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MySQL

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Popular open-source relational database

Data & DatabasesServerless DatabasesManaged Databases
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Reviews onG2CapterraSourceForge
3738 reviews tracked·4 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Simple and easy to get started

Biggest con

Less feature-rich than PostgreSQL

TL;DR - MySQL

  • MySQL is the world's most popular open-source relational database
  • It powers millions of websites and applications with reliable performance
  • Free and open-source, commercial support available
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
4.5/5 across review platforms

What is MySQL?

Editorial review
MySQL is the relational database that powered the web. Open source, reliable, and understood-the database behind countless applications. The ecosystem is vast. The knowledge is widespread. The reliability is proven. Web applications often use MySQL because it works and everyone knows it.

Available on: Web

how we evaluateSourcemysql.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Simple and easy to get started
  • Excellent read performance
  • Massive community and hosting options
  • Well-documented and battle-tested
  • Good for web applications

Cons

  • Less feature-rich than PostgreSQL
  • Oracle ownership concerns
  • Storage engine complexity
  • Limited JSON support compared to alternatives
  • Replication can lag under heavy writes

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(3,738 reviews)
G21,639 reviews
4.4/5
Capterra2,093 reviews
4.6/5
SourceForge6 reviews
4.8/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Relational databaseACID complianceReplicationHigh availabilityJSON supportFull-text search

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Jun 8, 2026

Community Edition

Free

  • GPL licensed
  • Full database features
  • Open source
  • Community support

Standard Edition

$2,140/year

  • Per server license
  • Premier support included
  • Production use

Enterprise Edition

$5,350/year

  • All Standard features
  • Advanced security
  • Backup & recovery
  • Monitoring tools
Calculate your costView full pricing

How MySQL's pricing compares

At $178.33/mo, MySQL is the most premium of its 2 direct competitors.

CockroachDB
$0.18
MariaDB
$65
MySQL
$178.33

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Jun 8, 2026.

Reviews

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4.5/5

Across 3,738 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2, SourceForge

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Best MySQL Alternatives

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

PostgreSQL logo
PostgreSQLFree

Advanced open source SQL database

4.5
MariaDB logo
MariaDBFree

Open-source relational database from MySQL creators

4.5
CockroachDB logo
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.

MySQL vs PostgreSQLHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsMySQL vs MariaDBHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsMySQL vs CockroachDBHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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MySQL FAQ

How does MySQL support web applications?

MySQL is widely used for web applications due to its proven reliability and widespread familiarity among developers. It offers excellent read performance, which is beneficial for many web-based workloads.

Which teams benefit most from using MySQL?

Teams looking for a reliable, well-documented, and easy-to-start relational database, especially for web applications, will find MySQL a good fit. Its massive community and extensive hosting options also support various team sizes and needs.

How does MySQL compare to PostgreSQL in terms of features?

MySQL is generally considered less feature-rich than PostgreSQL. While both are robust relational databases, PostgreSQL offers a broader set of advanced features compared to MySQL.

Does MySQL include a free tier?

MySQL is free to use, as it is an open-source relational database. There is no paid plan required to utilize its core functionalities.

What kind of limitations should users be aware of with MySQL?

Users should be aware that MySQL is less feature-rich than some alternatives and has limited JSON support. Additionally, replication can experience lag under heavy write loads, and there are complexities related to storage engines.

Can MySQL be used in a serverless or managed database environment?

Yes, MySQL is categorized as both a serverless and managed database option. This indicates its adaptability for deployment in environments where infrastructure management is abstracted or handled by a service provider.

Source: mysql.com

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