MySQL vs PostgreSQL 2026: Which Database Should Developers Use?

PostgreSQL is the better choice for most new projects in 2026 — it's more standards-compliant, supports advanced data types (JSONB, arrays, custom types, full-text search), handles complex queries more reliably, and has stronger transactional guarantees. MySQL remains the dominant choice for web applications built on LAMP stacks, WordPress hosting, and systems where maximum read throughput on simple queries matters most. The practical rule: start with PostgreSQL for any new project unless you have a specific reason for MySQL (legacy codebase, hosting constraint, team familiarity). PostgreSQL's feature set makes it the better long-term database for most applications.