MariaDB vs MySQL 2025: Differences & Migration

1. Introduction

What are MariaDB and MySQL? [Fundamentals]

Why is MariaDB gaining attention as a MySQL alternative?

1. Open-source transparency

• MySQL is under Oracle’s control, which poses risks of future license changes or shifts in development direction.
• MariaDB is maintained as a fully open-source project, offering high development transparency.

1. High compatibility with MySQL

• MySQL and MariaDB were almost completely compatible in early versions (pre‑5.5).
• Even in later versions, compatibility is maintained while adding new features and improving performance.

1. Performance and feature enhancements

• MariaDB includes optimizations to achieve faster query processing than MySQL.
• It provides its own storage engines (Aria, TokuDB, etc.), delivering superior performance for specific use cases.

What you’ll learn in this article (selection, differences, migration methods)

2. Current Compatibility Between MariaDB and MySQL

Compatibility by Version

MySQL 5.7 vs MariaDB 10.3

• MariaDB 10.3 is almost compatible with MySQL 5.7.
• Some storage engines (e.g., TokuDB) are specific to MariaDB and are not available in MySQL.
• MariaDB plugins and extensions that are not present in MySQL 5.7 may cause compatibility issues when used.

MySQL 8.0 vs MariaDB 10.6 / 10.11

• MySQL 8.0 introduces new data types, performance improvements, and expanded JSON-related features.
• MariaDB 10.6 / 10.11 also includes its own enhancements, so full compatibility is not guaranteed.
• Some features introduced in MySQL 8.0, such as the default utf8mb4 and window functions, have different implementations in MariaDB.

Binary Compatibility and Replication Compatibility

Binary Compatibility

• Up to MariaDB 5.5, there was binary compatibility with MySQL 5.5, allowing direct replacement.
• From MariaDB 10.0 onward, compatibility with MySQL’s binary log (binlog) is not complete, making replacement difficult in some environments.
• When migrating MySQL 8.0 data to MariaDB, table structure changes may be required, so caution is needed.

Replication Compatibility

• Replication between MariaDB and MySQL is generally compatible, but version differences can cause some issues.
• MySQL 8.0’s GTID (Global Transaction Identifier) is not fully compatible with MariaDB, so caution is required.
• MariaDB-specific replication features (e.g., Galera Cluster) are not available in MySQL.

Which Version Should You Choose?

3. Main Differences Between MariaDB and MySQL

Differences in Data Types

Handling of JSON Data Type

• MySQL 5.7 and later introduced a native JSON data type, enabling query optimization for JSON.
• In MariaDB 10.2, the JSON data type is supported, but it is stored internally as a TEXT type, which can lead to performance differences compared to MySQL’s native JSON type.
• Differences in JSON Functions
• The MySQL JSON_TABLE() function is not available in MariaDB.
• MariaDB adds its own functions such as JSON_QUERY().

Other Data Type Differences

• In MySQL 8.0, optimizations for window functions and common table expressions (CTE) were advanced, whereas MariaDB has a different implementation.
• MariaDB maintains compatibility with older MySQL versions, so some data type optimizations differ.

Differences in Storage Engines

Common Storage Engines

• InnoDB (supported by both)
• MyISAM (supported by both)

MariaDB-Specific Storage Engines

1. Aria

• A storage engine similar to MyISAM but with enhanced crash recovery capabilities.

1. TokuDB

• Offers high compression performance, allowing efficient management of large data volumes.

1. ColumnStore

• Supports column-oriented databases, making it suitable for data analytics.

1. MyRocks

• An engine built on RocksDB, offering high write performance.

MySQL-Specific Storage Engines

1. NDB (Cluster)

• A storage engine for high-availability clusters.

1. MEMORY

• Stores data in memory, enabling fast data access.

Differences in Licensing and Development Model

License Differences

• MySQL is managed by Oracle, and it offers both an open‑source version (GPL) and a commercial version (Enterprise Edition).
• MariaDB is operated by the MariaDB Foundation and is provided under a full GPL license.

Differences in Development Model

• MySQL
• Oracle leads development, and the roadmap depends on Oracle’s business strategy.
• Community contributions are limited, and bug fixes or new features depend on Oracle.
• MariaDB
• The MariaDB Foundation manages it, adopting an open development model.
• Users and companies can easily contribute, and new features are added quickly.

Conclusion

4. MariaDB vs MySQL Performance Comparison

Query Execution Speed (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE)

Conclusion

• MariaDB excels at parallel processing (environments where multiple queries run simultaneously), making INSERT and JOIN fast
• MySQL has superior single‑query optimization, with SELECT queries handling large data sets being optimized

Storage Engine Optimization

MariaDB Storage Engines

1. Aria

• Compatible with MyISAM and enables fast reads.
• Recovery after a crash is better than MyISAM.

1. TokuDB

• Powerful compression makes it suitable for storing large amounts of data.
• Write performance is also excellent.

1. ColumnStore

• A column‑oriented database engine ideal for data analytics.
• Supports distributed processing.

MySQL Storage Engines

1. InnoDB

• The standard storage engine applicable to almost all use cases.
• Also used in MariaDB, but MySQL 8.0’s InnoDB is more optimized.

1. NDB Cluster

• An engine for high‑availability clusters.
• Not present in MariaDB.

Conclusion

• MariaDB allows selection of storage engines tailored to the workload, making it suitable for large‑scale data processing and analytics
• MySQL’s InnoDB optimization is advanced, making it well‑suited for web applications and enterprise systems

Parallel Processing Capability (Thread Pool Utilization)

What Is a Thread Pool?

• In standard MySQL, a thread is created per connection, causing overhead as the number of connections grows.
• MariaDB’s thread pool shares a fixed set of threads, making performance less likely to degrade even with many connections.

Conclusion

• MariaDB is suited for environments where many queries run simultaneously (high‑load web apps, SaaS, etc.)
• MySQL’s optimizations for efficiently handling single queries make it suitable for simpler deployments

Differences in Transaction Processing

MariaDB Transaction Features

• Like MySQL, it uses InnoDB and guarantees ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability).
• Flashback feature (data rollback) is available, making recovery from mistakes easy.

MySQL Transaction Features

• Read/write load balancing is optimized, providing high stability in large‑scale systems.
• In MySQL 8.0, lock mechanism optimizations have advanced, accelerating update operations.

Conclusion

• MariaDB offers robust data recovery features, making it resilient to user errors
• MySQL provides high transaction stability, suitable for large‑scale deployments

Summary

5. How to Migrate from MySQL to MariaDB (with concrete examples)

Preparation before migration

Check the version

Key points of version compatibility

Obtaining backups

How to obtain backups

mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > mysql_backup.sql

mysqldump -u root -p database_name > database_backup.sql

Migration steps from MySQL to MariaDB

1. Uninstall MySQL

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo systemctl stop mysql
sudo apt-get remove --purge mysql-server mysql-client mysql-common
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get autoclean

CentOS/RHEL

sudo systemctl stop mysqld
sudo yum remove mysql-server mysql mysql-libs

2. Install MariaDB

Ubuntu/Debian

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mariadb-server

CentOS/RHEL

sudo yum install mariadb-server

sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

3. Import data

mysql -u root -p < mysql_backup.sql

4. Compatibility check

Points to verify

CHECK TABLE table_name;

SHOW CREATE TABLE table_name;

SELECT user, host FROM mysql.user;

Common Issues and Solutions During Migration

1. MySQL 8.0 JSON Type Does Not Work Correctly in MariaDB

• In MariaDB, change the JSON data type to LONGTEXT to maintain compatibility.
• Use ALTER TABLE in advance to modify the data type.

ALTER TABLE table_name MODIFY column_name LONGTEXT;

2. Differences in Authentication Plugins in MySQL 8.0

• Change the password authentication method on the MySQL side to match MariaDB.

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'password';

3. How to Prevent Data Corruption

SET autocommit = 0;
SOURCE mysql_backup.sql;
COMMIT;

Summary

• Pre-migration preparation: be sure to perform compatibility checks and take backups.
• Data migration steps should be carried out in the order: uninstall MySQL → install MariaDB → import data → perform compatibility checks.
• Common migration issues (JSON type compatibility, authentication plugin differences, data corruption) should be identified in advance and mitigated.

6. Choosing MariaDB and MySQL by Use Case

Web Applications (WordPress, CMS, SaaS, etc.)

Reason

• MariaDB has high compatibility with WordPress
• MariaDB is one of the recommended databases for WordPress and runs smoothly.
• Thread pool feature is built‑in by default
• MariaDB supports thread pooling out of the box, which is advantageous for web apps handling large numbers of requests.
• Nearly compatible with MySQL
• Most web applications are developed for MySQL, but MariaDB’s high compatibility makes migration easy.

E‑commerce Sites (WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify, etc.)

Reason

• Optimized read performance
• MariaDB’s query optimizer can execute queries faster than MySQL’s.
• TokuDB is available
• MariaDB supports TokuDB, which is suitable for e‑commerce sites with heavy transaction loads.
• Optimal combination of WordPress + WooCommerce
• WooCommerce (the WordPress e‑commerce plugin) works very well with MariaDB, making it an optimal pairing.

Large‑Scale Data Analysis & Big Data Processing

Reason

• Utilizing the ColumnStore engine
• MariaDB’s ColumnStore is a storage engine optimized for large‑scale data analysis and also supports data‑warehouse use cases.
• Enhanced partitioning features
• Their partitioning capabilities are more advanced than MySQL’s, enabling better query optimization.
• Support for MyRocks
• MariaDB supports MyRocks (a RocksDB‑based storage engine), providing SSD‑optimized data management.

Enterprise Core Systems (Banking, ERP, CRM, etc.)

Reason

• Support for MySQL Enterprise Edition
• MySQL offers a paid Enterprise Edition that includes robust security, audit logging, and clustering features.
• Stable transaction processing
• MySQL 8.0 has further optimized InnoDB, making it suitable for high‑availability environments such as banking and financial systems.
• Oracle support is available
• Since MySQL is provided by Oracle, it offers comprehensive official support for enterprises.

High Availability (HA) & Clustering Environments

Reason

• Standard support for Galera Cluster
• MariaDB includes Galera Cluster out of the box, enabling multi‑master configurations.
• Enhanced replication
• Compared to MySQL’s GTID‑based replication, MariaDB’s replication offers greater flexibility.
• Support for automatic failover
• Using Galera Cluster enables automatic failover, increasing availability.

New Development Projects

Reason

• New features in MySQL 8.0
• If you want to leverage new SQL capabilities such as CTEs (common table expressions), window functions, and optimized JSON data types, MySQL 8.0 has the advantage.
• MariaDB’s open‑source development model
• It is fully GPL‑licensed, offering high freedom and no risk of future commercial licensing changes.

Summary: Selection Guide by Use Case

7. Summary

Summary of Selection Criteria for MariaDB and MySQL

📌 When to Choose MariaDB

📌 When to Choose MySQL

Migration Considerations and Final Checkpoints

✅ 1. Verify Version Compatibility

• Migration from MySQL 5.7 to MariaDB 10.3 is relatively smooth.
• Migration from MySQL 8.0 to MariaDB 10.6 or later has some incompatibilities, so proceed with caution.

✅ 2. Obtain Data Backup

mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > mysql_backup.sql

✅ 3. Check Compatibility

• Use SHOW CREATE TABLE to verify differences in data types.
• If JSON type is used in MySQL 8.0, it needs to be converted to MariaDB’s TEXT type.

✅ 4. Verify Authentication Plugins

• MySQL 8.0’s caching_sha2_password is not supported by MariaDB, so switch to mysql_native_password.

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'password';

✅ 5. Test Critical Features

• Confirm in a test environment that existing applications function correctly.

Future Outlook: Evolution of MariaDB and MySQL

📌 Future of MariaDB

• Continuing the open-source development model
• Strengthening data analysis capabilities (optimizing ColumnStore)
• Potential further differentiation from MySQL

📌 Future of MySQL

• Enhancing enterprise features (expanding MySQL Enterprise Edition)
• Optimizing for cloud environments (e.g., MySQL HeatWave)
• Adding more advanced SQL features (further strengthening JSON type, etc.)

Summary

📢 Which Should You Choose?

• Running web applications like WordPress, WooCommerce
• Want to use high-availability clustering (Galera Cluster)
• Desire to perform data analysis or big data processing
• Prioritize a fully open-source environment

• Operating large-scale enterprise systems or financial institutions
• Leveraging the latest SQL features of MySQL 8.0 (window functions, CTEs, etc.)
• Using Oracle’s enterprise support
• Want to continue operating the existing MySQL environment as is

8. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Which should you choose, MariaDB or MySQL? (With a simple checklist)

📌 Who should choose MariaDB

📌 Who should choose MySQL

Performance comparison: Which is actually faster?

• Environments that heavily use parallel processing (e‑commerce sites, web apps) favor MariaDB
• When single‑query speed is critical (data analysis, BI tools), MySQL has the edge

Is migrating from MySQL to MariaDB easy?

Things to check before migration

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'password';

Can you use MySQL 8.0 new features in MariaDB?

• Some MySQL 8.0 new features are supported in MariaDB, but full compatibility is lacking
• JSON native type and certain performance optimizations are implemented differently in MariaDB

Are MariaDB and MySQL the same?

• MariaDB started as a fork of MySQL 5.5, but added its own features and is no longer fully compatible.
• MySQL 8.0 continues with Oracle‑specific enhancements, evolving in a different direction.

What are the licensing differences between MariaDB and MySQL?

• MariaDB is fully GPL‑licensed, with no risk of a commercial‑license change.
• MySQL offers a commercial enterprise edition (MySQL Enterprise Edition) with official support.
• If you value open‑source transparency, choose MariaDB; if you need enterprise support, choose MySQL.

Summary