Migrate from MySQL to MariaDB: Differences, Compatibility and Step-by-Step Guide

MySQL / MariaDB · 19.04.2026

MySQL vs MariaDB: Key Differences

Feature	MySQL 8.0	MariaDB 10.x
License	GPL + commercial (Oracle)	GPL (fully open source)
Galera Cluster	No (separate InnoDB Cluster)	Built-in
Compatibility	—	Drop-in replacement for MySQL 5.7

Step 1: Backup MySQL Data

mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases --single-transaction \
    --routines --triggers > /backup/mysql_full_$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

Step 2: Remove MySQL, Install MariaDB

sudo systemctl stop mysql
sudo apt remove --purge mysql-server mysql-client
sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client
sudo mariadb-secure-installation

Step 3: Import Data

mysql -u root -p < /backup/mysql_full_*.sql
mysql -u root -p -e "SHOW DATABASES;"

MariaDB is fully compatible with MySQL 5.7 at the protocol level — most apps (WordPress, Laravel, etc.) work without config changes.