Comparison
PostgreSQL vs MySQL
Two mature open source relational databases. The difference is in SQL features, extensibility and ecosystem.
| Aspect | PostgreSQL | MySQL |
|---|---|---|
| SQL features | Rich: CTEs, window functions, partial indexes, JSONB, arrays | Sufficient, 8.0 added CTEs and window functions, a narrower set |
| Extensibility | Strong: PostGIS, pgvector, TimescaleDB, custom types | Limited: storage engine plugins, few extensions at PostGIS level |
| Concurrency | MVCC, VACUUM needs tuning on large tables | MVCC in InnoDB with undo log, less table bloat to manage |
| Replication | Streaming and logical, built in | Mature and common for read replicas, Group Replication |
| License | PostgreSQL License (permissive) | GPLv2 with a commercial license from Oracle |
| Maintainer | PostgreSQL Global Development Group, independent community | Oracle (the MariaDB fork exists separately) |
| Popularity | Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024: most popular database among developers | Second in the same survey, very common on the web and in WordPress |
| Best for | Complex queries, geo data, vectors, business logic in the DB | Typical web apps, read-heavy workloads, shared hosting ecosystem |
Choose PostgreSQL when
- You need extensions (PostGIS, pgvector) or heavy analytics.
- Strict SQL standard compliance and integrity matter.
- A new system with no hosting constraints.
Choose MySQL when
- The project is already on MySQL or a WordPress/Laravel stack that ships with it.
- The team knows MySQL and its operations well.
- You need hosting where MySQL is the default.
Bottom line
For a new project with no constraints pick PostgreSQL: features and extensions matter more than a small gap in simplicity. MySQL makes sense when it is already in your stack or hosting.
Compared
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