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Best MariaDB alternatives in 2026

6 direct alternatives to MariaDB, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.

Why people leave MariaDB

MariaDB provides MySQL compatibility with community-driven development. The fork that emerged when MySQL's future seemed uncertain—relational database with open governance. The compatibility is high. The features extend MySQL. The community is engaged. Teams wanting MySQL compa

Common reasons teams switch: pricing as you scale, missing integrations, performance, or a feature gap your team has hit. The alternatives below cover the same core job (database builders) with different trade-offs.

6 alternatives to MariaDB

Ranked by editorial score and direct relevance to MariaDB.

  1. 1
    MySQL logo

    MySQL

    Free

    Popular open-source relational database

    Direct alternativeCompare MariaDB vs MySQL
  2. 2
    PostgreSQL logo

    PostgreSQL

    Free

    Advanced open source SQL database

    Direct alternativeCompare MariaDB vs PostgreSQL
  3. 3
    Dgraph logo

    Dgraph

    Freemium

    Distributed graph database with GraphQL

    Direct alternativeCompare MariaDB vs Dgraph
  4. 4
    SingleStore logo

    SingleStore

    Paid

    Distributed SQL database for real-time analytics

    Direct alternativeCompare MariaDB vs SingleStore
  5. 5
    Modelence logo

    Modelence

    Freemium

    Build full-stack TypeScript + MongoDB apps with built-in auth, database, and monitoring.

    Direct alternativeCompare MariaDB vs Modelence
  6. 6
    Softchoice logo

    Softchoice

    Paid

    Realize your full potential through expert technology solutions and services.

    Direct alternativeCompare MariaDB vs Softchoice

Side-by-side comparisons

In-depth comparison pages for MariaDB versus each alternative.

Still considering MariaDB?

See the full review, pricing breakdown, and community feedback before you decide.