Open Source Database Downloaded 3B+
MariaDB Community Server
MariaDB Community Server is the free, open source relational database that runs everywhere, from developer laptops to the world’s largest websites. And when your applications become mission-critical, MariaDB Enterprise Platform is ready.
Open from the beginning
Our open source heritage
The MariaDB open source project was created in 2009 by the original MySQL developers to keep a world-class relational database open and free for everyone. MariaDB Server is released under GPLv2 and guaranteed to remain open source, so anyone can inspect and improve the code. MariaDB plc develops more than 90% of the code and contributes major capabilities, including vector search for AI applications in 2025, while the independent MariaDB Foundation stewards the project’s openness.
It’s a community that works. MariaDB Community Server has been downloaded more than 3 billion times, ships as the default in most major Linux distributions, reaching over 2.5 billion users, and powers applications such as Wikipedia and WordPress. Its high compatibility with MySQL and Oracle allows teams to adopt it without retooling or reskilling, with no upfront licensing costs.
Rapid innovation
Where open source database innovation happens
MariaDB didn’t stop at MySQL compatibility. Oracle compatibility, columnar analytics and vector search for AI applications are all built right into the open source server. The work goes well beyond the server, with connectors and AI framework integrations to MariaDB AI plugins that teach coding agents to write MariaDB code. It’s all open source, so everyone building on MariaDB benefits.
Developers have taken notice. MariaDB now runs on more WordPress sites than MySQL, and Adobe Commerce chose MariaDB as its default database.
When to upgrade
When you should move from MariaDB Community Server to MariaDB Enterprise Platform
Community Server is a great place to start. Teams usually move to Enterprise Platform for one of three reasons.
Downtime starts to cost real money
Downtime often starts with a human mistake, like a table deleted by accident, or a traffic surge that overwhelms the database. When those moments start to hurt revenue and reputation, you need a database built to recover fast and stay available.
You need guaranteed support
If something goes wrong in production, you need an expert who answers right away and a release you can rely on for years, instead of being forced to upgrade on someone else’s timeline.
Regulations require it
Some applications must run on vendor-supported software or meet security and audit requirements that community software alone can’t satisfy.
Key differences in MariaDB Enterprise Platform
MariaDB Enterprise Platform starts with the same core you know and adds operational analytics with MariaDB Exa, distributed cache with MariaDB GridGain, and the option to run it all fully managed in MariaDB Cloud.
Get expert help whenever you need it
Enterprise support 24/7 worldwide, with priority bug fixes and custom hotfix builds.
Keep applications running through failures
Automated failover, transaction replay and session restore keep applications available if a server goes down.
Meet security and compliance requirements
Preconfigured security and compliance controls, including encrypted buffers, data obfuscation and query result limiting. Meets Department of Defense (DOD) STIG requirements.
Roll out changes with confidence
Non-blocking DDL keeps performance steady during changes, and workload capture and replay lets you test against real traffic before going to production.
Power AI and agents at real-time speed
A distributed cache with submillisecond response, semantic cache and agent memory help agents run faster, with AI retrieval right alongside your data.
Operate with less effort
Up to 8 years of support per release eliminates forced upgrades. Non-blocking backups and built-in monitoring simplify daily management, or go fully managed with MariaDB Cloud.
Compare
Community Server vs Enterprise Platform
Additional resources
Community resources
Contribute
Contribute
Engage
Join the community
Learn
Documentation
There are many ways to contribute to MariaDB Server. We welcome code contributions, handled by MariaDB Foundation.
Join an event or MariaDB meetup around the world, or connect with us in the Community Slack channel.
Find technical documentation, getting started guides and community resources.
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