The verdict: pick by data shape, not by popularity
Choose MySQL when your records are relational and money, stock or permissions must stay consistent across tables. Choose MongoDB when records differ in shape, nest deeply, and write volume grows faster than one server can take. Neither is faster in general; each is faster at the workload it was designed for.
- MySQL, if you run WooCommerce, billing, inventory or reporting with joins and foreign keys.
- MongoDB, if you store product catalogues with uneven attributes, event streams or content assembled per request.
- Either, if the app is small: both install on one server and both are free to start.
Specs side by side, read from vendor pages on 30 October 2026
Each row is verifiable at the source named beside it. Where vendors disagree, the table follows the vendor of that product, not a blog summary.
| Spec | MySQL | MongoDB | Source, read 30 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data model | Tables, rows, a schema defined before insert | Collections of BSON documents, schema flexible per document | mongodb.com/resources/compare/mongodb-mysql |
| Query language | SQL | MongoDB Query API (find, aggregate) | mongodb.com/resources/compare/mongodb-mysql |
| Joins | Native JOIN across indexed tables | $lookup inside an aggregation pipeline | mongodb.com/resources/compare/mongodb-mysql |
| Transactions | ACID for multi-row transactions through InnoDB | Multi-document ACID transactions | mongodb.com/resources/compare/mongodb-mysql; dev.mysql.com |
| Scaling writes | Vertical, plus read replicas for reads | Sharded cluster distributing data across servers | mongodb.com/resources/compare/mongodb-mysql |
| High availability | Source-replica replication | Replica set with automatic failover | dev.mysql.com; mongodb.com/docs/manual/replication |
| Licence | GPLv2 for the Community Server, commercial editions available | SSPL for Community, commercial licence for Enterprise | mysql.com; mongodb.com/legal |
The licence row matters if you resell database access. MongoDB Community under SSPL is not the same offer as MySQL under GPLv2, and a host has to read both before packaging either.
Where MySQL wins: joins, constraints and money
MySQL wins wherever one fact must stay true in several tables at once. A checkout that decrements stock, writes an order row and records a payment belongs in one transaction with a foreign key stopping an order that points at no customer.
It also wins on reporting. A finance query that joins orders, refunds and tax lines across four tables is one SQL statement in MySQL and a multi-stage aggregation in MongoDB. If your team already writes SQL, that is a real cost saving every month.
WooCommerce, Magento and most Indian ERP integrations assume MySQL. Choosing MongoDB for a WordPress store means replacing the data layer, not swapping an extension.
Where MongoDB wins: varying documents and write volume
MongoDB wins when two products in the same catalogue need different fields. A phone has storage and camera megapixels; a shirt has size and fabric. In MySQL that becomes either many sparse columns or an attribute table with joins on every page load. In MongoDB each document carries its own shape.
It also wins on sustained writes. A sharded cluster spreads inserts across servers, while MySQL scales writes mainly by buying a bigger machine. Event logs, IoT readings and activity feeds fit that pattern; a ledger of payments usually does not.
What each one costs to host in India
Both engines are free to download, so the real cost is the server and the person who maintains it. Either one runs on the same WebJi® cloud entry configuration: 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM and 100 GB storage at ₹5,900 per month before 18% GST.
| Option | What you pay | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| MySQL on WebJi® shared hosting | Included in the plan, from ₹300 per month before 18% GST | WebJi pricing, read 30 Oct 2026 |
| MySQL or MongoDB on a WebJi® cloud server | From ₹5,900 per month before 18% GST | WebJi pricing, read 30 Oct 2026 |
| MongoDB Atlas free cluster | Free tier includes 512 MB of storage | mongodb.com/resources/compare/mongodb-mysql, read 30 Oct 2026 |
The free Atlas tier is for exploration, not a production store, and it is a MongoDB, Inc. product. WebJi® is not MongoDB, Inc. and not Oracle; WebJi® rents the server you install either engine on.
Moving between them is a rewrite, not a dump
There is no mysqldump equivalent that turns relational tables into useful documents. The tables have to be modelled again as collections, and every query in the application has to be rewritten against the new API.
- List every query the application runs and mark the ones that join more than two tables. Those decide whether the move is sensible at all.
- Model the new collections around how the page reads data, not around how the old tables were normalised.
- Run both databases in parallel and dual-write for a week, comparing row counts and totals nightly.
- Cut reads over to the new engine behind a feature flag, keep writes on both, and watch error rates for 48 hours.
- Retire the old writes only after one full billing cycle matches to the rupee.
Hosting MySQL or MongoDB on WebJi®
WebJi® runs MySQL 8 on shared, reseller and cloud plans, and leaves MongoDB to cloud servers where you control the version and the shard key. A WordPress or WooCommerce site belongs on WordPress hosting with MySQL already configured.
For MongoDB, take the cloud hosting entry plan or a larger VPS server, and size RAM so the working set stays in memory. Email support@webji.services with your data size and read/write ratio for a written recommendation before payment; the contact page reaches the same team. Support covers the server and the database service, not your application queries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MongoDB faster than MySQL?
Not in general. MongoDB is faster at inserting and updating large volumes of documents, and MySQL is faster at selecting large result sets and joining indexed tables. The workload decides which advantage applies to you.
Can MySQL store JSON documents?
Yes, MySQL has a JSON column type and JSON functions. It still runs inside a relational schema, so querying nested values is less direct than a native document database, and validation has to be added yourself.
Does MongoDB support transactions?
Yes. MongoDB supports multi-document ACID transactions, so a checkout across several documents can commit or roll back together. MySQL has provided multi-row transactions through InnoDB for much longer.
Which database should a WooCommerce store use?
MySQL. WooCommerce, WordPress and most payment and ERP plugins are written against MySQL, and the stock, order and tax tables depend on transactions and joins. Moving that store to MongoDB means replacing the data layer.
Can I run either database on shared hosting?
MySQL yes, on WebJi® shared plans. MongoDB needs a server where you can install and configure the service, so it belongs on a cloud server or VPS. Shared hosting does not let you run a database daemon of your own.
How hard is it to switch from MySQL to MongoDB?
Harder than a dump and restore. Tables are remodelled as collections and every query is rewritten, then both databases run in parallel until totals match. Budget weeks, not hours, for a live store.