MySQL vs Percona Server comparison

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Read 140 MySQL reviews
11,756 views|9,542 comparisons
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1,753 views|1,639 comparisons
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between MySQL and Percona Server based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle, PostgreSQL, MariaDB and others in Open Source Databases.
To learn more, read our detailed Open Source Databases Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,234 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
"Fully scalable and stable SQL-based RDBMS, with a straightforward and easy setup.""Apart from the features that are in the enterprise part, we find the database to be valuable. The connectors and the backup features are valuable as well. We use the basic database. We don't really use the extra features. Our clients like the security features in the database.""It's a mature solution that's been around for decades.""We use it as a data store and from that perspective, we get everything we need.""MySQL's most significant attribute is its capability to create, modify, and maintain databases. This is crucial and advantageous in procedures, such as SOAR. Therefore, all SQL functions are beneficial to any backend developer or developer who requires data storage.""The relations in the database, the dynamic workflow, and the ability to connect with all columns. It's useful for e-commerce.""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.""The speed is very good."

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"We find the product mostly stable."

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Cons
"We want high availability and replication features, which are currently missing in this solution. It would be great if they can provide an in-built replication feature, similar to Oracle RAC, in MySQL.""The backup methods need improvement.""The auto-tuning and NDB cluster has some limitations regarding foreign keys.""Sometimes, I get lost in the toggles and buttons, and a better visual design would be nice. The layout is not user-friendly or efficient.""The manuals or documentation could be better.""The product is a little bit complex and it is difficult to find sufficient documentation.""We want to continue using MySQL but it merged with Oracle and the scalage changed.""It does not stand out regarding scalability. When the company size increases, the user base having actual experience with (very) large MySQL solutions is reduced."

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"If Percona had flashback capabilities, it would be ideal."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "When you know the setup will continue to grow, make sure you have the paid support."
  • "​Enterprise editions and support are definitely needed for the heavy users who need direct support. ​"
  • "MySQL Enterprise Support is not cheap, though might still be cheaper than Oracle or SQL Server. They may not have local support depending on where you’re based, but there are many smaller agencies out there that will readily provide support. You’ll need to spend some time looking around."
  • "Can range from free to quite expensive, depending on the environments and requirements, so better to really set goals ahead of setting it up."
  • "I am using the Community Edition, which is available free of charge."
  • "This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."
  • "It's an open-source database management system that can be used free of charge."
  • "Microsoft licensing for SQL Server is probably ten times more expensive. I used to work for the government, and I remember when we were looking into upgrading to the enterprise version of SQL Server 2019, the licensing was going to cost 350,000. To get the equivalent in the cloud, it was going to be about four grand to get the same processing power and everything else. With MySQL, it was going to be about 300 for the same licensing. Cost-wise, for sure, there is a huge difference. Would you prefer to pay 300 a month or 3,000 to have the same amount of data resources? You might lose a few options that you need, but it isn't worth the price difference."
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    Questions from the Community
    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 »
    Top Answer:We find the product mostly stable.
    Top Answer:This is an open-source product and is free to use.
    Top Answer:I would love to see the flashback in Percona MySQL or even in Percona PostgreSQL. It's available in Oracle, the flashback. In Oracle, there's the utility of a flashback. It stores all the information… more »
    Ranking
    1st
    Views
    11,756
    Comparisons
    9,542
    Reviews
    26
    Average Words per Review
    423
    Rating
    8.5
    8th
    Views
    1,753
    Comparisons
    1,639
    Reviews
    1
    Average Words per Review
    884
    Rating
    8.0
    Comparisons
    Firebird SQL logo
    Compared 25% of the time.
    PostgreSQL logo
    Compared 10% of the time.
    MariaDB logo
    Compared 10% of the time.
    Teradata logo
    Compared 7% of the time.
    IBM Db2 Database logo
    Compared 3% of the time.
    Learn More
    Percona
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    Overview

    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.

    Percona Server for MySQL is a free, fully compatible, enhanced, open source drop-in replacement for MySQL that provides good performance, scalability and instrumentation. With over 3,000,000 downloads, Percona Server for MySQL's self-tuning algorithms and support for extremely high-performance hardware delivers excellent performance and reliability.
    Sample Customers
    Facebook, Tumblr, Scholastic, MTV Networks, Wikipedia, Verizon Wireless, Sage Group, Glassfish Open Message Queue, and RightNow Technologies.
    Pricefalls Marketplace, Micpoint, Rent the Runway, Transmart, Wattpad, Singular Group, Invoca, 3E
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company21%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    University10%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Comms Service Provider10%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company27%
    Financial Services Firm12%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Government7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business45%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise37%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business26%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise59%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise53%
    Buyer's Guide
    Open Source Databases
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle, PostgreSQL, MariaDB and others in Open Source Databases. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    MySQL is ranked 1st in Open Source Databases with 140 reviews while Percona Server is ranked 8th in Open Source Databases with 2 reviews. MySQL is rated 8.2, while Percona Server is rated 7.6. The top reviewer of MySQL writes "Good beginner base but it should have better support for backups". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Percona Server writes "Open-source and free to use with a good community". MySQL is most compared with Firebird SQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Teradata and IBM Db2 Database, whereas Percona Server is most compared with MariaDB, EDB Postgres Advanced Server, PostgreSQL and Oracle MySQL Cloud Service.

    See our list of best Open Source Databases vendors.

    We monitor all Open Source Databases 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.