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SurrealDB vs MySQL

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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SurrealDB
SurrealDBA scalable, ACID‑compliant NoSQL database with SQL‑like queries
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MySQL
MySQLThe world’s most popular open-source relational database.
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Overview
Description

SurrealDB is a cloud‑native, distributed database that combines the flexibility of NoSQL with the power of SQL‑style querying. It delivers strong ACID guarantees while scaling horizontally for modern applications. Designed for developers and startups, SurrealDB offers seamless integration with popular languages and frameworks, making it easy to embed real‑time data capabilities into web and mobile services.

MySQL is a widely used open-source relational database that powers a huge portion of the web, known for speed, reliability, and broad hosting support. It remains a default for many web applications and CMSes.

Pricing
Freemium
Contact for Pricing

Free community edition; paid enterprise editions available.

Category
Databases
Databases
Best for
Developers and startups
Web developers
Specifications
Spec source
AI-estimated
AI-estimated
open source
Yes
Yes
github stars
32,749
—
api available
Yes
Yes
support options
Email, Documentation, Community Forum
—
key integrations
JavaScript, Python, Java, Node.js
—
primary language
Rust
—
platforms
—
Windows, Mac, Linux
deployment
—
Self-hosted
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Combines NoSQL flexibility with familiar SQL syntax
  • Built‑in real‑time subscription support
  • Strong ACID compliance for distributed workloads
  • Easy integration with major programming languages
  • Extremely widely supported
  • Fast for reads
  • Huge community
  • Free community edition
Cons
  • Ecosystem and community are smaller than established databases
  • Advanced clustering setup can be complex for beginners
  • Limited official GUI tools for data exploration
  • Fewer advanced features than Postgres
  • Licensing nuances (Oracle-owned)
  • Some prefer MariaDB fork
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
5
User rating
Not enough data
4.5 (4)

What reviewers say

SurrealDB Reviews

No reviews yet.

MySQL Reviews

4.5 (4)
Anonymous

Great database

Tried MySQL recently. Extremely widely supported. Minor gripe: fewer advanced features than postgres. Would recommend.

Anonymous

Great database

Been using MySQL for a while. Huge community. No real complaints. Would recommend.

Anonymous

Solid choice

Been using MySQL for a while. Fast for reads. Minor gripe: some prefer mariadb fork. Would recommend.

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More alternatives & similar tools

Alternatives to SurrealDB

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TiDB
TiDB

A cloud‑native, MySQL‑compatible distributed SQL database for massive scalability

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Supabase
Supabase

Postgres database for the modern web

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PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL

The advanced open-source relational database.

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Alternatives to MySQL

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PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL

The advanced open-source relational database.

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Supabase
Supabase

Postgres database for the modern web

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TiDB
TiDB

A cloud‑native, MySQL‑compatible distributed SQL database for massive scalability

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

MySQL is the safer default for traditional relational workloads with broad support and a free community edition; SurrealDB offers modern NoSQL flexibility with SQL‑like queries and real‑time features but a smaller ecosystem.

Key differences

  • •Data model: MySQL is strictly relational; SurrealDB handles documents, graphs, and key‑value in one engine.
  • •Real‑time: SurrealDB provides built‑in WebSocket change subscriptions; MySQL does not.
  • •Licensing & cost: MySQL has a free community edition and paid enterprise; SurrealDB is freemium with unspecified paid tiers.
  • •Ecosystem: MySQL enjoys massive tooling, hosting, and community; SurrealDB’s ecosystem and GUI tools are limited.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

MySQL offers a free community edition; SurrealDB is freemium but paid tiers not detailed.

MySQL

Ease of use / learning curve

MySQL is widely taught and documented; SurrealDB’s advanced clustering can be complex for beginners.

MySQL

Features & depth

SurrealDB combines NoSQL flexibility, ACID compliance, and real‑time subscriptions; MySQL lacks built‑in real‑time features.

SurrealDB

Integrations & ecosystem

MySQL has ubiquitous hosting support and a large ecosystem; SurrealDB’s community and GUI tools are smaller.

MySQL

Scalability

SurrealDB offers automatic horizontal sharding and replication for high‑traffic workloads; MySQL relies on external clustering solutions.

SurrealDB

Support

MySQL has enterprise support options from Oracle; SurrealDB provides email, docs, and community forum only.

MySQL

Security & privacy

SurrealDB includes built‑in authentication and role‑based access control; MySQL security depends on external configuration.

SurrealDB

Choose SurrealDB if…

Startups or apps requiring real‑time updates, flexible data models, and built‑in ACID compliance.

Choose MySQL if…

Enterprises or developers needing a proven relational DB with extensive tooling and free community edition.

Common questions

Is there a cost to start using each database?

MySQL offers a free community edition; paid enterprise editions require contacting Oracle. SurrealDB is freemium, but paid tier details are not specified.

Can I get real‑time change notifications out of the box?

Yes, SurrealDB provides WebSocket subscriptions for live updates. MySQL does not include built‑in real‑time notifications.

Which has a larger ecosystem and tooling support?

MySQL has a massive ecosystem with ubiquitous hosting, tooling, and community support; SurrealDB’s ecosystem and GUI tools are comparatively smaller.