Here’s a clear, detailed comparison between MySQL and MariaDB:
| Feature/Aspect | MySQL | MariaDB |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Developed by Oracle Corporation (after acquiring Sun Microsystems). | A fork of MySQL created by the original MySQL developers led by Michael “Monty” Widenius. |
| License | Dual-licensed: GPL and commercial license. | GPL (fully open-source). No commercial license required. |
| Compatibility | Widely used, but some new features may not be backward compatible with MariaDB. | Highly compatible with MySQL at the start, but newer features are diverging. |
| Storage Engines | Supports InnoDB, MyISAM, and some others. | Adds more engines like Aria, XtraDB (enhanced InnoDB), ColumnStore, TokuDB. |
| Performance | Optimized by Oracle; good for enterprise support. | Often faster for certain workloads, especially complex queries and joins. |
| Features | Standard features; some advanced features are enterprise-only in MySQL. | Many advanced features open-source, including GIS improvements, JSON enhancements, and more. |
| Replication | Standard replication (master-slave, group replication). | Offers Galera cluster integration, making synchronous multi-master replication easier. |
| Community Support | Large community; enterprise support from Oracle. | Community-driven; active development; fully open-source. |
| JSON Support | MySQL 5.7+ has JSON support. | MariaDB 10.2+ supports JSON but implemented differently; sometimes more flexible. |
| Versioning | Slower release cycle, more conservative changes. | Faster release cycle; adds experimental features sooner. |
| Default Configuration | MySQL defaults are tuned for stability. | MariaDB defaults often tuned for performance. |
Summary:
- MariaDB was created to remain fully open-source and add more features while staying compatible with MySQL.
- MySQL is now more enterprise-focused under Oracle, with some features behind paid versions.
- For most applications, MariaDB can be a drop-in replacement, but certain enterprise MySQL features or Oracle-specific optimizations may not exist in MariaDB.