Top MySQL and MariaDB backup tools in 2026

Source: Dev.to

Understanding MySQL and MariaDB Backup Approaches

Before diving into specific tools, it’s important to understand the different backup methodologies available for MySQL and MariaDB. Each approach offers distinct advantages in terms of speed, flexibility, and recovery options. Understanding these fundamentals will help you evaluate which tools best fit your needs.

• Logical backups – Export the database as SQL statements or structured data files, making them portable across different MySQL and MariaDB versions.
• Physical backups – Copy the actual data files from disk, enabling faster restoration but requiring version compatibility.
• Hot backups – Performed while the database remains operational.
• Cold backups – Require stopping the server temporarily.

Backup Types Overview

The choice between these approaches depends on your database size, acceptable downtime, and recovery‑time objectives. Most production environments benefit from combining multiple backup strategies.

Databasus

MySQL backup solutions have evolved significantly, and Databasus stands as the most popular tool for MySQL and MariaDB backups in 2026. This free, open‑source, self‑hosted solution provides comprehensive backup automation suitable for both individuals and enterprise deployments. Databasus supports flexible scheduling, multiple storage destinations (S3, Google Drive, local storage, etc.), and notifications through Email, Telegram, Slack, and Discord.

Feature Overview

Getting Started

1. Install – Use Docker (or the provided binary) to run Databasus.
2. Access the dashboard – Open the web UI in your browser.
3. Add a database connection – Provide host, port, credentials, and SSL options.
4. Select storage destination – Choose one or more of the supported back‑ends.
5. Configure schedule – Pick a preset interval or define a custom cron expression.
6. Create backup – Click “Create backup”. The platform handles compression, encryption, and retention automatically.

mysqldump

The mysqldump utility is MySQL’s built‑in tool for creating logical backups and remains widely used due to its reliability and zero additional cost. It generates SQL statements that can recreate your database structure and data, making it ideal for smaller databases and scenarios requiring cross‑version compatibility.

Basic backup

mysqldump -u root -p --single-transaction --routines --triggers mydbname > backup.sql

• --single-transaction – Guarantees a consistent snapshot for InnoDB without locking tables.
• --routines & --triggers – Include stored procedures and triggers (excluded by default).

Backup all databases

mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases --single-transaction > all_databases.sql

Pros

• Free and bundled with MySQL/MariaDB.
• Portable SQL output works across versions.

Cons

• No built‑in scheduling, encryption, or remote storage.
• Large databases can be slow to export and restore because of row‑by‑row processing.

MySQL Enterprise Backup

MySQL Enterprise Backup is Oracle’s commercial solution for physical hot backups of MySQL databases. It performs non‑blocking backups while the database continues serving queries, making it suitable for large production systems where downtime is unacceptable.

Key capabilities

• Incremental backups – Capture only data changed since the last backup.
• Compressed backups – Reduce storage footprint.
• Backup encryption – Meet security and compliance requirements.
• Point‑in‑time recovery – Use binary logs to restore to a specific moment.
• Backup validation – Verify backup integrity before restoration.

MySQL Enterprise Backup integrates tightly with MySQL Enterprise Edition, providing additional management and monitoring features. A commercial license is required, so it is primarily suited for enterprises that already have an Oracle relationship.

Percona XtraBackup

Percona XtraBackup is a free, open‑source hot backup solution for MySQL and MariaDB that has earned strong community trust over many years. It creates physical backups without requiring a shutdown, supporting both full and incremental backups, compression, and encryption.

• Hot physical backups – No downtime for InnoDB/XtraDB tables.
• Incremental support – Faster subsequent backups.
• Streaming – Pipe backups directly to remote storage (e.g., xbstream).
• Compression & encryption – Optional --compress and --encrypt flags.
• Compatibility – Works with MySQL 5.6‑8.0, MariaDB 10.1‑10.11, and Percona Server.

Example: Full backup to local directory

xtrabackup --backup --target-dir=/backups/full --user=root --password=YOUR_PASS

Example: Incremental backup

xtrabackup --backup --target-dir=/backups/inc1 \
          --incremental-basedir=/backups/full \
          --user=root --password=YOUR_PASS

Example: Prepare (apply redo logs)

xtrabackup --prepare --target-dir=/backups/full

Pros

• No licensing cost.
• Handles large, high‑traffic databases with minimal impact.

Cons

• Requires additional scripting for scheduling, retention, and remote storage.
• Physical backups are version‑specific; you must restore to the same MySQL/MariaDB version.

Choosing the Right Tool

MariaDB Backup

MariaDB Backup is MariaDB’s fork of Percona XtraBackup, optimized for MariaDB databases. It offers the same core functionality with tighter integration for MariaDB‑specific features (e.g., system‑versioned tables, encrypted tablespaces).

Basic usage

mariabackup --backup \
            --target-dir=/backup/full \
            --user=root \
            --password=secret

MariaDB Backup handles encryption‑at‑rest natively, allowing backups of encrypted tables without extra configuration. It also supports backup locks for more efficient operations on newer MariaDB versions.

Why choose mariabackup?
Using mariabackup ensures better compatibility and support for MariaDB‑specific features as the two databases continue to diverge.

mydumper & myloader

mydumper is a high‑performance logical backup tool that overcomes the limitations of mysqldump for large databases. It performs parallel backups, dramatically reducing backup time, while the companion tool myloader handles parallel restoration.

Backup with mydumper

mydumper -u root -p password -B mydbname -o /backup/mydumper

Parallel restoration with myloader

myloader -u root -p password -B mydbname -d /backup/mydumper

Key features

• Parallel export/import → much faster than mysqldump.
• Table‑level granularity → selective restoration without processing the whole backup.
• Built‑in compression support.
• Consistent multi‑database snapshots.

Considerations
Separate installation is required, and there is no built‑in scheduling. However, it integrates well with automation systems and backup‑management platforms.

Comparing MySQL and MariaDB Backup Tools

Most teams benefit from pairing a backup‑management platform (e.g., Databasus) with a physical backup tool for automation and performance. Small databases can rely on logical backups alone, while large production systems gain the most from incremental physical backups.

Backup Best Practices for MySQL and MariaDB

1. Test restores regularly – Verify that backups are recoverable in an isolated environment.
2. Encrypt backups – Protect sensitive data both at rest and in transit.
3. Monitor jobs – Alert on failures and track completion status.
4. Document procedures – Keep restoration steps up‑to‑date.
5. Apply the 3‑2‑1 rule – Keep three copies on two different media, with one copy off‑site (e.g., S3, Google Cloud Storage, Azure Blob).
6. Set retention policies – Align with compliance and business requirements.
7. Automate – Use tools like Databasus for scheduling, storage rotation, and notifications to reduce human error.

Conclusion

The MySQL and MariaDB backup ecosystem offers a spectrum of tools—from simple utilities like mysqldump to enterprise‑grade solutions such as MySQL Enterprise Backup, Percona XtraBackup, and MariaDB Backup. For most production environments, a layered approach that combines logical and physical backups, coupled with a management platform (e.g., Databasus) for automation, provides the best balance of speed, reliability, and operational efficiency.

Regardless of the tools you choose, regular testing and off‑site storage remain essential to ensure effective data protection.

n. Invest in your backup strategy now to avoid costly data loss and extended downtime when failures inevitably occur.