Serverless MariaDB
A real MariaDB endpoint in seconds. Free tier, MySQL-compatible drivers, the same operational shape across cloud, desktop, and self-host.
Tables
- users
- events
- orders
- sessions
| id | name | created_at |
|---|---|---|
| 1247 | signup | 2026-03-12 14:21 |
| 1246 | purchase | 2026-03-12 14:08 |
| 1245 | login | 2026-03-12 13:55 |
| 1244 | signup | 2026-03-12 13:44 |
| 1243 | purchase | 2026-03-12 13:30 |
Where to run it
Cloud, desktop, or self-host
One database, three places it can live. Pick the speed you want and move between them when you outgrow it.
Branch MariaDB in seconds
Fork a running MariaDB into a full, isolated copy with its own connection string. Copy-on-write makes it near-instant, not a dump and restore. Point a preview deploy at it, test a migration, then throw it away. Layerbase branches 9 engines, not just Postgres.
See how branching worksWhat you get
Production features, free tier included
Every MariaDB database ships with the same primitives: TLS, web console, hibernation, and a real dashboard. No tiered features hidden behind a sales call.
Web IDE
Query console in the dashboard, no extra client to install.
TLS by default
All connections encrypted. No setup required.
Always-on connections
Pin a database to your always-on pool to prevent hibernation.
Scale to zero
Hibernates when idle. Wakes on the next connection.
Connection pooling
Pooled endpoint for serverless and edge workloads.
Direct connections
Bypass the pooler for migrations and replication.
Native HTTPS endpoint
Engines whose own wire protocol speaks HTTPS. Every database, including this one, is also queryable over the platform's HTTPS query API and web console.
Serverless driver
Drop-in HTTP driver for edge runtimes (Upstash REST, PlanetScale, or the engine-native client).
IP whitelisting
Restrict access to specific IPs or CIDR ranges.
Automatic backups
Scheduled dumps and volume snapshots with one-click restore on paid plans. Free tier includes a manual backup slot.
Quick start
Connect with any MariaDB client
MariaDB-native features, MySQL-compatible apps, and teams moving workloads off hosted MariaDB services.
- Run MariaDB-specific features (Aria, ColumnStore, sequence support) without managing the binary
- Drop in as a MySQL-compatible backend for existing apps
- Per-environment databases for staging and dev that mirror production exactly
- Local development with SpinDB, deploy the same schema to cloud
- Self-host on your own hardware when you need control over the major version
mariadb --ssl --host your-host.cloud.layerbase.dev --port 3306 --user layerbase --password app
Already have data? Migrate it from PlanetScale Any connection string works too.
More on MariaDB
All articles- June 23, 2026
Should you use Cloud Clusters MariaDB hosting (maclusters)?
A fair review of Cloud Clusters MariaDB hosting (maclusters.com) and an honest comparison with Layerbase Cloud: free tier, MariaDB version, branching, the web query console, and local tooling.
Read - June 23, 2026
Migrating from PlanetScale to Layerbase
PlanetScale retired its free Hobby tier and the cheapest paid plan now starts in the tens of dollars a month. Here is how to move to plain managed MySQL on Layerbase: what changes, how to copy your data with one service token, and the driver swap.
Read - June 14, 2026
Branching with any database
Neon branches Postgres. PlanetScale branches MySQL. Layerbase branches all of them, because branching happens at the filesystem, not inside the engine. Here is how it works.
Read - May 15, 2026
SkySQL alternatives: serverless MariaDB hosting in 2026
MariaDB shut down its own managed SkySQL product. If you want managed MariaDB without rebuilding on AWS RDS or Aurora, here are the options worth looking at.
Read - March 12, 2026
Which Relational Database Should I Pick?
A practical comparison of PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, and CockroachDB to help you pick the right relational database for your project.
Read
Questions
Common MariaDB questions
How is MariaDB different from MySQL on Layerbase?+
They are separate engines with separate endpoints. MariaDB exposes MariaDB-specific features that diverge from MySQL; both speak the MySQL wire protocol so most clients connect to either without code changes.
Which version do you run?+
Layerbase Cloud tracks recent stable MariaDB releases. The supported versions list is visible in the create flow.
Can I use mysql or mariadb CLI?+
Either works. Most drivers and tools that target MySQL also work against MariaDB unchanged; for MariaDB-specific features, prefer the MariaDB-native driver where one exists.
How does hibernation work?+
Free databases hibernate after 1 hour of inactivity and wake on connect; paid plans hibernate after 6 hours, or stay always-on when pinned to your pool.
Can I run MariaDB locally too?+
Yes. SpinDB and Layerbase Desktop both support MariaDB locally with the same versions you see in cloud.