IBM Db2 Database vs MySQL comparison

IBM and Oracle are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. IBM is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.1, while Oracle is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.6. IBM holds a 7.1% mindshare in SQL, compared to Oracle’s 8.5% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Oracle users who would recommend it.

IBM Db2 Database

Read 73 IBM Db2 Database reviews

6,854 Views
4,346 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

MySQL

Read 148 MySQL reviews

7,193 Views
5,585 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

MySQL

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 12, 2025

IBM Db2 Database and MySQL compete in the database management systems category. Based on feature richness and performance optimization, IBM Db2 has the upper hand in environments demanding advanced capabilities and integration.

Features: IBM Db2 Database offers a powerful structured query language dialect with object tables, Java method support, and user-defined functions. It supports multiple platforms and includes self-tuning memory management for optimized performance without human intervention. MySQL is notable for its open-source status and ease of use, performing efficiently in small to medium applications with functionalities like multi-threaded architecture, triggers, and crash recovery techniques.

Room for Improvement: IBM Db2 Database is reportedly complex with difficulties in learning and licensing challenges. Users find its integration with web technologies lacking. MySQL suffers from slower performance with InnoDB, lacks advanced management tools, and has limited support for complex operations like stored procedures and active directory integration.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Db2 Database primarily thrives in on-premises environments with varied support levels, though users report reliable but occasionally slow and expensive customer service. MySQL offers on-premises and hybrid deployments with strong community support contributing to its ease of use, yet lacks the formal support seen with proprietary solutions.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Db2 Database is perceived as expensive compared to alternatives like MySQL, however, it offers long-term financial benefits due to robust performance and reliability. MySQL, being open-source, incurs minimal initial cost, offering savings on licensing fees but may incur extra expenses for enterprise support. Both databases provide substantial ROI, with MySQL favored for budget-conscious deployments.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Db2 Database vs. MySQL Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. MySQL

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM Db2 Database

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

MySQL

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

3rd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

148

Ranking in other categories

Open Source Databases (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.1%, up from 6.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MySQL is 8.5%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

SimonHiggins

Mainframe Technical Manager/Service Integration Lead at Saudi Business Machines

Very scalable with high availability and excellent technical support

The good thing is that there are improvements coming with later function levels for the z/OS Db2. I'd like it if, with the operating system that we've got, z/OS, on the mainframe, it would allow us to refresh the hardware to run Linux dockers on the mainframe. This means this might give us opportunities for different ways of coming into the Db2 environment in the future. We just want a bit more integration with Linux. That said, we are already seeing Linux more readily available on the mainframe environment. Not only have we got the premium operating systems on OS. We can run LPARs on the same mainframe footprint that is also supporting Linux. This is what has improved and made the mainframe environment more competitive. We're also looking at AI for Db2 as well, and machine learning for the future. We know that AI has come out, that we're going to get that, and we're going to evaluate that product next year for Db2. That said, I haven't got any real complaints about Db2 on the mainframe. For the most part, a lot of the problems we have nowadays are to do with communication between the various teams that you would class as stakeholders.

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Muzzamil Hussain

Assistant Vice President at National Bank of Pakistan

Native encryption ensures secure data management with a simple deployment

The most valuable feature is the on-premises data encryption facilities. By default, we can provide encryption, and this feature in MySQL is why we prefer it over other databases. The native encryption in MySQL encourages us to use this database model more frequently compared to Oracle and other databases. With Oracle, we have to buy another solution for encryption and masking, but MySQL supports native encryption, which enhances our return on investment. It perfectly supports our ROI, and we have no issues with its functionality.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."

"The most valuable feature of the IBM Db2 Database is the ease of use, and the ability to do query writing of any SQL statement and have an output."

"Its robustness, scalability, availability, and performance are valuable. All these are the major attributes of a relational database for supporting a very high-volume business, and Db2 is very good in all those areas and in all those attributes."

"It has a good, stable performance."

"The most valuable features are with the industrial side."

"The solution is easy to install and simple to maintain. The most valuable aspect of the solution is its general user-friendliness for users of all kinds."

"Scales well enough for a relational database."

"The initial setup was easy."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"My main reason for using MySQL for this small customer database company and for some kinds of scientific projects was that I had to do the installation myself. I didn't have a database administration team behind me. Therefore, I was looking for something very easy to handle. MySQL is easy to install, connect, and do all such things."

"The initial setup was easy. I work in an agile way, which means coding and deploying quickly."

"I would use MySQL for a medium project, with around 1,00,000 hundred thousand users, because of the indexing and stored procedures."

"It is a stable solution."

"The installation process for the most scalable solution is remarkably quick, taking only a short amount of time."

"It's a mature solution that's been around for decades."

"The connectivity with PHP is quite good."

"The IO segregation in CGE is valuable."

More MySQL pros

Cons

"It would be ideal if the solution offered backup functionality. Many similar tools already do, which means Db2 is somewhat behind the curve in terms of what a customer might expect from it."

"IBM Db2 Database could improve with better security."

"IBM's products tend to be quite costly, especially given the availability of free, open-source alternatives."

"There are some issues with Db2's database file system not being readable. The storage could also be increased, and the monitoring could be improved."

"End-to-end encryption specifically is something the solution needs to have in the next release."

"The capabilities of this solution could improve."

"The solution no longer supports POWER8."

"When I look at Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server provides me with better tools for database management."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"The integration with other systems can be improved as can the integration between other databases."

"I would rate the stability a seven out of ten. It does break down a little at times."

"The solution could improve the monitoring. At the present time, you need to use third-party monitoring solutions."

"The product is a little bit complex and it is difficult to find sufficient documentation."

"In MySQL, we need to define every table beforehand."

"It could be more secure."

"Its scalability can be better. It is probably not as scalable as Oracle. I had some issues with connectors. I used it from a C++ program, and it required some work to make it run, but finally, it worked."

"If it had something similar to Microsoft’s DTS engine then it would be the best database system out there."

More MySQL cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Compared to other databases, Db2 is relatively cheaper."

"There is a license for this solution and we pay every three years."

"I rate the price of the IBM Db2 Database an eight out of ten."

"I think that everyone knows that with IBM the standard price is higher than the others."

"The solution's pricing is fine."

"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."

"We normally handle large size businesses and as far as I am aware, the license is negotiable based on the number of users and the quantitative data."

"Among Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Db2, Microsoft SQL Server is the cheapest one, and Oracle is the most expensive one. Db2 is in the middle. As compared to SQL Server, its price could go down. It will be good for customers."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"MySQL is a cheap solution."

"There is no licensing fee."

"I rate the solution's pricing as four out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive. For our basic needs, it's quite affordable. However, the cost increases when we need to scale up or require high availability. Our developer team of about 600 people uses MySQL without much issue. The pricing becomes more of a concern on the business side, as we have more end users and need constant database availability and scaling. In those cases, the solution gets a bit more expensive, even though it provides good value for the business."

"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."

"We're using the open-source version right now, which is free. I do see some value in some of the more enterprise functions. We're using the open-source version right now, and I was interested in the MySQL Enterprise version really for the tools that they provide, but we decided not to make the purchase."

"There is no cost involved, no licensing fees."

"It has a community version."

"I think that MySQL is a premium product."

More MySQL pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

61%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Government

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Db2 Database?

Db2 database scalability and performance capabilities match our database needs. It covers pretty much everything a database administrator or engineer might need.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Db2 Database?

IBM Db2 is an expensive solution. While I am not heavily involved with pricing, additional companies provide capabilities or products like those from BMC, which many installations might also purchase.

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What needs improvement with IBM Db2 Database?

The user interface is old and needs to be improved. It doesn't match the responsive and suggestion-rich UI of cloud solutions. New functions don't come to mind.

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Why are MySQL connections encrypted and what is the biggest benefit of this?

MySQL encrypts connections to protect your data and the biggest benefit from this is that nobody can corrupt it. If you move information over a network without encryption, you are endangering it, m...

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Considering that there is a free version of MySQL, would you invest in one of the paid editions?

I may be considered a MySQL veteran since I have been using it since before Oracle bought it and created paid versions. So back in my day, it was all free, it was open-source and the best among sim...

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What is one thing you would improve with MySQL?

One thing I would improve related to MySQL is not within the product itself, but with the guides to it. Before, when it was free, everyone was on their own, seeking tutorials and how-to videos onli...

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Comparisons

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 33% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 19% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 17% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 14% of the time

IBM Informix vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 2% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

Firebird SQL vs MySQL

Compared 28% of the time

PostgreSQL vs MySQL

Compared 16% of the time

SAP HANA vs MySQL

Compared 8% of the time

MariaDB vs MySQL

Compared 6% of the time

SQLite vs MySQL

Compared 2% of the time

More MySQL Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

March 2025

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Buyer's Guide

MySQL

March 2025

Download MySQL product report

Also Known As

DB2

No data available

Overview

DB2 Enterprise for Linux, UNIX, and Windows is the ideal data server for the most demanding workloads. New XML support is designed to help firms minimize the time and effort it takes to persist and use their XML data reducing development costs and improving business agility.

IBM

MySQL is a cost-efficient and scalable relational database management system widely used in web, mobile applications, and academic projects.

MySQL is utilized for backend operations, data analysis, reporting, financial transactions, and ERP databases. It supports deployment on local servers, Cloud, and Kubernetes. Its free, open-source nature along with strong community support make it popular among companies. MySQL's compatibility with multiple platforms and programming languages enhances its appeal. While it remains stable and easy to use, areas such as replication, clustering, and backup require improvement to better serve enterprise applications. Enhanced security, error messages, and monitoring tools are also desired for a better user experience.

What are the most important features of MySQL?

Free and Open-Source: No licensing costs, perfect for budget-conscious projects.
Compatibility: Works with multiple platforms and programming languages.
High Performance: Efficient performance across large datasets.
Scalability: Easily scales to meet growing business needs.
Clustering and Replication: Ensures data availability and redundancy.
Easy Installation: Quick setup process on various operating systems.
Community Support: Extensive resources and community assistance.
Cross-Platform: Operates seamlessly on different operating systems.
Data Management Interface: Simplifies data handling and manipulation.

What are the benefits of using MySQL?

Cost Efficiency: Reduce expenses with a free, open-source database.
Scalability: Adapt to increasing data demands effortlessly.
Performance: Handle large datasets with ease and speed.
Community Support: Access a vast pool of knowledge and resources.
Flexibility: Integrate with various platforms and languages for diverse use cases.
Data Reliability: Clustering and replication for high data availability.

In multiple industries, MySQL supports internal applications, billing systems, academic teaching purposes, and ERP databases. Companies leverage MySQL for Cloud and local deployments, ensuring effective data manipulation and backend operations in diverse projects. Its role in financial transactions and reporting further emphasizes its versatility.

Oracle

Sample Customers

Knorr-Bremse, Mizuho Bank Ltd., Australian Government Department of Defence, SCHWENK Zement, Friedhelm Loh Group, YAZAKI Europe Limited, Ekornes ASA, Baldor Electric, VSN Systemen BV, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, PLANSEE Group, TE Connectivity, Hansgrohe SE, Openmatics, University of Toronto

Facebook, Tumblr, Scholastic, MTV Networks, Wikipedia, Verizon Wireless, Sage Group, Glassfish Open Message Queue, and RightNow Technologies.

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. MySQL

March 2025

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database vs. MySQL

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