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It's a split decision.
Choose MongoDB for document-centric applications that benefit from a flexible document model, one query API, and Atlas services for search, analytics, and AI. Choose MySQL for relational workloads, a free GPL Community Edition, or production deployments priced per server. Both can run on your own infrastructure. Compare the Atlas usage-based costs with MySQL’s annual server licences, and check which database model and operational features your application needs before deciding.
01Side by side
| MongoDB | MySQL | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Atlas bills hourly; costs vary by cluster and usage. | Paid editions are licensed annually per server and socket tier. |
| Free tier | M0: 512 MB storage and up to 100 operations per second. | Community Edition is free under GPL. |
| Open source and licence | Community Edition costs nothing; its licence is not specified. | Community Edition is free under GPL. |
| Self-hosting | Self-managed MongoDB runs on your infrastructure. | MySQL can be self-hosted. |
| Integrations | MongoDB says it integrates with 100+ technologies. | HeatWave supports cloud-provider choice; MySQL is embedded in products. |
| Deployment model | Atlas across clouds or self-managed software. | Community, Enterprise, Cluster, and HeatWave offerings. |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Limits and scaling | M0 lists up to 100 operations per second. | Cluster Carrier Grade Edition targets scalability and uptime. |
MongoDB Choose MongoDB if
- Choose MongoDB if your application uses a document model.
- Choose MongoDB if Atlas search, analytics, or AI services fit your stack.
- Choose MongoDB if you need Atlas or self-managed deployment options.
MySQL Choose MySQL if
- Choose MySQL if you need a free GPL Community Edition.
- Choose MySQL if per-server annual licensing suits your budget.
- Choose MySQL if you need its Enterprise, Cluster, or HeatWave offerings.
02Pricing at real usage
MongoDB Atlas Free (M0) costs $0 and includes 512 MB of storage, 32 MB of sort memory, and up to 100 operations per second. Atlas Flex lists a $0.011/hour base rate, 5 GB storage, and usage costs of $8–$30/month. Dedicated clusters start at $56.94/month, with hourly rates varying by cluster size. Atlas Infinite lists $0.09/hour and is in public preview.
MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL. Paid Standard Edition starts at $2,140 per server per year for 1–4 socket servers; the 5+ socket tier is $4,280. Enterprise Edition lists $5,350 and $10,700 per server per year for those respective tiers, with a 30-day trial. These are annual list prices; monthly prices are not published. Compare Atlas workload-based bills with MySQL’s per-server licence costs.
03API, SDKs and integration
MongoDB describes a document model with a single query API for application data. Developers can use Atlas or self-managed MongoDB; the product also includes Compass, a GUI for working with MongoDB data, and Relational Migrator. MongoDB says it integrates with 100+ technologies and links to documentation and community forums. Atlas adds database search, vector search, analytics, and stream-processing capabilities.
MySQL offers Community, Enterprise, Cluster, and HeatWave products. Its homepage describes HeatWave as a cloud service for transactions and lakehouse-scale analytics, with a choice of cloud providers, and MySQL as an embedded database for ISVs, OEMs, and VARs. The homepage also links to Community Edition downloads and an early-access preview. The product pages do not identify specific SDK languages or CLI tools; check the documentation for your chosen deployment and driver before implementation.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL, and MySQL can be self-hosted. MongoDB offers self-managed software and a no-cost Community Edition, but its product pages do not specify the Community Edition’s licence. Atlas is the hosted option, while Enterprise Advanced targets self-managed enterprise deployments and uses a commercial licence.
Using Atlas ties operations to its managed services, including Atlas-specific search and data services; self-managing MongoDB avoids that hosting dependency but puts infrastructure operations on your team. MySQL’s Enterprise, Cluster, and HeatWave offerings also create edition-specific dependencies. MongoDB lists Relational Migrator as a migration tool, but the product pages do not specify data-export formats or migration costs. Before choosing either platform, verify export formats, feature parity outside managed services, and migration downtime for your schema and workload.
Questions people ask
Which one is easy, MongoDB or MySQL?
Ease depends on your data model and operating needs. MongoDB uses a flexible document model and one query API for application data. MySQL offers Community, Enterprise, Cluster, and HeatWave options. Plan schema design and deployment around your workload; MongoDB’s flexible schema still needs deliberate design.
What are the top 3 relational databases?
The product pages do not establish a ranking of relational databases. They identify MySQL as a database platform, while MongoDB uses a document model. A useful shortlist depends on your application’s data model, hosting needs, operational requirements, and licence constraints.
What are the key differences between SQL and NoSQL databases?
MongoDB describes itself as a document database with a flexible document model and a single query API. MySQL is presented as a database platform with transaction processing and analytics offerings. Compare how each handles your application’s data model and the services you plan to use.
Does Netflix use NoSQL?
MongoDB’s and MySQL’s product pages do not identify Netflix as a customer, so they cannot verify its database choices. The relevant decision for your application is whether each workload fits a document model, a relational database, or a mix of database types.