MySQL is a client-server relational database designed for large-scale, multi-user applications with advanced features, while SQLite is a lightweight, file-based database embedded directly in applications requiring minimal setup. MySQL requires a separate server and more resources, whereas SQLite runs entirely within the application process with zero configuration.
MySQL vs SQLite — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Open-source client-server relational database management system for large-scale applications.
Lightweight, serverless SQL database engine embedded directly within applications.
Architecture. Setup Complexity. Concurrent User Capacity. Maximum Database Size. Network Access. User Management & Permissions. Memory Footprint
Choose MySQL for multi-user web applications, enterprise systems, or any scenario requiring remote database access, advanced security, and handling 100+ concurrent users. Choose SQLite for desktop applications, mobile apps, embedded systems, single-user tools, or rapid prototyping where simplicity and zero-configuration setup are priorities.
MySQL: Partial (InnoDB only) | SQLite: Full ACID
MySQL: ~28,000 (MySQL 8.4) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: ~450 (5-table join) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: JSON functions only | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: ~80 (minimal config) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Via third-party extensions | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Limited, basic support | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Standard table partitioning | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Oracle, multiple vendors | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 151 (default, configurable) | SQLite: 100 readers, 1 writer
MySQL: 140 TB per table | SQLite: 281 TB theoretical
MySQL: Yes - master-slave, group replication | SQLite: No - manual backup only
MySQL: 5-50 ms (indexed queries) | SQLite: 1-10 ms (file-based)
MySQL: Full ACID across multiple tables (since v5.7) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Manual sharding (theoretical unlimited) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Fixed schema, requires migration for changes | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 3-5ms for simple queries | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 25+ years (MySQL 1.0 released 1995) | SQLite: 23 years (since 2000)
MySQL: 10,000-50,000 ops/sec | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 46% of web applications (Stack Overflow 2024) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: $50-200 (self-hosted) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Manual configuration required | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Third-party tools only | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 64TB (hardware dependent) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Unlimited (with sharding complexity) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: User-dependent (no guarantee) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 5+ (on-prem, cloud, edge, containers, hybrid) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Full ACID support | SQLite: Full ACID support
Complex Analytical Query Speed (with JOINs + aggregations)
MySQL: 850ms (without window functions) | SQLite: N/A
Annual Enterprise Support Cost (per server)
MySQL: 64MB (practical limit) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 1-2 (English mainly) | SQLite: N/A
Complex Analytical Query Speed (Aggregate + Join)
MySQL: Yes, since 5.7 (basic operations only) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Basic (limited language support, no stemming) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Since 8.0 (limited implementation) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 100+ simultaneous users | SQLite: 10-20 concurrent users
MySQL: 15-30 minutes (server setup required) | SQLite: < 1 minute (add library, query)
MySQL: 140 TB theoretical | SQLite: 281 TB theoretical
MySQL: Remote access via TCP/IP | SQLite: Local file system only
MySQL: Role-based access control (RBAC) with 5+ permission levels | SQLite: File system permissions only
MySQL: 5-15 ms (network latency included) | SQLite: 1-3 ms (local access)
MySQL: ~3 months (quarterly) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Full MSI installer, native support | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Reference implementation | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Requires manual setup | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Manual (30-60+ minutes) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 1 (self-managed: 2-3 typical) | SQLite: N/A
Minimum Monthly Operational Cost (production-ready)
MySQL: $0 (software) + infrastructure costs | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: Depends on hardware (typically 1-10TB) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: 4-24 (server provisioning + config) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: None (depends on your infrastructure) | SQLite: N/A
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: Multiple concurrent transactions
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: SQL dumps, CSV import only
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: 2 billion+ (Android/iOS/Firefox)
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: 1 writer + multiple readers
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: 1 (serialized writes)
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: Free (public domain)
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: Single location (local)
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: 140TB theoretical (file-system dependent)
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: None (single instance)
MySQL: N/A | SQLite: 0–5ms (local file-based)
MySQL vs SQLite — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for MySQL vs SQLite. Contains 105 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
MySQL vs SQLite — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for MySQL vs SQLite.
Which database should I use for my mobile app?
SQLite is the clear choice for mobile applications. It's embedded directly into iOS (via Core Data) and Android apps, requires zero server infrastructure, and has minimal memory overhead. MySQL would require a backend server, adding unnecessary complexity and deployment costs for mobile-first applications.
SQLite works well for applications with 10-20 concurrent users. Beyond that, performance degrades significantly due to its single-writer design. If you anticipate scaling beyond 50+ concurrent users, MySQL (or PostgreSQL) is essential. Many companies start with SQLite and migrate to MySQL as they grow.
MySQL offers significantly better security for multi-user environments with role-based access control (RBAC), encrypted connections, and user authentication. SQLite has no built-in user management and relies entirely on file system permissions, making it unsuitable for applications requiring granular access control or remote access.
Both use SQL, so the syntax is identical. The difference is operational: SQLite requires learning how to embed it in your application (trivial, under 1 minute for most frameworks). MySQL requires understanding server setup, user management, and network configuration (15-30 minutes for beginners). For pure database learning, they're equivalent.
SQLite can work for small, low-traffic web apps (single-user admin tools, personal blogs), but it's not recommended for production multi-user web applications. SQLite's 10-20 concurrent user limit means simultaneous website visitors will experience significant slowdowns. Use MySQL, PostgreSQL, or cloud databases (Firebase, DynamoDB) for web applications.
Architecture: MySQL has Client-Server, while SQLite has Embedded/Serverless.
Setup Complexity: MySQL has Requires server installation and configuration, while SQLite has Zero configuration, single file.
Concurrent User Capacity: MySQL has 100+ simultaneous users, while SQLite has 10-20 concurrent users (limited).
Maximum Database Size: MySQL has 140TB theoretical limit, while SQLite has 281TB theoretical limit.
Network Access: MySQL has Remote access over TCP/IP, while SQLite has Local file system only.
User Management & Permissions: MySQL has Granular role-based access control, while SQLite has File system permissions only.
Memory Footprint: MySQL has ~300-500 MB running server, while SQLite has 1-3 MB embedded library.