All three run well on Linux VPS and dedicated servers. The wrong choice is usually driven by application support, not benchmark charts —
WordPress expects MySQL-compatible SQL; many analytics stacks lean on PostgreSQL features.
Deep dives: secure MariaDB install,
PostgreSQL secure setup, and
mysqldump backups.
Lineage and Compatibility
MariaDB forked from MySQL and remains largely wire-compatible for common apps. PostgreSQL uses its own SQL dialect and client protocol — migrations require planning.
Application Compatibility
Check your CMS or ERP docs first. “MySQL 8 compatible” usually means MariaDB or MySQL; rarely Postgres without an abstraction layer.
Workload Strengths
MySQL/MariaDB dominate shared hosting and LAMP stacks. PostgreSQL shines with complex queries, GIS (PostGIS), and strict data types.
Licensing and Vendors
MariaDB and PostgreSQL are straightforward open-source stories for most deployments. MySQL is dual-licensed; enterprises may buy Oracle support.
Performance Reality
Indexes, query design, and connection pooling matter more than logo choice. Measure slow queries before swapping engines.
Backups and Operations
Use mysqldump or Mariabackup/MySQL Enterprise tools on the MySQL side; pg_dump on PostgreSQL. Test restores monthly.
Which Should You Install?
Greenfield MySQL app → MariaDB is a popular default on Linux. Need advanced SQL → PostgreSQL. Commercial mandate → MySQL where required.
Quick Reference
| MySQL | MariaDB | PostgreSQL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress | Yes | Yes (common) | Not native |
| Protocol | MySQL | MySQL-compatible | PostgreSQL |
| Advanced SQL/JSON | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Typical backup CLI | mysqldump | mysqldump | pg_dump |
Related tutorials
Diagrams are original illustrations by Gnome IT Solutions. Tutorial text © Gnome IT Solutions.