Based on production framework testing (ESX, QBCore, custom frameworks) and synthetic benchmarks

✅

Use CFX-DB When:

You’re Running a Framework Server (ESX, QBCore, etc.)

Production framework environments with complex multi-table operations and real-time features.

Why: CFX-DB outperforms OxMySQL in real-world framework usage. Server-side optimized functions handle framework patterns better than raw SQL. Tested on private frameworks with 300+ concurrent players.

Atomic Transactions Are Critical

Money transfers, inventory trades, business transactions, or any multi-step operations.

Why: CFX-DB is 1.1x FASTER than OxMySQL for atomic transactions (169 ms vs 180 ms). Server-side mutations ensure all operations succeed or fail together - critical for framework integrity.

Real-time Features Are Essential

Live leaderboards, faction rosters, server dashboards, economy tracking, or any frequently-updated data.

Why: Push-based subscriptions eliminate polling entirely. 50% fewer queries with instant updates when data changes. Perfect for framework HUDs and dashboards.

You Want Zero Database Management

No time to manage MySQL servers, tune queries, or handle database crashes at 3 AM.

Why: Convex handles everything: automatic backups, auto-scaling, monitoring. Focus on building framework features, not database operations.

Scalability & Performance Matter

Planning to grow from 100 to 500+ players or run multiple framework servers.

Why: Auto-scales automatically with optimized server-side functions. Framework operations get faster with CFX-DB’s intelligent caching and batching.

BEST FOR

Framework servers (ESX, QBCore, custom) with 100-1000+ players. Production-tested and optimized for framework patterns. Best choice for teams that value reliability, scalability, and modern developer experience.

⚠️

Use OxMySQL When:

You’re Running a Simple/Non-Framework Server

Basic gamemodes without complex transactions or real-time features.

Why: If you’re not using a framework and just need simple CRUD operations, OxMySQL’s local protocol is marginally faster for basic queries.

You Already Have Everything Built

Existing server with hundreds of custom scripts tightly coupled to OxMySQL.

Why: Migration cost may outweigh benefits if you’re not experiencing performance issues. Stick with what works unless you need CFX-DB’s framework optimizations.

You Have Deep MySQL Expertise

Database administrator on staff, custom query optimization, advanced SQL features.

Why: If you’re already optimizing MySQL at the query level and managing replication/sharding, you may not need CFX-DB’s abstractions.

You Need Full Infrastructure Control

Self-hosting everything, vendor independence, or regulatory requirements.

Why: OxMySQL gives complete infrastructure control. CFX-DB depends on Convex (self-hosting available but more complex).

Very Small Server (<50 Players)

Hobby server with minimal traffic and no growth plans.

Why: For tiny servers, the performance difference won’t be noticeable. Stick with free MySQL hosting if budget is tight.

BEST FOR

Simple gamemodes, established non-framework servers, or teams with dedicated MySQL DBAs. Not recommended for framework servers (ESX, QBCore, etc.).