MariaDB is a fork of MySQL, which means that it is based on the same codebase as MySQL and includes many of the same features. However, MariaDB also includes some additional features and improvements that are not available in MySQL, such as support for more storage engines, better performance optimizations, and improved security features.

Whether MariaDB or MySQL is better depends on your specific needs and requirements. If you need compatibility with existing MySQL applications and tools, then MySQL may be the better choice. On the other hand, if you need some of the additional features and improvements offered by MariaDB, then MariaDB may be the better choice.

In general, both MariaDB and MySQL are robust and reliable relational database management systems, and both are widely used in production environments. It's worth noting that many web hosting companies and cloud service providers offer both MariaDB and MySQL as options, so you may be able to try both and see which one works best for you.