Amazon RDS vs Azure Database for MySQL

Managed databases for people who'd rather not manage databases meets mysql with a microsoft hug—managed so you don't have to babysit your database. Here's our take.

Amazon RDS

Nice Pick

Managed databases for people who'd rather not manage databases. It's like having a DBA on retainer, but cheaper and less opinionated.

Pros

• Automates backups, patching, and scaling, so you can focus on your app instead of babysitting servers
• Supports multiple engines like PostgreSQL and MySQL, making it easy to switch or standardize
• Built-in high availability with Multi-AZ deployments, because downtime is for amateurs

Cons

• Costs can sneak up on you with instance sizes and storage, especially if you forget to turn things off
• Limited control over the underlying OS and some database settings, which can be frustrating for power users

Azure Database for MySQL

MySQL with a Microsoft hug—managed so you don't have to babysit your database.

Pros

• Fully managed with automated backups and patching
• High availability built-in with flexible server options
• Seamless integration with other Azure services
• Strong security features like encryption and firewall rules

Cons

• Can get pricey compared to self-hosted MySQL
• Limited control over underlying infrastructure

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Amazon RDS is a hosting & deployment while Azure Database for MySQL is a databases. We picked Amazon RDS based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Amazon RDS wins

Based on overall popularity. Amazon RDS is more widely used, but Azure Database for MySQL excels in its own space.