MySQL vs. MariaDB

Category: Databases · Updated 2026-10-31

MySQL and MariaDB are both open-source relational databases that share the same core SQL syntax and file formats, since MariaDB began in 2009 as a fork of MySQL created by several of its original developers. For most websites and applications, including WordPress and PrestaShop, the two are effectively interchangeable, though each has since added its own storage engines and features that the other does not have.

Where MariaDB came from

MariaDB was created in 2009 by Michael "Monty" Widenius, one of MySQL's original founders, and other former MySQL developers, shortly after Sun Microsystems (and later Oracle) acquired MySQL. The goal was to keep a fully open-source database available, developed independently of Oracle's commercial priorities, while staying compatible with existing MySQL applications and tools.

How compatible are they, really

For most of their history, MariaDB has aimed to be a drop-in replacement for MySQL: the same connection protocol, the same basic SQL syntax, and the same client libraries work with either one. An application built to talk to MySQL, such as WordPress or PrestaShop, generally runs on MariaDB with no code changes, which is why many hosting control panels default to MariaDB without most customers ever noticing a difference.

Where they differ today

	MySQL	MariaDB
License	GPL, with paid commercial editions from Oracle	Fully GPL, community-governed
Default storage engine	InnoDB	InnoDB, with Aria and others also available
Governance	Controlled by Oracle	Developed by the MariaDB Foundation and community
Extra features	Some enterprise features in paid editions only	Features like extra storage engines and some optimizer improvements built in

Over time, the two have diverged enough that newer SQL syntax or features added to one are not guaranteed to exist in the other, so a database built specifically around a recent MariaDB-only or MySQL-only feature may not port cleanly to the other.

Does the choice affect performance?

For typical website workloads, the practical performance difference between current MySQL and MariaDB versions is small and rarely the deciding factor. Larger differences tend to show up in specific workloads, such as complex analytical queries or very high concurrency, where one or the other's optimizer or storage engine options may have an edge, but this varies by version and workload rather than being a fixed rule.

Which to pick on a hosting plan

If your control panel or host defaults to one, there is usually no need to switch; both run the applications common to shared hosting without issue.
Check the exact minimum version your application requires (for example, WordPress lists both a minimum MySQL and a minimum MariaDB version) before assuming either will work.
Moving an existing database between the two generally works through a standard export and import, since both use compatible dump formats for typical use cases.
If a specific feature, extension or storage engine is required, confirm it exists in the one you plan to use, since the two are no longer perfectly identical.

Frequently asked questions

Is MariaDB just a copy of MySQL?

MariaDB started as a fork of MySQL's source code in 2009, created by some of MySQL's original developers, and has been developed independently ever since, adding its own features alongside the shared foundation.

Can I switch from MySQL to MariaDB without changing my application?

In most cases yes, since MariaDB maintains compatibility with MySQL's connection protocol and core SQL syntax, so applications like WordPress or PrestaShop typically run unchanged after a switch.

Which one does WordPress recommend?

WordPress lists minimum supported versions for both MySQL and MariaDB and works the same way with either, so the choice usually comes down to what a given host offers rather than a WordPress requirement.

Is MariaDB free while MySQL is not?

MySQL Community Edition is also free and open-source; the difference is that Oracle additionally sells paid commercial editions of MySQL, while MariaDB remains entirely open-source without a paid tier.

Why do most hosting control panels default to MariaDB?

Many Linux distributions and control panels switched their default package from MySQL to MariaDB because it is a compatible drop-in replacement with fully open governance, not because of a major technical requirement.

Do MySQL and MariaDB use the same backup format?

For typical databases, yes; a standard mysqldump export from one generally imports cleanly into the other, though a database using features unique to one engine may need adjustment before importing into the other.