MySQL

Overview

MySQL is a multithreaded, multi-user SQL database server owned by Oracle Corporation, intended for heavy-load production systems and for embedding in mass-deployed software^[7]. It is dual-licensed: free under the GNU General Public License, or under a commercial licence purchased from Oracle^[7]. The reference manual covers the 9.x innovation series, long-term support releases 8.4 and 8.0, and newer release tracks numbered 26.x^[7].

Oracle sells several commercial offerings: MySQL HeatWave, a cloud service combining transactions with lakehouse-scale analytics, generative AI and machine learning; MySQL Enterprise Edition for business-critical applications; and an embedded edition for ISVs, OEMs and resellers^[8]. Standard Edition and NDB Cluster CGE are also listed; prices are obtained from Oracle sales^[8]. MySQL’s strengths are its simplicity, enormous installed base in web applications and broad hosting support. Its limitations include a feature set narrower than PostgreSQL in areas such as advanced indexing and extensibility, and the fact that some enterprise features, such as advanced backup and auditing, are reserved for commercial editions.

What MySQL does

• GPL Community Server
• MySQL HeatWave analytics and ML (cloud)
• Enterprise Edition for production support
• Embedded licensing for ISVs
• NDB Cluster CGE

MySQL pricing

Community Server free under GPL; Enterprise, Standard, Cluster CGE and embedded licences priced by Oracle sales; HeatWave billed as a cloud service.

MySQL strengths and limitations

Appears in

• Best Database Software in 2026 #4

MySQL alternatives and competitors

Alternatives to MySQL: companies ranked in the same lists.

• OOracle
• Microsoft Power BI
• PPostgreSQL
• MongoDB
• Amazon Lex
• Redis
• IBM Consulting
• MariaDB
• SQLite
• CockroachDB
• Supabase
• Neon