This post is maintained by Bytebase, an open-source database DevSecOps tool that can manage both MySQL and SQL Server. We update the post every year.
| Update History | Comment |
|---|---|
| 2025/04/08 | Initial version. |
Why Comparing MySQL and SQL Server
Though challenged by PostgreSQL, MySQL remains a popular choice for web application, offering excellent performance, lower resource requirements, and an open-source licensing model. SQL Server 2025 excels in enterprise environments, particularly those already invested in Microsoft technologies, by providing superior analytical capabilities, advanced security features, and comprehensive management tools.
This comparison reflects the current state of both systems as of 2025, including the latest versions: MySQL 9.2 and SQL Server 2025 (currently in preview):
- Feature Comparison
- Technical Specifications
- Development Workflow
- AI Integration
- Pricing and Licensing
- Future Outlook
- Conclusion
Feature Comparison
| Feature Category | MySQL 9.2 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Dual licensing: Open-source (GPL) and commercial | Commercial-only with various editions |
| Free Version | MySQL Community Edition (full-featured) | SQL Server Express (limited features) |
| Latest Version | MySQL 9.2 (Innovation Release, Jan 2025) | SQL Server 2025 (Released 2025) |
| Core Database Features | ||
| Isolation Levels | REPEATABLE READ (default), READ COMMITTED, READ UNCOMMITTED, SERIALIZABLE | READ COMMITTED (default), READ UNCOMMITTED, REPEATABLE READ, SERIALIZABLE, SNAPSHOT |
| Partitioning | Table partitioning for large datasets | Advanced table and index partitioning |
| Replication | Master-slave, group replication, multi-source | Always On Availability Groups, failover clustering |
| Columnstore Support | None | Native columnstore indexes |
| Security Features | ||
| Authentication | Enhanced authentication plugins | Windows authentication, SQL authentication, Microsoft Entra ID |
| Encryption | Data-at-rest encryption, SSL/TLS | Always Encrypted, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) |
| Access Control | Role-based access control | Comprehensive role and permission system |
| Auditing | Enterprise audit capabilities with audit plugin | Advanced auditing with Extended Events |
| High Availability | ||
| Clustering | MySQL Cluster (NDB), InnoDB Cluster | Always On Availability Groups, Failover Cluster Instances |
| Automatic Failover | Group Replication, InnoDB ClusterSet | Automatic failover with Always On |
| Disaster Recovery | Asynchronous replication | Advanced disaster recovery options |
| Cloud Integration | ||
| Native Cloud Services | Available on all major cloud platforms | Deep Azure integration, available on all major clouds |
| Hybrid Capabilities | None | Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server for hybrid management |
| Multi-Cloud Support | Strong multi-cloud compatibility | Primarily optimized for Azure |
| Development Features | ||
| Programming Language | SQL with MySQL extensions | Transact-SQL (T-SQL) |
| Stored Procedures | Basic stored procedure support | Rich procedural T-SQL language |
| JSON Support | Enhanced JSON path expressions and functions | New JSON data type with specialized functions |
| Spatial Data | Spatial data types and functions | Comprehensive spatial support |
| AI/ML Capabilities | ||
| Vector Support | Limited vector type | Native vector data type and DiskANN index |
| ML Integration | HeatWave ML for in-database ML | SQL Server Machine Learning Services |
| AI Application Support | None | Built-in RAG pattern support |
| Management Tools | ||
| Primary Tool | MySQL Workbench | SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) |
| Command Line | MySQL client and MySQL Shell | sqlcmd, PowerShell |
| Monitoring | Performance Schema, MySQL Enterprise Monitor | Dynamic Management Views, Query Store |
| Pricing Model | ||
| Base Cost | Community Edition: Free | Express Edition: Free (limited) |
| Enterprise Edition: ~$5,000-$10,000/server/year | Enterprise Edition: ~$15,078 per 2-core pack | |
| Cloud Pricing | Generally lower cloud instance costs | Premium pricing on cloud platforms |
| Future Direction | ||
| Release Cadence | Innovation and LTS releases | 2-3 year major release cycle |
| Support Timeline | 8.0: EOL April 2026, 9.2: ~2 years | 5 years mainstream + 5 years extended support |
MySQL 9.2 Standout Features
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JavaScript Transactional API: MySQL 9.2 introduces a JavaScript MySQL transaction API which performs the actions of most MySQL transactional SQL statements, providing developers with a more modern programming interface.
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Open Source Flexibility: As an open-source solution, MySQL allows organizations to modify the source code to meet specific requirements, providing a level of customization not possible with SQL Server.
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Multi-Source Replication: MySQL supports replicating from multiple source servers to a single replica, enabling complex data aggregation scenarios.
SQL Server 2025 Standout Features
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Vector Database Capabilities: SQL Server 2025 introduces native vector data types and the DiskANN index for efficient similarity search, positioning it as an enterprise-ready vector database for AI applications.
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Intelligent Query Processing: SQL Server's advanced query processing capabilities automatically improve query performance through features like adaptive joins, memory grant feedback, and approximate query processing.
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In-Memory OLTP: SQL Server's In-Memory OLTP engine provides significant performance improvements for transactional processing workloads through lock-free data structures and native compilation.
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Advanced Security Features: SQL Server offers comprehensive security features including Always Encrypted, Dynamic Data Masking, and Row-Level Security, providing enterprise-grade data protection.
You can use Bytebase to enhance MySQL with enterprise-grade data protection features likes Dynamic Data Masking.
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Microsoft Ecosystem Integration: SQL Server integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products and services, providing a cohesive experience for organizations invested in the Microsoft technology stack.
Technical Specifications
MySQL 9.2 and SQL Server 2025 differ significantly in their technical architectures, performance characteristics, and scalability limits. These differences impact their suitability for various workloads and deployment scenarios.
Architecture
MySQL's architecture is designed to be lightweight and efficient, with a focus on minimizing resource usage. The server uses a thread-based model where each connection is handled by a dedicated thread, with a thread pool available in Enterprise Edition to manage high connection loads.
SQL Server uses a sophisticated process model with the SQL OS layer abstracting the underlying operating system, providing consistent behavior across platforms.
Performance Characteristics
MySQL 9.2
MySQL 9.2 is known for:
- Efficient Resource Usage: Performs well on modest hardware, making it cost-effective for many deployments.
- Read Performance: Particularly strong for read-heavy workloads, especially with proper indexing.
- Connection Handling: Efficient for high-connection scenarios common in web applications.
- Query Cache: Can significantly improve performance for workloads with repetitive queries, though this feature is being phased out in favor of more modern caching approaches.
- HeatWave Acceleration: Dramatic performance improvements for analytical queries when using the HeatWave add-on.
SQL Server 2025
SQL Server 2025 excels in:
- Complex Query Performance: Superior optimization for complex queries involving multiple joins, subqueries, and aggregations.
- Parallel Processing: More sophisticated parallel query execution, particularly beneficial for analytical workloads.
- In-Memory Performance: Exceptional performance for critical OLTP workloads using In-Memory OLTP.
- Intelligent Query Processing: Adaptive query optimization that improves performance based on actual execution statistics.
- Resource Governor: Ability to allocate resources to different workloads, ensuring consistent performance.
Scalability Limits
MySQL can run efficiently in containerized environments and on virtual machines with limited resources, making it suitable for cloud deployments where resource optimization is important.
SQL Server benefits significantly from high-end hardware, particularly for enterprise workloads, and is designed to take advantage of modern server capabilities like large memory configurations and high core counts.
The following table compares the scalability limits between MySQL 9.2 and SQL Server 2025:
| Feature | MySQL 9.2 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Database Size | No hard limit, practical limits around 100TB | Up to 524,272TB (Enterprise Edition) |
| Table Size | Up to 32TB with InnoDB | Limited only by maximum database size |
| Row Size | Up to 65,535 bytes | 8,060 bytes for standard rows, up to 2GB with LOB data |
| Columns per Table | 4,096 columns | 1,024 columns |
| Indexes per Table | 64 secondary indexes | 999 nonclustered indexes |
| Connections | Default limit of 151, configurable up to thousands | Limited by available memory, typically thousands |
| Vertical Scaling | Efficient up to 48 cores, diminishing returns beyond | Efficient utilization of up to 128 cores |
| Horizontal Scaling | Through MySQL Cluster or sharding | Through Always On Availability Groups, distributed partitioned views, or sharding |
Hardware Requirements
| Aspect | MySQL 9.2 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 2 CPU cores, 4GB RAM, 10GB disk space | 4 CPU cores, 8GB RAM, 20GB disk space |
| Recommended | 4-8 CPU cores, 16-32GB RAM, SSD storage | 8-16 CPU cores, 32-64GB RAM, SSD storage |
| Enterprise Deployment | 16+ CPU cores, 64-128GB RAM, NVMe storage | 32+ CPU cores, 128-256GB RAM, NVMe storage |
| Memory Usage | Configurable buffer pool size, typically 70-80% of available RAM | Can utilize large amounts of memory for buffer pool, in-memory OLTP, and columnstore cache |
Development Workflow
MySQL's DevOps integration relies heavily on third-party tools and community-developed solutions, providing flexibility but requiring more integration work.
SQL Server provides a more integrated DevOps experience, particularly within the Microsoft ecosystem, with better tooling for database-as-code approaches and deployment automation.
| Aspect | MySQL 9.2 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure as Code | • Terraform providers for MySQL • Ansible modules for MySQL management • Docker images for containerized deployment | • Native Azure Resource Manager templates • Terraform providers for SQL Server • Ansible modules for SQL Server management |
| Database Change Management | • Schema versioning tools like Bytebase, Flyway, Liquibase • Migration scripts for schema changes • Database-as-code approaches | • SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) with declarative database development • Database projects in Visual Studio • Schema comparison tools • Redgate SQL Change Automation |
| CI/CD Pipeline Integration | Custom-built integrations | • Native Azure DevOps integration • GitHub Actions for SQL Server • Jenkins plugins for SQL Server • TeamCity integration |
| Monitoring Integration | • Prometheus exporters for MySQL metrics • Grafana dashboards for visualization • Integration with APM tools like New Relic and Datadog | • SQL Server Management Studio monitoring • Azure Monitor integration • SQL Server Query Store • Performance Dashboard reports |
| Deployment Automation | • Command-line tools for deployment • Shell scripts for automation • Third-party deployment tools | • DACPAC and BACPAC deployment • SQL Server deployment via PowerShell • Automated database release management • State-based and migration-based deployment options |
AI Integration
MySQL 9.2
MySQL's AI/ML integration focuses on:
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Vector Database Capabilities:
- Basic vector data type support
- Simple similarity search functions
- Limited vector indexing capabilities
- Integration with external vector search engines
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Machine Learning Integration:
- HeatWave ML for in-database machine learning
- Support for Python-based ML workflows
- Integration with popular ML frameworks
- Automated feature engineering
- Model training and inference capabilities
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Automated Database Management:
- Basic automated tuning capabilities
- Performance insight recommendations
- Simple anomaly detection
- Query optimization suggestions
MySQL's AI/ML strategy centers around HeatWave ML for in-database machine learning, with a focus on making ML accessible to database users without requiring data movement to specialized ML platforms.
SQL Server 2025
SQL Server's AI/ML integration is more comprehensive:
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Vector Database Capabilities:
- Native vector data type
- Advanced vector search with DiskANN
- Comprehensive vector indexing
- Filtering during vector search
- Optimized for large vector datasets
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Machine Learning Integration:
- In-database ML with SQL Server Machine Learning Services
- Support for R, Python, and Java
- Integration with Azure Machine Learning
- Model management within the database
- Automated ML capabilities
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Natural Language Processing:
- Advanced text analysis
- Semantic search capabilities
- Integration with Azure OpenAI Service
- Support for RAG patterns
- Conversational AI integration
SQL Server 2025 positions itself as an "Enterprise AI-ready Database," with significant investments in vector search capabilities, machine learning integration, and natural language processing, leveraging Microsoft's broader AI ecosystem.
Pricing and Licensing
The pricing and licensing models of MySQL 9.2 and SQL Server 2025 reflect their different market positions and business models, significantly impacting total cost of ownership and deployment decisions.
Licensing Models
MySQL 9.2
MySQL 9.2 employs a dual licensing approach:
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Open Source License: GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2
- Free to use, modify, and distribute
- Source code modifications must be made available if distributed
- May not be suitable for some commercial applications due to GPL requirements
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Commercial License: For organizations that cannot comply with GPL requirements
- Removes GPL obligations
- Includes additional enterprise features
- Provides official support and indemnification
MySQL's commercial editions are subscription-based, with pricing typically per server rather than per core or per user.
SQL Server 2025
SQL Server 2025 is a commercial-only product with various editions and licensing models:
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Edition-Based Licensing:
- Express Edition: Free version with limited features
- Developer Edition: Free for development and testing (not production)
- Web Edition: Low-cost edition for web hosting
- Standard Edition: Mid-tier edition for departmental applications
- Enterprise Edition: Full-featured edition for mission-critical applications
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Licensing Models:
- Server + Client Access License (CAL): Fixed server cost plus per-user or per-device CALs
- Per-Core Licensing: Based on the number of CPU cores (sold in 2-core packs)
- Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG): Subscription-based model with more flexible terms
- Azure Hybrid Benefit: Allows using on-premises licenses in Azure
SQL Server's licensing is more complex and typically more expensive than MySQL, particularly for high-core-count servers due to the per-core licensing model.
Free vs Paid Versions
The MySQL Community Edition is fully functional for many production use cases, with commercial editions adding enterprise features and official support.
SQL Server's free Express Edition has significant limitations compared to MySQL Community Edition, making it less suitable for production deployments without upgrading to paid editions.
| Edition | MySQL 9.2 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Free Versions | MySQL Community Edition: • Full core database functionality • InnoDB storage engine • Replication capabilities • Basic security features • Command-line tools • Community support only | SQL Server Express Edition: • Limited to 10GB per database • Uses up to 1.4GB memory • Uses up to 4 cores • Basic reporting services • Basic integration services • No official support |
| Paid Versions | MySQL Enterprise Edition: • All Community features • Enterprise monitoring • Online backup • Enhanced security • Official Oracle support MySQL Cluster CGE: • All Enterprise features • NDB Cluster storage • Auto-sharding • 99.999% availability • Geographic replication | SQL Server Standard Edition: • 24 cores maximum • 128GB memory limit • Basic HA features • Basic reporting and analytics • Basic AlwaysOn features SQL Server Enterprise Edition: • Unlimited cores and memory • Advanced HA features • Advanced security features • Full OLAP capabilities • Advanced AlwaysOn features |
Cloud Pricing
| Provider | Pricing Model | MySQL 9.2 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS | On-demand | $0.08 - $0.90 per hour (instance size dependent) | $0.12 - $10.00+ per hour (License Included) |
| Reserved/Committed | Up to 60% discount with 3-year commitment | BYOL: $0.08 - $6.00+ per hour (infrastructure only) | |
| Storage | $0.10 - $0.12 per GB-month | $0.10 - $0.12 per GB-month + I/O operations ($0.20 per million) | |
| High Availability | Multi-AZ deployment doubles instance cost | Multi-AZ deployment doubles instance cost | |
| Azure | Basic Tier | $0.04 - $0.60 per hour | DTU-based: $0.03 - $14.00+ per hour (service tier dependent) |
| Standard Tier | General Purpose: $0.12 - $1.50 per hour | vCore-based: $0.17 - $25.00+ per hour (Standard/Enterprise) | |
| Premium Tier | Memory Optimized: $0.25 - $3.00 per hour | Business Critical: $0.50 - $35.00+ per hour | |
| Storage | $0.13 per GB-month | $0.15 - $0.25 per GB-month (Premium SSD) | |
| High Availability | Zone redundant HA adds 60% to base price | Zone redundant HA included in Business Critical tier | |
| Google Cloud | On-demand | $0.06 - $0.85 per hour (instance size dependent) | $0.14 - $12.00+ per hour (License Included) |
| Committed Use | Up to 55% with 3-year commitment | Up to 55% with 3-year commitment | |
| Storage | $0.17 per GB-month (SSD) | $0.17 per GB-month (SSD) + $0.10 per million I/O operations | |
| High Availability | HA configuration doubles instance cost | HA configuration doubles instance cost | |
| Oracle | MySQL HeatWave | Database Service: $0.08 - $0.90 per OCU hour | Not applicable (Oracle doesn't offer SQL Server) |
| HeatWave Cluster | Additional $0.16 - $1.80 per OCU hour | ||
| Storage | $0.045 per GB-month | ||
| Cost Comparison | Claimed 16x less expensive than AWS Redshift for analytics |
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
MySQL provides a TCO calculator showing up to 16x cost savings compared to SQL Server over 3 years, particularly for deployments that don't require the advanced enterprise features of SQL Server Enterprise Edition.
SQL Server typically has a higher TCO compared to MySQL, particularly for larger deployments with many CPU cores. However, organizations heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem may find value in SQL Server's integration capabilities despite the higher costs.
| Cost Category | MySQL 9.2 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing Costs | • Community Edition: $0 • Enterprise Edition: ~$5,000 - $10,000 per server per year • Cluster CGE: ~$10,000 - $21,400 per server per year | • Express Edition: $0 (limited features) • Standard Edition: ~$3,945 per 2-core pack or $989 per server + CALs • Enterprise Edition: ~$15,078 per 2-core pack • Typical server with 16 cores: ~$31,560 (Standard) to ~$120,624 (Enterprise) |
| Infrastructure Costs | • Lower hardware requirements compared to SQL Server • Efficient resource utilization • Scales well on commodity hardware | • Higher hardware requirements for optimal performance • More resource-intensive • Benefits from premium hardware |
| Operational Costs | • DBA expertise widely available but at lower average salary • Lower training costs due to simpler architecture • More self-management required for advanced features | • DBA expertise more specialized with higher average salary • Higher training costs due to complex feature set • More integrated management tools reducing some operational overhead |
| Long-term Considerations | • Predictable subscription costs • Lower scaling costs • Community edition provides fallback option if budget constraints arise | • Potential for licensing model changes • Higher scaling costs due to per-core licensing • Software Assurance adds 25-30% to license costs but provides upgrade rights |
Future Outlook
MySQL remains one of the most widely deployed databases worldwide, particularly in web hosting, content management, and SMB segments, though facing increased competition from PostgreSQL in the open-source database space.
SQL Server remains dominant in enterprise segments, particularly in Microsoft-centric organizations and industries like financial services, healthcare, and government, though also experiencing some market share pressure from cloud-native databases.
| Feature | MySQL 9.2 | SQL Server 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Model | • Innovation and LTS release model • Innovation Releases: Frequent with shorter support • LTS Releases: Stable with 5-year support • MySQL 9.3: Expected mid-2025 • MySQL 10.0: Anticipated in 2026 | • Traditional enterprise release model • Major versions every 2-3 years • Cumulative updates between major releases • SQL Server 2028 expected as next major version |
| Support Timeline | • MySQL 8.0: EOL April 2026 • MySQL 9.2 (Innovation): 2-year support window • MySQL 8.4 (LTS): 5-year support window | • 5 years of Mainstream Support • 5 years of Extended Support • SQL Server 2025: Support until 2030 (mainstream) and 2035 (extended) |
| Feature Focus | • Enhanced JavaScript integration • Improved JSON and document store functionality • Advanced analytics with HeatWave • Better cloud-native features • Improved high availability • Enhanced security and compliance | • AI and vector search capabilities • Enhanced Azure cloud integration • Improved hybrid deployment scenarios • Advanced security and compliance • Better performance for modern hardware • Enhanced developer experience |
Conclusion
MySQL 9.2 and SQL Server 2025 represent two different approaches to database management systems. Both databases are mature, capable database management systems that continue to evolve to meet modern data challenges.
When to Choose MySQL 9.2
MySQL 9.2 is the preferred choice in the following scenarios:
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Web Applications and Content Management Systems: MySQL's efficiency, lightweight nature, and strong performance for read-heavy workloads make it ideal for web applications, content management systems, and e-commerce platforms.
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Cost-Sensitive Deployments: With its free Community Edition and lower hardware requirements, MySQL offers significant cost advantages for organizations with budget constraints or startups looking to minimize initial infrastructure investments.
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Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Deployments: MySQL's vendor-neutral approach and availability across all major cloud providers make it well-suited for organizations pursuing multi-cloud strategies or requiring consistent database capabilities across different environments.
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Open Source Ecosystems: Organizations committed to open-source technologies will find MySQL integrates well with other open-source components like Linux, Apache, and PHP (the classic LAMP stack).
When to Choose SQL Server 2025
SQL Server 2025 is the better option in these scenarios:
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Enterprise Applications: SQL Server's comprehensive feature set, advanced security capabilities, and robust high availability options make it well-suited for mission-critical enterprise applications, particularly those requiring complex transactions and high reliability.
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Microsoft Ecosystem Integration: Organizations heavily invested in Microsoft technologies (Windows Server, .NET, Azure, Power BI) will benefit from SQL Server's seamless integration with these platforms.
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Advanced Analytics and AI Applications: SQL Server 2025's native vector capabilities, machine learning integration, and advanced analytical features make it superior for organizations building AI-powered applications or requiring sophisticated business intelligence.
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Regulatory Compliance Requirements: SQL Server's comprehensive security features, including Always Encrypted, Dynamic Data Masking, and advanced auditing capabilities, make it well-suited for industries with strict regulatory requirements like healthcare, finance, and government.
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Complex Data Warehousing: SQL Server's columnstore indexes, advanced partitioning, and integration with Microsoft's analytics stack make it better suited for complex data warehousing scenarios.
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Hybrid Cloud Deployments: Organizations pursuing a hybrid cloud strategy with Microsoft Azure will benefit from SQL Server's deep integration with Azure services and Azure Arc-enabled capabilities.
