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.
MySQL vs MariaDB — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Open-source relational database management system with widespread adoption and community support.
Community-driven MySQL fork with enhanced features, multiple storage engines, and faster development cycles.
Development & Release Cycle. Storage Engines. Query Optimizer. Market Adoption & Enterprise Support. Windows Installation Support. Replication Features. Commercial Licensing & Support
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.
MySQL: Partial (InnoDB only) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: ~28,000 (MySQL 8.4) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: ~450 (5-table join) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: JSON functions only | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: ~80 (minimal config) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Via third-party extensions | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Limited, basic support | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Standard table partitioning | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: $13.50 (MySQL 8.4) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 5 (8.0-8.4 active) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Oracle, multiple vendors | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 151 (default, configurable) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Yes - TCP/IP protocol | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Yes - master-slave, group replication | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 5-50 ms (indexed queries) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Full ACID across multiple tables (since v5.7) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Manual sharding (theoretical unlimited) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Fixed schema, requires migration for changes | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 3-5ms for simple queries | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 8-12GB working set | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 25+ years (MySQL 1.0 released 1995) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 10,000-50,000 ops/sec | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 46% of web applications (Stack Overflow 2024) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: $50-200 (self-hosted) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Manual configuration required | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Third-party tools only | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 64TB (hardware dependent) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Unlimited (with sharding complexity) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: User-dependent (no guarantee) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 5+ (on-prem, cloud, edge, containers, hybrid) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 2.8s (MySQL 8.0) | MariaDB: 1.8s (MariaDB 10.6)
MySQL: 4.2s (MySQL 8.0) | MariaDB: 2.9s (MariaDB 10.6)
MySQL: 2 (InnoDB, MyISAM) | MariaDB: 6+ (InnoDB, MyISAM, Aria, XtraDB, TokuDB, ColumnStore)
MySQL: MySQL 8.4 LTS | MariaDB: MariaDB 11.6
MySQL: ~4,400 stars | MariaDB: ~4,800 stars
MySQL: Yes (InnoDB) | MariaDB: Yes (InnoDB, XtraDB)
Complex Analytical Query Speed (with JOINs + aggregations)
MySQL: 850ms (without window functions) | MariaDB: N/A
Annual Enterprise Support Cost (per server)
MySQL: 64MB (practical limit) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 1-2 (English mainly) | MariaDB: N/A
Complex Analytical Query Speed (Aggregate + Join)
MySQL: Yes, since 5.7 (basic operations only) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Basic (limited language support, no stemming) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Since 8.0 (limited implementation) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: ~15 core rules | MariaDB: ~45 rules (30+ extended)
MySQL: ~3 months (quarterly) | MariaDB: ~1 month (monthly)
MySQL: 1 (InnoDB primary) | MariaDB: 4+ (InnoDB, Aria, MyRocks, TokuDB)
MySQL: Full MSI installer, native support | MariaDB: WSL/Docker required on modern Windows
MySQL: Reference implementation | MariaDB: 100% compatible through MySQL 5.7
MySQL: Requires manual setup | MariaDB: Enabled by default
MySQL: Manual (30-60+ minutes) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 1 (self-managed: 2-3 typical) | MariaDB: N/A
Minimum Monthly Operational Cost (production-ready)
MySQL: $0 (software) + infrastructure costs | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: Depends on hardware (typically 1-10TB) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: 4-24 (server provisioning + config) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL: None (depends on your infrastructure) | MariaDB: N/A
MySQL vs MariaDB — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for MySQL vs MariaDB. Contains 82 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
MySQL vs MariaDB — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for MySQL vs MariaDB.
Can I use MariaDB as a drop-in replacement for MySQL?
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.
Which has better performance for large datasets?
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.
Is MariaDB truly open-source while MySQL is not?
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.
Which database should I choose for a new project in 2026?
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.
What's the total cost of ownership difference between the two?
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.
Development & Release Cycle: MySQL has Oracle-controlled, quarterly major releases, while MariaDB has Community-driven, monthly feature releases.
Storage Engines: MySQL has InnoDB primarily, limited alternatives, while MariaDB has InnoDB, Aria, MyRocks, TokuDB support.
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
Market Adoption & Enterprise Support: MySQL has Used by 46% of web databases globally, while MariaDB has Used by 8% of web databases globally.
Windows Installation Support: MySQL has Full native Windows support, while MariaDB has Limited Windows support via WSL/Docker.
Replication Features: MySQL has Binary log replication, group replication, while MariaDB has Multi-source replication, GTID support included by default.
Consider: Commercial Licensing & Support
Commercial Licensing & Support: MySQL has Available from Oracle Corporation, while MariaDB has Available from MariaDB Corporation AB.