MySQL was open-source at the beginning until Oracle acquired it in 2010. I started working with MySQL because I was an Oracle expert, having worked for Oracle for eight years. That's why I added MySQL to my skills as an administrator. MySQL is a powerful database engine that is easy to install, manage, and work with. It's ideal for fast application deployment and is cost-effective as well.
Database and Middleware Technical Head at Riyadh Municipality
Open-source solution to store data of hardware servers and their configurations
Pros and Cons
- "I recommend another solution for large data, like billions of records."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
MySQL is for metadata and data. My organization has used it to store data about hardware servers and their configurations, including network and storage configurations. MySQL is an RDBMS engine, so it can be used for any business application.
What is most valuable?
MySQL has a straightforward installation process, is lightweight, and easy to manage. Compared to its competitors, it is more accessible and user-friendly. While competitors like Oracle are known for their extensive features, they are often more complex to install, configure, and maintain, requiring experts to manage them, which can be costly. MySQL, now owned by Oracle, may not have the same feature set as Oracle's flagship database, but it is simple to install, manage, and cost-effective. MySQL is a viable option that can be enhanced with additional features, making it reliable for small to medium-scale applications and capable of effectively handling substantial amounts of data.
What needs improvement?
MySQL is now in a real application cluster. In terms of high availability, MySQL can be configured for active-active or as a real application cluster.
Buyer's Guide
MySQL
September 2026
Learn what your peers think about MySQL. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2026.
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For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using MySQL for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
When MySQL is involved in the metadata, it never gets down. It's very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's secure. MySQL supports large databases that can contain nearly fifty million records. It also supports up to sixty-four indexes per table.
How are customer service and support?
They provide 24/7 support. It provides faster resolution and identification.
How was the initial setup?
It is very easy to install and takes an hour to complete.
I rate the initial setup a ten out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is open-source and supported by Oracle.
What other advice do I have?
Oracle occupies it, so Oracle added more security features, such as password system improvements, host-based verification, and encryption, to the MySQL engine. It's developed and managed by a big company, and they keep adding new features.
I recommend another solution for large data, like billions of records. However, MySQL is a good option for data up to about fifty million records.
Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Software Engineer / Team Lead at Techfriar
Supports Laravel PHP framework, but we need to define every table beforehand
Pros and Cons
- "MySQL is the best option for the Laravel PHP framework."
- "In MySQL, we need to define every table beforehand."
What is our primary use case?
We use MySQL in multiple projects for storing, task management apps, and dating apps.
What is most valuable?
MySQL is the best option for the Laravel PHP framework. It supports multiple model systems, and it's very easy to call MySQL compared to other languages like MongoDB. I prefer MySQL for the Laravel PHP framework.
The solution's security features depend on where we host our server and database. We have some preventive measures to reduce attacks. We have taken authentication and only allow a particular IP address.
What needs improvement?
In MySQL, we need to define every table beforehand.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using MySQL for four to five years.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In MySQL, we need to define every table beforehand. However, we don't need to do so in MongoDB. We can add a new row or column in MongoDB anytime, making it much easier. If you purchase MongoDB's plan, it supports many security features, and you don't need to check about security. They will handle everything.
How was the initial setup?
The solution’s initial setup is very easy. For the first time, the solution's implementation will take some time. However, you can use it multiple times after you configure it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
MySQL is a cheap solution.
What other advice do I have?
Maintaining the database is a task. We take a weekly backup for each database so that we can upload it to the server if anything happens to the data. We created a cron job so that the data can be taken and then uploaded to a specific space so that we can go back to the particular big data whenever we want. I prefer MongoDB for scalability because it's much easier to maintain MongoDB.
Just one person is enough to maintain the solution. The solution has good documentation available on Google.
Overall, I rate the solution six and a half out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
MySQL
September 2026
Learn what your peers think about MySQL. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2026.
914,394 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Lead Data Analyst at Ernst & Young
Easy to use, code is easy to write and understand
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is easy."
- "The user interface could be more user friendly. Mainly because most of the times we see black and white digital lines. Something like Python."
What is our primary use case?
I don't use MySQL extensively, but I use the code within MySQL for preparing some reports and all that.
What is most valuable?
Code is easy to write and code, it's easy to understand. That's why it's widely used. The queries are very easy to understand and [write the] code. For coding, it's very easy.
What needs improvement?
The user interface could be more user friendly. Mainly because most of the times we see black and white digital lines. Something like Python.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for three years. I have been using it since 2021.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I haven't experienced any bad things.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is widely adopted in our company. We have around 60% of our total employees using it.
How are customer service and support?
We have an internal support team. We usually connect to them, and they will resolve the issue. We don't need to connect to the MySQL team directly.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not very difficult. It's easy only.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is not much expensive, it's cheap only.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend it. For beginners, it is pretty much easier compared to other tools. The queries are very similar and easy to learn in a short span of time.
For beginners, it is very easy to use. It would be something easy to learn. It is a perfect tool for beginners.
Overall, I would rate the solution a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Back End Developer at Agnos Inc.
Easy to use and can be used to store data
Pros and Cons
- "MySQL is an easy-to-use solution that provides stability, reliability, flexibility, performance, security, and high availability."
- "MySQL could introduce more indexing strategies."
What is our primary use case?
MySQL is an open-source relational database management system used to store data.
What is most valuable?
MySQL is an easy-to-use solution that provides stability, reliability, flexibility, performance, security, and high availability.
What needs improvement?
MySQL could introduce more indexing strategies. There are a couple of strategies where you can index things to be more searchable and visible. We lack that kind of functionality. For example, if your name is indexed correctly with a certain strategy, it can improve the search results faster. The solution’s interface could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using MySQL for my entire career.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
MySQL is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
MySQL is a scalable solution.
How was the initial setup?
The solution’s initial setup is easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
MySQL is a free and open-source solution.
What other advice do I have?
MySQL is deployed on the cloud in our organization. Big companies like Netflix, Uber, and Facebook use the solution. Since MySQL is an old product, many people might have faced similar issues, posted them online, and got a resolution. MySQL's performance and scalability features have supported our database growth.
New users can follow the documentation to use the solution, as it is straightforward. You need to be very clear about why you want to use the solution. MySQL is a relational database management system that cannot be used as a dynamic database management system.
MySQL is generally faster and more efficient than other relational database management systems. Hence, it is our preferred choice for applications that require high performance.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
CEO at csm
Good service provider, agile and quick deployment
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup was easy. I work in an agile way, which means coding and deploying quickly."
- "MySQL's performance requires attention. For optimal performance, one should review and sometimes revise the code, particularly when using server-side scripting."
What is our primary use case?
I've used MySQL in the past for a variety of tasks.
I once used MySQL when I created a PostgreSQL database for club management tasks. This included handling registrations, events, and mailing notifications for payments and event details. It served as a source service provider.
What is most valuable?
What needs improvement?
The response time for support could be faster.
MySQL's performance requires attention. For optimal performance, one should review and sometimes revise the code, particularly when using server-side scripting. To optimize performance, it's crucial to pay attention to your code. Sometimes, you may need to review your code to ensure it's efficient and doesn't unnecessarily access the database multiple times.
The performance issues I encountered were not due to MySQL itself but were related to my coding approach.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using MySQL for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
For my use case, it is okay. Basically, it's just me for development. Previously, all clients or members of the club accessed it. When there was an event, maybe 30 to 40 people would try to access the system simultaneously.
I'm using SiteGround for hosting the website and its servers. I've chosen a package with more than enough CPU and memory to avoid trouble.
How are customer service and support?
I've used technical support for several times. Most of the time, it was quite okay with quick responses. Once, I had performance issues. It took some time to convince them, but they guided me on improving performance by changing some database functions in MySQL. It was a longer process, but it was eventually resolved.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was easy. I work in an agile way, which means coding and deploying quickly. We had a few internal users but many external users accessing the website, though not the back office.
The back office was developed over years. It's not just about having an idea and executing it; it's more about testing and adapting the process, unlike the waterfall method, where you end up with something that may not be immediately usable.
What about the implementation team?
As the main user, our deployment process wasn't as strict as in a big company. I conducted tests, had a testing process with use cases to review, and then deployed. It was less rigid than in larger companies, where there are separate testing and development environments.
What was our ROI?
I have seen value and impact from using MySQL
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't pay for a license.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
With my previous employer, we used Oracle.
What other advice do I have?
Don't just use MySQL on its own. Always use it with other software around it. MySQL is very stable, but pay attention to the software you use with it, whether you develop everything from scratch or use open-source systems like CMS.
Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten. I would recommend using the solution.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Executive Officer at Midland Bank Plc
Robust relational database management system offering flexibility and efficient data management for diverse applications
Pros and Cons
- "The installation process for the most scalable solution is remarkably quick, taking only a short amount of time."
- "While utilizing a comparable algorithm, is noted to be sensitive, especially when configuring the inner device."
What is our primary use case?
We use it for building web applications and managing data.
How has it helped my organization?
It is quite efficient and performs well, especially when compared to MSCS. While traditional scaling methods can occasionally lead to slowdowns, I haven't encountered similar performance issues with MySQL scaling.
What is most valuable?
The installation process for the most scalable solution is remarkably quick, taking only a short amount of time. While restoration may theoretically take longer, I've achieved rapid setup with my system, often within a minute.
What needs improvement?
While utilizing a comparable algorithm, is noted to be sensitive, especially when configuring the inner device. If DCDR is not properly recovered from NDC, it can lead to system slowdowns. There is a need for enhancements in the InnoDB cluster, specifically the capability to support more than two nodes in MySQL. Additionally, the inclusion of data nodes would be a valuable improvement. For users new to the system, it might pose a bit of a learning curve.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with it for one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate its stability capabilities eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
When facing support issues with your server, the level of assistance is generally high. However, in certain technical support instances, when issues are raised and a ticket is generated, the support team sometimes provides a link for further information. From a customer perspective, this approach is not ideal, especially when dealing with critical problems such as database downtimes. The expectation is for more direct and personalized support rather than reliance on knowledge-base resources in urgent situations.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I utilize Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) and MySQL for most of my databases. However, there are certain limitations in the new versions that impact support for certain functionalities. Due to these limitations, I have turned to MySQL as an alternative.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward. I would rate it eight out of ten.
What about the implementation team?
The deployment process, which took an hour, involves understanding various versions, especially the enterprise version, and confirming compatibility with the required features. Installation includes accessing the Oracle site, downloading MySQL, and dealing with complex considerations due to multiple business packages. Challenges may arise during the download of the DVD packet, requiring a careful assessment of the business needs for MySQL installation. The subsequent steps involve uploading MySQL VPN, reinstalling, and following a step-by-step approach, taking about five minutes. Despite the relatively swift deployment, managing dependencies and collecting necessary packets can be time-consuming and pose challenges for users. Maintenance requires only one person, especially if that person has knowledge of system administration. However, incorporating a software manager or other managing tools can be beneficial. Configuring and monitoring these tools doesn't necessarily require constant attention solely from the individual responsible for maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is an open source platform. While the free version of MySQL offers comprehensive features, it does come with limitations.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Data Solution Architect at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
Great cluster setup; works fine on the technical side
Pros and Cons
- "The way that MySQL has improved my organization is that it comes free and also works fine on the technical side."
- "The integration with other systems can be improved as can the integration between other databases."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for MySQL is for our internally-built system. When our developers are doing the assistance, usually we provision them with the MySQL driver.
How has it helped my organization?
The way that MySQL has improved my organization is that it comes free and also works fine on the technical side.
What is most valuable?
The feature I found most valuable was the cluster setup.
What needs improvement?
The integration with other systems can be improved as can the integration between other databases. We have a workaround to integrate it with other systems but that can be improved.
In the next release, I would like to see better day-to-day support in case we face any issues.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using MySQL since 2008.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability of this solution an eight, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best. We have a team of three DBAs supporting and maintaining this product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability of this solution an eight, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best. I believe MySQL very scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate the technical support an eight, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
I would rate the initial setup process a nine, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best. I would say that this process has been quite easy.
The deployment of this solution was done by an in-house team and it took around 30 minutes to one hour.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate the pricing of this solution a two, on a scale from one to 10, with one being not expensive and 10 being very expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to other people.
Overall, I would rate MySQL solution a nine, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Sr. Tech Systems Architect at Intuitive
Free, open-source, and easy to use
Pros and Cons
- "MySQL has cross-platform support for multiple operating systems. The backups on a Linux machine can be restored on a Windows machine, and vice versa."
- "Improvements are required in character set support, scalability, and big data sets."
What is our primary use case?
The primary use case for MySQL is to develop web applications, proof of concept projects with data collection, data manipulation, and data reporting on both Windows and Linux platforms.
We also use MySQL to store the data that we receive from different projects and build data models. We can also develop reports out of it.
MySQL is used for small application use only and not used for enterprise-level business applications.
MSQL is free open-source software. This is the most valuable aspect for any company as it helps to reduce the cost.
How has it helped my organization?
MySQL is easy to use and, with basic knowledge of SQL, users can easily build SQL Statements. It helps to reduce project cost for development projects. It also supports a large number of embedded applications.
The backup and recovery features are easy to use without any complexity. Users who don’t have much knowledge of databases can easily use these features.
MySQL offers password encryption and offers a good data security layer to protect data.
MySQL platform independence helps the development and user community.
What is most valuable?
MySQL is a relational database and it is easy to install, handle day-to-day activities, and manage backups. It is compatible with a lot of other shared database solutions.
MySQL Workbench is the graphical user interface tool and it helps with development, data modeling, data migration, and day-to-day administration.
MySQL has cross-platform support for multiple operating systems. The backups on a Linux machine can be restored on a Windows machine, and vice versa.
MySQL supports multiple window displays and it is useful for developers and users who don’t have much database knowledge.
What needs improvement?
Improvements are required in character set support, scalability, and big data sets.
There is a lack of advanced features such as SQLServer, PostgreSQL, etc. I would like to see minimum reporting services and analytics features in the next release.
MySQL doesn't have many tools to monitor performance and fix issues easily.
The graphical user interface needs to be improved. It would be nice to have drag and drop on tables to create relationships between them. Other relational databases have these basic features. It helps during development to have these on hand.
It needs improvement in high availability and scalability features.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for more than ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
MySQL is good for small to medium sizes. Also, it has built-in security features.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is good.
How are customer service and support?
The support may be limited for users who are not on cloud and needs improvement.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not previously use a different solution.
How was the initial setup?
MySQL is easy to setup and offers HA and scalability features.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented the solution in-house.
What was our ROI?
Its free open source availability provides good ROI. MySQL commercial version cost is higher than other open source databases.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
MySQL is free open-source software. This is the most valuable aspect for any company.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We looked at an SQL Server and Mongo DB.
What other advice do I have?
It supports wide range of languages and cross-platform support. Also the newer versions of MySQL offers lot of new features.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Product Lifecycle Management Consultant at CPV industrial Solutions
Enhanced data handling and seamless integration for efficient project management
Pros and Cons
- "The ML modules in MySQL are advantageous since they make data handling easy and quick at MNQM."
- "MySQL has some unique exchange problems when it comes to migration projects."
What is our primary use case?
I have worked on migration projects between Power BI on Microsoft and SAP modules, which involve exchanging databases from Power BI on Microsoft to SAP modules.
Additionally, I have been involved in integration projects as a MySQL developer using Oracle SQL databases.
How has it helped my organization?
MySQL has facilitated the migration projects to SAP modules from Microsoft Power BI, easing database exchange. The integration is smoother and more efficient, which has been beneficial for handling various projects.
What is most valuable?
The ML modules in MySQL are advantageous since they make data handling easy and quick at MNQM. I have a lot of experience with QA test sections on MySQL, and it aids in connecting with third-party programs effortlessly due to its adaptation capabilities.
What needs improvement?
MySQL has some unique exchange problems when it comes to migration projects. The product could improve in terms of security, though not necessarily when compared to Azure. It can be improved in areas related to database exchange during migration projects.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have five years of experience with MySQL.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
MySQL is stable and continuously improves concerning databases. It is advantageous for projects in this area.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability in MySQL involves unique troubleshooting for every project that differs according to database exchanges. You can solve scalability issues easily if you possess strong SQL skills.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support from Oracle for MySQL is very good. They are really good at providing support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have experience with Oracle SQL and have not used Microsoft SQL. MySQL and PostgreSQL are the tools I currently work with.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for MySQL took about one and a half hours, and only one person was required for the installation.
What was our ROI?
Cost-saving is not a significant concern, but focusing on project details is crucial. The project details provide exchangeable areas that can lead to cost savings.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing for MySQL is slightly expensive, especially in unique projects for sectors like automotive and pharmaceuticals. Despite this, it is preferable for special projects due to its unique offerings.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have experience with Oracle SQL and PostgreSQL.
What other advice do I have?
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Data Analyst at KPMG East Africa
Easy to manage, saves time, and provides good documentation
Pros and Cons
- "SKIP LOCKED is a valuable feature."
- "The full-text search feature must be improved."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution for personal use cases like software development, mostly database bug systems.
How has it helped my organization?
I used the tool to build our website. It is used as a database to store information.
What is most valuable?
SKIP LOCKED is a valuable feature. It prevents us from deleting things we put in the database. It's mostly for background jobs in the software development site in MySQL 8. It is a new feature. The solution easily integrates with other tools and systems in our IT environment.
What needs improvement?
The full-text search feature must be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for the past three weeks.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the tool’s stability an eight out of ten. We can create a database user schema. It's quite easy to update and remove in case anything happens. Backing up is quite easy. We have security features for the backup.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I’m the only user in my organization.
How are customer service and support?
The product provides good documentation online.
How was the initial setup?
It is easy to deploy the product. I deployed it on my own. The deployment took an hour. We deploy the product using Kamal. It uses Docker. The tool is deployed on the cloud. To deploy the solution, we just have to enter the password in the server and deploy it. It wasn't much of a hassle.
What was our ROI?
The tool is easy to manage and saves us time. It has much less complications.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We're using the community version. The tool is open source.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I also use PostgreSQL.
What other advice do I have?
The tool helps us get the job done. It is not very complex. Overall, I rate the product a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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