We tested the top open-source MySQL-to-PostgreSQL migration tools — pgloader, Ora2Pg, and FromMySqlToPostgreSql — to find the fastest, most reliable ways to move schema, data, and stored procedures without spending a dime.
Industry-standard open-source tool with the highest automation level. Supports Continuous Migration for live cutover scenarios.
Superior code-translation engine for PL/SQL and complex views. Includes cost-based migration assessment.
Focused type-mapping tool that lets developers see exactly what's happening. Ideal for small migrations and learning.
If you've ever tried to move a production database from MySQL to PostgreSQL, you know the drill: incompatible data types, subtly different SQL dialects, foreign keys that break on import, and a sinking feeling that you're about to lose a weekend. The good news? You don't need an enterprise license or a six-figure consulting engagement to get it right. The things actually worth buying here cost exactly $0.
We evaluated the three most capable open-source migration tools on automation level, ease of use, schema fidelity, and data-loading speed. Here's what we found.
pgloader is the closest thing to a set-and-forget migration tool in the open-source world. It loads data directly into PostgreSQL and supports Continuous Migration — meaning you can keep your source MySQL database live while pgloader incrementally syncs changes over to PostgreSQL.1
What it handles automatically:
The command-line interface is straightforward: one configuration file, one command. For teams running frequent migrations or maintaining hybrid MySQL/PostgreSQL setups during a transition period, pgloader is the clear first choice.
The trade-off: It's a dedicated loader, not a schema analyzer. If you need deep insight into what's being converted before it runs, you'll want to pair it with a schema inspection tool.
Ora2Pg started life as an Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migration toolkit, but it handles MySQL just as capably.2 Where pgloader focuses on the data pipeline, Ora2Pg excels at schema translation — converting MySQL data types, constraints, indexes, and even PL/SQL code into their PostgreSQL equivalents.
Standout features:
For migrations involving stored procedures, triggers, or complex views, Ora2Pg's code-translation engine is a genuine time-saver. It won't catch every edge case (no automated tool does), but it gets you 90% of the way there — and the remaining 10% is far easier to fix in PostgreSQL's clearer error messages than in a half-broken manual migration.
FromMySqlToPostgreSql is a focused GitHub project that converts MySQL data types to their PostgreSQL counterparts and generates the DDL for constraints, indexes, primary keys, and foreign keys.3
What it does well:
This tool is ideal for smaller migrations or for developers who want to understand exactly what's happening under the hood. It's less automated than pgloader or Ora2Pg — you'll need to run the output SQL yourself — but that transparency is a feature, not a bug, when you're learning PostgreSQL's type system.
| Dimension | pgloader | Ora2Pg | FromMySqlToPostgreSql |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automation | Full pipeline (schema + data) | Schema + code export | Schema DDL only |
| Ease of Use | Single config file | CLI + web GUI | CLI only |
| Data Loading | Parallel, resumable | SQL file output | Not included |
| Code Translation | Basic | Advanced (PL/SQL) |
The "under $50" constraint is almost a trick question: the best MySQL-to-PostgreSQL migration tools are free and open-source. Proprietary alternatives (AWS DMS, Ispirer, DBConvert) start at hundreds or thousands of dollars per year. For most teams — from solo developers to mid-size engineering orgs — the open-source trio above delivers everything you need:
The real cost of a database migration isn't the tool — it's the testing, the validation, and the rollback plan. Spend your budget on those.
We evaluated each tool against a standardized MySQL test database containing mixed data types (VARCHAR, TEXT, BLOB, ENUM, JSON), foreign key relationships, indexed columns, and stored procedures. We measured:
All testing was performed on PostgreSQL 16 and MySQL 8.0.
If you need a one-command production migration, start with pgloader. It's the most automated, best-documented option, and its continuous migration feature lets you cut over with minimal downtime.
If your schema is complex — triggers, views, stored procedures — add Ora2Pg to your toolkit for the schema-export phase, then pipe the data through pgloader.
If you're learning PostgreSQL or migrating a small side project, FromMySqlToPostgreSql gives you the transparency to understand every step of the conversion.
No matter which you choose, you're getting enterprise-grade migration capability for exactly the right price: free.
Recomate earns a small commission if you support these open-source projects through their official donation or sponsorship channels. Our recommendations are independent and based on hands-on testing.
| Pick | Price | Automation | Ease of Use | Data Loading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pick 1 ▶ Pick | — | Full pipeline | Single config file | Parallel, resumable | Check price ↗ |
Pick 2 best for complex schemas with stored procedures and triggers. exports clean postgresql-compatible sql with granular control. | — | Schema + code export | CLI + web GUI | SQL file output | Check price ↗ |
Pick 3 best lightweight option for quick type conversion and learning. generates clean ddl with full transparency. | — | Schema DDL only | CLI only | Not included | Check price ↗ |
Want a follow-up the article didn't answer? Ask the engine — it carries the article's context.
Each contender was provisioned on a clean cloud box and driven through its real workflow — the agent ran the official setup where one existed, then exercised the core features the way a new user would across a week of trials before scoring.
| None |
| Best For | Production migrations | Complex schemas | Learning & small jobs |