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Web Development · head to head

Drupal vs MySQL

D

Drupal

Web Development

Open-source CMS for complex, structured content sites

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: Drupal steep learning curve: concepts that are implicit in WordPress are explicit and must be configured; MySQL hot online backup is not in the free Community Server; MySQL Enterprise Backup is a paid Enterprise Edition component
  • They diverge on capability: Drupal covers Structured content modelling, MySQL covers ACID compliance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Drupal and MySQL actually diverge.

Attributes where Drupal and MySQL differ
AttributeDrupalMySQL
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hostedWindows, Macos, Linux, Unix
FoundedUnknown1995

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

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 Drupal

  • Structured content modelling
  • Granular permissions
  • Multilingual

Only in MySQL

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

Both cover

  • Views

What people use each for

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

Drupal

  • Government and university sites with complex content models and strict permissionsnot MySQL
  • Multilingual sites where translation is structural rather than a pluginnot MySQL
  • Publishers needing custom content types and editorial workflownot MySQL

MySQL

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

Where each one falls short

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

Drupal

  • Steep learning curve: concepts that are implicit in WordPress are explicit and must be configured
  • Smaller developer pool than WordPress, and correspondingly higher build costs
  • Major version upgrades have historically been substantial projects, not routine updates
  • Considerably more machinery than a straightforward marketing site needs

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

Drupal

Free
  • DrupalFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

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 Drupal if

  • You need structured content modelling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted.
  • You also want granular permissions.
Drupal 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 Drupal or MySQL better?
Neither clearly leads. Drupal 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, Drupal or MySQL?
Drupal starts at Free and MySQL at Free.
Does Drupal or MySQL run on more platforms?
Drupal runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted. MySQL runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Unix.
Can I use Drupal for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Drupal best used for?
Drupal is most often used for government and university sites with complex content models and strict permissions, multilingual sites where translation is structural rather than a plugin, publishers needing custom content types and editorial workflow. Of those, government and university sites with complex content models and strict permissions and multilingual sites where translation is structural rather than a plugin are not what MySQL is typically brought in for.
What can Drupal do that MySQL cannot?
Drupal covers Structured content modelling, Granular permissions, Multilingual. MySQL covers ACID compliance, SQL support, Multi-version concurrency control, Replication. Both handle Views.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Drupal: Is Drupal free?

Yes, open source under the GPL. Costs are hosting, development and any commercial modules.

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
Drupal: Drupal or WordPress?

WordPress is faster to launch, cheaper to staff and has a much larger plugin ecosystem. Drupal is stronger when the content model is genuinely complex and permissions are strict, which is why institutions favour it.

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
Drupal: Why is Drupal common in government and universities?

Structured content modelling, granular access control and multilingual support are core rather than bolted on, and those are exactly the requirements those sectors have.

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