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MySQL vs PHP

Based on 648 and 1203 real audits

View MySQL details | View PHP details
MetricMySQLPHPWinner
Performance4848Tie
Accessibility8888Tie
Best Practices8788PHP
SEO9191Tie
Security6867MySQL
TTFB473ms468msPHP
Composite7675MySQL
Performance
MySQL
48
PHP
48
Accessibility
MySQL
88
PHP
88
Security
MySQL
68
PHP
67
SEO
MySQL
91
PHP
91
Composite
MySQL
76
PHP
75

MySQL and PHP are closely matched, each leading in different categories. MySQL has a composite score of 76 while PHP scores 75.

When to choose MySQL

Choose MySQL when your primary concern is security. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

When to choose PHP

Choose PHP when your primary concern is server response time and best practices. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

How this comparison was built

Scores are medians across 648 audited MySQL sites and 1203 audited PHP sites in the BeaverCheck database. Every audit runs the same 100+ checks — Lighthouse performance, security headers, accessibility, SEO, server response time — against a real URL. No vendor input, no sponsorship, no affiliate links. Read the full methodology →

FAQ

Which is faster, MySQL or PHP?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, MySQL sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (48 vs 48 on average).
Which has better security, MySQL or PHP?
MySQL sites score higher on security analysis (68 vs 67 on average).
Which has better accessibility, MySQL or PHP?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor MySQL (88 vs 88). Both technologies can be made fully accessible with care — the difference reflects common patterns in the sampled sites, not inherent platform limits.
Which is better for SEO, MySQL or PHP?
MySQL sites score higher on Lighthouse SEO signals (91 vs 91 on average), which cover meta tags, crawlability, mobile friendliness, and structured data. Content strategy and backlinks still matter more than platform choice for ranking.
Which has faster server response (TTFB), MySQL or PHP?
PHP sites show lower Time to First Byte (468 ms vs 473 ms on average). TTFB depends heavily on hosting and CDN setup rather than the technology itself, but the sampled sites suggest a meaningful difference in common deployment patterns.
Should I choose MySQL or PHP for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. MySQL scores higher on overall composite score while MySQL may excel in metrics you care about most. Run a free BeaverCheck audit on a real site using each to compare the metrics relevant to your use case.
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