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MariaDB alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 30, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave MariaDB: has drifted from recent MySQL versions in some features, and several release tracks (LTS, rolling, preview) can confuse. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces MariaDB, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. MySQL currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1MySQL logoMySQLOpen sourceYesLinux, Windows, macOS +14 of 466.5
2PostgreSQL logoPostgreSQLOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows +15 of 562.6
  1. MySQL logo

    1. MySQLTop pick

    Best for: Web developers who want the most widely hosted SQL database, especially for PHP and WordPress apps.

    Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from MariaDB

    The original upstream, with Oracle's backing and the broadest hosting support.

    Pros

    • Supported by nearly every host, cloud and framework
    • Free GPL Community Edition with replication and clustering
    • Official GUI in MySQL Workbench

    Cons

    • Some features are reserved for paid Enterprise editions
    • Controlled by Oracle rather than a community foundation
    • Fewer advanced data types and SQL features than PostgreSQL
    Visit MySQL Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is MySQL a good MariaDB alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL (Community Edition)
    Checked Oct 30, 2026mysql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free edition
    Community Edition
    Checked Oct 30, 2026mysql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    High availability
    Group Replication, InnoDB Cluster
    Checked Oct 30, 2026mysql.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    20+ incl. Linux, Windows, Mac
    Checked Oct 30, 2026mysql.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. PostgreSQL logo

    2. PostgreSQL

    Best for: Developers and teams who want a free, standards-minded relational database that scales with their app.

    Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, macOS, Windows, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MariaDB

    Community-governed like MariaDB but with richer SQL features and extensions.

    Pros

    • Strong SQL standards support and full ACID transactions
    • Rich types: JSONB, arrays, ranges, plus PostGIS for maps
    • Highly extensible with custom types and functions
    • Permissive licence and community governance, not one vendor

    Cons

    • Running replication, failover and major upgrades yourself takes expertise
    • Connection handling often needs a pooler under heavy load
    • No official GUI; you pick a separate client
    Visit PostgreSQL Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PostgreSQL a good MariaDB alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    PostgreSQL License (BSD/MIT-like)
    Checked Oct 29, 2026postgresql.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Origins
    1986, UC Berkeley POSTGRES project
    Checked Oct 29, 2026postgresql.org(opens source in a new tab)
    ACID-compliant
    Since 2001
    Checked Oct 29, 2026postgresql.org(opens source in a new tab)
    JSON support
    JSON/JSONB
    Checked Oct 29, 2026postgresql.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, Solaris
    Checked Oct 29, 2026postgresql.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best MariaDB alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

MySQL logo

Best MariaDB alternative for most people

MySQL

The original upstream, with Oracle's backing and the broadest hosting support.

PostgreSQL logo

Best MariaDB alternative for a free option

PostgreSQL

Community-governed like MariaDB but with richer SQL features and extensions.

MySQL logo

Best MariaDB alternative for open source

MySQL

The original upstream, with Oracle's backing and the broadest hosting support.

CockroachDB logo

Best MariaDB alternative for self-hosting

CockroachDB

Distributed SQL with automatic replication, for scaling past one server.

MySQL logo

Best MariaDB alternative for Mac

MySQL

The original upstream, with Oracle's backing and the broadest hosting support.

MySQL logo

Best MariaDB alternative for Windows

MySQL

The original upstream, with Oracle's backing and the broadest hosting support.

MySQL logo

Best MariaDB alternative for Linux

MySQL

The original upstream, with Oracle's backing and the broadest hosting support.

CockroachDB logo

Best MariaDB alternative for working in the browser

CockroachDB

Distributed SQL with automatic replication, for scaling past one server.

MariaDB alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to MariaDB?

MySQL ranks first right now. The original upstream, with Oracle's backing and the broadest hosting support. PostgreSQL and CockroachDB follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to MariaDB?

Yes. MySQL (open source) and PostgreSQL (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to MariaDB?

Yes: MySQL and PostgreSQL. MySQL and PostgreSQL can also be self-hosted.

Which MariaDB alternatives work on Linux?

MySQL and PostgreSQL run on Linux.

Why do people switch from MariaDB?

The complaints we hear most: has drifted from recent MySQL versions in some features; several release tracks (LTS, rolling, preview) can confuse; smaller extension ecosystem than PostgreSQL.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces MariaDB, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.