Amazon Redshift vs MariaDB

A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading database & data management solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.

Quick Verdict

Choose Amazon Redshift if you need Columnar Storage and prefer a free starting option. Choose MariaDB if you prioritize MySQL Compatibility and want a free tier to start. MariaDB has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.4).

Amazon Redshift vs MariaDB: At a Glance

CriteriaAmazon RedshiftMariaDB
User Rating
4.4
4.5
PricingFreeFree
Pricing Modelpay-as-you-goopen-source
Free Plan
PlatformsWeb, AwsLinux, Windows, Mac, Docker
CategoryDatabase & Data ManagementDatabase & Data Management
Founded20062009

Feature Comparison: Amazon Redshift vs MariaDB

FeatureAmazon RedshiftMariaDB
Columnar Storage
Massively Parallel
Machine Learning
AQUA Acceleration
Data Sharing
Federated Query
Concurrency Scaling
S3
Glue
QuickSight
SageMaker
Kinesis
Web support
Aws support
MySQL Compatibility
Aria Storage Engine
ColumnStore
Galera Cluster
MaxScale
Spider Engine
Temporal Tables
phpMyAdmin
DBeaver
HeidiSQL
Prisma
Sequelize
Linux support
Windows support
Mac support

Amazon Redshift vs MariaDB: Pricing Breakdown

Amazon Redshift Pricing

Model: pay-as-you-go

Free TrialFree
  • 750 DC2.Large hours
  • 2 months free
  • Full features
On-Demand$0.25/hour
  • Pay per node hour
  • All features
  • Standard support

MariaDB Pricing

Model: open-source

Community ServerFree
  • MySQL compatibility
  • Enhanced storage engines
  • Performance improvements
  • Community support
Enterprise$3000/year
  • Enterprise support
  • Advanced security
  • Monitoring tools

Pros and Cons

Amazon Redshift

Pros

  • Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
  • Free plan available to get started
  • Rich feature set with 14+ capabilities
  • Strong Columnar Storage functionality
  • Strong Massively Parallel functionality

Cons

  • May require time to learn advanced features

MariaDB

Pros

  • Highly rated by users (4.5/5)
  • Free plan available to get started
  • Available on 4 platforms (Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker)
  • Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
  • Strong MySQL Compatibility functionality
  • Strong Aria Storage Engine functionality

Cons

  • May require time to learn advanced features

Who Should Use Amazon Redshift vs MariaDB?

Choose Amazon Redshift if you:

  • Need Columnar Storage
  • Want to start for free
  • Work primarily on Web and Aws
  • Value Massively Parallel
View Amazon Redshift Details

Choose MariaDB if you:

  • Need MySQL Compatibility
  • Want to start for free
  • Work primarily on Linux and Windows
  • Value Aria Storage Engine
View MariaDB Details

Frequently Asked Questions: Amazon Redshift vs MariaDB

Is Amazon Redshift better than MariaDB?

It depends on your needs. Amazon Redshift has a 4.4/5 user rating while MariaDB has 4.5/5. Amazon Redshift excels in Columnar Storage and Massively Parallel, while MariaDB stands out with MySQL Compatibility and Aria Storage Engine. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.

Which is cheaper, Amazon Redshift or MariaDB?

Amazon Redshift offers a free plan and starts at Free. MariaDB offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.

Can I use Amazon Redshift and MariaDB together?

While both are database & data management tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core database & data management needs.

What are the main differences between Amazon Redshift and MariaDB?

The key differences include: pricing model (pay-as-you-go vs open-source), platform support (Web, Aws vs Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker), and feature focus. Amazon Redshift emphasizes Columnar Storage, Massively Parallel, Machine Learning while MariaDB focuses on MySQL Compatibility, Aria Storage Engine, ColumnStore. User ratings differ slightly: 4.4 vs 4.5 out of 5.

Ready to choose?

Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Amazon Redshift and MariaDB.

Amazon Redshift vs MariaDB: Compared [2026] | Softwr