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IBM Db2 Database vs MySQL vs Oracle Database comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
7.8
IBM Db2 Database delivers substantial ROI, praised for boosting performance and efficiency, and generating significant long-term financial benefits.
Sentiment score
6.6
MySQL offers cost-effective implementation with high ROI potential, enhancing productivity despite potential higher commercial version costs.
Sentiment score
6.7
Oracle Database is costly but offers long-term ROI, valued for stability and high traffic in larger enterprises.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.5
IBM Db2 support is reliable, efficient, and varies by region, scoring 7-9, with room for documentation improvement.
Sentiment score
6.8
MySQL's open-source model encourages users to rely on community resources, though official support is valued for complex issues.
Sentiment score
6.2
Oracle users have mixed feelings about support, citing slow response, varied staff quality, and concerns with costs and time zones.
We normally receive substantial discounts on the price.
We have no issues and usually receive timely responses.
Oracle's technical support is not very effective.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.2
IBM Db2 Database excels in scalability and performance but may have cost and horizontal scaling limitations compared to Oracle.
Sentiment score
6.8
MySQL scales well for small to medium apps, but larger databases require manual effort and third-party solutions for scalability.
Sentiment score
7.4
Oracle Database offers strong scalability with Real Application Clusters, though licensing costs can limit its flexibility for users.
Meeting scalability requirements through cloud computing is an expensive affair.
The database regularly releases new versions with better performance and security features.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
IBM Db2 Database is highly stable and reliable, frequently scoring eight to ten out of ten for stability.
Sentiment score
7.7
MySQL is praised for its stability and reliability, suitable for small to medium applications, despite some memory concerns.
Sentiment score
8.0
Oracle Database is praised for its stability, robustness, and reliability, often outperforming others in uptime and performance.
We face certain integration issues, especially when we integrate the database with security solutions like IBM QRadar.
Oracle Database is very robust, and I rate its stability nine out of ten.
 

Room For Improvement

IBM Db2 requires improved UI, competitive pricing, better integration, cloud readiness, simplified management, and enhanced performance monitoring.
MySQL users seek better scalability, cloud integration, advanced features, improved performance, reliable clustering, and enhanced security and backup processes.
Oracle users seek cost, complexity, and integration improvements, alongside better support, performance, security, training, and reduced upgrade downtime.
It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology.
Oracle could improve on scalability.
It could be more beneficial if MySQL can enhance its data masking functionality in the same way it has improved data encryption.
Oracle Database needs improvement in data analytics capabilities, AI involvement, machine learning, and deep learning.
 

Setup Cost

IBM Db2 Database offers cost-effective enterprise solutions but experiences complex licensing, often less costly than Oracle and pricier than SQL Server.
MySQL provides cost-effective solutions, appealing to enterprises with open-source options and commercial licenses based on business needs.
Oracle Database is costly compared to alternatives, but offers robust features; organizations seek better pricing and negotiation options.
For medium businesses, Oracle and IBM DB2 pricing are quite similar.
 

Valuable Features

IBM Db2 Database impresses with powerful SQL, security, and scalability, ideal for enterprises due to its versatility and resilience.
MySQL's open-source, cross-platform compatibility and ease of use make it ideal for startups due to scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Oracle Database is known for its scalability, security, advanced analytics, robust support, and flexible architecture supporting various operating systems.
IBM Db2 Database, because of enterprise performance and support, is why banks still maintain their relationship with it.
With Oracle, we have to buy another solution for encryption and masking, but MySQL supports native encryption, which enhances our return on investment.
It allows programming, writing stored procedures, creating views, constraints, and triggers easily.
Its data management capabilities include data quality, data integration, data architecture, modeling, and data security, which are very important for data-driven companies.
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.4%, up from 6.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MySQL is 8.1%, down from 8.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Database is 12.9%, down from 15.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
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Featured Reviews

ArpitKhare - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
Muzzamil  Hussain - PeerSpot reviewer
Native encryption ensures secure data management with a simple deployment
The most valuable feature is the on-premises data encryption facilities. By default, we can provide encryption, and this feature in MySQL is why we prefer it over other databases. The native encryption in MySQL encourages us to use this database model more frequently compared to Oracle and other databases. With Oracle, we have to buy another solution for encryption and masking, but MySQL supports native encryption, which enhances our return on investment. It perfectly supports our ROI, and we have no issues with its functionality.
Ismail Aboulezz - PeerSpot reviewer
Continuous updates improve performance and add valuable features to meet workload demands
Oracle Database ( /products/oracle-database-reviews ) is easy to install, customize, troubleshoot, and maintain. Its data management capabilities include data quality, data integration, data architecture, modeling, and data security, which are very important for data-driven companies. Furthermore, Oracle Database's performance and scalability features meet workload demands, and its continuous updates improve performance and add valuable features.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
37%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Computer Software Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Computer Software Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
6%
Financial Services Firm
21%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
7%
 

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 da...
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 capabili...
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 ...
Why are MySQL connections encrypted and what is the biggest benefit of this?
MySQL encrypts connections to protect your data and the biggest benefit from this is that nobody can corrupt it. If y...
Considering that there is a free version of MySQL, would you invest in one of the paid editions?
I may be considered a MySQL veteran since I have been using it since before Oracle bought it and created paid version...
What is one thing you would improve with MySQL?
One thing I would improve related to MySQL is not within the product itself, but with the guides to it. Before, when ...
How do you run Oracle Database at your organization and why?
My company has been using Oracle Exadata Database Service for some years now, and we are happy with it. I will allow ...
Do you know of any disadvantages of Oracle Database?
Undoubtedly, Oracle Database is a top product in its category. But it does have its disadvantages, and for me and my ...
What is the best use for Oracle Database?
Oracle Database is flexible and can be used for many things. My company's main use case for this product is for stori...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

DB2
No data available
Oracle 12c, RDBMS
 

Overview

 

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.
Agncia Nacional de guas, Anbima, Aria Systems, Asiana Airlines, Astelit LLC, Australian Finance Group, Banco Occidental de Descuento, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, BT, Caja de Seguros S.A., Casas GEO S.A.B. de C.V., Comic Relief UK, Corsair Components Inc., CSAM Health AS, CSOB Group, Datacraft Solutions, DenizBank A.S., Department of Treasury and Finance WA, Office of State Revenue, Deutsche B_rse AG, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Deutsche Messe AG, Digicel Haiti, DPR COSEA, Essar Group, Essatto Software Pty Ltd, Farmšcia e Drogaria Nissei Ltda., Fomento Econ‹mico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA), FundaÊo Petrobras de Seguridade Social, Future Group, GFKL Financial Services AG, Grupo Posadas S.A.B. de C.V., Grupo Sinosserra, Guerra S.A. Implementos Rodovišrios, Hanatour International Service, Hays plc, Henan Mobile Co. Ltd, Hochschule Hof, Hong Kong and China Technology (Wuhan) Co. Ltd (Towngas Technology), Industries Corpa_al C.A., Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatstica, Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial, Kcell, LinkShare Corporation, MercadoLibre Inc., MetLife Inc., Nextgen Distribution, €BB-IKT GmbH, Octagon Research Solutions, Pacific Lutheran University, Paragon Data GmbH, Ping ltd., PJSC Trustbank, Prodaub _ Processamento de Dados de Uberl_ndia, Purdue University, Redknee Inc., Robi Axiata Limited, Shanghai Infoservice Technology Co. Ltd, Shanghai Sihua Technologies Co. Ltd, Sistema de Aguas de la Ciudad de M_xico, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Suddenlink Communications, Suprajit Engineering Limited, Tallink Grupp, Terminales Ro de la Plata S.A., Therap Services LLC, Think Passenger Inc., Trafigura, Transmed S.A.L Lebanon, ValeShop, VelQuest Corporation, Vodafone Group plc, West Virginia Network, WIND Hellas Telecommunications S.A
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and others in Relational Databases Tools. Updated: June 2025.
858,945 professionals have used our research since 2012.