MySQL and PostgreSQL are both mature, production-proven relational databases, and the “which is better” debate is mostly noise — the real question is which fits your specific needs.
Where MySQL Tends to Win
- Simpler replication setup for straightforward read-scaling needs
- Slightly better raw read performance for simple queries at scale
- Enormous ecosystem familiarity — WordPress, most PHP frameworks, most shared hosting
Where PostgreSQL Tends to Win
- Richer data types (native arrays, JSONB with indexing, ranges)
- Stricter standards compliance and more advanced query features (window functions arrived in Postgres years before MySQL)
- Better support for complex analytical queries and full ACID compliance across all its table types by default
For a typical web application, either is a genuinely fine choice — the ecosystem you’re already working in (framework defaults, team familiarity, hosting constraints) usually matters more than the technical differences between them.