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Web Development · head to head

MySQL vs Oracle Database

MySQL logo

MySQL

Web Development

The world's most popular open source database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oracle Database logo

Oracle Database

Databases

The world's most complete, reliable, and secure database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: MySQL hot online backup is not in the free Community Server; MySQL Enterprise Backup is a paid Enterprise Edition component; Oracle Database high licensing costs for Enterprise Edition with option packs potentially doubling the effective per-processor cost
  • They diverge on capability: MySQL covers ACID compliance, Oracle Database covers PL/SQL.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MySQL and Oracle Database actually diverge.

Attributes where MySQL and Oracle Database differ
AttributeMySQLOracle Database
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, UnixOn-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix
CategoryWeb DevelopmentDatabases
Founded19951977

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 MySQL

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

Only in Oracle Database

  • PL/SQL
  • Real Application Clusters
  • Data Guard
  • Advanced Compression
  • In-memory Database
  • Multitenant Architecture
  • Oracle Cloud
  • SQL Developer

Both cover

  • Partitioning

What people use each for

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

MySQL

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

Oracle Database

  • Transaction processingnot MySQL
  • Data storagenot MySQL
  • Application backendnot MySQL
  • Reportingnot MySQL
  • Data analyticsnot MySQL

Where each one falls short

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

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

Oracle Database

  • High licensing costs for Enterprise Edition with option packs potentially doubling the effective per-processor cost
  • Requires skilled database administrators for proper setup, configuration, and maintenance
  • High hardware requirements increase infrastructure costs; less suitable for resource-constrained environments

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Oracle Database

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Oracle Database review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Oracle Database if

  • You need pl/sql.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on On-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix.
  • You also want real application clusters.
Oracle Database review

Questions people ask

Is MySQL or Oracle Database better?
Neither clearly leads. MySQL starts at Free and Oracle Database at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MySQL or Oracle Database?
MySQL starts at Free and Oracle Database at Free.
Does MySQL or Oracle Database run on more platforms?
MySQL runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Unix. Oracle Database runs on On-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix.
Can I use MySQL for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MySQL best used for?
MySQL is most often used for web application backend, e-commerce platforms, content management systems, data warehousing. Of those, web application backend and e-commerce platforms are not what Oracle Database is typically brought in for.
What can MySQL do that Oracle Database cannot?
MySQL covers ACID compliance, SQL support, Multi-version concurrency control, Replication. Oracle Database covers PL/SQL, Real Application Clusters, Data Guard, Advanced Compression. Both handle Partitioning.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Oracle Database: What is the licensing cost of Oracle Database Enterprise Edition?

Oracle Database Enterprise Edition is priced at 47,500 USD per processor as of April 2026. Named User Plus licensing costs 950 USD per user. Pricing varies based on licensing metric chosen.

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
Oracle Database: Does Oracle Database offer a free tier or trial?

Oracle Database offers Oracle Database Free Edition, a no-cost version for development and testing. However, no free trial is available for paid editions.

Source
Oracle Database: What are the deployment options for Oracle Database?

Oracle Database can be deployed on premises or through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Pricing and features vary based on deployment model selected.

Source
Oracle Database: What database management capabilities does Oracle Database provide?

Oracle Database is a converged, multi-model database management system offering in-memory computing, NoSQL, and MySQL database options with comprehensive data management and security features.

Source
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