Choosing the Right Open‑Source Database: MySQL vs PostgreSQL vs MariaDB vs SQLite

When comparing open‑source databases, it is essential to clarify what the enterprise expects from the database to make the right choice.

In the past five years, commercial‑licensed database systems have become less popular while the deployment rate of open‑source databases has risen overall. According to DB‑Engines, by 2021 open‑source DBMSs have overtaken their commercial counterparts in enterprise deployments.

As with most technologies, selecting an open‑source database requires a self‑assessment by the enterprise to choose the appropriate data solution.

What is an open‑source database?

The difference between open‑source and commercial database management systems lies in the license. Open‑source databases are freely available, while proprietary products must be purchased from vendors.

Moving to an open‑source DBMS can reduce costs associated with traditional licensing, but may lack vendor support or scalability. Proprietary DBMSs typically provide dedicated support services.

Functionally, the two types are largely similar. Below we compare four common open‑source relational database options.

MySQL

MySQL is a dual‑licensed product supported by Oracle, offering a community edition and several paid options. It has been one of the most popular open‑source databases for over a decade, resulting in abundant third‑party tools and documentation.

MySQL developers prioritize speed; it is still regarded as one of the fastest databases. It also provides scripts to enhance security. Supported programming languages include C/C++, Java, Python, Ruby, and others.

The downside is its dual‑license nature: some features and plugins are only available in the proprietary version, which can frustrate enterprises seeking a fully open‑source solution. Nevertheless, MySQL remains a stable choice as long as 100 % SQL compatibility is not required.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL, an object‑relational database system with over 30 years of history, is increasingly adopted across industries.

It is renowned for reliability and data integrity, complying with ACID since 2001, and supports many programming languages such as .NET, C/C++, Java, Python, etc.

For enterprises familiar with MySQL, PostgreSQL offers a comparable experience. While MySQL now includes proprietary cloud modules under Oracle, PostgreSQL remains fully open‑source.

PostgreSQL provides features not found in MySQL, such as table inheritance and function overloading, enabling complex queries and large data sets. Its drawbacks include the need for third‑party plugins for advanced parallelism and clustering.

MariaDB

MariaDB, created by the original MySQL developers, is another preferred open‑source option and supports languages like C/C++, Java, Perl, and Python.

It receives frequent security releases, and its developers commit to maintaining its open‑source nature.

MariaDB is compatible with MySQL migrations and supports the same programming languages, easing transition for enterprises. It also runs WordPress.

The downside is slower release cycles for new versions and a lack of built‑in support.

SQLite

SQLite is likely the most widely used database engine worldwide, embedded in mobile devices, computers, and countless applications. It targets different use cases than MySQL or PostgreSQL and supports languages such as C/C++, Java, and Python.

It is ideal for small databases or devices at the network edge, offering cross‑system deployment and local data storage for single‑application scenarios.

However, SQLite is not suited for large‑scale or highly scalable workloads, and it lacks the advanced features of the larger databases discussed. It also does not provide granular user‑level access controls beyond the underlying operating system permissions.