Updated for 2026
MySQLvs
Neo4j
Not sure which fits your workflow in 2026? Compare pricing, features, and trade-offs — then switch tools below to explore more options in this category.
dev-database
MySQL
MySQL is the classic open-source relational database — a default choice for SQL apps, CMS stacks, and managed cloud offerings.
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Neo4j
Neo4j is the mainstream graph database for modeling highly connected data — useful for knowledge graphs, fraud, and recommendations.
Visit Neo4jBasics
| Feature | MySQL | Neo4j |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 1995 | 2007 |
| Company | Oracle | Neo4j, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Region / Availability | Self-host / multi-cloud | Self-host / multi-cloud |
Pricing comparison
| Plan | MySQL | Neo4j |
|---|---|---|
| Model | open-source | freemium |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Starts at | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Plan 1 | Community: Free | Community / Aura Free: Free |
| Plan 2 | Enterprise: Commercial support | Aura Professional: Usage-based |
| Plan 3 | — | Enterprise: Custom |
Feature checklist
| Feature | MySQL | Neo4j |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | ✓https://github.com/mysql | ✓https://github.com/neo4j |
| Self-host Option | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACID | Full ACID with InnoDB | Full ACID graph transactions |
| Index Support | B-tree, full-text, spatial; covering indexes | Range, text, point, full-text, and vector indexes |
| Concurrency | Strong row-level locking / MVCC-style reads | Strong for graph queries; clustering on Enterprise/Aura |
| Scalability | Vertical + replicas; clustering / Group Replication | Causal clustering / Aura scale for connected data |
| SQL Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Postgres Compatible | ✗ | ✗ |
| Serverless Database | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Search | ✗ | ✓ |
| Realtime | ✗ | ✗ |
| Built-in Auth | ✗ | ✗ |
| Blob / File Storage | ✗ | ✗ |
| Edge Compatible | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI SQL / NL Query | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI Schema Assist | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI Agent / MCP | ✗ | ✗ |
| Team Collaboration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Use Case | Classic OLTP relational database for web apps and CMS backends | Graph database for knowledge graphs, recommendations, and fraud networks |
Pros & cons
MySQL
- Ubiquitous skills and tooling ecosystem
- Battle-tested for OLTP web workloads
- Easy to self-host or buy managed MySQL
- Not Postgres-compatible
- Fewer modern branching/serverless DX features than Neon-class hosts
- Advanced features often need careful ops
Neo4j
- Best-in-class graph model and Cypher
- Great for knowledge graphs and recommendations
- Aura managed option plus self-host
- Not a drop-in SQL/RDBMS replacement
- Graph modeling mindset required
- Cost can rise for large Aura workloads
Dimension scores
Editorial 0–10 scores across shared dimensions — higher is better for that axis.
| Dimension | MySQL | Neo4j |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| Value | 9.5 | 7.5 |
| Depth | 8.5 | 9.0 |
| Ecosystem | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| DX | 8.0 | 8.0 |
- MySQL
- Neo4j
FAQ
Is MySQL better than Neo4j? (2026)
It depends on workflow. MySQL emphasizes the world’s most popular open-source relational database for web and app backends. Neo4j emphasizes leading graph database for connected data, cypher queries, and knowledge graphs. Use the feature checklist above for your stack.
Which use cases fit MySQL vs Neo4j?
- MySQL: Classic OLTP relational database for web apps and CMS backends
- Neo4j: Graph database for knowledge graphs, recommendations, and fraud networks
What are the main differences between MySQL and Neo4j?
- ACID: MySQL (Full ACID with InnoDB) vs Neo4j (Full ACID graph transactions)
- Index Support: MySQL (B-tree, full-text, spatial; covering indexes) vs Neo4j (Range, text, point, full-text, and vector indexes)
- Concurrency: MySQL (Strong row-level locking / MVCC-style reads) vs Neo4j (Strong for graph queries; clustering on Enterprise/Aura)
- Scalability: MySQL (Vertical + replicas; clustering / Group Replication) vs Neo4j (Causal clustering / Aura scale for connected data)
- SQL Support: MySQL (yes) vs Neo4j (no)
How do MySQL and Neo4j compare on pricing?
MySQL pricing overview:
- Has a free tier
- Pricing model: open source
- Starting from ~$0/mo
- Plan Community: Free
- Plan Enterprise: Commercial support
Neo4j pricing overview:
- Has a free tier
- Pricing model: freemium
- Starting from ~$0/mo
- Plan Community / Aura Free: Free
- Plan Aura Professional: Usage-based
- Plan Enterprise: Custom
Always verify current prices on the vendor site before buying.
Do MySQL and Neo4j offer a free tier?
- MySQL: Has a free tier
- Neo4j: Has a free tier
Are MySQL and Neo4j open source?
- MySQL: yes
- Neo4j: yes
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Related alternatives
Disclaimer:Not Financial or Investment Advice, Educational/Dev Tool Comparison Only. Information may change; always verify pricing on the vendor site before purchasing.