DB-EnginesExtremeDB: white paper about the mission critical dbmsEnglish
Deutsch
Knowledge Base of Relational and NoSQL Database Management Systemsprovided by solid IT

DBMS > Informix vs. MySQL vs. PostgreSQL

System Properties Comparison Informix vs. MySQL vs. PostgreSQL

Please select another system to include it in the comparison.

Editorial information provided by DB-Engines
NameInformix  Xexclude from comparisonMySQL  Xexclude from comparisonPostgreSQL  Xexclude from comparison
DescriptionA secure embeddable database from IBM, positioned besides IBM Db2 as a relatively low-cost product optimized for OLTP and Internet of Things dataWidely used open source RDBMSWidely used open source RDBMS infoDeveloped as objectoriented DBMS (Postgres), gradually enhanced with 'standards' like SQL
Primary database modelRelational DBMS infoSince Version 12.10 support for JSON/BSON datatypes compatible with MongoDBRelational DBMS infoKey/Value like access via memcached APIRelational DBMS infowith object oriented extensions, e.g.: user defined types/functions and inheritance. Handling of key/value pairs with hstore module.
Secondary database modelsDocument store
Spatial DBMS
Time Series DBMS infowith Informix TimeSeries Extension
Document store
Spatial DBMS
Document store
Graph DBMS infowith Apache Age
Spatial DBMS
Vector DBMS infowith pgvector extension
DB-Engines Ranking infomeasures the popularity of database management systemsranking trend
Trend Chart
Score21.42
Rank#33  Overall
#20  Relational DBMS
Score1133.32
Rank#2  Overall
#2  Relational DBMS
Score638.82
Rank#4  Overall
#4  Relational DBMS
Websitewww.ibm.com/­products/­informixwww.mysql.comwww.postgresql.org
Technical documentationinformix.hcldoc.com
www.ibm.com/­support/­knowledgecenter/­SSGU8G/­welcomeIfxServers.html
dev.mysql.com/­docwww.postgresql.org/­docs
DeveloperIBM, HCL Technologies infoEffective May 1st, 2017, HCL took on development, technical support, and product management teams, and works jointly with IBM on product strategy, marketing, and sales.Oracle infosince 2010, originally MySQL AB, then SunPostgreSQL Global Development Group infowww.postgresql.org/­developer
Initial release198419951989 info1989: Postgres, 1996: PostgreSQL
Current release14.10.FC5, November 20208.1.0, July 202316.0, September 2023
License infoCommercial or Open Sourcecommercial infofree developer edition availableOpen Source infoGPL version 2. Commercial licenses with extended functionallity are availableOpen Source infoBSD
Cloud-based only infoOnly available as a cloud servicenonono
DBaaS offerings (sponsored links) infoDatabase as a Service

Providers of DBaaS offerings, please contact us to be listed.
  • PlanetScale: Deploy a fully managed database with the reliability of MySQL and the scale of open source Vitess with PlanetScale today. Predictably scale, increase workflow velocity, and deploy features with zero downtime.
  • Aiven for MySQL: Fully managed MySQL, deployable in the cloud of your choice, with seamless integrations and lightning-fast setup.
Aiven for PostgreSQL: Fully managed PostgreSQL for developers with 70+ extensions and flexible orchestration tools.
Implementation languageC, C++ and JavaC and C++C
Server operating systemsAIX
HP-UX
Linux
macOS
Solaris
Windows
FreeBSD
Linux
OS X
Solaris
Windows
FreeBSD
HP-UX
Linux
NetBSD
OpenBSD
OS X
Solaris
Unix
Windows
Data schemeyesyesyes
Typing infopredefined data types such as float or dateyes infoSince Version 12.10 support for JSON/BSON datatypesyesyes
XML support infoSome form of processing data in XML format, e.g. support for XML data structures, and/or support for XPath, XQuery or XSLT.yesyes infospecific XML-type available, but no XML query functionality.
Secondary indexesyesyesyes
SQL infoSupport of SQLyesyes infowith proprietary extensionsyes infostandard with numerous extensions
APIs and other access methodsJDBC
JSON API infoMongoDB compatible
MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport)
ODBC
RESTful HTTP API
ADO.NET
JDBC
ODBC
Proprietary native API
ADO.NET
JDBC
native C library
ODBC
streaming API for large objects
Supported programming languages.Net
C
C++
Java
JavaScript (Node.js)
PHP
Python
Ruby
Ada
C
C#
C++
D
Delphi
Eiffel
Erlang
Haskell
Java
JavaScript (Node.js)
Objective-C
OCaml
Perl
PHP
Python
Ruby
Scheme
Tcl
.Net
C
C++
Delphi
Java infoJDBC
JavaScript (Node.js)
Perl
PHP
Python
Tcl
Server-side scripts infoStored proceduresyesyes infoproprietary syntaxuser defined functions inforealized in proprietary language PL/pgSQL or with common languages like Perl, Python, Tcl etc.
Triggersyesyesyes
Partitioning methods infoMethods for storing different data on different nodesShardinghorizontal partitioning, sharding with MySQL Cluster or MySQL Fabricpartitioning by range, list and (since PostgreSQL 11) by hash
Replication methods infoMethods for redundantly storing data on multiple nodesMulti-source replication
Source-replica replication
Multi-source replication
Source-replica replication
Source-replica replication infoother methods possible by using 3rd party extensions
MapReduce infoOffers an API for user-defined Map/Reduce methodsnonono
Consistency concepts infoMethods to ensure consistency in a distributed systemImmediate ConsistencyImmediate ConsistencyImmediate Consistency
Foreign keys infoReferential integrityyesyes infonot for MyISAM storage engineyes
Transaction concepts infoSupport to ensure data integrity after non-atomic manipulations of dataACIDACID infonot for MyISAM storage engineACID
Concurrency infoSupport for concurrent manipulation of datayesyes infotable locks or row locks depending on storage engineyes
Durability infoSupport for making data persistentyesyesyes
In-memory capabilities infoIs there an option to define some or all structures to be held in-memory only.yesyesno
User concepts infoAccess controlUsers with fine-grained authentication, authorization, and auditing controlsUsers with fine-grained authorization concept infono user groups or rolesfine grained access rights according to SQL-standard

More information provided by the system vendor

We invite representatives of system vendors to contact us for updating and extending the system information,
and for displaying vendor-provided information such as key customers, competitive advantages and market metrics.

Related products and services
3rd partiesNavicat for MySQL is the ideal solution for MySQL/MariaDB administration and development.
» more

Aiven for MySQL: Fully managed MySQL, deployable in the cloud of your choice, with seamless integrations and lightning-fast setup.
» more

Navicat Monitor is a safe, simple and agentless remote server monitoring tool for MySQL and many other database management systems.
» more

CData: Connect to Big Data & NoSQL through standard Drivers.
» more

PlanetScale: Deploy a fully managed serverless database with the reliability of MySQL and the tested scalability of Vitess. Predictably scale, increase workflow velocity, and deploy features with zero downtime.
Get started with a PlanetScale database today for free.
» more
Redgate webinars: A series of key topics for new PostgreSQL users.
» more

Navicat Monitor is a safe, simple and agentless remote server monitoring tool for PostgreSQL and many other database management systems.
» more

Timescale: Calling all PostgreSQL users – the 2023 State of PostgreSQL survey is now open! Share your favorite extensions, preferred frameworks, community experiences, and more. Take the survey today!
» more

Instaclustr: Fully Hosted & Managed PostgreSQL
» more

Aiven for PostgreSQL: Fully managed PostgreSQL for developers with 70+ extensions and flexible orchestration tools.
» more

Datasentinel: Platform for Monitoring and Analyzing the performance problems of your PostgreSQL Clusters
» more

pgDash: In-Depth PostgreSQL Monitoring.
» more

Navicat for PostgreSQL is an easy-to-use graphical tool for PostgreSQL database development.
» more

Fujitsu Enterprise Postgres: An Enterprise Grade PostgreSQL with the flexibility of a hybrid cloud solution combined with industry leading security, availability and performance.
» more

We invite representatives of vendors of related products to contact us for presenting information about their offerings here.

More resources
InformixMySQLPostgreSQL
DB-Engines blog posts

MySQL is the DBMS of the Year 2019
3 January 2020, Matthias Gelbmann, Paul Andlinger

MariaDB strengthens its position in the open source RDBMS market
5 April 2018, Matthias Gelbmann

The struggle for the hegemony in Oracle's database empire
2 May 2017, Paul Andlinger

show all

Snowflake is the DBMS of the Year 2022, defending the title from last year
3 January 2023, Matthias Gelbmann, Paul Andlinger

Snowflake is the DBMS of the Year 2021
3 January 2022, Paul Andlinger, Matthias Gelbmann

Driving the Future of PostgreSQL Adoption
15 November 2021,  Umair Shahid, Percona (sponsor) 

show all

Conferences and events

PostgreSQL 101: An introduction to Multi-Version Concurrency Control and Vacuum
Webinar with Q&A, 11am CT / 5pm BST, 24 October 2023

Recent citations in the news

Relational Database Management System Market 2023 Current and ...
3 October 2023, Digital Journal

Embedded Database Management Systems Market is Booming ...
13 September 2023, Digital Journal

Relational Database Management System Market 2023 ...
29 September 2023, Digital Journal

Keshav Murthy, Author at The New Stack
19 September 2023, The New Stack

The Top 5 Data Migration Tools of 2023
13 June 2023, Datamation

provided by Google News

PlanetScale forks MySQL to add vector support
3 October 2023, TechCrunch

PHP MySQL Create profile update form and show old data on it ...
30 September 2023, SitePoint

Oracle Continues MySQL HeatWave Innovation with Vector Store ...
20 September 2023, oracle.com

Using Git Hooks with MySQL
30 September 2023, hackernoon.com

Oracle’s MySQL HeatWave gets Vector Store, generative AI features
20 September 2023, InfoWorld

provided by Google News

High Performance Functions in Rust on RDS PostgreSQL
25 September 2023, InfoQ.com

4 key new features in PostgreSQL 16
14 September 2023, InfoWorld

Understanding the Fundamentals of PostgreSQL® Architecture
25 September 2023, Datanami

PostgreSQL 16 Expands Analytics Capabilities
22 September 2023, The New Stack

Timescale Strengthens and Accelerates AI Development with ...
29 September 2023, Database Trends and Applications

provided by Google News

Job opportunities

IBM Informix 4GL Consultant
i2vision, Remote

Informix DBA
Gazelle Global Consulting, Remote

Software Support Analyst I
Jenzabar, Remote

Informix
Avenue Code, United States

Clerk, Quality Control
Inmar, Atlanta, GA

Adjunct Instructor, Game Development
State of Georgia, Lawrenceville, GA

Junior Application Solutions Engineer
Priority Technology Holdings, LLC, Alpharetta, GA

PHP/MySQL Developers
Webmasters.com, Tampa, FL

Data Center Technician
sourcemantra, Alpharetta, GA

Loss Prevention Specialist
Amazon.com Services LLC, Stone Mountain, GA

PostgreSQL DBA
i2vision, Remote

PostgreSQL Database Administrator
proit-inc, Remote

Senior Backend Engineer
Aescape, Inc., New York, NY

PostgreSQL Database Engineer
Alltech International, Remote

SQL Developer
ASRC Federal Holding Company, Moorestown, NJ

jobs by Indeed



Share this page

Featured Products

MariaDB logo

SkySQL, the ultimate
MariaDB cloud, is here.

Get started with SkySQL today!

Neo4j logo

See for yourself how a graph database can make your life easier.
Use Neo4j online for free.

AllegroGraph logo

Graph Database Leader for AI Knowledge Graph Applications - The Most Secure Graph Database Available.
Free Download

Datastax Astra logo

Bring all your data to Generative AI applications with vector search enabled by the most scalable
vector database available.
Try for Free

Redis logo

The world’s most loved real‑time data platform.
Try free

Present your product here