MySQL vs SQLite comparison

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MySQL

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 23, 2025

SQLite and MySQL are both database solutions that compete in the category of relational database management systems. MySQL seems to have the upper hand due to its scalability and advanced features suited for complex applications, whereas SQLite is ideal for smaller, more lightweight needs.

Features: SQLite offers simplicity, a zero-configuration setup, and minimal resource usage, which makes it extremely useful for mobile apps, and small to medium-sized applications. MySQL is equipped with advanced features like high performance for handling complex queries, a variety of storage engines, and high concurrency support, making it perfect for large-scale applications.

Room for Improvement: SQLite could enhance its support for more complex multi-user environments and offer better scalability options. Strengthening data security features and increasing concurrency capacity would make it more attractive for larger applications. MySQL could improve its initial setup process to be more user-friendly for beginners, reduce its resource consumption in smaller environments, and simplify its licensing options to appeal to a broader user base.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SQLite offers an easy deployment process with no external dependencies, making it extremely quick to implement. MySQL, requiring a dedicated server and extra configuration, involves a more complex setup but offers comprehensive customer support options.

Pricing and ROI: SQLite, being open-source, involves no initial cost, providing excellent ROI for projects with limited budgets. MySQL, also open-source but with optional enterprise-level features, may entail additional costs, yet its advanced capabilities can deliver significant ROI for enterprises needing robust data solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed MySQL vs. SQLite Report (Updated: March 2025).

MySQL vs. SQLite

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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

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)

SQLite

Ranking in Open Source Databases

11th

Average Rating

7.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Embedded Database (2nd)

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 SQLite is 4.4%, up from 4.0% 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.

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Neeraj Tiwari

Student at Queens University Belfast

Pretty easy to execute my SQL queries but issues while uploading and importing my dataset

It was a bit easy to use compared to other tools. It's simple. I found it pretty easy to execute my SQL queries. Since I was a beginner, it was comfortable for me to learn SQL using SQLite. However, when I used it for my professional work and for my assignments, I found some complications. Maybe I'm not proficient with it, that's why. The main benefit for me was learning. Since I was new to SQL, SQLite helped me understand how to work with structured data.

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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

"What I've been most pleased with is the cost point, performance, and ease of use."

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

"For starters, it's free, which is always nice, and it's also pretty straightforward to use. It's a nice conventional database."

"It has a community version. When I have to create a new database, I have no problems with licenses."

"The tool is open-source and there is no cost involved in its use."

"The solution is free to use, which is its most valuable aspect."

"The way that MySQL has improved my organization is that it comes free and also works fine on the technical side."

"MySQL gives us a very user-friendly workspace in which to query the database."

More MySQL pros

"I haven't encountered any problems in my use cases. So, it has been a stable product for me."

"The product is lightweight and highly scalable."

"I use Flutter Technology with the JSF plugin."

"SQLite’s most valuable feature is the ability to store granular-level backups of databases."

"It was a bit easy to use compared to other tools. It's simple. I found it pretty easy to execute my SQL queries."

"Sometimes, you want data to persist within the app even when there's no internet connectivity. To avoid showing blank screens, we can use SQLite to store data locally and then sync it with the cloud database when connectivity is restored."

Cons

"The licensing cost of the solution is expensive, which MySQL needs to consider improving."

"The documentation is pretty weak and should be improved."

"Sometimes, I get lost in the toggles and buttons, and a better visual design would be nice. The layout is not user-friendly or efficient."

"I did the implementation of the solution myself and I used community support. The support from the vendor costs money."

"We want high availability and replication features, which are currently missing in this solution. It would be great if they can provide an in-built replication feature, similar to Oracle RAC, in MySQL."

"MySQL is not easily scalable on cost effective consumer grade hardware."

"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."

More MySQL cons

"There are some difficulties on the server side. When syncing data with databases like SQL Server or Oracle, SQLite requires a kind of double effort."

"A potential drawback is that the database file stored within the application's local storage could be accessible to users."

"I primarily use SQLite for small-scale applications due to its limitations in storing large amounts of data. For larger-scale projects, I typically opt for MySQL or other alternatives. Storing a large number of dates in SQLite can significantly impact its performance."

"The performance could be better."

"Compared to other tools, the performance was less effective than that of Microsoft Access."

"It could have a user-friendly GUI and better intelligence features."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is not a license required for this solution."

"It is free. It is an open-source platform."

"I would rate the solution’s pricing a six out of ten. The solution is not cheap but it’s a fair value. The pricing depends on the use cases of our customers. Some of our customers use the community edition which is license free and a good fit for their use cases. However, we encourage our bigger customers to sign up because of the scalability issues. The paid versions get direct technical support from Oracle."

"There is a licensing cost because we are going for a proprietary product. There are some other versions for which there is no licensing cost."

"We pay a yearly subscription fee."

"It is open-source."

"We've never bought a commercial license. We just use the open-source community edition."

"MySQL is a cheap solution."

More MySQL pricing and cost advice

"I rate the product’s pricing a six out of ten."

"It's not expensive."

"The tool is open-source."

"It's a good value."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

14%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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...

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...

What do you like most about SQLite?

It was a bit easy to use compared to other tools. It's simple. I found it pretty easy to execute my SQL queries.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SQLite?

It is not expensive.

What needs improvement with SQLite?

There were some complications. For example, you have to upload the dataset into SQLite, and once it's uploaded, you might find difficulties working with it.

Oracle Berkeley DB vs SQLite

Comparisons

Firebird SQL vs MySQL

Compared 28% of the time

PostgreSQL vs MySQL

Compared 16% of the time

SAP HANA vs MySQL

Compared 8% of the time

MariaDB vs MySQL

Compared 6% of the time

SurrealDB vs MySQL

Compared 2% of the time

More MySQL Competitors

Firebird SQL vs SQLite

Compared 48% of the time

DuckDB vs SQLite

Compared 8% of the time

LanceDB vs SQLite

Compared 8% of the time

MariaDB vs SQLite

Compared 6% of the time

Compared 6% of the time

More SQLite Competitors

Product Reports

MySQL

Download MySQL product report

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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

SQLite is an open-source, serverless, reliable, and flexible, SQL database engine. It is particularly favored in the realm of embedded database solutions and small to medium-sized projects. Unlike traditional database systems that operate on a client-server model, SQLite is a serverless database engine, meaning it runs directly within the application it powers. This unique architecture makes SQLite an ideal choice for applications where simplicity, efficiency, and minimal configuration are paramount.

SQLite is an embedded database engine, which means it operates directly within the application that uses it, without requiring a separate server process. It is designed to be cross-platform, supporting multiple operating systems, and is is compatible with a wide range of programming languages, such as C, C++, Python, Java, and more. This makes it highly portable and suitable for a wide range of applications, from mobile devices to desktop software and web applications.

The key advantages of SQLite is its reliability, the lightweight nature and efficient performance. It has a small footprint, typically requiring only a few megabytes of disk space, and can operate entirely in memory if needed. It is designed to be reliable and robust, with built-in features such as atomic commit and rollback, which ensure data integrity even in the event of system crashes or power failures. Finally, the SQLite solution requires no configuration or setup, making it easy to use and deploy. It can be embedded directly into applications without the need for complex installation or configuration procedures.

SQLite Functionality

SQL Compliance: SQLite supports a substantial portion of the SQL standard, including features like transactions, triggers, views, and indexes.
File-based Storage: SQLite stores its entire database as a single cross-platform file on the host machine's file system.
ACID Compliance: SQLite fully supports ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) transactions, ensuring data consistency and integrity in concurrent access scenarios.

SQLite is an open-source project distributed under a public domain license, which means it can be used, modified, and distributed freely, without any licensing costs or restrictions.

To summarize, SQLite is widely used in various applications, including web browsers (e.g., Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome), mobile applications (e.g., Android, iOS), embedded systems, and desktop software. Its simplicity, portability, and efficiency make it a popular choice for developers who require a lightweight and reliable database solution, especially in resource-constrained environments or applications with modest data storage needs.

Sample Customers

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

Oracle, Bloomberg, Bentley, Mozilla

MySQL vs. SQLite