Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

IBM Informix vs MySQL comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

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 Informix
Ranking in Relational Databases Tools
18th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
16
Ranking in other categories
Embedded Database (9th)
MySQL
Ranking in Relational Databases Tools
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
149
Ranking in other categories
Open Source Databases (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Informix is 1.8%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MySQL is 8.4%, down from 8.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Relational Databases Tools
 

Featured Reviews

Nazzareno Maria Rezzini - PeerSpot reviewer
Supports multiple business intelligence tools, but the technical support services need improvement
IBM Informix is a central database solution across various environments, supporting multiple applications and business intelligence tools The key areas for improvement revolve around understanding the current customer trends and demands, particularly in software and database requirements. The…
Muzzamil  Hussain - PeerSpot reviewer
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.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The initial setup is pretty easy."
"It supports in-house-built applications in .NET and VB6"
"It supports multiple applications and business intelligence tools."
"The stability is incredible. I have customers with uptimes of several years."
"Every version is faster than the previous."
"Replication is a valuable feature and easy to use."
"This solution has made financial reporting possible by allowing financial people the opportunity to set Informix to "Auto Pilot" so that they can attend other duties."
"Replication, all levels of replication, query charting, and the MongoDB embedded are the most valuable features of this solution."
"The ML modules in MySQL are advantageous since they make data handling easy and quick at MNQM."
"The solution is very stable."
"We use it as a data store and from that perspective, we get everything we need."
"It is a stable solution."
"It is pretty simple to use and I don't have anything really bad to say about it."
"We use the basic features of MySQL. The interface that allows us to see the parameters of the server is good."
"I would use MySQL for a medium project, with around 1,00,000 hundred thousand users, because of the indexing and stored procedures."
"This is a lightweight product that is not demanding on the resources, which is what I think gives it the edge."
 

Cons

"The solution really doesn't add new features very often."
"This product could be made easier to use for beginners."
"The pricing is a bit expensive."
"The technical support services need substantial improvement."
"The support team could include local engineers to establish efficient communication. It will help us speed up the escalation process."
"In my opinion, the packages could be improved. The version I use doesn't allow for packages. I can do some general procedures, but no packages like in Oracle. So, develop separate modules in SQL language. This would be most beneficial for me."
"This solution is in need of more current tools."
"I would like to see backups from secondary servers."
"There should be an arrangement for end-users to get trained to use the tool...Improvement-wise, a graphical interface could be added for new users, eliminating the need to memorize the complex syntax."
"Stability needs improvement and the backup needs to be enhanced."
"We have encountered some performance issues, and the solution takes time for performing complex queries."
"MySQL tutorials and guides could be improved. Often they are too complex for someone with no database experience to understand."
"The integration with other systems can be improved as can the integration between other databases."
"The user interface could be more user friendly. Mainly because most of the times we see black and white digital lines. Something like Python."
"If it had something similar to Microsoft’s DTS engine then it would be the best database system out there."
"At times, the autoscaling does not happen when there is a surge in load."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am not aware of the licensing costs or terms."
"For me, it's always too expensive."
"The free edition can be enough to handle moderate-size implementations, but you may want a pay for edition to benefit from more functionality, such as replication."
"The product has reasonable pricing. We purchase its yearly license."
"We pay a yearly subscription fee."
"MySQL is very cheap. It could be free. It also has a yearly licensing option."
"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."
"It is free. It is an open-source platform."
"I think that MySQL is a premium product."
"The pricing falls within the moderate range."
"We are using the free version of MySQL. We prefer paying for a yearly license."
"MySQL is a free and open-source solution."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Relational Databases Tools solutions are best for your needs.
850,671 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
58%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Computer Software Company
6%
Retailer
4%
Computer Software Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Educational Organization
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Informix?
It supports multiple applications and business intelligence tools.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Informix?
The product has reasonable pricing. We purchase its yearly license.
What needs improvement with IBM Informix?
The key areas for improvement revolve around understanding the current customer trends and demands, particularly in software and database requirements. The product's performance could be better com...
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...
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...
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...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

Informix
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Shaspa, Hildebrand, Kaifa, Ranhill Powertron, Federaci‹ Farmacutica (FedeFarma), Camden Council, The German Aerospace Center (DLR), Myers, Votorantim Group, Doosan Infracore, GreenIvory
Facebook, Tumblr, Scholastic, MTV Networks, Wikipedia, Verizon Wireless, Sage Group, Glassfish Open Message Queue, and RightNow Technologies.
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Informix vs. MySQL and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
850,671 professionals have used our research since 2012.