SQLite vs MySQL: Key Differences and Use Cases

The Core Difference

SQLite is an embedded database engine. It runs inside your application, stores data in a single file, and requires no server.

MySQL is a client-server database. It runs as a separate process, handles multiple connections, and is designed for concurrent access.

Architecture

SQLite

[Your Application] → [SQLite Library] → [database.db file]

SQLite is linked directly into your application. No network, no server process, no configuration.

MySQL

[Application 1] ─┐
[Application 2] ─┼→ [MySQL Server] → [Data Directory]
[Application 3] ─┘

MySQL runs as a server that applications connect to over a network (or socket).

Concurrency

SQLite

SQLite allows unlimited concurrent reads but only one write at a time:

# Writer 1 starts
conn1.execute("UPDATE users SET active = true")  # Gets write lock

# Writer 2 tries simultaneously
conn2.execute("UPDATE products SET stock = 10")  # Waits or times out

This is fine for single-user applications but problematic for web apps with concurrent users.

MySQL

MySQL handles many concurrent readers and writers:

-- These can run simultaneously on different rows
-- Session 1
UPDATE accounts SET balance = balance - 100 WHERE id = 1;

-- Session 2
UPDATE accounts SET balance = balance + 50 WHERE id = 2;

InnoDB's row-level locking enables true concurrent writes.

Setup Complexity

SQLite: Zero Configuration

import sqlite3

# This creates the database file if it doesn't exist
conn = sqlite3.connect('app.db')
conn.execute('CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT)')

No installation, no server, no users to create, no ports to configure.

MySQL: Server Required

# Install MySQL
sudo apt install mysql-server

# Secure installation
sudo mysql_secure_installation

# Create database and user
mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE myapp;
CREATE USER 'appuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON myapp.* TO 'appuser'@'localhost';

Then configure your application with connection parameters.

Data Types

SQLite: Flexible Typing

SQLite uses dynamic typing—any column can hold any type:

CREATE TABLE example (data TEXT);
INSERT INTO example VALUES ('hello');
INSERT INTO example VALUES (123);      -- Number stored in TEXT column
INSERT INTO example VALUES (3.14);     -- Float stored in TEXT column

Convenient but can lead to surprises.

MySQL: Strict Typing

MySQL enforces declared types:

CREATE TABLE example (data VARCHAR(100));
INSERT INTO example VALUES ('hello');  -- OK
INSERT INTO example VALUES (123);      -- Converted to '123'
-- In strict mode, type mismatches cause errors

More predictable but requires upfront schema design.

Feature Comparison

| Feature | SQLite | MySQL | |---------|--------|-------| | Stored procedures | No | Yes | | Triggers | Basic | Full | | Views | Yes | Yes (with more features) | | Full-text search | FTS5 | Built-in | | JSON support | Good | Excellent | | User management | No | Yes | | Replication | No | Yes | | Partitioning | No | Yes |

Performance

SQLite is faster when:

• Single user (no network overhead)
• Read-heavy workloads
• Simple queries
• Database fits in memory
• Embedded in application

MySQL is faster when:

• Multiple concurrent writers
• Complex queries with many joins
• Large datasets
• Distributed access needed

Backup and Recovery

SQLite

# Backup: just copy the file
cp app.db app.db.backup

# Or use the backup API for consistency
sqlite3 app.db ".backup backup.db"

MySQL

# Logical backup
mysqldump -u root -p database > backup.sql

# Physical backup (requires stopping or using tools)
# Use Percona XtraBackup for hot backups

SQLite's simplicity wins for backup—it's just a file.

Deployment

SQLite

Ship your application with the database file:

myapp/
├── app.py
└── data.db

Zero external dependencies. Works on any platform.

MySQL

Requires:

• MySQL server running
• Network access (or socket)
• User authentication
• Connection pooling for web apps

More moving parts but handles multi-server deployments.

When to Choose SQLite

1. Embedded applications — Desktop apps, mobile apps, CLI tools
2. Single-user scenarios — Personal tools, local-first apps
3. Prototyping — Quick development without server setup
4. Test databases — Fast, isolated test environments
5. Edge/IoT — Devices with limited resources
6. Configuration storage — Application settings, caches
7. Small websites — Low-traffic sites, blogs, personal projects

SQLite Handles More Than You Think

Don't underestimate SQLite:

• Handles millions of rows
• Thousands of reads per second
• Used by major browsers, operating systems, applications

When to Choose MySQL

1. Multi-user web applications — SaaS, e-commerce
2. Concurrent write workloads — Many users writing simultaneously
3. Complex queries — Heavy reporting, analytics
4. Horizontal scaling needed — Read replicas, clustering
5. User permissions — Fine-grained access control
6. Enterprise requirements — Compliance, audit trails

Migration Path

Starting with SQLite and need to scale?

# Export from SQLite
sqlite3 app.db .dump > dump.sql

# Adjust syntax (minor differences)
# - INTEGER PRIMARY KEY → INT AUTO_INCREMENT
# - Remove SQLite-specific syntax

# Import to MySQL
mysql -u user -p database < dump.sql

Many ORMs support both, making application-level migration easier.

The Decision Framework

Start with SQLite if:

• You're building a prototype
• Single user or few users
• Simplicity is a priority
• No server infrastructure available

Start with MySQL if:

• Multiple concurrent users expected
• Web application with many writers
• Need advanced features (replication, stored procedures)
• Already have MySQL infrastructure

Migrate SQLite → MySQL when:

• Write conflicts become issues
• Need features SQLite lacks
• Scaling beyond single server

Summary

SQLite and MySQL aren't competitors—they're tools for different scales.

SQLite is perfect for embedded use, single-user applications, and anywhere simplicity matters. It's surprisingly capable and shouldn't be dismissed for "real" applications.

MySQL is built for multi-user, concurrent access scenarios. It's the workhorse of web applications and handles everything from small sites to massive scale.

Many successful projects start with SQLite and migrate to MySQL when (if) they outgrow it. The important thing is choosing based on actual requirements, not assumptions about what "real" applications use.