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It's a split decision.
Choose Apache Cassandra for distributed NoSQL workloads that need a masterless cluster, data-center replication and linear scaling as nodes are added. Choose MySQL if you want a database platform spanning free Community software, paid enterprise editions, embedded products and HeatWave analytics. Both can be self-hosted, but their commercial models differ: Cassandra is free to download, while MySQL production pricing depends on edition and server socket count. Neither homepage specifies supported SDKs or client languages.
01Side by side
| Apache Cassandra | MySQL | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free to download and self-host | Paid editions licensed per server |
| Free tier | Open-source software under Apache License 2.0 | Community Edition is free under GPL |
| Open source and licence | Apache License 2.0 | Community GPL; paid commercial editions |
| Self-hosting | Self-host on commodity hardware or cloud infrastructure | Self-hostable; HeatWave is a cloud service |
| Integrations | Community ecosystem; Kafka and object-storage use cases | Cloud-provider choice and embedded-product use |
| Deployment model | Clusters across cloud, on-premises or commodity hardware | Self-hosted editions and cloud-based HeatWave |
| Limits and scaling | Linear scaling by adding nodes, without downtime | Cluster edition targets scalable web and cloud services |
| Product scope | Distributed NoSQL database for availability and scale | Transactions, analytics, AI and embedded database options |
Apache Cassandra Choose Apache Cassandra if
- Choose Apache Cassandra if you need masterless distributed architecture.
- Choose Apache Cassandra if you need replication across data centers.
- Choose Apache Cassandra if free self-hosting matters.
MySQL Choose MySQL if
- Choose MySQL if you need free Community Edition under GPL.
- Choose MySQL if you need paid enterprise management and support.
- Choose MySQL if HeatWave analytics or embedded licensing fits.
02Pricing at real usage
Cassandra is free to download and self-host under the Apache License 2.0; the project publishes no monthly or annual software charge. Your costs are infrastructure and operating costs, rather than a listed licence fee.
MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL. Paid editions are licensed per server, with annual list prices tied to socket count: Standard is $2,140 per year for 1–4 sockets or $4,280 for 5+; Enterprise is $5,350 or $10,700, respectively. Enterprise includes a 30-day trial. MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition is listed at $10,700 per year for 1–4 sockets; its 5+ socket price is not published. The pricing page gives annual, not monthly, prices. As you add licensed servers or move into a higher socket band, the licence bill can rise. It does not list a usage-based rate.
03API, SDKs and integration
Neither homepage specifies supported client languages, SDK versions, a CLI or API protocols. Confirm those details in the product documentation before choosing a driver or standardizing a client stack.
Cassandra’s homepage points to a third-party ecosystem of projects, tools, products and services. Community talks cover Cassandra Analytics exports and integrations involving Kafka and object storage. That signals adjacent tooling, but the homepage does not document a specific integration contract or supported connector version.
MySQL’s product range has clearer deployment and product hooks: HeatWave is a cloud service, and the homepage says applications can be deployed with a choice of cloud providers. MySQL is also embedded in products from ISVs, OEMs and VARs, with Classic Edition available through OEM and embedded licensing. These are ecosystem and product options, not a list of client SDKs. Check edition requirements and supported integrations for your chosen deployment.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Cassandra is open source under the Apache License 2.0 and can be self-hosted on commodity hardware, cloud infrastructure or on-premises. Its masterless architecture and replication across data centers are designed to avoid a single point of failure. MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL and MySQL is self-hostable; Standard, Enterprise and Cluster editions are separately licensed commercial offerings.
MySQL also offers HeatWave as a cloud service, so deployment and edition choices affect how much infrastructure your team operates. Neither homepage describes a standard data-export path or migration process. Before committing, verify export formats, restore procedures and migration tooling against your schema and workload. Treat MySQL’s per-server commercial licensing and OEM terms as a separate constraint from the Community Edition, and check the terms that apply to your distribution model.
Questions people ask
Is Apache Cassandra a NoSQL database or a SQL database?
Apache Cassandra is described as an open-source distributed NoSQL database. Its homepage emphasizes large amounts of data, high availability, replication and linear scaling. The homepage does not identify client protocols or language SDKs, so check the documentation for the interfaces your application needs.
What is the main difference between Cassandra and MySQL?
Cassandra is a masterless distributed NoSQL database built around scaling and data-center resilience. MySQL is a broader database platform with Community, Enterprise, Cluster and HeatWave offerings, covering transactions, analytics, embedded products and AI features. The better fit depends on the workload and how you plan to deploy and license it.
Can we self-host both Cassandra and MySQL?
Yes. Cassandra can run on commodity hardware, cloud infrastructure or on-premises, and MySQL is self-hostable. MySQL also offers HeatWave as a cloud service. For either product, choose the deployment model based on who will operate the database and which edition or infrastructure costs apply.
Which database is cheaper for production?
Cassandra has no published software charge for self-hosting. MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL, while paid production editions are licensed per server and priced by socket band. Compare those licence costs with infrastructure and operations; the MySQL pricing page lists annual prices, not monthly rates.