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MariaDB Reviews

Vendor: MariaDB
4.1 out of 5
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What is MariaDB?

MariaDB is an open source relational database created by the original founders of MySQL. It is considered one of the most popular and trusted database servers throughout the world. MariaDB is a valued component found in most cloud offerings and is the default in many Linux tools. It is also widely used by Wikipedia, WordPress, and Google, among other well-known sites. Maria DB easily melds data into concise information from a vast array of applications, such as banking, online shopping, websites, and more.

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MariaDB is the #5 ranked solution in top Open Source Databases and top Relational Databases. PeerSpot users give MariaDB an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. MariaDB is most commonly compared to SQL Server: MariaDB vs SQL Server. MariaDB is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 49% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 15% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
MariaDB
September 2025
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MariaDB mindshare

Product category:
Open Source Databases
As of October 2025, the mindshare of MariaDB in the Open Source Databases category stands at 6.7%, down from 8.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Open Source Databases Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
MariaDB6.7%
PostgreSQL16.6%
Firebird SQL15.2%
Other61.5%
Open Source Databases

PeerResearch reports based on MariaDB reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryOpen Source DatabasesOct 3, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersOct 3, 2025Download
ComparisonMariaDB vs MySQLOct 3, 2025Download
ComparisonMariaDB vs PostgreSQLOct 3, 2025Download
ComparisonMariaDB vs Firebird SQLOct 3, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
SQL Server4.2N/A93%270 interviewsAdd to research
Teradata4.1N/A87%77 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

  • "Configuration, setup, and schema design are good features in MariaDB, and typical database features we have used include backup, configuration, recovery, archiving, and ETL."
  • "Visual Studio offers unit testing integration and extensive searching capabilities."
  • "The initial setup of MariaDB is simple enough."

Room for Improvement

  • "Complex queries in MariaDB where the query needs to parse thousands of lines or data values face some performance issues."
  • "The features available are very basic."
  • "The only potential area for improvement could be the pricing model, which might benefit from being more flexible or a bit cheaper."

Pricing

MariaDB offers a cost-effective and open-source solution with a free Community Edition widely appreciated by users. However, an enterprise version with licensing fees is available, typically around $4000 annually. Some users opt for paid support or subscriptions for additional features, yet MariaDB generally remains a more affordable alternative to Oracle. The flexibility and reduced costs make it a favorable choice for those looking to optimize expenses, especially when migrating from Oracle.
  • "MariaDB is available for free."
  • "The tool is open-source."
  • "The product is not expensive."

Service and Support

MariaDB's technical support is often unnecessary due to strong documentation and community resources. Many users solve issues internally or rely on community support. Some find MariaDB's support excellent but others find it limited or minimal, especially with the open-source version. Users appreciate quick responses and helpful guidance from MariaDB support, though some mention slow response times. Licensing can provide access to dedicated support, but many rely on self-troubleshooting and online information.

Scalability

MariaDB is considered scalable by many, with significant numbers of users across various systems and applications. Some note it requires configurations for large datasets, indicating scalability can be improved. It generally handles user growth well, though a few express reservations about its limits compared to larger databases. The need for additional products like SkySQL for cloud deployment enhances its scalability possibilities. While it suits small to medium use cases, large-scale users see some challenges.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our MariaDB Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business22
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise22
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business221
Midsize Enterprise116
Large Enterprise328
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Comms Service Provider
9%
University
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
7%
Government
6%
Retailer
4%
Media Company
3%
Construction Company
3%
Healthcare Company
3%
Hospitality Company
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Performing Arts
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Insurance Company
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Legal Firm
1%
Recruiting/Hr Firm
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%

Compare MariaDB with alternative products

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Learn more about MariaDB

MariaDB was originally created to improve MySQL performance. It is the most widely chosen database server due to the solution being super fast, robust, user-friendly, and easily scalable. MariaDB also offers a substantial ecosystem of plugins, storage engines, and numerous other valuable tools that make it very attractive for a significant offering of use cases.

The solution’s newest functionalities include compatibility with Oracle Database and Temporal Data Tables, and advanced clustering with Galera Cluster 4, which make it easier for users to research data history from any point in the past. Additionally, the most recent versions include JSON and GIS features. MariaDB is committed to staying an open source solution.

MariaDB Features

  • More storage: MariaDB works with more storage engines than MySQL and most other database servers available. Some storage options include, but are not limited to ARCHIVE, MERGE, CSV, MEMORY, BLACKHOLE, MyISAM, ColumnStore, MyRocks, and Cassandra.

  • Super fast: MariaDB offers faster authentication checks. The FlushSSL permits SSL certificates to be reloaded without a server restart, resulting in huge time savings.

  • Improved testing: MariaDB offers an extending testing suite that runs faster and can test more than ever before. Bugs can be easily fixed and invalid tests removed.

  • Genuinely open source: Every code in MariaDB is GPL, LGPL, or BSD. Client libraries [for Windows (ODBC), Java (JDBC), or C] allow linking to closed source software. All fixed bug cases and development plans are completely public. MariaDB is a community-developed solution representing the true spirit of open source products.

Reviews from Real Users

Faustine C., Engineering Supervisor- Corporate Data Solutions and Services at TZ Telecoms Corporation, shares, “The software provides a lot of information on what is happening inside the database. For most performance parameters it is easy to know if something is not right in the configuration or optimization which helps engineers take remedial fine-tuning measures. For example, if the database is underperforming it is easy to know which performance parameter can be adjusted to handle the workload. It is difficult to troubleshoot database issues if many performance parameters can not be monitored or debugged which is the case with some database management systems. It provides great monitoring of data storage, processing, and performance stability which is really important for real-time data storage and processing. It's a user-friendly product.”

A PeerSpot user who is a Senior Engineer at a tech services company relates, “ The solution's high availability is its most valuable aspect. We have found the product to be stable and the initial setup is pretty simple. I'd rate the solution at a ten out of ten. I'm very happy with it overall. I would recommend the solution to others. It's easy to find details about the product online and to learn about it.”

MariaDB customers

Google, Wikipedia, Tencent, Verizon, DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank, Telefónica, Huatai Securities

Related questions

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Open Source Databases
Relational Databases Tools

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MariaDB Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Co-Founder at Vsigma IT Labs Pvt Ltd3.5We've used MariaDB for web applications and found it stable with solid features, though performance lags during complex queries or large datasets. Setup has a learning curve, support is helpful, and it's best suited for small to medium workloads.
Senior Technical Manager at Johnson Controls, Inc.4.5We are in IoT intrusion systems, using MariaDB for UI purposes with a 3-node multi-master setup on Kubernetes. It offers good scalability and seamless integration, but we face deadlock issues and downtime. It's more affordable than Oracle or SQL Server.
General Manager at Xurpas Software, Inc.4.0I support MariaDB for ERP systems, valuing its query speed and ease of use compared to PostgreSQL. While MariaDB lacks stored procedure capabilities and scalability like PostgreSQL, its lower hardware costs make it a preferable option for most clients.
Senior Cloud Performance Engineer at Oracle4.0I find MariaDB beneficial for its faster query execution and improved security in my work with ServiceNow. However, it can be inflexible for complex needs, lacking built-in analytics and features like time series data support. Oracle offers more comprehensive solutions.
Associate, Software Developer (Appian) at The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development3.5I use MariaDB primarily for data processing and storage in my company. It is cloud-based, fast, and SQL-compliant. We previously used a different solution, but switched to MariaDB as preferred by Appian. Improvement is needed in document caching.
Product Manager at Hyundai Autoever Company2.5We migrated from Oracle to MariaDB during our cloud transition because of its speed, multi-processing capabilities, and lightweight nature. However, MariaDB needs stronger indexes, improved query handling, and better customer support. We also evaluated Finsecure and AWS databases.
Database Administrator at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees4.0I use MariaDB for various small to medium-sized applications, primarily for database operations. It features asynchronous master-slave implementations and Galera multi-master setups. The pricing model could be improved for flexibility, with Postgres being its closest competitor.
Senior IT Architect at AFD Technologies3.5MariaDB is a good database solution, although it lacks some maturity metrics compared to Postgres. It could benefit from improved tablespaces management and space utilization. Its active server capabilities are advantageous over competitors, and it suits specific project needs.