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MySQL vs SingleStore 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:
 

Categories and Ranking

MySQL
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
150
Ranking in other categories
Open Source Databases (1st), Relational Databases Tools (4th)
SingleStore
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
6
Ranking in other categories
Database as a Service (DBaaS) (12th), Vector Databases (15th)
 

Mindshare comparison

While both are Databases solutions, they serve different purposes. MySQL is designed for Open Source Databases and holds a mindshare of 8.8%, down 13.9% compared to last year.
SingleStore, on the other hand, focuses on Database as a Service (DBaaS), holds 2.7% mindshare, up 1.2% since last year.
Open Source Databases Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
MySQL8.8%
PostgreSQL16.1%
Firebird SQL14.6%
Other60.5%
Open Source Databases
Database as a Service (DBaaS) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
SingleStore2.7%
Amazon RDS17.5%
MongoDB Atlas13.6%
Other66.2%
Database as a Service (DBaaS)
 

Featured Reviews

Prabir Kumar Kundu - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers robust security and availability with impressive replication capabilities
Regarding their documentation and interface, there is room for improvement. Documentation is definitely required when running multiple databases on a cluster system. The load balancer, MySQL LB, which is used to connect to the application, lacks clear documentation. When there are multiple application servers connecting to the MySQL cluster and going through the MySQL load balancer, the documentation is not user-friendly. It's there, but only technical persons with deep knowledge of the MySQL database can implement it. Most of the community users or ISVs who use MySQL don't have many technical persons or DBA experts, so they face some challenges for the high availability of connecting high available databases from high available applications. That documentation should be simplified.
Yasin Sarı - PeerSpot reviewer
High-speed data processing, seamless scalability, and excellent high availability making it an optimal choice for those prioritizing performance and efficiency in a database solution
There's a noteworthy consideration when it comes to collecting massive amounts of data. It is not the optimal choice for direct data collection through queries, and it's more suited for aggregation tasks. Attempting to use it for direct extraction, for instance, might lead to memory-related challenges. While MySQL version five might lack extensive SQL capabilities, SingleStore also has its constraints, requiring simpler SQL writing. This becomes evident when seeking advanced functionalities like window functions or JSON functions, where SingleStore doesn't offer an extensive toolkit, necessitating a more straightforward approach to SQL.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"For sure, the solution is very stable."
"A good traditional database that supports JSON."
"It is a stable solution."
"I like the simplistic view of MySQL to build custom queries and things like that as compared to SQL Server, which seems more cluttered. SQL Server has a query analyzer. MySQL pretty much does the same, and performance-wise, it has less overhead for connecting to our ERP system. It seems more responsive and cleaner. With MySQL, you get what you need without any overbloating, for which Microsoft is known. That's why they have so many constant security patches for everything because there is so much stuff, which degrades performance."
"It is easy to use. It is simple to implement, which makes it suitable for our projects because we have deadlines. MySQL is also open-source, which is another plus point."
"I like MySQL's feature that helps to automate things."
"The main advantage is the very large user base. This enables users to fix about any issue by answering any question."
"MySQL is the best option for the Laravel PHP framework."
"The most valuable feature is the ability to create pipelines, streamline and extract data from the pipelines."
"The ability to store data in memory is a standout feature, enhanced by robust failover mechanisms."
"The paramount advantage is the exceptional speed."
"The product can automatically reinstall and reconfigure in case of a shutdown."
"It's a distributed relational database, so it does not have a single server, it has multiple servers. Its architecture itself is fast because it has multiple nodes to distribute the workload and process large amounts of data."
"MemSQL supports the MySQL protocol, and many functions are similar, so the learning curve is very short."
 

Cons

"Scalability could be improved."
"Improvements to MySQL depend on the specific use case. For example, in my scenario, I frequently need to maintain and store data, which can then be utilized to generate reports. On the other hand, others may suggest incorporating a feature that allows for easier visualization of the data, such as what is available in Power BI or other similar tools."
"The solution could improve by having better performance and security."
"This solution needs to be improved when it comes to working with desktop applications on the developer side."
"​MySQL is not easily scalable on cost effective consumer grade hardware.​"
"Oracle should start putting in some of the enterprise features in the standard feature. There are some key features that should be part of the standard."
"The GUI could improve in MySQL."
"I would rate the stability a seven out of ten. It does break down a little at times."
"Poor key distribution can significantly impact performance, requiring a backward approach in design rather than adding tables incrementally."
"Having the ability to migrate servers using a single command would be extremely beneficial."
"For new customers, it's very tough to start. Their documentation isn't organized, and there's no online training available. SingleStore is working on it, but that's a major drawback."
"We don't get good discounts in Pakistan."
"There should be more pipelines available because I think that if MemSQL can connect to other services, that would be great."
"It is not the optimal choice for direct data collection through queries, and it's more suited for aggregation tasks."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."
"It is open source. We prefer it for POCs because it saves the license cost."
"The pricing falls within the moderate range."
"There is no licensing fee."
"The tool is open source."
"We are using the free community edition of MySQL."
"We are using the free version of MySQL. We prefer paying for a yearly license."
"When you know the setup will continue to grow, make sure you have the paid support."
"Using it for analytical purposes can be cost-effective in the long run, especially in terms of infrastructure."
"The product's licensing is not expensive. It is comparable."
"They have two main options: cloud installation and bare-metal installation, each with different pricing models."
"SingleStore is a bit expensive."
"I would advise users to try the free 128GB version."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Financial Services Firm
33%
Computer Software Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
6%
University
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business73
Midsize Enterprise31
Large Enterprise61
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business4
Large Enterprise3
 

Questions from the Community

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 you move information over a network without encryption, you are endangering it, m...
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 versions. So back in my day, it was all free, it was open-source and the best among sim...
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 it was free, everyone was on their own, seeking tutorials and how-to videos onli...
What do you like most about SingleStore DB?
The paramount advantage is the exceptional speed.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SingleStore DB?
Using it for analytical purposes can be cost-effective in the long run, especially in terms of infrastructure. While building an on-premise cluster incurs an initial cost for servers with ample RAM...
What needs improvement with SingleStore DB?
There's a noteworthy consideration when it comes to collecting massive amounts of data. It is not the optimal choice for direct data collection through queries, and it's more suited for aggregation...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Facebook, Tumblr, Scholastic, MTV Networks, Wikipedia, Verizon Wireless, Sage Group, Glassfish Open Message Queue, and RightNow Technologies.
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Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle, PostgreSQL, Firebird and others in Open Source Databases. Updated: October 2025.
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