MySQL vs Percona Server comparison

Oracle and Percona are both solutions in the Open Source Databases category. Oracle is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.6, while Percona is ranked #17. Oracle holds a 11.4% mindshare in OSD, compared to Percona’s 1.7% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Oracle users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Percona users who would recommend it.

MySQL

Read 148 MySQL reviews

7,469 Views
5,812 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Percona Server

Read 2 Percona Server reviews

1,133 Views
1,043 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

MySQL

Percona Server

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 23, 2025

MySQL and Percona Server are competitive solutions in the database market. Although MySQL offers a straightforward and widely adopted platform, Percona Server edges ahead with advanced features and superior performance and scalability.

Features: MySQL provides user-friendliness and strong performance for general needs, with key features like data replication and robust security options. Percona Server enhances performance with optimized storage engines and advanced replication, offering flexibility and superior capabilities for developers.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: MySQL is easily deployed and backed by widespread community support, enabling smooth integration. Percona Server demands more technical expertise but offers notable flexibility and scalability, complemented by dedicated support and premium service for complex deployments.

Pricing and ROI: MySQL presents a low-cost entry, appealing to small and medium enterprises with a strong ROI in general cases. Percona Server, while potentially requiring higher initial investment for support and advanced features, ensures significant ROI with enhanced performance and scalability, making it valuable for high-performance environments.

To learn more, read our detailed MySQL vs. Percona Server Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

MySQL vs. Percona Server

April 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 849,475 peers since 2012

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

MySQL

Ranking in Open Source Databases

1st

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

148

Ranking in other categories

Relational Databases Tools (3rd)

Percona Server

Ranking in Open Source Databases

17th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Open Source Databases category, the mindshare of MySQL is 11.4%, down from 18.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Percona Server is 1.7%, down from 3.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Open Source Databases

Featured Reviews

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.

Read full review

Umair Hassan

Database Administrator at Systems Limited

Open-source and free to use with a good community

I would love to see the flashback in Percona MySQL or even in Percona PostgreSQL. It's available in Oracle, the flashback. In Oracle, there's the utility of a flashback. It stores all the information in the tables for a few days. That way, if I accidentally delete my records from the table or I need to check the value of a column or row two days back, I can. If Percona had flashback capabilities, it would be ideal. I would love to see training be easier to find. I had some complications finding the training that Percona provides. It is not displayed on the website. For example, if I want to train myself via a Percona expert through virtual files or through recorded videos or something like that, it's really difficult to find any sort of course. You have to email them first, and they will ask you whether it is for yourself or it is for the corporate sector. The course content should just be readily available and not hidden.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"However, it is easy to scale MySQL using the functions provided with the product."

"This specific version of this MySQL has been battle tested for a long time. Any issues are known issues and we pretty much don't have any problems when they're in production. So it's very stable."

"MySQL's most significant attribute is its capability to create, modify, and maintain databases. This is crucial and advantageous in procedures, such as SOAR. Therefore, all SQL functions are beneficial to any backend developer or developer who requires data storage."

"I like MySQL because of its community."

"I use MySQL for employee service in an OLTP database."

"MySQL is a popular database platform for businesses because it is extremely easy to use."

"The deployment process is pretty fast."

"The initial setup for the SQL database is not complex and it even integrates into the platform. You set up the recipe and then just follow the runbook, the build book. Then it works as long as you follow the procedures."

More MySQL pros

"We find the product mostly stable."

Cons

"The interface could be improved."

"We face certain integration issues, especially when we integrate the database with security solutions like IBM QRadar, which affects database performance."

"Security is a concern. MySQL could have better security features."

"This solution needs to be improved when it comes to working with desktop applications on the developer side."

"The solution could have better integration and security features."

"The GUI could improve to make MySQL better."

"While utilizing a comparable algorithm, is noted to be sensitive, especially when configuring the inner device."

"As for areas that could be improved, the tool is often used as a local database on laptops. But now, we're moving to cloud-based solutions that are more scalable and highly available. I think the tool should offer a cloud database option. This would let users keep a local copy of data if needed, but also have their data available across different regions through a cloud account."

More MySQL cons

"If Percona had flashback capabilities, it would be ideal."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"When you know the setup will continue to grow, make sure you have the paid support."

"The tool is open source."

"We are using the licensed version of MySQL."

"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."

"It has a community version."

"It is an open source platform."

"The tool is open source."

"MySQL is free."

More MySQL pricing and cost advice

Information not available

See which vendors are best for you

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

See recommendations

849,475 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

24%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

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...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

Comparisons

Firebird SQL vs MySQL

Compared 28% of the time

PostgreSQL vs MySQL

Compared 15% of the time

SAP HANA vs MySQL

Compared 8% of the time

MariaDB vs MySQL

Compared 6% of the time

IBM Db2 Database vs MySQL

Compared 2% of the time

More MySQL Competitors

MariaDB vs Percona Server

Compared 36% of the time

PostgreSQL vs Percona Server

Compared 24% of the time

EDB Postgres Advanced Server vs Percona Server

Compared 11% of the time

More Percona Server Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

MySQL

April 2025

Download MySQL product report

Buyer's Guide

Open Source Databases

April 2025

Download Percona Server product report

Overview

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

Percona Server for MySQL is a free, fully compatible, enhanced, open source drop-in replacement for MySQL that provides good performance, scalability and instrumentation. With over 3,000,000 downloads, Percona Server for MySQL's self-tuning algorithms and support for extremely high-performance hardware delivers excellent performance and reliability.

Percona

Sample Customers

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

Pricefalls Marketplace, Micpoint, Rent the Runway, Transmart, Wattpad, Singular Group, Invoca, 3E

Buyer's Guide

MySQL vs. Percona Server

April 2025

Free Report: MySQL vs. Percona Server

Find out what your peers are saying about MySQL vs. Percona Server and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

849,475 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our MySQL vs. Percona Server report.

See our list of best Open Source Databases vendors.

We monitor all Open Source Databases reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.