MariaDB
MariaDB is an open source relational database management system, created as a drop-in replacement for MySQL. It is developed by some of the original developers of MySQL and aims to remain free and open source software under the GNU GPL.
MariaDB: Open Source Relational Database Management System
An open source relational database management system, created as a drop-in replacement for MySQL, aiming to remain free and open source software under the GNU GPL.
What is MariaDB?
MariaDB is an open source relational database management system, created as a drop-in replacement for MySQL. It is developed by some of the original developers of MySQL and is intended to remain free and open source software under the GNU GPL.
After Oracle acquired MySQL in 2010, the founders of MySQL started the MariaDB project out of concerns that MySQL under Oracle's control would become closed-sourced. MariaDB aims for full compatibility with MySQL, ensuring a "drop-in" replacement capability with library binary equivalency and exact matching with MySQL APIs and commands.
While MariaDB initially started as a "cloned" version of MySQL, many new and original features have since been added including new storage engines like Cassandra and MyRocks, additional performance optimizations, advanced clustering with Galera Cluster 4, and enhanced security and encryption. Over time MariaDB has diverged from MySQL in terms of features and functionality while retaining a focus on speed, security, and reliability.
Notable users include Wikipedia, DBS Bank, ServiceNow and Google. MariaDB is used in numerous production deployments around the world, providing a stable, scalable and robust alternative to MySQL for enterprise applications and services.
MariaDB Features
Features
- Relational database management system
- Open source and community developed
- Drop-in replacement for MySQL
- Supports JSON data type
- Galera Cluster for high availability
- Encryption, compression and replication capabilities
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
High performance
High availability with clustering
Feature rich
Large community support
Cons
Not as widely used as MySQL
Limited ecosystem compared to MySQL
Less extensive documentation than MySQL
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to Review3.7
★
★
★
★
★
4 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Ease of Use
★
★
★
★
★
3.3
Features
★
★
★
★
★
4.3
Value for Money
★
★
★
★
★
4.5
Customer Support
★
★
★
★
★
2.8
Overall Experience
★
★
★
★
★
3.3
Recent Reviews
River Taylor
Mar 17, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Solid replacement for MySQL, but community support can be hit or miss
As a MySQL user migrating to MariaDB, the transition was seamless and the performance improvements in newer versions are noticeable. However, while the core features are robust, I've found some compatibility issues with older plugins and the community support forums …
Liam Lopez
Mar 11, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Promised a Smooth MySQL Replacement, But Got a Headache
I migrated from MySQL, expecting a seamless experience, but ran into compatibility issues with a few critical plugins that broke our staging environment. While the open-source nature is a plus, the documentation felt scattered, making troubleshooting a frustrating scavenger hunt. …
Avery Smith
Mar 08, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A rock-solid and forward-thinking replacement for MySQL
Having migrated several projects from MySQL to MariaDB, I've been consistently impressed. The performance is excellent, especially with the Aria and InnoDB engines, and the enhanced features like window functions and JSON support are a real bonus. It feels like …
P
Phoenix Lopez
Mar 07, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Frustrating upgrade experience and inconsistent behavior
We migrated from MySQL to MariaDB hoping for a smooth drop-in replacement, but encountered multiple compatibility issues with our existing applications. Some queries that ran perfectly on MySQL now produce different results or fail silently in MariaDB. The documentation wasn't …
Rating Distribution
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