PostgreSQL vs MySQL: choosing the right database for your product

PostgreSQL and MySQL are both mature, reliable databases, and for most applications either would work fine. The differences matter more at the edges: PostgreSQL handles complex queries and data integrity constraints more strictly, which makes it a strong default for applications with relational data and reporting needs. MySQL tends to be simpler to set up and slightly faster for straightforward read-heavy workloads. For most of the products we build, PostgreSQL's stricter typing and JSON support end up being the deciding factor.