Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SQL Azure VS MariaDB

Compare SQL Azure VS MariaDB and see what are their differences

SQL Azure logo SQL Azure

Microsoft Azure Cloud SQL Database is the developer’s cloud database service. The Azure database as a service is your solution to building and monitoring applications quickly and efficiently.

MariaDB logo MariaDB

An enhanced, drop-in replacement for MySQL
  • SQL Azure Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-06
  • MariaDB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18

SQL Azure features and specs

  • Scalability
    SQL Azure provides scalable performance that can be adjusted based on demand without downtime, allowing businesses to handle varying workloads efficiently.
  • Managed Service
    As a fully managed service, SQL Azure reduces administrative overhead by handling updates, backups, and maintenance automatically, freeing up IT resources for other tasks.
  • High Availability
    Built-in high availability and disaster recovery features ensure continuous data access and reliability, minimizing downtime and protecting data integrity.
  • Security
    SQL Azure offers advanced security features, including network isolation, encryption, and threat detection, enhancing data protection and compliance with security standards.
  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem
    Seamless integration with other Microsoft services and tools such as Power BI, Azure Data Factory, and Azure Synapse enhances capabilities for data analysis and management.

Possible disadvantages of SQL Azure

  • Cost
    The pay-as-you-go pricing model can become expensive for businesses with large-scale demands or unpredictable usage patterns, potentially increasing operational costs.
  • Limited Control
    Because it is a managed service, users have less control over server configurations and customizations, which can be a limitation for certain specialized requirements.
  • Dependency on Internet Connectivity
    As a cloud-based service, consistent internet connectivity is required to access SQL Azure, which can be a disadvantage for locations with unreliable internet service.
  • Learning Curve
    Organizations may need to invest time and resources into training staff to understand and optimize Azure SQL features, which can delay implementation.
  • Data Transfer Costs
    There may be additional costs associated with transferring data in and out of SQL Azure, particularly for businesses that frequently move large volumes of data.

MariaDB features and specs

  • Open Source
    MariaDB is fully open-source, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. There are no licensing fees, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes.
  • Compatibility with MySQL
    MariaDB is designed as a drop-in replacement for MySQL. It offers extensive compatibility, making it easy to switch from MySQL without needing to make significant changes to the codebase.
  • Performance
    MariaDB often offers better performance and scalability compared to other relational databases. It includes enhancements in query optimization and indexing, which can lead to faster data retrieval.
  • Advanced Features
    MariaDB includes advanced features such as the Aria storage engine, dynamic columns, and thread pooling. These features provide more flexibility and control over database management and optimization.
  • Active Community
    Being open-source, MariaDB benefits from a robust and active community of developers and users who contribute to its development and provide support through forums and other channels.
  • Security
    MariaDB is known for its strong focus on security. It includes advanced security features such as data encryption, role-based access control, and protection against SQL injection attacks.

Possible disadvantages of MariaDB

  • Learning Curve
    For new users, especially those without much experience with relational databases or MySQL, MariaDB can have a steep learning curve. It requires an understanding of SQL, database management, and various configurations.
  • Inconsistent Documentation
    While the community is active, the documentation can sometimes be inconsistent or incomplete. This can make troubleshooting and leveraging advanced features more challenging.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Although MariaDB aims to be compatible with MySQL, certain features or configurations might not work identically, leading to potential compatibility issues with some applications.
  • Fewer Enterprise Features
    Compared to commercial database solutions like Oracle, MariaDB may lack certain enterprise-level features, tools, and support options that large corporations might require.
  • Market Adoption
    MariaDB, while popular, does not have as wide of an adoption as MySQL or other big players in the database market, which can be a consideration for integration and support in some environments.

SQL Azure videos

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MariaDB videos

MySQL/MariaDB Basics (RHCE Study)

More videos:

  • Review - MariaDB Storage Engines
  • Tutorial - #MariaDB Server 10.2: The Complete Guide - #Database Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SQL Azure and MariaDB)
Databases
27 27%
73% 73
Relational Databases
37 37%
63% 63
NoSQL Databases
9 9%
91% 91
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SQL Azure and MariaDB

SQL Azure Reviews

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MariaDB Reviews

Data Warehouse Tools
MariaDB is another open-source relational database management system that can be used for data warehousing. It’s a robust and secure option for organizations seeking a familiar and cost-effective solution, especially those already invested in the MySQL ecosystem.
Source: peliqan.io
MariaDB Vs MySQL In 2019: Compatibility, Performance, And Syntax
Even the command line tools are similar to mysqldump and mysqladmin still having the original names, allowing MariaDB to be a drop-in replacement.To make sure MariaDB maintains drop-in compatibility, the MariaDB developers do a monthly merge of the MariaDB code with the MySQL code. Even with this, there are some differences between MariaDB and MySQL that could cause some...
Source: blog.panoply.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MariaDB should be more popular than SQL Azure. It has been mentiond 42 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SQL Azure mentions (9)

  • Microsoft Announces the Preview of Serverless for Hyperscale in Azure SQL Database
    Recently, Microsoft announced the preview of serverless for Hyperscale in the Azure SQL Database, which brings together the benefits of serverless and Hyperscale into a single database solution. For full news coverage see InfoQ news item: https://www.infoq.com/news/2023/02/azure-sql-hyperscale-serverless/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Azure SQL Database External REST Endpoints Integration Now in Public Preview
    Microsoft recently announced the public preview of Azure SQL Database External REST Endpoint Integration – an ability to call a REST endpoint natively from Azure SQL Database. For more details see: https://www.infoq.com/news/2022/11/azure-sql-rest-endpoint/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How I Build and Deliver B2B SaaS Software as a 1.5* Person Indie Developer
    Www Services for hosting the marketing site. This includes a Key Vault, Storage Account, Service Bus Namespace, Azure SQL database and an App Service. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • The Difference Between Data Warehouses, Data Lakes, and Data Lakehouses.
    Popular managed cloud data warehouse solutions include Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure SQL Database, and Amazon Redshift. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • Top 30 Microsoft Azure Services
    Developers need databases to store structured data, like application state and user data. Azure offers a range of managed SQL and NoSQL database solutions. Azure SQL is a suite of services that offer a cloud based relational database experience for different use cases. SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines creates an entire operating system environment running the popular Microsoft Relational Database Management... - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
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MariaDB mentions (42)

  • OpenBSD Upgrade 7.6 to 7.7
    In addition, it also includes MariaDB update where "Binary logs are no longer purged by default unless a replica has connected", and minio update where "the MinIO Gateway and the related filesystem mode code have been removed". - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
  • MariaDB (Bite-size Article)
    Download from the Official Website: Visit the official MariaDB website (https://mariadb.org/) and download the version that matches your operating system. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • From License to Freedom: Embracing Open Source Forks Knowing What to Expect
    One of the most famous examples is MariaDB, a fork of MySQL. When Oracle acquired MySQL back in 2009, concerns arose about the future of the database under a corporate umbrella and while MySQL has remained open source, the idea of it living under Oracle's roof was enough to push some of the original creators to fork an alternative that still lived within the developer community. During the early stages of MariaDB,... - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Using the built-in SQLite module in Node.js
    SQLite is a lightweight database engine written in C. It is a simple, fast, and fully featured implementation of an SQL Database Management System. SQLite differs from other relational databases like MariaDB and PostgreSQL because it does not run as a server. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • 100+ Must-Have Web Development Resources
    MariaDB: A fork of MySQL developed by early MySQL employees. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SQL Azure and MariaDB, you can also consider the following products

SAP HANA - SAP HANA is an in-memory, column-oriented, relational database management system.

MySQL - The world's most popular open source database

Microsoft SQL - Microsoft SQL is a best in class relational database management software that facilitates the database server to provide you a primary function to store and retrieve data.

PostgreSQL - PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system.

Oracle DBaaS - See how Oracle Database 12c enables businesses to plug into the cloud and power the real-time enterprise.

SQLite - SQLite Home Page