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Archivematica vs MySQL

Archivematica logo

Archivematica

Libraries

Free and open source digital preservation system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MySQL logo

MySQL

Web Development

The world's most popular open source database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Archivematica cannot run natively on Windows; requires virtualization platform with Linux VM; MySQL hot online backup is not in the free Community Server; MySQL Enterprise Backup is a paid Enterprise Edition component
  • They diverge on capability: Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow, MySQL covers ACID compliance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Archivematica and MySQL actually diverge.

Attributes where Archivematica and MySQL differ
AttributeArchivematicaMySQL
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsLinux, WebWindows, Macos, Linux, Unix
CategoryLibrariesWeb Development
Founded20011995

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Archivematica

  • OAIS-compliant workflow
  • Format identification (FIDO/Siegfried)
  • File characterization (FITS)
  • Format normalization
  • PREMIS metadata
  • AIP and DIP creation
  • Checksum verification
  • Micro-services architecture

Only in MySQL

  • ACID compliance
  • SQL support
  • Multi-version concurrency control
  • Replication
  • Partitioning
  • Stored procedures
  • Triggers
  • Views

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Archivematica

  • Digital preservationnot MySQL
  • Born-digital archivesnot MySQL
  • Digitization workflowsnot MySQL
  • Long-term accessnot MySQL

MySQL

  • Web application backendnot Archivematica
  • E-commerce platformsnot Archivematica
  • Content management systemsnot Archivematica
  • Data warehousingnot Archivematica
  • Business applicationsnot Archivematica

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Archivematica

  • Cannot run natively on Windows; requires virtualization platform with Linux VM
  • Requires 7GB disk space plus 2 to 3 times the collection size during processing, demanding significant storage resources
  • Processing large collections requires high-end hardware; small collections require minimal hardware but enterprise use scales expensively
  • Known issues with Internet Explorer browser; most extensive testing only in Firefox and Chrome

MySQL

  • Hot online backup is not in the free Community Server; MySQL Enterprise Backup is a paid Enterprise Edition component
  • Transparent Data Encryption, data masking and de-identification are Enterprise Edition only
  • MySQL Enterprise Firewall, which guards against SQL injection, and MySQL Enterprise Audit are both paid components
  • External authentication against PAM or Windows Active Directory requires MySQL Enterprise Authentication
  • The thread pool ships as MySQL Enterprise Scalability rather than in the community build

Pricing, plan by plan

Archivematica

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Archivematica review.

MySQL

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Open source license
    • Full SQL support
    • InnoDB storage engine
  • Standard Edition$2000/year
    • Commercial license
    • Oracle Premier Support
    • MySQL Enterprise backup
  • Enterprise Edition$5000/year
    • Advanced security
    • MySQL Enterprise Monitor
    • High Availability

Which should you pick?

Choose Archivematica if

  • You need oais-compliant workflow.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Web.
  • You also want format identification (fido/siegfried).
Archivematica review

Choose MySQL if

  • You need acid compliance.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Unix.
  • You also want sql support.
MySQL review

Questions people ask

Is Archivematica or MySQL better?
Neither clearly leads. Archivematica starts at Free and MySQL at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Archivematica or MySQL?
Archivematica starts at Free and MySQL at Free.
Does Archivematica or MySQL run on more platforms?
Archivematica runs on Linux, Web. MySQL runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Unix.
Can I use Archivematica for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Archivematica best used for?
Archivematica is most often used for digital preservation, born-digital archives, digitization workflows, long-term access. Of those, digital preservation and born-digital archives are not what MySQL is typically brought in for.
What can Archivematica do that MySQL cannot?
Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow, Format identification (FIDO/Siegfried), File characterization (FITS), Format normalization. MySQL covers ACID compliance, SQL support, Multi-version concurrency control, Replication.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Archivematica: Is Archivematica free and open source?

Yes. Archivematica is free open-source software released under GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL 3.0). All code is free to study, modify, improve, and distribute.

Source
MySQL: Does MySQL cost money?

MySQL is primarily open-source and free to use. Commercial editions and support services are available but pricing is not published on the main website.

Source
Archivematica: What standards does Archivematica use for digital preservation?

Archivematica uses METS, PREMIS, Dublin Core, and Library of Congress BagIt specification to generate trustworthy Archival Information Packages (AIPs) for long-term storage.

Source
MySQL: How do I get MySQL pricing information?

For MySQL commercial editions and support pricing, customers can contact MySQL sales directly at +1-866-221-0634 or navigate to individual product pages.

Source
Archivematica: Does Archivematica include an access system?

Yes. Archivematica is packaged with AtoM, a web-based content management system for providing access to your digital objects.

Source
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