MariaDB

Name: MariaDB
Brand: MARIA
Rating: 4.5 (296 reviews)

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Open-source relational database from MySQL creators

Data & Databases Managed Databases

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4.5(296 across the web)

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Reviews onG2Capterra

296 reviews tracked·3 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

MySQL fork, compatible

Biggest con

Diverging from MySQL

TL;DR - MariaDB

MariaDB is an open-source relational database forked from MySQL
It provides enhanced performance and features while maintaining MySQL compatibility
Free and open-source, Enterprise plans available

Pricing: Free forever

Best for: Individuals & startups

4.5/5 across review platforms

What is MariaDB?

Editorial review

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 compatibility with open-source governance choose MariaDB.

Available on: Linux

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcemariadb.org ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

MySQL fork, compatible
Open source
Active development
Good performance
Enterprise features free

Cons

Diverging from MySQL
Smaller ecosystem
Some tools MySQL-only
Documentation gaps
Less cloud support

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(296 reviews)

MariaDB holds an aggregate rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 296 reviews across G2 and Capterra, last checked March 18, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Relational databaseMySQL forkEnterprise featuresColumnar engineGalera clusteringOpen source

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Aug 28, 2026

Community

Free

Open source

MySQL compatible
Storage engines
Replication

SkySQL

$65/month

Managed

Cloud hosted
Auto-scaling
Support

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is MariaDB worth the price?

90/100

MariaDB's pricing is very generous, offering a fully-featured Community edition for free.

SkySQL at $65/month is competitive for a managed cloud database, especially with auto-scaling and support included. This structure is best for both individual developers and businesses needing scalable managed solutions.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

SkySQL data transfer costs not specified

SkySQL storage costs beyond base not specified

Enterprise features likely require custom quotes

How MariaDB Compares to Competitors

MariaDB's Community edition is free, directly competing with MySQL Community Edition. SkySQL at $65/month is comparable to AWS RDS for MySQL, which can start around $15-20/month for basic instances but quickly scales up with features like auto-scaling and higher support tiers, making SkySQL's bundled price potentially more cost-effective for growth.

How MariaDB's pricing compares

At $65/mo, MariaDB is mid-range of its 2 direct competitors ($0.18 to $178.33/mo across the set).

CockroachDB

$0.18

MariaDB

$65

MySQL

$178.33

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Aug 28, 2026.

Reviews

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4.5/5

Across 296 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra

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Best MariaDB Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

MySQLFree

Popular open-source relational database

4.5

PostgreSQLFree

Advanced open source SQL database

4.5

CockroachDBFreemium

Distributed SQL database built for cloud

4.3

See all data & databases tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

MariaDB vs MySQLHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins MariaDB vs PostgreSQLHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins MariaDB vs CockroachDBHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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MariaDB FAQ

How does MariaDB compare to MySQL for data management?

MariaDB offers MySQL compatibility while providing community-driven development and open-source governance. It extends MySQL's features and is often chosen by teams seeking an open-source alternative with similar functionality.

Which teams benefit most from using MariaDB?

Teams that require MySQL compatibility coupled with open-source governance find MariaDB to be a suitable choice. Its active development and enterprise features, available for free, appeal to organizations prioritizing flexibility and cost-efficiency.

What kind of use cases is MariaDB best suited for?

MariaDB is well-suited for various data and database management tasks, particularly those requiring a relational database with strong MySQL compatibility. It can serve as a robust backend for applications that need reliable data storage and retrieval.

How is MariaDB priced?

MariaDB is free to use, meaning there is no paid plan required to access its features and functionality. This open-source model allows users to deploy and utilize the database without licensing costs.

Can MariaDB integrate with existing MySQL tools and applications?

MariaDB maintains high compatibility with MySQL, allowing many existing MySQL tools and applications to function. However, some specialized tools might be exclusively designed for MySQL, which could limit their direct integration with MariaDB.

What are the main trade-offs when choosing MariaDB?

A primary trade-off with MariaDB is its gradual divergence from MySQL, which can lead to a smaller ecosystem and some tools remaining MySQL-only. Users might also encounter documentation gaps and less extensive cloud support compared to more established options.

Source: mariadb.org

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