IBM Db2 Database vs MariaDB comparison

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IBM Db2 Database

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

IBM Db2 and MariaDB compete in the database management systems category. Db2 stands out due to advanced SQL capabilities and enterprise integration, while MariaDB's open-source model and ease of use give it an upper hand for those seeking cost-effective solutions.

Features: IBM Db2's advanced SQL dialect supports complex queries and data structures, providing multi-platform support and enhanced performance. It includes robust security features and integration with IBM tools, adding value for enterprise users. Db2 also offers self-tuning capabilities and Java language support. MariaDB offers strong replication modes, simple deployment, and is known for its reliability in cloud-based applications. Its open-source nature makes it an economical choice for businesses looking for high performance without complex licensing.

Room for Improvement: IBM Db2 could improve cloud integration and user interface modernization, addressing its steep learning curve and complex licensing. MariaDB needs to enhance management tools, stabilize clustered environments, and expand scalability and analytics integration, improving its overall enterprise capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Db2 boasts solid performance on-premises and in private clouds, though users face a steep learning curve, and support receives mixed reviews. MariaDB is favored for its straightforward deployment across different environments, though its technical support is less extensive compared to IBM.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Db2's intricate licensing and costs are balanced by long-term ROI, offering good value for robust data management needs. Despite being considered costly, it is seen as less expensive than Oracle when factoring features. MariaDB provides a competitive edge with its open-source model, offering affordability and simplicity, making it appealing to small and medium-sized businesses.

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

IBM Db2 Database vs. MariaDB

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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

MariaDB

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

5th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Open Source Databases (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.0%, up from 6.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MariaDB is 7.2%, down from 9.2% 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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KumarManish

Senior Technical Manager at Johnson Controls, Inc.

Easy to deploy, cost-effective, and integrates seamlessly with other products

We had planned for an RDBMS version and not NoSQL. We use MariaDB Galera Cluster. It's a good product. It is cheap, scalable, performs well, and is efficient. We use GCP’s BigQuery for machine learning. We must follow the best practices of the tool. We missed some best practices like the storage engine and InnoDB. It was very difficult to identify why we were having performance issues. Then, we realized that some of our tables were still on MyISAM, the default storage engine. When we switched it back to the InnoDB, it was very smooth. InnoDB is the recommended one. We must follow the best practices given in the documentation during the initial setup. Overall, I rate the product a nine out of ten.

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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

"The solution is very stable, in both hardware and database."

"Reliable, robust with great features."

"The stability of IBM Db2 Database is stable. We have not faced any downtime in one year. Our work is mostly during business hours and during that time, we haven't faced any downtime."

"I like that its true active-active. For example, if there are two instances within a cluster, we can take one of them down and there's no failover or switch over. There's no primary and secondary, it's true active-active. We can take one side down and we can upgrade that with new maintenance or a new version, obviously testing coexistence beforehand, without impacting the business."

"Db2 Database has given us good results since we have started to use it. We predominantly use IBM hardware, and this is one of the reasons why we started to use Db2 Database. Db2 Database has a very good HADR capability. High availability resilience is also good in this solution. It also has pureScale, which allows you to upgrade one node to get very good and high-level resilience. If you are using a database on five nodes, you can take one node down, upgrade that, and let that node up. You can then bring the second node down, upgrade that, and so on."

"IBM Db2 was much cheaper as a package than using other products. This is because IBM supplied a package with its product. It's an application. So it was much more efficient and a stronger competitor in that regard."

"The performance of the solution is valuable."

"It's easy to search and extract data from the warehouse using queries."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"Installation is straightforward."

"What I like best about MariaDB is that it is open-source and reliable."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is the query speed it offers."

"From the user's perspective, the performance of the columnar queries is very good in terms of the database when comparing it to the Oracle, and MySQL."

"For non-production purposes. I'm just using it for my personal project, so it works quite well. I haven't faced any errors yet."

"We like the easy way that we can collect data from other databases."

"The product has been stable and reliable."

"The most valuable feature of MariaDB is that it is open-source and we can easily migrate from other databases, such as Oracle to MariaDB."

More MariaDB pros

Cons

"IBM Db2 Database could improve the user-defined functions. There are some user-defined functions that are missing, such as the spring functions. I used to have Teradata for my projects and I was used to working in the environment. They had a good set of user-defined functions."

"Also, the website could be more intuitive. I didn't find it easy to find documentation on the website."

"They could enhance the product's cloud integration and general-purpose database capabilities."

"The initial set up was complex."

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

"The technical support team is not very good when compared to the efficiency of Oracle's support."

"The product needs to improve its configuration and storage."

"The solution's UI hasn't been upgraded. The solution’s UI is an area to improve because the solution was developed long ago."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"The PL/SQL performance is slow if you have big batch jobs running overnight."

"It would be good if they can maybe improve the mass import in the database. Currently, for importing a large number of data, we create a CSV file and upload all the things in the system. The system does not activate them by default. We have to do this manually. This may be due to the version we are using, but this is something we would like to see improved."

"Could have more integration with user platforms."

"The features available are very basic."

"The interface should be more user-friendly. It should be able to connect directly to the database and Interact with it without having to use commands. It needs better integration."

"It should work across all fields like SQLite, as it is the basis of any application, even apps for phones and the like."

"A well-known issue for a lot of different users is associated with write-intensive applications."

"MariaDB can improve by adding more features. There are a lot of features, which are available in Oracle, and which are not available in MariaDB. We hope they will introduce the features soon."

More MariaDB cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's very expensive."

"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."

"It's very expensive for West African countries like ours."

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

"Compared to Oracle, it is so much cheaper."

"The solution costs less than other products."

"It is expensive."

"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"The price of this solution represents a very good compromise between the cost and what it offers."

"I used the open-source version, which is available free of charge."

"When it comes to MariaDB, it should have a more cost-effective license."

"The cost is quite good. You can have the open source, free version, which has adequate capacity."

"It is an open-source solution."

"The tool is open-source."

"It's an open-source solution."

"We pay for a yearly license."

More MariaDB pricing and cost advice

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Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Relational Databases Tools solutions are best for your needs.

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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

11%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

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.

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.

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.

What do you like most about MariaDB?

The integration with other products is seamless.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for MariaDB?

I have found the price of commercial MariaDB to be pretty steep, although not as high as Oracle. Customers often prefer the Community Edition because it's free.

What needs improvement with MariaDB?

The only potential area for improvement could be the pricing model, which might benefit from being more flexible or a bit cheaper.

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

Comparisons

Compared 32% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 18% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 17% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 13% of the time

Vertica vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 1% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

SQL Server vs MariaDB

Compared 25% of the time

Firebird SQL vs MariaDB

Compared 22% of the time

PostgreSQL vs MariaDB

Compared 13% of the time

Oracle Database vs MariaDB

Compared 10% of the time

SurrealDB vs MariaDB

Compared 1% of the time

More MariaDB Competitors

Product Reports

IBM Db2 Database

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Download MariaDB 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

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.

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.”

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

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

IBM Db2 Database vs. MariaDB