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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
1CockroachDB logoCockroachDBPaidNoWeb, Self-hosted4 of 452.6
  1. CockroachDB logo

    1. CockroachDBTop pick

    Best for: Teams running critical, multi-region workloads that need consistent SQL and high availability

    PaidSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    52.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MariaDB

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

    Pros

    • Survives node, zone and region failures
    • Postgres wire compatibility for drivers and ORMs
    • Fine-grained control over where data lives

    Cons

    • Not every Postgres feature or extension is supported
    • Higher write latency than single-node databases
    • Costly compared with simple managed Postgres for small apps
    Visit CockroachDB Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is CockroachDB a good MariaDB alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    30 days with $400 credit
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cockroachlabs.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Standard tier
    $0.092 per vCPU-hour
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cockroachlabs.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Postgres compatibility
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cockroachlabs.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Advanced tier SLA
    99.999% on AWS, GCP and Azure
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cockroachlabs.com(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.