PostgreSQL vs MySQL: Which Database Should You Choose?

The database you choose determines how your app scales. PostgreSQL and MySQL compared on advanced features, performance, and extensibility.

PostgreSQL is the more powerful and versatile database for modern applications thanks to JSONB, the rich extension system, superior concurrency via MVCC, and high SQL standard compliance. MySQL is simpler to set up, more broadly supported by traditional hosting providers, and has a larger existing installation base. For new projects, PostgreSQL is increasingly the industry-standard choice, partly thanks to managed platforms like Supabase and Neon that eliminate operational complexity. The decision is primarily driven by your existing infrastructure, the complexity of your data model, and whether you need advanced features that only PostgreSQL provides.

PostgreSQL vs MySQL: Which Database Should You Choose?

Background

The database landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. PostgreSQL adoption has surged thanks to managed platforms like Supabase, Neon, and Railway that eliminate operational complexity and make PostgreSQL accessible to teams without dedicated database administrators. Meanwhile, MySQL continues to power a massive share of existing web applications through WordPress and PHP ecosystems. PlanetScale offers MySQL a modern managed platform with branching and schema migrations. The rise of AI applications with pgvector gives PostgreSQL an additional advantage for organizations that need vector search and embedding storage alongside traditional relational data.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is an advanced open-source relational database with over 35 years of development history and extensive support for complex queries, JSONB documents, extensions, and full ACID compliance. It is considered the most feature-rich open-source database in the world. Extensions like PostGIS for geospatial data, pgvector for AI embeddings, and TimescaleDB for time-series data make PostgreSQL extremely versatile. Managed platforms like Supabase and Neon have significantly lowered the operational barrier to adoption.

MySQL

MySQL is the most popular open-source relational database in the world, originally developed by MySQL AB and now owned by Oracle. It is known for simplicity, excellent read performance, and broad availability at virtually every hosting provider. MySQL powers a massive share of the web through WordPress, Drupal, and countless PHP applications. With PlanetScale as a modern managed solution and MySQL 8.x offering improved JSON support and window functions, MySQL remains a relevant choice for many projects.

What are the key differences between PostgreSQL and MySQL?

Feature	PostgreSQL	MySQL
Advanced features	Extensive with JSONB, window functions, CTEs, full-text search, materialized views, and partitioning	More limited but improved in version 8.x with JSON support, window functions, and common table expressions
Read performance	Excellent for complex queries with joins, subqueries, and aggregations thanks to the advanced query planner	Very fast for simple read operations and point queries thanks to the optimized InnoDB storage engine
Write performance	MVCC architecture ensures excellent concurrency without read blocking during concurrent write operations	Good but susceptible to lock contention under high concurrency, especially with complex transactions
Hosting availability	Broadly supported via Supabase, Neon, Railway, AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL, and Azure Database	Available everywhere at every hosting provider worldwide, including affordable shared hosting plans
Extensions	Rich extension system with PostGIS, pgvector, TimescaleDB, pg_cron, and hundreds of other extensions	Limited extension system compared to PostgreSQL, but plugins for auditing and replication are available
JSON support	Native JSONB with indexing, querying, and full GIN indexes for documents within relational tables	JSON data type available since version 5.7 but less powerful in terms of indexing and query capabilities
Replication	Logical and physical replication, streaming replication, and support for read replicas out of the box	Mature replication with master-slave, group replication, and MySQL InnoDB Cluster for high availability
Standards compliance	Very high SQL standard compliance with support for most SQL:2023 features and portable syntax	Good compliance but historically with MySQL-specific deviations that make application code less portable

When to choose which?

Choose PostgreSQL when...

Choose PostgreSQL when you need advanced features like JSONB for flexible document storage, PostGIS for geospatial queries, pgvector for AI embedding search, or window functions for complex analytical queries. PostgreSQL is also the better choice for projects with complex transactions, multi-tenant architectures, and when you want to leverage modern managed platforms like Supabase and Neon. The high SQL standard compliance also makes your application code more portable to other databases.

Choose MySQL when...

Choose MySQL when you work with existing systems that require MySQL, such as WordPress, Drupal, or older PHP applications where migration is not cost-effective. MySQL is also suitable for read-heavy workloads with simple queries and high throughput requirements. When your hosting provider only supports MySQL or when the project budget dictates shared hosting, MySQL is the practical choice. The large installation base also makes it straightforward to find experienced MySQL administrators and developers.

What is the verdict on PostgreSQL vs MySQL?

Which option does MG Software recommend?

MG Software defaults to PostgreSQL, particularly in combination with Supabase as our managed platform of choice. The advanced features, extensibility via extensions, excellent concurrency, and reliability make it the ideal choice for modern web applications. Supabase adds realtime subscriptions, built-in authentication, and Row Level Security, allowing us to build secure multi-tenant applications rapidly. We only recommend MySQL when integration with existing WordPress installations or legacy PHP systems requires it, or when the hosting environment does not support PostgreSQL.

Migrating: what to consider?

When migrating from MySQL to PostgreSQL, use tools like pgLoader or AWS DMS for data transfer. Note that stored procedures, triggers, and some data types need adjustment due to syntax differences. AUTO_INCREMENT becomes serial or generated always as identity in PostgreSQL. Test extensively for syntax deviations in application code and plan a parallel running period of 2 to 4 weeks during which both databases are active for validation before making the final switch.

Frequently asked questions

For complex queries with multiple joins, subqueries, and aggregations, PostgreSQL is generally faster thanks to the advanced query planner and MVCC architecture. MySQL can be faster for simple point queries and read-heavy workloads with straightforward data models. Actual performance depends heavily on your specific data model, query patterns, and indexing strategy. Always benchmark with your own data and queries before making a decision based on performance alone.

Yes, migration is well supported with tools like pgLoader, AWS Database Migration Service, or manual export and import via CSV files. Note that there are syntax differences in stored procedures, triggers, and some data types. AUTO_INCREMENT becomes serial in PostgreSQL and certain MySQL-specific functions have alternative syntax. A thorough migration plan with a parallel testing phase of at least 2 weeks is essential for a successful transition.

PostgreSQL offers more advanced features like JSONB, full-text search, a rich extension system, and better SQL standard compliance. The rise of managed platforms like Supabase and Neon has lowered the operational barrier significantly. Additionally, pgvector makes PostgreSQL suitable for AI applications with vector similarity search. The combination of relational power with document database flexibility makes PostgreSQL the most versatile choice for modern applications.

Supabase is a managed platform built on top of PostgreSQL. It provides a fully managed PostgreSQL database plus additional services like authentication, realtime subscriptions, storage, edge functions, and auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs. You retain full access to the underlying PostgreSQL database. Supabase lowers operational complexity while you keep the full power of PostgreSQL including all extensions and SQL functionality.

MySQL supports JSON since version 5.7 and has improved it in 8.x, but PostgreSQL JSONB is significantly more powerful. JSONB in PostgreSQL supports GIN indexes for fast document queries, full indexing of nested fields, and advanced operators for JSON manipulation. MySQL JSON is suitable for simple storage and basic queries, but for complex document operations or when using JSON as a primary data structure, PostgreSQL has a clear advantage.

Yes, pgvector is a PostgreSQL extension that enables vector similarity search directly in your database. You can store AI embeddings as vector columns and efficiently search via cosine similarity, inner product, or Euclidean distance. This eliminates the need for a separate vector database like Pinecone or Weaviate. pgvector integrates seamlessly with your existing relational data, allowing you to combine SQL queries with vector search in a single query.

MySQL is typically cheaper with traditional hosting due to broader availability on shared hosting plans that start at a few dollars per month. PostgreSQL usually requires a VPS or managed service. However, managed PostgreSQL services like Supabase and Neon offer generous free tiers that are sufficient for many projects. At enterprise level hosting costs are comparable. The choice should not be primarily based on cost but on the technical requirements of your specific project.

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