Database Comparison Table #
Here’s a detailed comparison between MariaDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and other popular databases:
| Feature | MariaDB | MySQL | PostgreSQL | SQLite | Microsoft SQL Server | Oracle DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| License | GPL v2 | GPL v2 (Oracle-owned) | PostgreSQL License (BSD-like) | Public Domain | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Forked From | MySQL (by original developers) | Original (now owned by Oracle) | Original (UC Berkeley) | Original | Original | Original |
| ACID Compliance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SQL Compliance | High (with MySQL compatibility) | High | Very High (most SQL compliant) | Medium | High | Very High |
| Performance | Optimized for speed | Fast (but varies with version) | Highly optimized for complex queries | Fast (embedded) | Enterprise-grade | Enterprise-grade |
| Replication | Multi-source, Galera Cluster | Master-Slave, Group Replication | Streaming, Logical, Synchronous | None (embedded) | AlwaysOn, Mirroring | Data Guard, RAC |
| JSON Support | Yes (since 10.2) | Yes (since 5.7) | Best-in-class (JSONB) | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Full-Text Search | Yes | Yes | Advanced (with extensions) | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Geospatial Data | Good (with GIS extensions) | Good (with GIS extensions) | Excellent (PostGIS) | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Partitioning | Yes | Yes | Advanced (declarative) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Stored Procedures | Yes | Yes | Advanced (PL/pgSQL) | Limited | T-SQL | PL/SQL |
| Extensions | Plugins (Aria, ColumnStore) | Limited (Oracle-controlled) | Rich (PostGIS, TimescaleDB, etc.) | Minimal | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Scalability | Horizontal (Galera) | Vertical | Horizontal (with extensions) | Embedded only | Enterprise scaling | Enterprise scaling |
| Embedded Use | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Cloud Support | AWS RDS, Azure, GCP | AWS RDS, Azure, GCP | AWS RDS, Azure, GCP, Heroku | N/A | Azure SQL | Oracle Cloud |
| Best For | Drop-in MySQL replacement | Web apps, legacy systems | Complex queries, data integrity | Mobile/embedded | Enterprise Windows | Large enterprises |
Key Takeaways #
MariaDB vs MySQL #
✅ MariaDB Advantages:
- Open-source (no Oracle control)
- Faster performance in many benchmarks
- More storage engines (Aria, ColumnStore, etc.)
- Better replication (Galera Cluster)
⚠️ MySQL Advantages:
- Wider adoption (especially in legacy systems)
- Oracle-backed enterprise support
PostgreSQL vs MySQL/MariaDB #
PostgreSQL Advantages:
- Most SQL-compliant
- Advanced features (JSONB, GIS, custom types)
- Better for complex queries and analytics
MySQL/MariaDB Advantages:
- Simpler for basic web apps
- Slightly faster for simple read-heavy workloads
SQLite #
- Use Case: Embedded systems, mobile apps, local storage
- Pros: Zero-config, serverless, single-file DB
- Cons: No network access, limited concurrency
Enterprise Databases (SQL Server, Oracle) #
When to Use:
- Large-scale enterprise apps
- Tight integration with Windows/Oracle ecosystems
- Need for advanced commercial support
Performance Comparison (General Use Cases) #
| Scenario | Best Choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| High-traffic web app | MariaDB/MySQL | Fast reads, simple queries |
| Data analytics | PostgreSQL | Complex queries, JSON support |
| Embedded systems | SQLite | No server needed |
| Enterprise ERP | Oracle/SQL Server | Scalability, commercial support |
