IBM Db2 Database vs MySQL comparison

Cancel
You must select at least 2 products to compare!
IBM Logo
11,869 views|7,957 comparisons
Oracle Logo
14,391 views|11,831 comparisons
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Jan 4, 2023

We performed a comparison between IBM Db2 Database and MySQL based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Users of both solutions say that their initial setup is straightforward.
  • Features: Users of both products are happy with their stability and scalability.

    IBM Db2 Database reviewers say that it is secure, powerful, and feature-rich with good data compression. Several users note that the solution’s UI needs to be simplified.

    MySQL users say it is user friendly, high performing, and easy to integrate. Some users mention that it is missing a monitoring tool.
  • Pricing: Some IBM Db2 Database users feel that it is an expensive product. MySQL is open-source and free of charge.
  • ROI: Users of both solutions report seeing an ROI.
  • Service and Support: IBM Db2 reviewers report being satisfied with the level of support they receive. Since MySQL is open source and does not offer official support.

Comparison Results: MySQL is easy to use and free to download. In contrast, some reviewers feel that IBM Db2 is costly and not intuitive.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Db2 Database vs. MySQL Report (Updated: November 2023).
744,865 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The solution has many beneficial features, such as security, support, and stability.""Db2's best features are that it's self-maintaining and self-monitoring, which means I have to view and monitor the database far less often.""The solution is stable.""The setup process has become much easier recently.""I have found the most valuable feature to be its availability.""Its functionality and availability are valuable. Its availability is great. It is available 99.99% of the time.""IBM DB2 pureScale Feature is valuable.""It's the best solution in terms of security, performance, and availability because the system is available 24/7."

More IBM Db2 Database Pros →

"Fully scalable and stable SQL-based RDBMS, with a straightforward and easy setup.""The way that MySQL has improved my organization is that it comes free and also works fine on the technical side.""It's a mature solution that's been around for decades.""I rate the solution's stability a ten out of ten since it has been running flawlessly.""The solution helps us perform with our databases and extract data.""The solution is easy to use.""Compared to other databases, MySQL is cheaper and we were using the community edition which was free of cost. ML is fully integrated with the database in HeatWave. It has also many other features. MySQL is a far better solution in terms of pricing.""We are completely comfortable with the database’s performance and it is a mature product. My organization was looking for an open-source database for our smaller customers like the community edition. For bigger customers, we can scale into commercial and supported editions."

More MySQL Pros →

Cons
"When I look at Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server provides me with better tools for database management.""IBM's products tend to be quite costly, especially given the availability of free, open-source alternatives.""The pricing could be improved, it's expensive.""The user interface is not user-friendly.""The initial setup could be improved.""The solution's UI hasn't been upgraded. The solution’s UI is an area to improve because the solution was developed long ago.""IBM Db2 Database could improve with better security.""We just want a bit more integration with Linux. That said, we are already seeing Linux more readily available on the mainframe environment."

More IBM Db2 Database Cons →

"Even for the best database, we always want the database to perform much better, so we wish MySQL would be much better, in terms of performance.""The GUI could improve in MySQL.""The integration with other systems can be improved as can the integration between other databases.""MySQL could be improved by adding more automation.""Clusters are hard to perform so we use no SQL alternates like MongoDB.""Integration is a key feature in need of improvement.""This solution needs to be improved when it comes to working with desktop applications on the developer side.""There should be an arrangement for end-users to get trained to use the tool...Improvement-wise, a graphical interface could be added for new users, eliminating the need to memorize the complex syntax."

More MySQL Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "It's very expensive for West African countries like ours."
  • "It's very expensive."
  • "It is expensive. The price depends on the size of the machine on which you are installing the Db2 and the features you are using. It also depends on the country. IBM has different policies and different options for payment for this product."
  • "It is expensive when compared to other products."
  • "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."
  • "The solution's hardware and subscription model for support are very expensive."
  • "Clients are required to purchase a license."
  • "The solution's pricing is fine."
  • More IBM Db2 Database Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "We are using the free version of MySQL. We prefer paying for a yearly license."
  • "We do have a couple of clients who choose to use the paid, enterprise version of the solution and who take full advantage of it."
  • "We are using the free community version of the solution."
  • "We are using the licensed version of MySQL."
  • "MySQL is very cheap. It could be free. It also has a yearly licensing option."
  • "I use a free version at present."
  • "The solution is open source so is free."
  • "I would rate the solution’s pricing a six out of ten. The solution is not cheap but it’s a fair value. The pricing depends on the use cases of our customers. Some of our customers use the community edition which is license free and a good fit for their use cases. However, we encourage our bigger customers to sign up because of the scalability issues. The paid versions get direct technical support from Oracle."
  • More MySQL Pricing and Cost Advice →

    report
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Relational Databases Tools solutions are best for your needs.
    744,865 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The most valuable feature of the solution is its compatibility with IBM Power Systems.
    Top Answer:If I consider the price of IBM Db2 Database, I would say there are cheaper products in the market. Whether or not there is a requirement to pay additionally for maintenance or support apart from the… more »
    Top Answer:IBM Db2 Database is not a commodity product compatible with hyperscalers. IBM Db2 Database needs to work more on compatibility with other platforms. Considering the competitors of IBM Db2 Database, I… more »
    Top Answer:MySQL encrypts connections to protect your data and the biggest benefit from this is that nobody can corrupt it. If you move information over a network without encryption, you are endangering it… more »
    Top Answer:I may be considered a MySQL veteran since I have been using it since before Oracle bought it and created paid versions. So back in my day, it was all free, it was open-source and the best among… more »
    Top Answer:One thing I would improve related to MySQL is not within the product itself, but with the guides to it. Before, when it was free, everyone was on their own, seeking tutorials and how-to videos online… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    11,869
    Comparisons
    7,957
    Reviews
    28
    Average Words per Review
    526
    Rating
    8.0
    Views
    14,391
    Comparisons
    11,831
    Reviews
    32
    Average Words per Review
    435
    Rating
    8.6
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    DB2
    Learn More
    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.

    MySQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) owned by Oracle. Before Oracle acquired the product, it was completely free for users. After the merge, the solution started offering paid services with more features, alongside a free version. MySQL can easily integrate with a wide variety of programming languages, which makes it one of the most flexible and reliable products among its competitors. This cost-effective solution helps users deliver high-performance and scalable database applications through several products. They include:

    • MySQL HeatWave: This is an in-memory query accelerator for MySQL. It is a parallel, columnar, hybrid query-processing engine with algorithms for distributed query processing. This database service is used for transactions, analytics, and machine learning (ML). It offers simplified, secure real-time analytics. It can be deployed on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Amazon AWS, Azure, and users' data centers.

    • My SQL Enterprise Edition: This edition of the solution includes the most comprehensive set of advanced features, technical support, and management tools. The combination functions achieves security, scalability, reliability, and uptime, while reducing risk, cost, and complexity, in managing MySQL applications.

    • MySQL Standard Edition: This edition utilizes industrial-strength performance and reliability to help users deliver high-performance and scalable Open Transaction Processing (OLTP) applications.

    • MySQL Classic Edition: This is an embedded database for independent software vendors (ISVs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and value-added resellers (VARs), that are developing applications using the MyISAM storage engine.

    • MySQL Community Edition: This is the free version of the product, which is supported by a large active community of open-source developers.

    • MySQL Cluster CGE: This is a distributed database that combines linear scalability and high availability. It offers in-memory real-time access across partitioned and distributed databases.

    • MySQL Embedded: This product offers MySQL as an embedded database and is most widely used by ISVs, OEMs, and VARs. It is utilized for making applications, hardware, and appliances more competitive by bringing them to market faster while lowering their cost of goods sold (COGs).

    My SQL Features

    The characteristics of each MySQL edition differ depending on what it offers and what clients it is catered towards. But the main features of the product include the following:

    • Internals and portability: These capabilities allow MySQL to work on multiple platforms and provide transactional and non-transactional storage engines. This set of features is tested with Purify, Vilgrind, and a broad range of different compilers.

    • Data types: Due to the flexibility of the data types feature of MySQL, the product is compatible with a very wide variety of data types, including fixed-length and variable-length string types.

    • Statements and functions: This feature allows MySQL full operator and function support. It supports a wide variety of functions and allows users to refer to tables from different databases in the same statement.

    • Security: The security features of MySQL provide users with a flexible privileged password system that enables host-based verification. The product offers encryption of all password traffic when users connect to a server.

    • Scalability and limits: MySQL supports large databases with up to approximately 50 million records and up to 64 indexes per table.

    • Connectivity: The connectivity features of the product allow clients to connect to MySQL using several protocols, providing them with freedom of choice in terms of which ones to use.

    • Localization: Through this feature, the product offers availability to users in many languages. The server time zone can be changed dynamically and allows clients to specify their own time zone for their convenience.

    • Clients and tools: The product includes several client and utility programs among its capabilities.

    MySQL Benefits

    MySQL brings many benefits to organizations that use it for their data. The most common ones include:

    • Due to its initial open-source nature, MySQL is an easy to understand and beginner-friendly product.

    • The solution still supports an open-source version as well, which means users can download, use, and modify it based on their requirements.

    • MySQL ensures the consistency of data by storing it efficiently and minimizing redundancy.

    • This is considered one of the fastest solutions on the market, a fact which is backed by many benchmark tests.

    • MySQL is very flexible and supports a large number of embedded applications.

    • The solution is compatible with many operating systems.

    • This product offers clients the option to roll back transactions, as well as commit, and crash recovery.

    Reviews from Real Users

    According to a database engineer at a retailer with more than 10,000 employees, MySQL is a great open-source product that offers great scalability and compatibility.

    Yong S., a solutions specialist, system integration, appreciates this product because it has different licensing options and is easy to set up.

    Offer
    Learn more about IBM Db2 Database
    Learn more about MySQL
    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
    Facebook, Tumblr, Scholastic, MTV Networks, Wikipedia, Verizon Wireless, Sage Group, Glassfish Open Message Queue, and RightNow Technologies.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm38%
    Computer Software Company16%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Insurance Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization51%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Computer Software Company6%
    Government4%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company21%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    University10%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Comms Service Provider11%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise59%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business9%
    Midsize Enterprise55%
    Large Enterprise36%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business45%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise37%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise59%
    Buyer's Guide
    IBM Db2 Database vs. MySQL
    November 2023
    Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Db2 Database vs. MySQL and other solutions. Updated: November 2023.
    744,865 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    IBM Db2 Database is ranked 5th in Relational Databases Tools with 29 reviews while MySQL is ranked 4th in Relational Databases Tools with 28 reviews. IBM Db2 Database is rated 8.0, while MySQL is rated 8.6. The top reviewer of IBM Db2 Database writes "Very scalable with high availability and excellent technical support". On the other hand, the top reviewer of MySQL writes "A great open-source product that offers great scalability and compatibility". IBM Db2 Database is most compared with SQL Server, Oracle Database, SAP HANA, Teradata and IBM Informix, whereas MySQL is most compared with Firebird SQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQL Server and Amazon Aurora. See our IBM Db2 Database vs. MySQL report.

    See our list of best Relational Databases Tools vendors.

    We monitor all Relational Databases Tools reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.