MariaDB vs PostgreSQL comparison

MariaDB and PostgreSQL are both solutions in the Open Source Databases category. MariaDB is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.3, while PostgreSQL is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.3. MariaDB holds a 6.5% mindshare in OSD, compared to PostgreSQL’s 14.7% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of MariaDB users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of PostgreSQL users who would recommend it.

MariaDB

Read 60 MariaDB reviews

4,882 Views
2,490 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

PostgreSQL

Read 125 PostgreSQL reviews

7,165 Views
6,305 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

MariaDB

PostgreSQL

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 2, 2025

PostgreSQL and MariaDB compete in the open-source database category. PostgreSQL has the upper hand in offering a wide range of features suitable for complex queries and diverse procedural languages, while MariaDB stands out for its speed and performance in web applications.

Features: PostgreSQL supports advanced SQL standards and complex queries, offers diverse procedural language support, and is fully ACID compliant, making it ideal for write-intensive tasks and scalability. MariaDB is known for its speed, handling high-traffic web applications efficiently, and its robust replication system, performing well with read-heavy workloads.

Room for Improvement: PostgreSQL could improve in handling large datasets quickly, adding more MySQL-compatible SQL functions, and simplifying its installation and configuration process. MariaDB may struggle with write-intensive applications and complex queries on large datasets, and it can enhance stability during power outages and improve support for advanced analytics and scalability features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: PostgreSQL and MariaDB provide versatile deployment options across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. PostgreSQL benefits from strong community support with extensive resources, though commercial support may be necessary for consistent customer service. MariaDB also relies on community support with available commercial support options, and users appreciate the active communities that facilitate troubleshooting.

Pricing and ROI: Both PostgreSQL and MariaDB are open-source, offering cost-effective solutions without licensing fees, which is appealing to startups and smaller enterprises. PostgreSQL is considered to provide significant ROI due to its robust features available at no cost, and MariaDB offers flexibility and reliability, ensuring a favorable return on investment with adequate community support.

To learn more, read our detailed MariaDB vs. PostgreSQL Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

MariaDB vs. PostgreSQL

December 2025

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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

MariaDB

Ranking in Open Source Databases

7th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Relational Databases Tools (7th)

PostgreSQL

Ranking in Open Source Databases

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

125

Ranking in other categories

Vector Databases (11th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Open Source Databases category, the mindshare of MariaDB is 6.5%, down from 6.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of PostgreSQL is 14.7%, down from 18.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Open Source Databases Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
PostgreSQL	14.7%
MariaDB	6.5%
Other	78.8%

Open Source Databases

Featured Reviews

Anand Bandi

Co-Founder at Vsigma IT Labs Pvt Ltd

Has supported web application data needs but requires design adjustments to manage complex queries efficiently

Complex queries in MariaDB where the query needs to parse thousands of lines or data values face some performance issues. For small and medium-size volume, it is pretty good. If it goes beyond certain data and complex queries, we see performance issues. We tried the advanced replication feature between different regions, replicating data specifically residing on MariaDB to two different regions of MariaDB data, and there were some technical snags in terms of slowness and longer processing time. Point-in-time recovery in MariaDB is good for small databases. When data volume increases beyond 5 GB or 10 GB per day or runs into double-digit GBs, we found some performance issues. For data below 10 GB, it works fine. Performance is the primary focus area for MariaDB, particularly during transactions or complex query jobs where slow performance is observed. MariaDB is scalable and easy to scale.

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Akhilesh Chipre

Senior Assosiate Consultant at Applied Materials

Real-time data capture optimizes database performance but Views create problems

One of the most valuable features is real-time data capture; it optimizes database performance. I think using real-time data capture reduces job running time and the amount of data sent at once with batch loads. Replicating the same data daily isn't optimal, so real-time reception improves application performance and reduces latency.

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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

"We use MariaDB for identity provider services. Most of the things that we are doing are deployed in the container mode. All such solutions require a database, and MariaDB is easier to use for these kinds of deployments."

"The documentation is quite straightforward."

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

"Visual Studio offers unit testing integration and extensive searching capabilities."

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

"The solution is very easy to implement."

"The solution is very stable. It was originally built under MySQL. It has a similar level of stability."

"The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that it is an open-source product and offers its users great online community support."

More MariaDB pros

"Scalable, stable, and easy to manage database system, with a straightforward installation."

"PostgreSQL makes it very adaptable to several descriptions of a record. Instead of having several tables or several relations for one entity, I can adapt this entity. It can be a multiform entity. For example, here in Mexico, a company and a person can be sold to us as a physical entity or a physical person."

"Postgres has some functions called JSONB aggregators or other aggregators, which are quite useful."

"It is easy to install and easy to manage. There is no license on it, so it is free. There is high compatibility with Oracle, and there are many tools for the migration of data from Oracle to Postgre."

"The solution provides complete support in terms of the SQL dialect and behaves nicely when it comes to transactions."

"It is easy to use."

"The performance is good."

"We are able to create many different types of jobs and items with this solution making it one of the most valuable features."

Cons

"I would like to see more compatibility going forward. This would help if there is a need to change databases."

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

"MariaDB could be improved by adding more automation."

"The PL/SQL performance is slow if you have big batch jobs running overnight."

"Lacks time series data and additional driving support would be helpful."

"The features available are very basic."

"I am editing."

"It doesn't have the same level of maturity metrics as Postgres."

More MariaDB cons

"PostgreSQL is a stable system, but from a security point of view, it still needs improvement."

"PostgreSQL’s performance could be improved."

"Integration with other platforms could be improved."

"I find it difficult to get connectors on the tool. For example, .NET has only one free provider in PostgreSQL. I need to pay the provider if I need something more sophisticated features. Other languages like PHP and Java have good community support. We need community support for .NET."

"The solution could improve the integration."

"I don't think PostgreSQL supports bulk databases, so it needs to have more capabilities in terms of managing the bulk data."

"They need to have a better graphical interface. There is a tool called pgAdmin 4 that they use, which is free. It is written in Java, and it is slow. They need to have a better product that is similar to Toad for Oracle, but, of course, it is hard to get something that's really great and free. Other than that, it is great."

"There are several features I would like to improve that aren't working as expected. It's likely that the latest version is doing something that was missed in the previous versions. For example, the output parameters — the stored procedures — is something new in PostgreSQL that Firebird has already had for a long time."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We use the solution's free version."

"MariaDB is an open-source software, meaning I don't need to pay for the product."

"My company uses the free version of the solution."

"I rate the product's price a three on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price, and ten is high price since there are some support costs involved, even though it isn't an open-source solution."

"MariaDB is open-source and self-hosted."

"When it comes to MariaDB, it should have a more cost-effective license."

"The price could be less expensive."

"There is a monthly subscription to use MariaDB."

More MariaDB pricing and cost advice

"It is also open-source so it is free."

"It is free. In terms of operating costs, it basically needs the same platform on which Oracle runs."

"This solution can offer a cheaper choice for customers since it is open-source."

"The need for our customers to pay for licences is contingent on their projects and budgets."

"The tool is cheaply priced compared to other RDBMS providers in the market."

"It is free. There is no license on it."

"We are using the free version of PostgreSQL."

"We use the open-source version of PostgreSQL and not the enterprise edition."

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

10%

University

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	27
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	25

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	57
Midsize Enterprise	26
Large Enterprise	46

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about MariaDB?

The integration with other products is seamless.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for MariaDB?

MariaDB is in the pricey range, especially for huge databases handling terabytes of data. The cost depends on the volume of data and different features enabled during configuration, such as backup ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with MariaDB?

See all answers

How does Firebird SQL compare with PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL was designed in a way that provides you with not only a high degree of flexibility but also offers you a cheap and easy-to-use solution. It gives you the ability to redesign and audit yo...

See all answers

What do you like most about PostgreSQL?

It's a transactional database, so we use Postgres for most of our reporting. That's where it's helping.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for PostgreSQL?

The tool is free of cost. For now, it's not about making money. But once we perfect it, we can offer it to customers willing to pay for support and other services. Most of my deployments are free.

See all answers

Comparisons

Firebird SQL vs MariaDB

Compared 20% of the time

SQL Server vs MariaDB

Compared 16% of the time

MySQL vs MariaDB

Compared 9% of the time

Oracle Database vs MariaDB

Compared 5% of the time

Percona Server vs MariaDB

Compared 5% of the time

More MariaDB Competitors

Firebird SQL vs PostgreSQL

Compared 26% of the time

MySQL vs PostgreSQL

Compared 10% of the time

Chroma vs PostgreSQL

Compared 5% of the time

LanceDB vs PostgreSQL

Compared 5% of the time

EDB Postgres Advanced Server vs PostgreSQL

Compared 4% of the time

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

MariaDB

January 2026

Download MariaDB product report

Buyer's Guide

PostgreSQL

January 2026

Download PostgreSQL product report

Overview

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.”

MariaDB

PostgreSQL is a versatile and reliable database management system commonly used for web development, data analysis, and building scalable databases.

It offers advanced features like indexing, replication, and transaction management. Users appreciate its flexibility, performance, and ability to handle large amounts of data efficiently. Its robustness, scalability, and support for complex queries make it highly valuable.

Additionally, PostgreSQL's extensibility, flexibility, community support, and frequent updates contribute to its ongoing improvement and stability.

PostgreSQL

Sample Customers

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

1. Apple 2. Cisco 3. Fujitsu 4. Instagram 5. Netflix 6. Red Hat 7. Sony 8. Uber 9. Cisco Systems 10. Skype 11. LinkedIn 12. Etsy 13. Yelp 14. Reddit 15. Dropbox 16. Slack 17. Twitch 18. WhatsApp 19. Snapchat 20. Shazam 21. SoundCloud 22. The New York Times 23. Cisco WebEx 24. Atlassian 25. Cisco Meraki 26. Heroku 27. GitLab 28. Zalando 29. OpenTable 30. Trello 31. Square Enix 32. Bloomberg

Buyer's Guide

MariaDB vs. PostgreSQL

December 2025

Free Report: MariaDB vs. PostgreSQL

Find out what your peers are saying about MariaDB vs. PostgreSQL and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

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