Updated for 2026
MySQLvs
PostgreSQL
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.
Visit MySQLdev-database
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is the open-source relational database many modern stacks standardize on — powerful SQL, extensions, and a vast ecosystem.
Visit PostgreSQLBasics
| Feature | MySQL | PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 1995 | 1996 |
| Company | Oracle | PostgreSQL Global Development Group |
| Country | United States | International |
| Region / Availability | Self-host / multi-cloud | Self-host / multi-cloud |
Pricing comparison
| Plan | MySQL | PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Model | open-source | open-source |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Starts at | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Plan 1 | Community: Free | Open Source: Free |
| Plan 2 | Enterprise: Commercial support | Managed clouds: Vendor pricingMany managed hosts available |
Feature checklist
| Feature | MySQL | PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-host Option | ✓ | ✓ |
| ACID | Full ACID with InnoDB | Full ACID compliance |
| Index Support | B-tree, full-text, spatial; covering indexes | B-tree, Hash, GiST, GIN, BRIN, and extension indexes (e.g. vectors) |
| Concurrency | Strong row-level locking / MVCC-style reads | Excellent MVCC for mixed read/write workloads |
| Scalability | Vertical + replicas; clustering / Group Replication | Vertical scale + replicas; sharding via extensions/ops |
| 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 | General-purpose open-source relational database and extension hub |
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
PostgreSQL
- Gold-standard open-source SQL engine
- Huge extension ecosystem (including vectors)
- Foundation for many modern BaaS platforms
- You assemble auth/storage yourself
- Ops complexity grows without a managed host
- Not a serverless product by itself
Dimension scores
Editorial 0–10 scores across shared dimensions — higher is better for that axis.
| Dimension | MySQL | PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | 8.5 | 9.2 |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 9.5 |
| Value | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Depth | 8.5 | 9.5 |
| Ecosystem | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| DX | 8.0 | 8.0 |
- PostgreSQL
FAQ
Is MySQL better than PostgreSQL?
It depends on workflow. MySQL emphasizes the world’s most popular open-source relational database for web and app backends. PostgreSQL emphasizes advanced open-source relational database with rich sql, extensions, and reliability. Use the feature checklist above for your stack.
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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.