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It's a split decision.
MySQL is the stronger fit for application transaction processing, embedded products and teams that want a free GPL Community Edition or paid per-server editions. ClickHouse is built for analytical SQL on large datasets, with cloud, self-managed and local options. Its hosted service charges for compute and storage, so cost depends on workload. Both can be self-hosted and are open source, but the license terms and commercial models differ; check the relevant terms before deployment.
01Side by side
| MySQL | ClickHouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-server annual licensing for paid editions | Usage-based compute, storage and egress |
| Free tier | Community Edition is free under GPL | No free plan; 30-day cloud trial |
| Open source and licence | Community GPL; commercial editions available | Open source; licence name not published |
| Self-hosting | Self-hostable Community and commercial editions | Self-managed open-source deployment |
| Integrations | HeatWave cloud choice; embedded products | 100+ ingestion, visualization and client integrations |
| Deployment model | Community, Enterprise, Cluster and HeatWave cloud | Cloud, self-managed and ClickHouse Local |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Windows and Docker |
| Limits and scaling | Paid editions tiered by server socket count | Scale plan includes unlimited storage and 2+ zones |
MySQL Choose MySQL if
- Choose MySQL if application transaction processing is central.
- Choose MySQL if you need an embedded database for a product.
- Choose MySQL if GPL Community Edition fits your deployment.
ClickHouse Choose ClickHouse if
- Choose ClickHouse if you run analytical SQL over large datasets.
- Choose ClickHouse if columnar storage and compression fit your workload.
- Choose ClickHouse if you want cloud, self-managed or local deployment.
02Pricing at real usage
MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL. Paid Standard Edition starts at $2,140 per server per year for 1–4 sockets; Enterprise starts at $5,350 per server per year for that socket tier. The pricing page lists higher annual prices for 5+ socket servers, and monthly prices are not published. Cluster Carrier Grade Edition starts at $10,700 per server per year for 1–4 sockets. Classic Edition is available through OEM or embedded licensing, with price not published.
ClickHouse Cloud has a 30-day trial, but no free plan. Basic compute is $0.2181 per unit-hour and storage is $25.30 per TB-month, with up to 1 TB storage. Scale compute is $0.2985 per unit-hour; Enterprise is $0.3903. Both list storage at $25.30 per TB-month. Public internet egress starts at $0.1152/GB. ClickHouse bills self-service customers monthly in USD, so costs rise with usage.
03API, SDKs and integration
MySQL is presented as a database for application transactions and embedded products. The homepage also describes HeatWave as a cloud service combining transactions with lakehouse-scale analytics, and says developers can deploy apps with a choice of cloud providers. ISVs, OEMs and VARs can embed MySQL in products. The homepage does not identify API styles, SDK names, supported programming languages or CLI commands, so verify client support in the product documentation before choosing a driver.
ClickHouse supports analytical SQL, and its homepage lists more than 100 integrations for data ingestion, visualization, language clients and other uses. ClickHouse Local queries CSV, TSV and Parquet files without a server. The homepage does not name specific SDKs, languages or CLI commands beyond ClickHouse Local. For either database, confirm that the client libraries and operational tooling in your stack support the deployment you plan to run.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Both products are open source and self-hostable. MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL; the vendor also sells Standard, Enterprise and Cluster editions with per-server licensing. ClickHouse is described as open source, but its homepage does not name the licence. Check the applicable licence terms before redistributing either database or building it into a product.
ClickHouse can run as a self-managed database or as ClickHouse Local; ClickHouse Cloud is the hosted option. MySQL has Community and commercial editions, plus HeatWave as a cloud service. Neither homepage specifies data-export formats or migration tooling. Treat a move between them as a schema and query redesign, not a direct swap: MySQL is positioned for transaction processing, while ClickHouse uses columnar storage for analytical workloads. Ask vendors about export paths and migration support for your deployment.
Questions people ask
Should I use MySQL or ClickHouse for an application database?
MySQL is positioned for transaction processing and application use, so it is the more direct fit when the database serves an application's transactional workload. ClickHouse is designed for analytical queries over large datasets. If an application needs both patterns, assess whether one database can serve both workloads or whether a separate analytics store fits better.
Can ClickHouse replace MySQL?
Not as a like-for-like swap in every system. ClickHouse uses columnar storage and is built for analytical SQL; MySQL is positioned for transaction processing and application databases. A migration would need review of schemas, queries and workload behavior. Validate the application requirements before replacing a MySQL database with ClickHouse.
Which database is cheaper?
It depends on deployment and usage. MySQL Community Edition is free under GPL, while paid editions have annual per-server prices tied to socket count. ClickHouse Cloud bills for compute and storage, with egress charges also listed. Compare a specific workload and licensing needs rather than treating either product as universally cheaper.
Can I self-host both MySQL and ClickHouse?
Yes. Both are listed as self-hostable. ClickHouse also offers ClickHouse Local for querying CSV, TSV and Parquet files without a server, as well as a hosted cloud service. MySQL offers Community and commercial editions, with HeatWave as a cloud service. Check licensing and deployment requirements for your intended use.