MariaDB vs. MySQL: Which Database System Is Right For Your Enterprise Application?

MySQL and MariaDB are two giants in the webhosting industry. Chances are good that your website is backed by one or the other of these two relational database systems.

MariaDB originally started out as a drop-in replacement to MySQL that focused on bringing features the community at large had been requesting of MySQL for years. As each new iteration of MariaDB evolved, it has become less of an in-place alternative and instead a competent competitor of MySQL with bleeding edge Enterprise hosting features.

Early on in its development, MariaDB was hands-down the superior performance solution. However, MySQL 8 has introduced its own new performance boosting features with synthetic benchmarks showing performance that bridges the gap initially created by the divergent competitors.

MySQL and MariaDB are both open-source relational database management systems (RDBMSs) that are widely used in a variety of applications. MySQL is the more popular of the two, but MariaDB has a number of features that make it a good choice for certain environments.

In this article, we’re going to look high-level at the Enterprise features for both of these systems so you can better choose between them for your enterprise website or application.

Enterprise Features Comparison

We will compare the features of MySQL 8 and MariaDB Enterprise Edition specifically. We will focus on the features that are most important to businesses, such as performance, scalability, security, and availability.

Performance – Both Very Fast But MariaDB Has Additional Features

MySQL and MariaDB are both very fast. However, MariaDB has a number of features that can improve performance in certain situations. For example, MariaDB supports asynchronous replication, which can improve performance in high-write environments. MariaDB also supports SIMD instructions, which can improve performance on modern CPUs.

Scalability – Galera Clusters Give MariaDB An Edge

Both MySQL and MariaDB can be scaled horizontally to handle increasing loads. However, MariaDB has a number of features that can make it easier to scale. For example, MariaDB supports table partitioning, which can help to distribute data across multiple servers. MariaDB also supports Galera Cluster, which is a high-availability, scalable, and fault-tolerant replication solution.

Security – 2FA Much Needed In Today’s World

Both MySQL and MariaDB boast great security features . MariaDB has a number of features that can improve security beyond those provided by the baseline MySQL product. For example, MariaDB supports role-based access control (RBAC), allowing administrators a fine-grained control access system down to each database object. MariaDB also supports two-factor authentication, which can help to prevent unauthorized access to database accounts, feature lacking in MySQL.

Availability – Neck and Neck!

Both MySQL and MariaDB support Database Replication which makes them equal as high-Available RDBMSs. MariaDB’s numerous set of features can make it more resilient. For example, MariaDB supports Galera Cluster, which is a high-availability, scalable, and fault-tolerant replication solution. MariaDB also supports MySQL Router, which can be used to direct traffic between multiple MySQL servers for load balancing and failover.

What is Database Replication?

Database replication is the process of creating multiple copies of a database in an effort to improve performance, availability, or disaster recovery. You can learn more about database replication in the following article: How Does Managed Database Replication Work & When Does Your Website Need It?

Our Verdict: MariaDB’s Additional Features Give It An Edge

MySQL and MariaDB are both excellent relational database systems. However, MariaDB’s abundance of additional features makes it a good choice for more environments. If you need a high-performance, scalable, secure, and highly available RDBMS, then MariaDB is a good option.

MariaDB’s Has Even More Additional Features Not Mentioned

In addition to the features mentioned above, MariaDB also includes a number of other features that are not available in MySQL. These features include:

• JSON support
• Fulltext search
• Geospatial support
• Replication filters
• Plugin support
• Auditing
• Performance schema

But Wait… Which RDBMS is Right for You?

As with everything in the hosting world, the best database management system for your website will depend on its specific needs. If you are looking for a simple, easy-to-use RDBMS, then MySQL is a great choice. However, if you need a more robust, powerful, and feature-rich RDBMS, then MariaDB can service this role.

The table below summarizes some of the key differences between MySQL 8 and MariaDB Enterprise Editions:

Still Can’t Decide?

SirsteveHQ is committed to providing enterprise-grade managed solutions using either RDBMS systems. If you are still having trouble deciding, fill out the form on our Enterprise Hosting page and we will be in touch to help figure out which DBMS is best suited for your needs.