IBM Db2 Database vs MariaDB comparison

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IBM Db2 Database

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

IBM Db2 and MariaDB compete in the database management systems category. Db2 stands out due to advanced SQL capabilities and enterprise integration, while MariaDB's open-source model and ease of use give it an upper hand for those seeking cost-effective solutions.

Features: IBM Db2's advanced SQL dialect supports complex queries and data structures, providing multi-platform support and enhanced performance. It includes robust security features and integration with IBM tools, adding value for enterprise users. Db2 also offers self-tuning capabilities and Java language support. MariaDB offers strong replication modes, simple deployment, and is known for its reliability in cloud-based applications. Its open-source nature makes it an economical choice for businesses looking for high performance without complex licensing.

Room for Improvement: IBM Db2 could improve cloud integration and user interface modernization, addressing its steep learning curve and complex licensing. MariaDB needs to enhance management tools, stabilize clustered environments, and expand scalability and analytics integration, improving its overall enterprise capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Db2 boasts solid performance on-premises and in private clouds, though users face a steep learning curve, and support receives mixed reviews. MariaDB is favored for its straightforward deployment across different environments, though its technical support is less extensive compared to IBM.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Db2's intricate licensing and costs are balanced by long-term ROI, offering good value for robust data management needs. Despite being considered costly, it is seen as less expensive than Oracle when factoring features. MariaDB provides a competitive edge with its open-source model, offering affordability and simplicity, making it appealing to small and medium-sized businesses.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Db2 Database vs. MariaDB Report (Updated: July 2025).

IBM Db2 Database vs. MariaDB

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM Db2 Database

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

MariaDB

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

4th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Open Source Databases (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.5%, up from 6.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MariaDB is 6.3%, down from 9.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

ArpitKhare

Database Admin Senior Consultant at Capgemini

Offers optimizer plan and ALSM features along with exceptional stability

The TSA version of IBM Db2 Database doesn't meet my stability expectations. Every time when a switch over occurs, some stability issues can be noticed. The vendor should offer a free version of IBM Db2 Database. For instance, if our company wants to train new individuals on all the features of IBM Db2 Database, they can only be trained after purchasing the paid version of the solution. About ten years ago, a trial version was available for the solution that was highly beneficial for companies. The vendor can add AI or ML features in the future version of IBM Db2 Database.

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KumarManish

Senior Technical Manager at Johnson Controls, Inc.

Easy to deploy, cost-effective, and integrates seamlessly with other products

We had planned for an RDBMS version and not NoSQL. We use MariaDB Galera Cluster. It's a good product. It is cheap, scalable, performs well, and is efficient. We use GCP’s BigQuery for machine learning. We must follow the best practices of the tool. We missed some best practices like the storage engine and InnoDB. It was very difficult to identify why we were having performance issues. Then, we realized that some of our tables were still on MyISAM, the default storage engine. When we switched it back to the InnoDB, it was very smooth. InnoDB is the recommended one. We must follow the best practices given in the documentation during the initial setup. Overall, I rate the product a nine out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Db2 database scalability and performance capabilities match our database needs. It covers pretty much everything a database administrator or engineer might need."

"Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is the integration with other IBM products."

"The valuable features include access path optimization, excellent performance, a robust locking mechanism, parallelism, and effective buffering in memory."

"Scales well enough for a relational database."

"We had a crash of the backup system and the IBM DB2 was always up and consistent. It's robust, and for us, it was always up and running."

"The scalability and availability of this solution are the most valuable features."

"The solution's querying feature is most valuable. It allows me to retrieve data quickly."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"The most valuable feature of MariaDB is that it is open-source and we can easily migrate from other databases, such as Oracle to MariaDB."

"From a customer perspective, MariaDB is a good choice for cluster configuration. It's also easy to operate and cheap."

"The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that it is a cloud-based tool, so it is pretty fast."

"The solution's high availability is its most valuable aspect."

"MariaDB is scalable."

"MariaDB has a straightforward initial setup with easy-to-understand documentation."

"It is very simple to install, and the commands are exactly the same as MySQL."

"Installation is straightforward."

More MariaDB pros

Cons

"Microsoft SQL Server is comparatively very simple to use. I wish IBM would move towards making Db2 easy to use for both basic and advanced users. This is where I see room for advancement. Db2 is also more expensive than Microsoft SQL Server, and its price can be reduced. The replication feature needs to be there in Db2. Microsoft provides similar functionality in SQL Server. IBM also has similar functionality, but it exists in a different product. So, to have the replication ability, you have to buy a different product. It makes sense to have this functionality within Db2 instead of a different product. It will also be helpful in terms of competition. In Africa, the problem for Db2 is competition. Oracle Database and Microsoft SQL Server have been in this market for a very long time. These companies have built the ecosystem and the brand within this market for a very long time. So, they are very popular with users. Db2 or IBM came a little later in the game, and that's where the problem lies. They also don't do a lot of marketing for it, which is also a problem."

"The tool is not easy to use. It needs to improve scale computing so that the tool can be scaled vertically. The product needs to enhance pre-engine optimization and it needs to be more efficient in completing queries. The documentation should be updated to include different scenarios of deployment."

"It would be helpful to have more querying tools and more development tools for us to work easily with Microsoft."

"The initial setup could be improved."

"We need some time to improve the performance. We have to perform a weekly REORG, or else RUNSTATS for the databases."

"The licensing fees can be reduced."

"The usage of Db2 could be simplified, as it is quite complex and requires substantial knowledge of Db2 and zOS."

"The only drawback that we see in Db2 Database is the crash recovery. When there is a crash and somebody has to do the recovery, Db2 Database first stops, and then it does any crash recovery. In Oracle Database, crash recovery happens within the database. The database is not shut down."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"In the next release, I would like to see improvements in the scalability and redundancy features."

"We'd like more data intelligence."

"The license should be cheaper and closer to that offered by MySQL, Oracle and other products."

"The only potential area for improvement could be the pricing model, which might benefit from being more flexible or a bit cheaper."

"The configuration could be improved. It should be easier."

"It would be good if they can maybe improve the mass import in the database. Currently, for importing a large number of data, we create a CSV file and upload all the things in the system. The system does not activate them by default. We have to do this manually. This may be due to the version we are using, but this is something we would like to see improved."

"With respect to clustering and the master-slave configuration, sometimes the slave goes out of synch."

"I'd like to see improved materialized views, like the ability to save select queries. This feature is missing in MariaDB compared to other relational databases like Oracle and SQL Server."

More MariaDB cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the product pricing a nine out of ten."

"The solution's pricing is fine."

"It is expensive when compared to other products."

"The total cost of the solution depends upon the PVU licensing"

"Compared to other databases, Db2 is relatively cheaper."

"The solution's hardware and subscription model for support are very expensive."

"Among Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Db2, Microsoft SQL Server is the cheapest one, and Oracle is the most expensive one. Db2 is in the middle. As compared to SQL Server, its price could go down. It will be good for customers."

"I think that everyone knows that with IBM the standard price is higher than the others."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"I used the open-source version, which is available free of charge."

"There is a monthly subscription to use MariaDB."

"The product is not expensive."

"It's an open-source solution."

"The tool is open-source."

"We use the solution's free version."

"The cost is quite good. You can have the open source, free version, which has adequate capacity."

"The price of this solution represents a very good compromise between the cost and what it offers."

More MariaDB pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

20%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Db2 Database?

Db2 database scalability and performance capabilities match our database needs. It covers pretty much everything a database administrator or engineer might need.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Db2 Database?

IBM Db2 is an expensive solution. While I am not heavily involved with pricing, additional companies provide capabilities or products like those from BMC, which many installations might also purchase.

What needs improvement with IBM Db2 Database?

IBM is implementing some release improvements. It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology.

What do you like most about MariaDB?

The integration with other products is seamless.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for MariaDB?

I have found the price of commercial MariaDB to be pretty steep, although not as high as Oracle. Customers often prefer the Community Edition because it's free.

What needs improvement with MariaDB?

The only potential area for improvement could be the pricing model, which might benefit from being more flexible or a bit cheaper.

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

Comparisons

Compared 33% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 19% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 14% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 13% of the time

Oracle Java DB vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 1% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

Firebird SQL vs MariaDB

Compared 23% of the time

SQL Server vs MariaDB

Compared 23% of the time

PostgreSQL vs MariaDB

Compared 13% of the time

MySQL vs MariaDB

Compared 9% of the time

LocalDB vs MariaDB

Compared 1% of the time

More MariaDB Competitors

Product Reports

IBM Db2 Database

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Download MariaDB product report

Also Known As

DB2

No data available

Overview

DB2 Enterprise for Linux, UNIX, and Windows is the ideal data server for the most demanding workloads. New XML support is designed to help firms minimize the time and effort it takes to persist and use their XML data reducing development costs and improving business agility.

IBM

MariaDB is an open source relational database created by the original founders of MySQL. It is considered one of the most popular and trusted database servers throughout the world. MariaDB is a valued component found in most cloud offerings and is the default in many Linux tools. It is also widely used by Wikipedia, WordPress, and Google, among other well-known sites. Maria DB easily melds data into concise information from a vast array of applications, such as banking, online shopping, websites, and more.

MariaDB was originally created to improve MySQL performance. It is the most widely chosen database server due to the solution being super fast, robust, user-friendly, and easily scalable. MariaDB also offers a substantial ecosystem of plugins, storage engines, and numerous other valuable tools that make it very attractive for a significant offering of use cases.

The solution’s newest functionalities include compatibility with Oracle Database and Temporal Data Tables, and advanced clustering with Galera Cluster 4, which make it easier for users to research data history from any point in the past. Additionally, the most recent versions include JSON and GIS features. MariaDB is committed to staying an open source solution.

MariaDB Features

More storage: MariaDB works with more storage engines than MySQL and most other database servers available. Some storage options include, but are not limited to ARCHIVE, MERGE, CSV, MEMORY, BLACKHOLE, MyISAM, ColumnStore, MyRocks, and Cassandra.
Super fast: MariaDB offers faster authentication checks. The FlushSSL permits SSL certificates to be reloaded without a server restart, resulting in huge time savings.
Improved testing: MariaDB offers an extending testing suite that runs faster and can test more than ever before. Bugs can be easily fixed and invalid tests removed.
Genuinely open source: Every code in MariaDB is GPL, LGPL, or BSD. Client libraries [for Windows (ODBC), Java (JDBC), or C] allow linking to closed source software. All fixed bug cases and development plans are completely public. MariaDB is a community-developed solution representing the true spirit of open source products.

Reviews from Real Users

Faustine C., Engineering Supervisor- Corporate Data Solutions and Services at TZ Telecoms Corporation, shares, “The software provides a lot of information on what is happening inside the database. For most performance parameters it is easy to know if something is not right in the configuration or optimization which helps engineers take remedial fine-tuning measures. For example, if the database is underperforming it is easy to know which performance parameter can be adjusted to handle the workload. It is difficult to troubleshoot database issues if many performance parameters can not be monitored or debugged which is the case with some database management systems. It provides great monitoring of data storage, processing, and performance stability which is really important for real-time data storage and processing. It's a user-friendly product.”

A PeerSpot user who is a Senior Engineer at a tech services company relates, “ The solution's high availability is its most valuable aspect. We have found the product to be stable and the initial setup is pretty simple. I'd rate the solution at a ten out of ten. I'm very happy with it overall. I would recommend the solution to others. It's easy to find details about the product online and to learn about it.”

Sample Customers

Knorr-Bremse, Mizuho Bank Ltd., Australian Government Department of Defence, SCHWENK Zement, Friedhelm Loh Group, YAZAKI Europe Limited, Ekornes ASA, Baldor Electric, VSN Systemen BV, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, PLANSEE Group, TE Connectivity, Hansgrohe SE, Openmatics, University of Toronto

Google, Wikipedia, Tencent, Verizon, DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank, Telefónica, Huatai Securities

IBM Db2 Database vs. MariaDB