise support, largest ecosystem of third-party tools, and work in highly regulated industries requiring vendor backing from Oracle. Choose MariaDB if you prioritize advanced query optimization, flexible storage engines, faster feature releases, and community-driven development with full open-source transparency.
additional property: ACID Compliance Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Partial (InnoDB only) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Simple Query Throughput
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: ~28,000 (MySQL 8.4) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Complex Join Performance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: ~450 (5-table join) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: JSON Query Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: JSON functions only | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Base Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: ~80 (minimal config) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Vector Similarity Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Via third-party extensions | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Full-Text Search
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Limited, basic support | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Time-Series Optimization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Standard table partitioning | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: AWS RDS Managed Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: $13.50 (MySQL 8.4) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Supported Versions (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 5 (8.0-8.4 active) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Replication Lag (typical)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 5-50 (binary log) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Support Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Oracle, multiple vendors | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Concurrent Connections
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 151 (default, configurable) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Max Database Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 140 TB per table | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 150-500 MB | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Network Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Yes - TCP/IP protocol | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Built-in Replication
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Yes - master-slave, group replication | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Typical Query Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 5-50 ms (indexed queries) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Transaction Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Full ACID across multiple tables (since v5.7) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Horizontal Scalability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Manual sharding (theoretical unlimited) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Schema Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Fixed schema, requires migration for changes | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Average Query Latency (structured data)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 3-5ms for simple queries | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Memory Usage (100GB dataset)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 8-12GB working set | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Years in Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 25+ years (MySQL 1.0 released 1995) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Write Throughput (single server)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 10,000-50,000 ops/sec | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Community Popularity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 46% of web applications (Stack Overflow 2024) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 240-480 minutes | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost (10GB, 100K requests)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: $50-200 (self-hosted) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Maximum Storage per Database
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Unlimited | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Auto-Scaling Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Manual configuration required | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Database Branching Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Third-party tools only | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Community Size (Stack Overflow Tags)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 600+ thousand | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Read Throughput Improvement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 1x baseline | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Cost (On-Demand, Single Instance/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: $0 (open-source) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Maximum Storage Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 64TB (hardware dependent) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Maximum Read Replicas
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Unlimited (with sharding complexity) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Uptime SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: User-dependent (no guarantee) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Backup Automation
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Manual configuration required | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Deployment Platforms Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 5+ (on-prem, cloud, edge, containers, hybrid) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Read Query Performance (SELECT 1M rows)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 2.8s (MySQL 8.0) | MariaDB: 1.8s (MariaDB 10.6)
  value reference: MariaDB
additional property: Write Performance (INSERT 100K rows)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 4.2s (MySQL 8.0) | MariaDB: 2.9s (MariaDB 10.6)
  value reference: MariaDB
additional property: Storage Engines Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 2 (InnoDB, MyISAM) | MariaDB: 6+ (InnoDB, MyISAM, Aria, XtraDB, TokuDB, ColumnStore)
  value reference: MariaDB
additional property: Latest Stable Version (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: MySQL 8.4 LTS | MariaDB: MariaDB 11.6
additional property: Memory Footprint (Idle instance)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 145MB | MariaDB: 138MB
  value reference: MariaDB
additional property: Enterprise Support Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: $2,500-$50,000 (Oracle) | MariaDB: $1,500-$15,000 (MariaDB Corp)
  value reference: MariaDB
additional property: GitHub Community Activity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: ~4,400 stars | MariaDB: ~4,800 stars
  value reference: MariaDB
additional property: ACID Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: Yes (InnoDB) | MariaDB: Yes (InnoDB, XtraDB)
additional property: Simple SELECT Query Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 100ms (baseline) | MariaDB: N/A
additional property: Complex Analytical Query Speed (with JOINs + aggregations)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: MySQL: 850ms (without window functions) | MariaDB: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/mysql
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/mysql
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/mariadb
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/mariadb
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/mysql-vs-mariadb))
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/mysql-vs-mariadb))
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-mariadb
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-mariadb)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-sqlite
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-mongodb
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-planetscale
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-amazon-aurora
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-postgresql
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-postgresql)
teaches: How to choose between MySQL and MariaDB
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: MySQL vs MariaDB — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

MySQL
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: Mysql
language: en-US
description: Open-source relational database management system with widespread adoption and community support.
image: ImageObject
  caption: MySQL
subject of: MySQL vs MariaDB
image: ImageObject
  caption: MySQL

MariaDB
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: Mariadb
language: en-US
description: Community-driven MySQL fork with enhanced features, multiple storage engines, and faster development cycles.
image: ImageObject
  caption: MariaDB
subject of: MySQL vs MariaDB
image: ImageObject
  caption: MariaDB

MySQL vs MariaDB — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for MySQL vs MariaDB. Contains 82 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: ACID Compliance Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Simple Query Throughput
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Complex Join Performance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: JSON Query Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Base Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resources
variable measured: Vector Similarity Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI/ML Features
variable measured: Full-Text Search
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Time-Series Optimization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: AWS RDS Managed Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Supported Versions (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maintenance
variable measured: Replication Lag (typical)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Enterprise Support Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Concurrent Connections
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Max Database Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Network Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Built-in Replication
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: High Availability
variable measured: Typical Query Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Transaction Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Horizontal Scalability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Schema Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Average Query Latency (structured data)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Memory Usage (100GB dataset)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resource Efficiency
variable measured: Years in Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: Write Throughput (single server)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Community Popularity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Monthly Cost (10GB, 100K requests)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Storage per Database
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capacity
variable measured: Auto-Scaling Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Database Branching Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Features
variable measured: Community Size (Stack Overflow Tags)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Support
variable measured: Read Throughput Improvement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Cost (On-Demand, Single Instance/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Storage Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Maximum Read Replicas
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Uptime SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Backup Automation
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Deployment Platforms Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Flexibility
variable measured: Read Query Performance (SELECT 1M rows)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Write Performance (INSERT 100K rows)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Storage Engines Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Latest Stable Version (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Release Cycle
variable measured: Memory Footprint (Idle instance)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resource Usage
variable measured: Enterprise Support Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: GitHub Community Activity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: ACID Compliance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Integrity
variable measured: Simple SELECT Query Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Complex Analytical Query Speed (with JOINs + aggregations)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Default Memory Usage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resources
variable measured: ACID Compliance by Default
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Integrity
variable measured: Annual Enterprise Support Cost (per server)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Major Release Frequency
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development
variable measured: Available Storage Engines
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Maximum JSON Document Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Handling
variable measured: Full-Text Search Languages Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Hosting Provider Compatibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Window Functions Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: SQL Features
variable measured: Simple Query Speed (1M rows, SELECT *)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Complex Analytical Query Speed (Aggregate + Join)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Minimum Memory Requirement
variable measured: Maximum Connection Limit (Default)
variable measured: Built-in JSON Support
variable measured: Full-Text Search Capability
variable measured: Developer Preference (2024 Survey)
variable measured: Window Functions Support
variable measured: Global Market Share
variable measured: Average Query Optimization Rules
variable measured: Major Release Cycle
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-mariadb))

MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for MySQL vs MariaDB.
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Resources
has defined term: AI/ML Features
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Maintenance
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: High Availability
has defined term: Resource Efficiency
has defined term: Maturity
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Capacity
has defined term: Developer Features
has defined term: Community Support
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: Flexibility
has defined term: Release Cycle
has defined term: Resource Usage
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Data Integrity
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Data Handling
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: SQL Features
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Replication
has defined term: Availability
has defined term: Data Protection

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Resources
type: DefinedTerm
term code: resources
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI/ML Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai/ml-features
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Maintenance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: maintenance
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

High Availability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: high-availability
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Resource Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: resource-efficiency
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Maturity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: maturity
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capacity
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-features
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-support
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: flexibility
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Release Cycle
type: DefinedTerm
term code: release-cycle
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Resource Usage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: resource-usage
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Integrity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-integrity
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Handling
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-handling
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

SQL Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: sql-features
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Replication
type: DefinedTerm
term code: replication
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Availability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: availability
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Protection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-protection
in defined term set: MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T04:17:08.272Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: mysql-vs-mariadb))
main entity: Can I use MariaDB as a drop-in replacement for MySQL?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: MariaDB is 100% binary compatible with MySQL 5.7 and earlier, making it a true drop-in replacement for legacy systems. However, MariaDB 10.3+ introduces breaking changes incompatible with MySQL 8.0+. Most applications can switch without code changes, but thorough testing is required for production systems using newer MySQL features.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has better performance for large datasets?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: MariaDB generally offers superior performance optimization due to its 45+ query optimizer rules versus MySQL's ~15 core rules. However, MySQL 8.0+ has narrowed this gap significantly. Performance depends heavily on workload type: MariaDB excels with complex analytical queries, while MySQL performs well with standard transactional workloads. Benchmark your specific use case.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is MariaDB truly open-source while MySQL is not?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Both are open-source under the GPL license. The distinction is governance: MySQL is controlled by Oracle Corporation, while MariaDB is governed by the MariaDB Foundation and community. MariaDB's development is more transparent with monthly releases, while MySQL follows Oracle's quarterly release schedule. Neither is 'more open' technically, but MariaDB offers faster community-driven feature development.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which database should I choose for a new project in 2026?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: For enterprise applications requiring vendor support and maximum ecosystem compatibility, choose MySQL. For open-source projects prioritizing latest features and optimization, choose MariaDB. If Windows compatibility is critical, MySQL is preferred. Most new projects benefit from evaluating both in your specific environment, as the performance gap has narrowed.
    language: en-US
main entity: What's the total cost of ownership difference between the two?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Both are free open-source software with zero licensing costs. The difference lies in support contracts (Oracle vs MariaDB Corporation) and operational expertise availability. MySQL has more developers familiar with it (lower hiring costs), while MariaDB may have lower database tuning costs due to superior optimization. Total cost depends on your team's expertise and support requirements.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between MySQL and MariaDB
type: HowTo
description: MariaDB is a MySQL fork with more advanced features, better performance optimizations, and faster development cycles, while MySQL remains the industry standard with broader enterprise support and larger user base. Both are open-source relational databases, but MariaDB offers enhanced functionality while MySQL prioritizes stability and compatibility.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Development & Release Cycle
step: Consider: Storage Engines
step: Consider: Query Optimizer
step: Consider: Market Adoption & Enterprise Support
step: Consider: Windows Installation Support
step: Consider: Replication Features
step: Consider: Commercial Licensing & Support
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose MySQL if you need maximum enterprise support, largest ecosystem of third-party tools, and work in highly regulated industries requiring vendor backing from Oracle. Choose MariaDB if you prioritize advanced query optimization, flexible storage engines, faster feature releases, and community-driven development with full open-source transparency.

Consider: Development & Release Cycle
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Development & Release Cycle: MySQL has Oracle-controlled, quarterly major releases, while MariaDB has Community-driven, monthly feature releases.

Consider: Storage Engines
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Storage Engines: MySQL has InnoDB primarily, limited alternatives, while MariaDB has InnoDB, Aria, MyRocks, TokuDB support.

Consider: Query Optimizer
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Query Optimizer: MySQL has Standard optimizer with basic cost analysis, while MariaDB has Extended optimizer with 30+ additional cost rules.

Consider: Market Adoption & Enterprise Support
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Market Adoption & Enterprise Support: MySQL has Used by 46% of web databases globally, while MariaDB has Used by 8% of web databases globally.

Consider: Windows Installation Support
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Windows Installation Support: MySQL has Full native Windows support, while MariaDB has Limited Windows support via WSL/Docker.

Consider: Replication Features
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Replication Features: MySQL has Binary log replication, group replication, while MariaDB has Multi-source replication, GTID support included by default.

Consider: Commercial Licensing & Support
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Commercial Licensing & Support: MySQL has Available from Oracle Corporation, while MariaDB has Available from MariaDB Corporation AB.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: MySQL vs MariaDB
review body: MariaDB is a MySQL fork with more advanced features, better performance optimizations, and faster development cycles, while MySQL remains the industry standard with broader enterprise support and larger user base. Both are open-source relational databases, but MariaDB offers enhanced functionality while MySQL prioritizes stability and compatibility.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: MySQL vs MariaDB

Default Memory Usage
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 150MB | MariaDB: N/A

ACID Compliance by Default
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: No (conditional) | MariaDB: N/A

Annual Enterprise Support Cost (per server)
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: $3,500 | MariaDB: $1,200
value reference: MariaDB

Major Release Frequency
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 2.0 | MariaDB: 1.25
value reference: MariaDB

Available Storage Engines
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 5 | MariaDB: 12
value reference: MariaDB

Maximum JSON Document Size
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 64MB (practical limit) | MariaDB: N/A

Full-Text Search Languages Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 1-2 (English mainly) | MariaDB: N/A

Hosting Provider Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 99% of providers | MariaDB: N/A

Window Functions Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: No (until 8.0) | MariaDB: N/A

Simple Query Speed (1M rows, SELECT *)
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 45ms (MySQL) | MariaDB: N/A

Complex Analytical Query Speed (Aggregate + Join)
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 1,200ms (MySQL) | MariaDB: N/A

Minimum Memory Requirement
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 50MB | MariaDB: N/A

Maximum Connection Limit (Default)
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 151 | MariaDB: N/A

Built-in JSON Support
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: Yes, since 5.7 (basic operations only) | MariaDB: N/A

Full-Text Search Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: Basic (limited language support, no stemming) | MariaDB: N/A

Developer Preference (2024 Survey)
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 53% | MariaDB: N/A

Window Functions Support
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: Since 8.0 (limited implementation) | MariaDB: N/A

Global Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 46% | MariaDB: 8%
value reference: MySQL

Average Query Optimization Rules
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: ~15 core rules | MariaDB: ~45 rules (30+ extended)
value reference: MariaDB

Major Release Cycle
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: ~3 months (quarterly) | MariaDB: ~1 month (monthly)
value reference: MariaDB

Storage Engine Options
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 1 (InnoDB primary) | MariaDB: 4+ (InnoDB, Aria, MyRocks, TokuDB)
value reference: MariaDB

Stack Overflow Questions
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 450K+ | MariaDB: 85K+
value reference: MySQL

Windows Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: Full MSI installer, native support | MariaDB: WSL/Docker required on modern Windows

Binary Compatibility with MySQL
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: Reference implementation | MariaDB: 100% compatible through MySQL 5.7

Default GTID Replication Configuration
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: Requires manual setup | MariaDB: Enabled by default

Read Throughput Performance Improvement
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 1x (baseline) | MariaDB: N/A

Automatic Failover Time
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: Manual (30-60+ minutes) | MariaDB: N/A

High Availability Replication Factor
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 1 (self-managed: 2-3 typical) | MariaDB: N/A

Minimum Monthly Operational Cost (production-ready)
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: $0 (software) + infrastructure costs | MariaDB: N/A

Backup Retention Window (default)
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 0 (manual only) | MariaDB: N/A

Storage Scalability Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: Depends on hardware (typically 1-10TB) | MariaDB: N/A

Setup & Deployment Time
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: 4-24 (server provisioning + config) | MariaDB: N/A

SLA Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: MySQL: None (depends on your infrastructure) | MariaDB: N/A

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

MySQL — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

MariaDB — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare MySQL vs MariaDB
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mysql-vs-mariadb))
object: MySQL
object: MariaDB

Minimum Memory Requirement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Maximum Connection Limit (Default)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Built-in JSON Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Full-Text Search Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Developer Preference (2024 Survey)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Window Functions Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Global Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Average Query Optimization Rules
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Major Release Cycle
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development

Storage Engine Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Stack Overflow Questions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community Support

Windows Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Binary Compatibility with MySQL
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Default GTID Replication Configuration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Replication

Read Throughput Performance Improvement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Automatic Failover Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Availability

High Availability Replication Factor
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Minimum Monthly Operational Cost (production-ready)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Backup Retention Window (default)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Protection

Storage Scalability Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Setup & Deployment Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Operations

SLA Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability