Introduction

Choosing between MySQL and SQLite can make or break your application's performance and scalability. SQLite powers over 1 trillion active databases worldwide—every smartphone, most desktop applications, and countless IoT devices—while MySQL dominates web applications, running WordPress sites, e-commerce platforms, and enterprise systems used by billions daily. The right choice depends entirely on your specific needs: SQLite excels for embedded, mobile, and single-user applications with its zero-configuration simplicity and 250KB footprint, while MySQL shines in multi-user web environments requiring concurrent access, complex security, and horizontal scaling.

This comprehensive guide compares both databases across architecture, performance, use cases, and practical implementation, helping you make an informed decision whether you're building your first app or scaling an enterprise system. We'll explore real-world benchmarks showing SQLite can handle millions of requests per day (challenging the myth it's only for "toy" projects), examine MySQL's recent performance improvements (7.25% faster writes in version 8.4.3), and provide clear migration strategies between both databases.

MySQL vs SQLite

What is MySQL? Understanding the client-server database

MySQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that uses a client-server architecture. Released by Oracle Corporation, it's the world's most popular open-source database for web applications, currently at version 8.4 LTS (Long-Term Support) with support through 2032.

Think of MySQL like a library with a librarian—your application (the client) makes requests to the MySQL server (the librarian), which manages all the data and returns what you need. The server runs continuously as a separate process, handling requests from multiple clients simultaneously. This architecture makes MySQL ideal for multi-user environments where dozens, hundreds, or thousands of users need concurrent access to the same data.

Key MySQL characteristics:

Server-based: Requires a separate server process running continuously
Multi-user: Designed for concurrent access from multiple users and applications
Network-accessible: Clients connect over TCP/IP, enabling remote access
Rich data types: Over 25 data types including specialized types for dates, strings, numbers, and JSON
User management: Built-in authentication, permissions, and role-based access control
Proven scalability: Powers Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Netflix, and millions of websites worldwide

MySQL uses the InnoDB storage engine by default, providing ACID compliance (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) to ensure data integrity even during system failures. The latest MySQL 8.4 LTS introduced enhanced security defaults, improved performance with optimized InnoDB settings, and better replication capabilities for high-availability deployments.

What is SQLite? Understanding the embedded database

SQLite is a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration SQL database engine that you embed directly into your application. Currently at version 3.50.4 (July 2025), it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025 and remains the most widely deployed database engine globally.

Think of SQLite like having a well-organized filing cabinet in your office—you directly access the files yourself without asking anyone. There's no separate server, no setup process, and no configuration files. Your entire database is a single file on disk that you can copy, email, or back up like any other file.

Key SQLite characteristics:

Serverless: No separate server process—the database engine runs in the same process as your application
Embedded: A C library (~250KB) that you link directly into your code
Single-file: Complete database stored in one cross-platform disk file
Zero-configuration: No installation, setup, or administration required
Public domain: Not just open-source—it's completely unrestricted, no license required
Ubiquitous: Built into iOS, Android, Windows 10, macOS, and most programming languages

SQLite is fully ACID-compliant despite its simplicity, using write-ahead logging (WAL) to ensure durability. It's the database behind your smartphone apps, web browsers (Firefox bookmarks, Chrome history), and countless embedded systems from aircraft to automobiles. Over 1 trillion SQLite databases are currently in active use worldwide.

Core architecture: How MySQL and SQLite fundamentally differ

Understanding the architectural differences between MySQL and SQLite explains why each excels in different scenarios.

The client-server model versus embedded architecture

MySQL's client-server architecture means the database server runs as a separate, always-on process that clients connect to over a network (or local socket). When your application needs data, it sends a request across this connection, MySQL processes the query, and sends results back. This introduces network latency (several milliseconds) but enables multiple applications on different machines to access the same data simultaneously.

SQLite's embedded architecture eliminates the middle layer entirely. The database engine exists as a library compiled directly into your application. When you need data, your code calls SQLite functions that read/write the database file directly—no network communication, no separate process, no connection overhead. This makes SQLite incredibly fast for local operations (2.72 milliseconds for SELECT queries in 2025 benchmarks) but means the database can't be shared across machines without custom solutions.

Practical analogy: MySQL is like using a shared company database server—everyone connects to the same central resource managed by IT. SQLite is like keeping spreadsheets on your own computer—faster to access, simpler to manage, but harder to share with your team in real-time.

How concurrency works in each database

This difference fundamentally impacts how each database handles multiple users.

MySQL concurrency strengths: InnoDB (MySQL's default storage engine) uses row-level locking, meaning different users can modify different rows in the same table simultaneously without waiting. It employs Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC), allowing readers and writers to work simultaneously without blocking each other. MySQL efficiently handles 100+ concurrent write connections, with performance remaining strong until you reach extraordinary concurrency levels (hundreds of simultaneous active threads).

SQLite concurrency model: SQLite uses database-level locking—only one writer can modify the database at any time (though multiple readers can access simultaneously). When configured with WAL mode, readers never block writers and writers never block readers, but writes themselves are serialized. This makes SQLite excellent for read-heavy workloads (90%+ reads) but less suitable for applications with many concurrent write operations.

Recent 2025 benchmarks challenge traditional assumptions about SQLite's limitations. A production Rails application with 10 Puma workers achieved 2,730 write requests per second using SQLite, demonstrating it can support applications with 1 million daily active users performing 35 writes per day each. The key is matching database connections to application workers rather than creating excessive connection pools.

Storage and file management differences

MySQL storage approach: MySQL stores data in multiple files organized by the storage engine. InnoDB creates a shared tablespace and individual .ibd files for each table (in file-per-table mode). You'll also find transaction logs, binary logs for replication, and various system tables. Backup requires specialized tools (mysqldump, MySQL Enterprise Backup) or filesystem snapshots with proper locking.

SQLite storage simplicity: Your entire database—tables, indexes, triggers, views, everything—lives in a single ordinary disk file. Backup means copying a file. Migration means moving a file. The database file is cross-platform, working identically on 32-bit, 64-bit, big-endian, and little-endian systems without conversion. You can literally email your database or commit it to version control.

This single-file design makes SQLite perfect for applications where the database is your file format. Adobe Lightroom, for example, stores photo catalogs in SQLite databases. When you back up your catalog, you're backing up a SQLite database file.

Performance showdown: Real-world benchmark comparisons

Let's examine actual performance data from 2025 benchmarks to see how MySQL and SQLite compare in different scenarios.

Raw query performance numbers

SELECT query performance:

SQLite: 2.72 milliseconds average (fastest in 2025 head-to-head benchmarks)
MySQL: 3-5 milliseconds average for simple queries over local socket

For local workloads with small to medium datasets, SQLite demonstrates 1.5-2x better read performance due to eliminating network overhead. However, MySQL's advantage grows with query complexity and dataset size.

Write operation throughput:

SQLite: ~5,000 INSERT operations per second with proper configuration
MySQL: ~5,500 INSERT operations per second
SQLite optimized: Up to 50,000 inserts per second theoretical maximum with WAL mode and batched transactions
MySQL at scale: Can achieve one million queries per second in specialized configurations

MySQL 8.4.3 introduced 7.25% average improvement for write workloads and 1.39% improvement for read workloads compared to previous versions, demonstrating continued optimization even for mature database systems.

Performance by dataset size

Small datasets (under 1GB): SQLite consistently outperforms MySQL. The 2-10x speed advantage comes from direct file system access versus network communication overhead. For applications with databases under 1GB—covering most mobile apps, many web applications, and countless embedded systems—SQLite delivers faster response times with fewer resources.

Large datasets (10GB+): MySQL's advantage increases with size. More sophisticated query optimization, better index management, and specialized memory allocation make MySQL faster for complex queries on multi-gigabyte datasets. SQLite can handle databases up to 140 terabytes (increased from previous 281 terabyte limit), but performance optimization becomes increasingly critical above several gigabytes.

Concurrent user performance

SQLite concurrent user handling:

Up to 100 concurrent connections: Performs excellently for read-heavy workloads
Under 10,000 concurrent connections: 2025 benchmarks show SQLite outperforms MySQL for read-heavy scenarios
Concurrent writes: Single writer limitation becomes bottleneck when write frequency exceeds application worker count

The key insight from recent production deployments: SQLite works well up to moderate concurrency if you match database connections to application workers rather than creating hundreds of connection pool threads.

MySQL concurrent user handling:

100+ concurrent writers: Handled efficiently with row-level locking
1,000+ concurrent connections: Typical for high-traffic web applications
Performance plateau: Begins around 100 simultaneous active threads (rare in practice)

MySQL's concurrent write performance improved 7.25% in recent versions, making it even stronger for multi-user environments.

Read-heavy versus write-heavy workloads

For read-heavy applications (90%+ read operations), SQLite wins convincingly. Content management systems, documentation sites, dashboard applications, and most mobile apps fall into this category. SQLite's direct file access and efficient caching deliver 100,000+ SELECT operations per second with proper configuration—more than sufficient for millions of daily users.

For write-heavy applications (50%+ write operations), MySQL's concurrent write handling makes it the clear choice. Social media platforms with constant user posts, real-time collaboration tools, and high-frequency trading systems benefit from MySQL's ability to handle multiple simultaneous write transactions without serialization.

Memory usage comparison

SQLite memory footprint:

Core library: 250KB compiled size
Base runtime: 4MB minimum
Under load: 50-500MB depending on usage
Configurable cache: Default 2MB, adjustable based on needs

MySQL memory requirements:

Minimum: 1GB RAM for server process
Per connection: ~5MB additional memory
Production typical: 2-8GB allocated to InnoDB buffer pool
Large deployments: Often dedicate 50-80% of server RAM to MySQL

For resource-constrained environments—mobile devices, IoT sensors, embedded systems—SQLite's 250KB footprint makes it the only practical choice. MySQL requires dedicated server resources unsuitable for embedded deployment.

When should you use MySQL? Real-world scenarios

MySQL excels in specific scenarios where its client-server architecture and robust feature set provide clear advantages.

Multi-user web applications and content management

If you're building a website with user accounts, MySQL should be your default choice. Any application where users log in, create content, and interact simultaneously benefits from MySQL's concurrent access capabilities. This includes:

Content management systems: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and virtually every major CMS runs on MySQL. These platforms serve millions of websites precisely because MySQL handles concurrent read and write operations efficiently—dozens of editors creating content while millions of visitors browse pages simultaneously.

E-commerce platforms: Shopping carts, inventory management, order processing, and payment transactions require the concurrent write capabilities and ACID guarantees MySQL provides. When a customer places an order, multiple database writes must succeed atomically (update inventory, create order, process payment, generate invoice)—exactly what MySQL's transactional capabilities ensure. Magento, WooCommerce, and OpenCart all rely on MySQL for reliable e-commerce operations.

Social networking features: User profiles, friend relationships, activity feeds, comments, and likes all generate constant database writes from multiple users. MySQL's row-level locking allows simultaneous updates without blocking—user A can post a comment while user B likes a photo while user C updates their profile, all without waiting for each other.

Enterprise applications requiring user management

MySQL includes comprehensive authentication and authorization features critical for enterprise deployments:

User accounts: Create separate database users with individual credentials
Role-based access control: Grant specific permissions (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) per table
Audit logging: Enterprise Edition includes compliance-grade activity tracking
Network security: SSL/TLS encryption for connections, integration with LDAP, PAM, Active Directory

SQLite has zero user management—file system permissions provide the only access control. For enterprise applications where different users need different permission levels (read-only analysts, data entry clerks, administrators), MySQL's user management becomes essential.

Applications requiring horizontal scaling

When your application outgrows a single server, MySQL provides multiple scaling strategies:

Read replicas: Create read-only copies of your database on separate servers, distributing read traffic across multiple machines. A typical architecture places write operations on the master server while read-heavy operations (reports, searches, dashboards) query replica servers. This can multiply your read capacity by 10x or more.

Sharding: Split your data across multiple MySQL instances based on a partition key (user ID, geographic region, etc.). Different shards run on different servers, distributing both read and write load. Tools like Vitess (developed by YouTube) enable sharding at massive scale.

Clustering: MySQL InnoDB Cluster provides automatic failover and high availability. If your primary server fails, the cluster automatically promotes a replica to master, minimizing downtime. This architecture delivers 99.99% or higher uptime.

SQLite's single-file architecture makes these scaling patterns impossible without significant custom development. Services like Turso and LiteFS emerged recently to provide distributed SQLite capabilities, but they're less mature than MySQL's proven scaling ecosystem.

Financial systems and regulated industries

ACID compliance is table stakes for financial applications, and both databases provide it. However, MySQL offers additional features critical for finance and regulated industries:

Precise decimal arithmetic: DECIMAL type ensures exact calculations (SQLite's REAL type uses floating-point, unsuitable for money)
Enterprise audit features: Track all database access for compliance (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOX)
Certified security: MySQL Enterprise Edition meets stringent security certifications
Point-in-time recovery: Binary logs enable restoring to any second in the past
Transparent data encryption: Encrypt data at rest (Enterprise Edition feature)

Banking systems, payment processors, insurance platforms, and trading applications consistently choose MySQL (or its commercial cousins like Oracle Database) for these enterprise-grade capabilities.

High-traffic websites and applications

For websites expecting significant traffic growth, MySQL provides the proven scaling path. While SQLite can theoretically handle 100,000 HTTP requests per second (demonstrated in benchmarks), achieving this requires careful optimization. MySQL's mature ecosystem of load balancers, connection poolers, monitoring tools, and optimization utilities makes scaling more straightforward.

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, LinkedIn, Airbnb, and countless other high-traffic platforms built on MySQL demonstrate its ability to scale to billions of users. The extensive documentation, community knowledge, and professional support available for optimizing MySQL at scale provides confidence for growing applications.

When should you use SQLite? Ideal use cases

SQLite dominates specific scenarios where its embedded architecture and simplicity provide unmatched advantages.

Mobile application development

SQLite is the only database option for on-device storage in iOS and Android applications. Both platforms include SQLite as a native component:

Android: The Android SDK includes SQLite with the SQLiteOpenHelper class for database management. Room Persistence Library, part of Android Jetpack, provides a modern abstraction over SQLite. Virtually every Android app storing structured data uses SQLite—from messaging apps (WhatsApp stores offline messages in SQLite) to games (saving player progress) to productivity apps (todo lists, notes, calendars).

iOS: Apple's Core Data framework uses SQLite as its default persistent store. Alternatively, developers can use SQLite directly via wrappers like SQLite.swift. Every iOS device contains hundreds of SQLite databases managing everything from Safari bookmarks to Apple Health data to third-party app storage.

Key advantage: SQLite provides native offline-first functionality. Users can interact with your mobile app without internet connectivity, with data syncing to a server-side MySQL database when connection resumes. This hybrid architecture—SQLite on client, MySQL on server—represents best practice for modern mobile apps.

Embedded systems and IoT devices

SQLite's tiny 250KB footprint makes it ideal for resource-constrained environments:

Internet of Things: Smart home devices (thermostats, cameras, door locks), industrial sensors, and agricultural monitoring systems use SQLite to store local data. The Home-Assistant home automation platform relies on SQLite for managing device states and historical data.

Automotive systems: Tesla vehicles use SQLite for logging system information. Navigation systems, infotainment centers, and diagnostic tools across the automotive industry leverage SQLite's reliability in harsh embedded environments.

Aerospace: Airbus A350 XWB aircraft flight software includes SQLite. When your database might experience sudden power loss (vehicle crash, airplane emergency), SQLite's ACID compliance ensures data integrity.

Industrial IoT: Manufacturing equipment, remote sensors, drones, and edge computing nodes processing data locally before sending to the cloud all benefit from SQLite's zero-administration deployment. You can't have a database administrator on an oil rig—SQLite requires none.

Desktop applications and local tools

SQLite serves as an excellent application file format replacement:

Photo management: Adobe Lightroom stores photo catalogs in SQLite databases. Your entire photo library metadata—keywords, ratings, edits—lives in a portable SQLite file you can back up, duplicate, or share.

Developer tools: Git (via libgit2) and many developer IDEs use SQLite for project metadata. Database administration tools like DBeaver and many others store connection configurations in SQLite.

Creative applications: Apple's Photos, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and many media applications use SQLite to manage media libraries and project data.

Why SQLite over custom file formats: Instead of designing a proprietary file format with custom parsing, compression, and indexing, applications can use SQLite and gain SQL querying, ACID transactions, and efficient indexing for free. The US Library of Congress recommends SQLite as a storage format for digital preservation due to its stability and lack of vendor lock-in.

Prototyping and development environments

For learning SQL and rapidly prototyping applications, SQLite's zero-configuration setup is unbeatable. New developers can write their first SQL queries in minutes:

import sqlite3
conn = sqlite3.connect('test.db')  # That's it—database created!

No server installation, no user creation, no configuration files. This makes SQLite perfect for tutorials, coding bootcamps, and classroom environments. Many developers prototype with SQLite during development, then migrate to MySQL for production if concurrent access requirements emerge.

Low-traffic websites and single-user applications

Websites with modest traffic (under 100,000 daily visitors) can run excellently on SQLite. The creator of SQLite himself states: "SQLite can handle a website with millions of hits per day." For blogs, portfolio sites, small business websites, and personal projects, SQLite eliminates the operational overhead of managing a MySQL server while delivering excellent performance.

Single-user applications like personal finance tools, note-taking apps, local wikis, and productivity software have no concurrency requirements. SQLite's speed advantage (no network overhead) and simplicity (no server management) make it the obvious choice.

Edge computing and distributed systems

The rise of edge computing—processing data closer to where it's generated rather than sending everything to centralized cloud servers—favors SQLite. Edge nodes (sensors, gateways, micro data centers) need lightweight, reliable databases with minimal administration. SQLite's footprint and zero-maintenance operation make it ideal for deployments across thousands of edge locations.

Modern innovations like Turso (a distributed SQLite service), libSQL (SQLite fork with concurrent writes), and LiteFS (distributed file system for SQLite) extend SQLite's capabilities for edge architectures while maintaining its simplicity.

MySQL vs SQLite: Feature-by-feature comparison

Let's examine specific technical differences that impact your application development.

Data types and storage

MySQL data types (25+ options):

Integers: TINYINT, SMALLINT, MEDIUMINT, INT, BIGINT with signed/unsigned variants
Decimals: DECIMAL, NUMERIC for exact precision (critical for financial data)
Floating-point: FLOAT, DOUBLE
Strings: CHAR, VARCHAR, TEXT, TINYTEXT, MEDIUMTEXT, LONGTEXT
Binary: BINARY, VARBINARY, BLOB, TINYBLOB, MEDIUMBLOB, LONGBLOB
Dates: DATE, TIME, DATETIME, TIMESTAMP, YEAR
Spatial: GEOMETRY, POINT, LINESTRING, POLYGON for geographic data
JSON: Native JSON type with specialized functions
Enums and Sets: ENUM and SET for predefined value lists

SQLite storage classes (5 fundamental types):

NULL: Null value
INTEGER: Signed integer (variable length: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 bytes)
REAL: 8-byte IEEE floating-point number
TEXT: UTF-8, UTF-16BE, or UTF-16LE string
BLOB: Raw binary data

Critical difference: SQLite uses dynamic typing (manifest typing). You can declare a column as INTEGER but store TEXT in it—SQLite stores whatever you provide. MySQL enforces static typing strictly. For STRICT tables (added SQLite 3.37.0), you can enforce rigid typing, but it's not the default.

Practical implication: For beginners, SQLite's flexibility can hide errors—you might accidentally store "123abc" in an integer column. MySQL catches these mistakes immediately. For financial applications, use MySQL's DECIMAL type; SQLite's REAL uses floating-point math unsuitable for money (never represent $19.99 as a float!).

Database size limits

SQLite maximum sizes:

Database: 140 terabytes (281 terabytes theoretical with largest page size)
String/BLOB: 1 billion bytes default (configurable to 2GB)
Columns per table: 2,000 (can be 32,767)
Function arguments: 1,000 (increased from 127 in version 3.49.0)

MySQL maximum sizes:

Database: No inherent limit (disk space limited)
Table: 64 terabytes default (InnoDB configurable)
Row: 65,535 bytes (excluding TEXT/BLOB which store pointers)
VARCHAR: 65,535 bytes shared among columns
Connections: Configurable (default ~150, can handle thousands)

Reality check: Both databases provide limits far exceeding typical application needs. Most developers never approach these boundaries. The practical difference is performance optimization—SQLite requires more careful tuning above several gigabytes, while MySQL maintains efficiency with databases in the terabyte range.

Transaction and locking behavior

MySQL transactions:

Row-level locking: Multiple users can modify different rows simultaneously
MVCC: Readers and writers don't block each other
Isolation levels: Choose from READ UNCOMMITTED, READ COMMITTED, REPEATABLE READ (default), SERIALIZABLE
Concurrent transactions: Multiple users can start transactions simultaneously

SQLite transactions:

Database-level locking: One writer at a time (entire database)
Lock types: SHARED (read), RESERVED (intending to write), PENDING (waiting for readers), EXCLUSIVE (writing)
WAL mode advantage: Readers never block writers; writers never block readers (but writes still serialized)
Transaction overhead: 30+ milliseconds in default mode, under 1 millisecond with WAL mode

Practical example: In MySQL, User A can update customer #1's address while User B updates customer #2's order simultaneously—no waiting. In SQLite, these writes would execute sequentially. For read-heavy applications, this rarely matters. For write-heavy applications, it's the key differentiator.

Security and authentication

MySQL security features:

User accounts with passwords
Host-based access restrictions (user@host)
Granular permissions per database, table, column, or routine
SSL/TLS encrypted connections
Password expiration policies
Failed login attempt tracking
Enterprise: LDAP integration, audit logging, data masking, transparent encryption

SQLite security approach:

Zero authentication (no user accounts)
Security = file system permissions
Optional: SQLCipher for encrypted databases (third-party extension)
Application-level: Your application code controls access

When this matters: Multi-user systems requiring different access levels need MySQL. A blog where some users are readers, others editors, and a few administrators requires database-level user management. SQLite delegates this entirely to your application code—you implement and enforce access control.

Backup and recovery strategies

MySQL backup options:

mysqldump: Logical backup creating SQL statements
Physical backup: Copy data files (requires proper locking/shutdown)
Binary logs: Point-in-time recovery to any second
Replication: Real-time backup to replica servers
Enterprise Backup: Hot backup without downtime (paid feature)
Third-party tools: Percona XtraBackup, mydumper

SQLite backup methods:

File copy: Simply copy the database file (database must be inactive or use backup API)
.backup command: Built-in CLI command for safe backup
Online backup API: sqlite3_backup_init() for hot backups
Export to SQL: .dump command creates SQL statements

Simplicity comparison: Backing up SQLite is cp database.db database_backup.db. Backing up MySQL requires understanding locking, consistency points, and choosing appropriate tools. SQLite's simplicity wins for smaller deployments; MySQL's sophisticated options are necessary for enterprise systems with strict RTO/RPO requirements.

Replication and high availability

MySQL replication:

Master-slave replication: One writable master, multiple read-only replicas
Master-master replication: Multiple writable masters (requires careful conflict management)
Group Replication: Multi-master with built-in conflict resolution
InnoDB Cluster: Automatic failover and high availability
Geographic replication: Replicas in different data centers/regions

SQLite replication:

Native: None (single-file database not designed for replication)
Workarounds: File-level replication (Lsyncd, rsync)
Modern solutions: LiteFS, Turso (distributed SQLite services)
Application-level: Custom synchronization logic

MySQL's mature replication ecosystem enables 99.99% uptime. For applications where even minutes of downtime costs thousands or millions of dollars, MySQL's high availability features are essential. SQLite applications accepting brief downtime during server restarts can use simpler file-based backups.

Query optimization and analysis

MySQL optimization tools:

EXPLAIN: Analyze query execution plans
Slow query log: Identify problematic queries
Performance Schema: Detailed instrumentation
Enterprise Monitor: Real-time monitoring and advisors (paid)
Query cache: Cache frequently executed queries (use judiciously)
Optimizer hints: Force specific index usage or join order

SQLite optimization tools:

EXPLAIN QUERY PLAN: Analyze query execution
ANALYZE: Gather statistics for query optimizer
sqlite3_analyzer: Detailed database analysis tool
Pragma statements: Control cache size, journal mode, synchronization
Simpler optimizer: Fewer options but also fewer variables to tune

MySQL's sophisticated query optimizer handles complex queries with dozens of table joins more efficiently. SQLite's simpler optimizer works excellently for typical application queries but may struggle with complex analytical queries. For OLTP (transactional) workloads, both perform excellently. For OLAP (analytical) workloads, MySQL has the advantage.

How to migrate between SQLite and MySQL

Whether you're outgrowing SQLite or simplifying to SQLite, migration tools and strategies make the transition manageable.

Migrating from SQLite to MySQL

When to migrate: You've reached SQLite's practical limits when you experience:

Frequent "database locked" errors indicating write contention
Need for network-based database access from multiple application servers
Requirements for user authentication and granular permissions
Desire for replication and high availability
Database size approaching several gigabytes with degrading performance

sqlite3-to-mysql tool (most popular open-source option):

# Install via pip
pip install sqlite3-to-mysql

# Basic migration
sqlite3mysql --sqlite-file app.db \
  --mysql-user root \
  --mysql-password yourpassword \
  --mysql-database appdb \
  --mysql-host localhost

# With options
sqlite3mysql --sqlite-file app.db \
  --mysql-user root \
  --mysql-password yourpassword \
  --mysql-database appdb \
  --chunk 50000 \
  --mysql-charset utf8mb4

This Python package handles character encoding, data type conversion, and bulk transfer efficiently. It supports chunked reading for large databases and can skip table creation or data transfer selectively.

Manual migration process:

Export SQLite database:

sqlite3 app.db .dump > dump.sql

Edit SQL file for MySQL compatibility:

Change AUTOINCREMENT to AUTO_INCREMENT
Remove SQLite-specific pragmas
Update transaction syntax (BEGIN TRANSACTION → BEGIN)
Change double quotes to backticks around table names
Update boolean values (true/false to 1/0 if needed)

Import to MySQL:

mysql -u username -p databasename < dump.sql

Common migration issues:

Data type mismatches: SQLite's dynamic typing may have stored incompatible data
Foreign keys: Enable in MySQL (usually on by default) but SQLite requires PRAGMA
Case sensitivity: MySQL is case-insensitive on Windows, case-sensitive on Linux for table names
AUTO_INCREMENT behavior: MySQL AUTO_INCREMENT differs from SQLite's AUTOINCREMENT
Date/time formats: SQLite stores dates as text/integer/real; MySQL has dedicated DATETIME type

Commercial migration tools for complex scenarios:

DBConvert (SQLite to MySQL Converter): GUI-based, Windows, field mapping customization
ESF Database Migration Toolkit: Visual interface, automated transfer, supports cloud databases
Intelligent Converters: Supports Azure, Amazon RDS, foreign key migration

Migrating from MySQL to SQLite

When to migrate: You might simplify from MySQL to SQLite when:

Application traffic decreased, eliminating need for concurrent access
Converting multi-user web app to desktop/mobile application
Reducing operational complexity and hosting costs
Building embedded/edge devices from web application technology
Simplifying development/testing environments

Migration process:

Export from MySQL:

mysqldump -u username -p databasename > mysql_dump.sql

Convert syntax (major changes needed):

Change AUTO_INCREMENT to AUTOINCREMENT
Remove MySQL-specific features (UNSIGNED, storage engine specifications)
Simplify data types to SQLite's five storage classes
Remove user/permission statements
Update foreign key syntax if used

Import to SQLite:

sqlite3 app.db < converted_dump.sql

Challenges going MySQL → SQLite:

Concurrency reduction: Multiple simultaneous writers become serialized
Data type loss: MySQL's 25+ types map to SQLite's 5 storage classes
User management: Lost completely—implement in application code
Advanced features: Stored procedures, triggers, views may need rewriting
Performance: May need optimization for larger datasets

DBeaver universal tool: For simpler migrations, DBeaver provides a visual interface for database-to-database transfers supporting both MySQL and SQLite.

Testing after migration

Regardless of direction, thoroughly test post-migration:

Data integrity: Verify row counts match for all tables
Spot check: Manually inspect sample records for accuracy
Application testing: Full regression testing with migrated database
Performance benchmarking: Compare query response times
Edge cases: Test boundary conditions, null values, special characters

Plan for adequate testing time—database migration bugs are painful to debug in production.

Frequently asked questions

Can SQLite replace MySQL for web applications?

Yes, for specific scenarios. SQLite handles read-heavy web applications with up to 100,000 daily visitors effectively, as demonstrated by production deployments achieving 2,500+ write requests per second. However, MySQL is the better choice when you need concurrent writes from multiple application servers, user authentication, or horizontal scaling. Modern approaches using SQLite for single-server applications with proper WAL mode configuration challenge traditional assumptions about database scalability.

Is SQLite fast enough for production applications?

Absolutely. SQLite powers over 1 trillion active databases including mission-critical systems in aerospace (Airbus A350), automotive (Tesla), and smartphones worldwide (every iOS and Android device). It delivers 100,000+ SELECT operations per second and handles millions of requests daily when properly configured. The myth that SQLite is only for "toy" applications persists despite overwhelming real-world evidence. However, MySQL provides better performance for write-heavy, high-concurrency scenarios.

How many concurrent users can SQLite handle?

SQLite efficiently supports hundreds of concurrent readers simultaneously. For write operations, SQLite's single-writer limitation means concurrent writes queue rather than execute simultaneously. Recent benchmarks demonstrate SQLite handling under 10,000 concurrent connections with better performance than MySQL for read-heavy workloads. The practical limit depends on your write frequency—if write operations are brief (typically milliseconds in WAL mode), even 100+ concurrent users work well. For applications requiring 100+ simultaneous writers, choose MySQL.

Do I need a server for SQLite?

No. SQLite is serverless—it's a library embedded directly in your application with no separate server process. This makes deployment as simple as including a file with your application. MySQL requires a server process running continuously, typically on a separate machine, with network configuration, user management, and ongoing administration. SQLite's zero-configuration nature makes it perfect for mobile apps, desktop applications, and embedded systems.

What's the main difference between SQL, MySQL, and SQLite?

SQL is the language (Structured Query Language) used to query databases. MySQL and SQLite are database management systems that understand SQL. Analogy: SQL is like English (the language), MySQL and SQLite are like different people who speak English but have different personalities and capabilities. Both use similar SQL syntax with minor dialect differences, so skills transfer between them.

Can I use the same SQL queries for both databases?

Mostly yes. Standard SQL operations (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, JOIN) work identically in both databases. Differences include:

AUTOINCREMENT (SQLite) vs AUTO_INCREMENT (MySQL)
Data type declarations (MySQL strict, SQLite flexible)
Date/time functions (different function names)
String concatenation (SQLite uses ||, MySQL uses CONCAT())
Boolean values (SQLite uses 1/0, MySQL supports TRUE/FALSE)

The 80/20 rule applies—80% of queries work identically, 20% require minor syntax adjustments.

Which database should beginners learn first?

SQLite for initial learning: Zero setup means you're writing SQL queries in minutes rather than spending hours installing and configuring MySQL. The simplicity helps beginners focus on SQL concepts rather than database administration. Most programming languages include SQLite support built-in, eliminating library installation complexity.

MySQL for web development focus: If your goal is web application development specifically, learning MySQL directly makes sense since it dominates the web development ecosystem. Understanding client-server architecture, connection management, and user permissions are valuable skills for web developers.

Ideally, learn both—the concepts transfer, and you'll encounter both in real-world development.

Does using SQLite mean I can't scale later?

Not at all. Many applications start with SQLite and migrate to MySQL when traffic demands it. The migration process is well-documented with multiple tools available. However, recent developments challenge this assumption—properly configured SQLite handles more traffic than commonly believed (1 million daily active users demonstrated in production). Services like Turso and libSQL extend SQLite's capabilities for distributed scenarios while maintaining its simplicity.

Consider the hybrid approach: SQLite on client/edge devices with MySQL on central servers, combining each database's strengths.

What's the licensing difference between MySQL and SQLite?

SQLite is public domain—no copyright restrictions, no license required, use for any purpose (commercial or private) without attribution or fees. It's even more permissive than open-source licenses.

MySQL Community Edition uses GPL v2 (GNU General Public License)—free for use but requires licensing if you distribute MySQL as part of proprietary software. For most use cases (internal company use, websites, applications), MySQL Community Edition is completely free. MySQL Enterprise Edition ($5,350+/year) provides Oracle support and additional features.

For embedded products you sell commercially, SQLite's public domain status eliminates licensing concerns entirely.

Making the right choice: Decision framework

Let's synthesize everything into a practical decision framework.

Choose SQLite when your application is:

✅ Embedded or mobile: iOS apps, Android apps, IoT devices, desktop applications, smart appliances, automotive systems, or any resource-constrained environment

✅ Single-server architecture: All database access originates from one application server with no need for network-based database sharing

✅ Read-heavy workload: 80%+ read operations with occasional writes—content sites, documentation, dashboards, analytics displays, catalog browsing

✅ Low to moderate traffic: Under 100,000 daily visitors or fewer than 10,000 concurrent connections

✅ Simplicity-focused: You want zero configuration, zero administration, and minimal operational overhead

✅ Learning or prototyping: Educational environments, coding tutorials, rapid application prototyping, development/testing environments

✅ Offline-first: Applications requiring full functionality without internet connectivity

✅ File-based storage: When your database file format benefits from being a standard SQLite database rather than proprietary format

Choose MySQL when your application requires:

✅ Multi-server architecture: Database hosted separately from application servers, potentially accessed by multiple application instances

✅ High write concurrency: Dozens or hundreds of users writing to database simultaneously—social networks, collaboration tools, high-frequency transactional systems

✅ Network-based access: Remote database connections from multiple locations or applications

✅ User management: Different users with different permission levels—read-only analysts, data entry staff, administrators

✅ Horizontal scaling: Need for read replicas, sharding, or clustering to handle traffic growth

✅ High availability: Business requirements for 99.9%+ uptime with automatic failover

✅ Large datasets with complex queries: Multi-gigabyte databases with complex reporting and analytical queries

✅ Enterprise features: Regulatory compliance, audit logging, transparent encryption, commercial support

✅ Proven scaling path: Applications expecting significant growth with need for well-documented scaling strategies

Consider the hybrid approach:

Modern applications increasingly use both databases:

SQLite on client/edge: Mobile apps, edge devices, offline functionality, local caching
MySQL on server: Centralized data, user management, synchronization endpoint, analytics

This architecture combines SQLite's speed and simplicity for local operations with MySQL's concurrent access and scaling capabilities for shared data. WhatsApp, for example, uses SQLite for local message storage on devices while backend servers use MySQL-compatible databases for account management and message routing.

The performance reality in 2025

Recent benchmarks challenge traditional database selection wisdom:

SQLite outperforms MySQL for read-heavy workloads under 10,000 concurrent connections
SQLite achieves 2,500+ write requests per second in production Rails applications
MySQL 8.4.3 improved write performance by 7.25% and reads by 1.39%

The decision hinges less on raw performance and more on architectural fit: Do you need concurrent writers? Network access? Horizontal scaling? User management? If no, SQLite's simplicity and speed advantages make it compelling even for substantial applications.

When performance matters less than you think

For most applications, both databases perform more than adequately. A well-optimized SQLite database handles millions of users. A basic MySQL installation serves billions of web requests daily. The bottleneck is rarely the database—it's usually application code, network latency, or frontend performance.

Make your choice based on architectural requirements (single-server vs multi-server, read-heavy vs write-heavy, embedded vs client-server) rather than micro-optimizing for theoretical performance differences you'll never encounter.