Should I use PostgreSQL or MySQL?

PostgreSQL is the better choice for most new projects in 2026 — it has superior JSON/JSONB support, more advanced query features (CTEs, window functions, full-text search), and better standards compliance. MySQL is still the default for WordPress, legacy LAMP stacks, and read-heavy workloads where its slightly faster reads matter. PostgreSQL is used by Supabase, Neon, and most modern cloud databases by default.

Is PostgreSQL faster than MySQL?

MySQL is slightly faster for simple read queries, but PostgreSQL is faster for complex queries, large datasets, and concurrent writes. PostgreSQL's MVCC implementation handles high concurrency better without table locks. For most web applications, the performance difference is negligible — architectural choices matter far more than the database engine.

PostgreSQL vs MySQL (2026): Which Database Should You Use?

Quick Answer

PostgreSQL is the default choice for new projects in 2026 — it has won the developer community with superior JSON support, advanced SQL features, better extensibility, and most managed cloud databases (Supabase, Neon, Railway, AWS RDS) defaulting to Postgres. MySQL remains dominant in WordPress, legacy LAMP stacks, and read-heavy simple applications. If you're starting fresh, choose PostgreSQL.

PostgreSQL

9.3/10

Best for new projects & complex queries

MySQL

8.7/10

Best for WordPress & legacy LAMP stacks

Feature Comparison

Feature	PostgreSQL	MySQL
License	PostgreSQL License (fully open-source)	GPL v2 / Commercial (owned by Oracle)
JSON Support	Excellent — JSONB with indexing & operators	Basic — JSON type without indexing
Advanced SQL	CTEs, window functions, lateral joins	Good — added most features in 8.0+
Full-Text Search	Built-in tsvector — powerful	Basic MATCH/AGAINST — limited
Concurrency	MVCC — excellent for writes	InnoDB MVCC — good but more locking
Extensions	PostGIS, pgvector, TimescaleDB — ecosystem	Limited extension support
Cloud Managed	Supabase, Neon, RDS, Cloud SQL default	PlanetScale, RDS, Cloud SQL
Best For	New apps, complex data, AI/vector search	WordPress, Drupal, simple read-heavy apps

Which do you use?

PostgreSQL

MySQL

Who Should Choose What?

Choose PostgreSQL if:

You're building a new application, need JSON/document storage alongside relational data, require complex queries (analytics, reporting), or want to use vector search for AI features (pgvector is now a standard tool for RAG pipelines). PostgreSQL's licensing is also cleaner — no Oracle ownership concerns like MySQL has.

Choose MySQL if:

You're running WordPress, Drupal, or any application built specifically for MySQL. Legacy LAMP stack applications often have MySQL-specific SQL that would require migration effort. MySQL is also the default for most shared hosting providers, making it the practical choice for simple hosted websites.

FAQ

Can I migrate from MySQL to PostgreSQL?

Yes, but it requires effort. Tools like pgloader can automate most of the migration. The main challenges are SQL dialect differences (MySQL uses backticks, PostgreSQL uses double quotes; AUTO_INCREMENT vs SERIAL; different date functions), and some MySQL-specific features need rewrites. For new projects, choosing PostgreSQL from the start is easier than migrating later.

Does Oracle control MySQL?

Oracle acquired MySQL in 2010 through the Sun Microsystems acquisition. This has made some teams cautious about MySQL's open-source future. PostgreSQL is governed by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group with no corporate owner. MariaDB (a MySQL fork) was created to maintain a fully community-owned alternative to MySQL.

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