SQL Server Reviews & Pricing

by Microsoft Corporation | Founded 1988, Albuquerque, NM

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What is SQL Server?

Industry Specialties: Serves all industries

SQL Server, a relational database management system (RDBMS) from Microsoft, excels at storing, organizing, and retrieving large datasets. It's often a top choice for businesses running on Microsoft ecosystems due to its seamless integration with other Microsoft tools like Office and Power BI. Priced per core or server license, its cost can vary depending on the chosen edition and scale. While offering a free express edition for smaller deployments, its paid tiers cater to mission-critical applications and larger organizations. SQL Server shines in reliability, security, and performance, making it suitable for various data management needs. Its robust security features ensure data integrity, while its scalability allows handling massive datasets efficiently. Popular features include built-in reporting tools, disaster recovery options, and tight integration with development frameworks like .NET. However, setup and maintenance can be complex, requiring specialized skills. Additionally, some users cite limited cross-platform compatibility and a steeper learning curve compared to open-source alternatives. Overall, SQL Server offers a powerful and secure solution for organizations invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, especially those managing large-scale data and requiring robust features. However, its cost and complexity might deter smaller businesses or those seeking more flexible, cross-platform options.

Pros

Reliable performance
Strong security features
Integration with Microsoft tools
Scalable for large datasets
Extensive online resources

Cons

Can be expensive
Complex setup and maintenance
Vendor lock-in potential
Limited cross-platform support
Steeper learning curve

PRICE

COMPANY SIZE

DEPLOYMENT

PLATFORM

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User Sentiment i

Based on 7657 reviews:

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#4

SQL Server is ranked #4 on the top 10 Relational Databases leaderboard based on a comprehensive analysis performed by SelectHub research analysts. Compare the leaders with our In-Depth Report.

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SQL Server Pricing

Based on our most recent analysis, SQL Server pricing starts at $1,418 (Annually).

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Starting From: $1,418
Pricing Model: Annually
Free Trial: Yes, Request for Free

Training Resources

SQL Server is supported with the following types of training:

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars

Support

The following support services are available for SQL Server:

Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Help Desk
Knowledge Base
Tickets
Training
24/7 Live Support

SQL Server Benefits and Insights

Why use SQL Server?

Key differentiators & advantages of SQL Server

Data Integrity: SQL Server enforces data integrity through constraints and rules, ensuring that the data stored is accurate and reliable.
Scalability: It efficiently handles large volumes of data and can scale from small applications to large enterprise solutions without performance degradation.
Security: SQL Server offers robust security features, including encryption, authentication, and role-based access control, to protect sensitive data.
High Availability: Features like Always On Availability Groups provide automatic failover and disaster recovery, ensuring continuous data access.
Performance Optimization: Built-in tools like Query Store and Database Engine Tuning Advisor help optimize query performance and resource usage.
Integration Capabilities: SQL Server integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products and third-party applications, facilitating data exchange and business intelligence.
Data Analysis: Advanced analytics and reporting tools, such as SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), enable comprehensive data analysis.
Transaction Management: Supports ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) properties, ensuring reliable transaction processing.
Backup and Recovery: Automated backup and recovery options safeguard data against loss and corruption, minimizing downtime.
Cost Efficiency: Offers various editions and licensing options to fit different budgetary needs, from small businesses to large enterprises.
Community and Support: A large community and extensive documentation provide valuable resources and support for troubleshooting and development.
Cloud Integration: SQL Server's compatibility with Azure enables easy migration and hybrid cloud solutions, offering flexibility and scalability.
Data Consistency: Ensures data consistency across distributed systems with features like replication and distributed transactions.
Customizability: Allows for extensive customization through stored procedures, triggers, and user-defined functions to meet specific business needs.
Compliance: Helps organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements with features like auditing and data masking.

Industry Expertise

While versatile, SQL Server exhibits particular strengths in certain industries due to its integration with specialized Microsoft tools and solutions. In finance, it seamlessly connects with analysis platforms like Power BI, aiding financial modeling and risk management. The healthcare sector benefits from its HIPAA compliance and integration with Electronic Health Records systems. Similarly, government agencies leverage its robust security features and scalability for managing citizen data and public records.

SQL Server Reviews

Average customer reviews & user sentiment summary for SQL Server:

7657 reviews

89%

of users would recommend this product

SQL Server has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 7657 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Based on an aggregate of SQL Server reviews taken from the sources above, the following pros & cons have been curated by a SelectHub Market Analyst.

Pros

Reliability and Performance: Users consistently praise SQL Server's stability, speed, and ability to handle large, complex workloads with minimal downtime.
Security: SQL Server offers robust security features, including multi-layered encryption, access controls, and active threat detection, to safeguard sensitive data.
Scalability: Users appreciate the ability to easily scale SQL Server to meet evolving data needs without compromising performance or incurring significant costs.
Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: Seamless integration with other Microsoft tools and services, such as Azure cloud services and Power BI, enhances productivity and data management capabilities.
Comprehensive Tools and Features: SQL Server provides a rich set of tools for database administration, development, and analysis, including SSMS, SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
Strong Community and Support: Users benefit from a large, active community of SQL Server professionals and extensive resources from Microsoft, including documentation, tutorials, and forums.

Cons

Licensing Cost: Can be expensive for large deployments, especially with Enterprise editions and complex licensing requirements.
Complexity: Managing and maintaining SQL Server, particularly in large environments, can require specialized skills and expertise.
Limited Cloud Flexibility: While Azure SQL Managed Instance offers managed cloud services, on-premises deployments might require additional effort for cloud migration and management.
Vendor Lock-in: Switching from SQL Server to other database systems can be complex due to its proprietary nature and T-SQL language.
Performance Overhead: Complex queries or large datasets can strain resource usage, potentially impacting performance, especially on less powerful hardware.

Researcher's Summary:

SQL Server continues to be a popular choice for database management, with user reviews highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. Reliability and performance remain key selling points. Users praise its stability, speed, and ability to handle demanding workloads, making it a trusted choice for mission-critical applications. However, licensing costs can be a significant barrier, especially for larger deployments compared to open-source alternatives like PostgreSQL. Security is another forte, with users appreciating its multi-layered approach to protecting sensitive data. However, its complexity can be daunting, requiring specialized skills for administration and maintenance, particularly in larger environments. While Azure SQL Managed Instance offers managed cloud services, some users find on-premises deployments less flexible for cloud migration. Users acknowledge its rich set of tools and features, including SSMS, SSDT, and SSRS, for efficient database management, development, and analysis. Yet, they recognize vendor lock-in as a potential drawback, as switching to other systems can be challenging due to its proprietary nature and T-SQL language. Overall, SQL Server's reliability, performance, and security are highly valued. However, its cost, complexity, and limited cloud flexibility are common concerns. Users compare it favorably to PostgreSQL for affordability and open-source nature, while acknowledging its less mature feature set. Oracle Database is seen as a competitor for large-scale enterprise deployments, but users note its even higher cost and complexity. Ultimately, the choice comes down to specific needs and priorities. For users prioritizing reliability, security, and integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, SQL Server remains a compelling option. However, those seeking flexibility, lower costs, or open-source options might find PostgreSQL or other alternatives more attractive.

Key Features

Notable SQL Server features include:

Advanced Security: SQL Server offers robust security features such as Always Encrypted, which protects sensitive data by encrypting it both at rest and in transit.
High Availability: Features like Always On Availability Groups provide enterprise-level solutions for high availability and disaster recovery.
In-Memory Processing: The In-Memory OLTP engine allows for significant performance improvements by storing data in memory-optimized tables.
Data Compression: SQL Server supports row and page compression, reducing storage costs and improving I/O performance.
Integration Services: SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) enables complex data integration and workflow applications.
Data Warehousing: Columnstore indexes optimize data warehousing workloads by improving query performance and reducing storage requirements.
Machine Learning Services: Integration with R and Python allows for advanced analytics and machine learning directly within the database.
PolyBase: This feature enables querying of external data sources like Hadoop and Azure Blob Storage using T-SQL.
Temporal Tables: Temporal tables automatically track historical changes to data, simplifying auditing and compliance tasks.
Graph Data Support: SQL Server supports graph databases, allowing for the modeling of complex many-to-many relationships.
JSON Support: Native JSON support allows for the storage and querying of JSON data, facilitating integration with web applications.
Spatial Data Support: SQL Server provides comprehensive support for spatial data types, enabling geographic and location-based data analysis.
Full-Text Search: This feature allows for efficient searching of large text-based data, supporting complex querying capabilities.
Replication Services: SQL Server Replication provides data distribution and synchronization across multiple databases and locations.
Service Broker: A messaging framework that facilitates the development of scalable and reliable applications by enabling asynchronous communication.
Data Quality Services: Tools for data cleansing and matching, ensuring high data quality and consistency across the organization.
Reporting Services: SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) offers a comprehensive platform for creating, managing, and delivering reports.
Dynamic Data Masking: This feature limits sensitive data exposure by masking it to non-privileged users.
Row-Level Security: Provides fine-grained access control by allowing the definition of security policies at the row level.
Azure Integration: Seamless integration with Azure services, enabling hybrid cloud scenarios and cloud-based analytics.

Approach to Common Challenges

Data security: SQL Server employs multiple layers of security, including encryption, access controls, and auditing features, to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access and breaches.
Performance optimization: It offers query optimization tools, indexing strategies, and caching mechanisms to improve query performance and maintain fast response times, even with large datasets.
Scalability for growth: It can handle increasing data volumes and user demands through horizontal scaling (adding more servers) and vertical scaling (upgrading hardware resources), ensuring continued performance and availability.
High availability and disaster recovery: SQL Server provides features like clustering, mirroring, and log shipping to ensure continuous data availability even in the event of hardware failures or outages. It also supports backup and restore capabilities for data recovery.
Managing complex data: It supports advanced data types, full-text search, and spatial data capabilities to manage diverse and complex data structures effectively.
Data integration and analysis: It integrates seamlessly with tools like Microsoft Power BI and Excel for data analysis, visualization, and reporting, enabling users to extract valuable insights from their data.

Cost Of Ownership

Frequently asked questions regarding SQL Server pricing include:

Q: How is SQL Server licensed, and what factors influence the cost?
A: SQL Server offers two primary licensing models: per core and per server. The per-core model, often used for larger deployments, bases pricing on the number of processor cores in your server(s). The per-server model, typically for smaller environments, licenses the entire server. Edition choice (Standard, Enterprise, etc.) and deployment model (on-premises, cloud-hosted, etc.) also impact costs.
Q: What are the additional costs to consider beyond licensing?
A: While licensing is a significant cost component, consider other factors like hardware, storage, maintenance, support, and potential cloud hosting fees if applicable. These can contribute to the overall cost of ownership.
Q: Are there free or discounted options for SQL Server?
A: Yes, Microsoft offers a free Express edition with limitations for smaller databases and learning purposes. Additionally, Azure SQL Database offers cloud-based options with flexible pricing models, including a free tier for experimentation and development.

Limitations

Notable limitations of SQL Server include:

Platform compatibility: Primarily designed for Windows environments, with limited native support for Linux and macOS.
Licensing costs: Can be expensive, especially for large-scale deployments or enterprise editions.
Vendor lock-in: Deep integration with Microsoft ecosystem can make switching to other database systems challenging.
Complex setup and maintenance: Often requires specialized expertise and resources to manage effectively.
Resource-intensive: Can demand significant hardware resources, potentially increasing infrastructure costs.
Learning curve: Steeper learning curve compared to some open-source database systems.

Suite Support

Microsoft offers a variety of support plans for businesses based on which products users have and what kind of support they require.

Microsoft Unified Support offers organization-wide coverage for all Microsoft-based products and services an enterprise uses. Customers with Unified Support will have a Technical Account Manager who serves as their personal connection to Microsoft resources. Unified Support subscribers can customize their 24/7 support experience with over 20 technology-specific add-on support services tailored to their needs.

For immediate technical support, customers can purchase Professional Support as single pay-per-incident model or as a 5-pack of incidents. Experts will help users troubleshoot specific problems, error messages, or functions of their program.

Customers without a support plan can access community resources or submit bugs via UserVoice.

Email: Users with support plans can access support by email by logging into their Microsoft account.

Phone: Users with support plans can access the support phone number by logging into their Microsoft account.

Training: Users can access extensive documentation for SQL Server including its previous versions on the Microsoft docs website. They can also refer to the SQL Server user forums and communities on Stack Overflow, DBA Stack Exchange, Reddit and Twitter via the #sqlhelp hashtag that can help them with issues. Microsoft maintains SQL Server blogs and social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter to provide the latest information about the platform.

Microsoft and many third parties offer extensive SQL Server training certification courses for all skill levels. These include instructor-led courses, on-demand online training, ebooks, webinars and more.

Tickets: Customers with support plans may open tickets with Microsoft support. Users must log in to their Microsoft account and create a new support request.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions regarding SQL Server include:

Q: What are the different editions of SQL Server, and which one is right for me?
A: SQL Server comes in various editions, each with different features and capacity levels. Choosing the right edition depends on your organization's needs, budget, and workload requirements. Consider factors like database size, performance needs, high availability requirements, and security features when selecting an edition.
Q: How do I create and manage databases in SQL Server?
A: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) provides a graphical interface for creating, managing, and interacting with databases. You can create databases, tables, views, and other objects, as well as write and execute SQL queries to manipulate data.
Q: How do I back up and restore databases in SQL Server?
A: SQL Server offers robust backup and restore capabilities to protect your data from loss or corruption. You can create full, differential, and transaction log backups, and restore databases to a specific point in time when needed. Regular backups are essential for disaster recovery and business continuity.
Q: How do I optimize query performance in SQL Server?
A: SQL Server provides various tools and techniques for optimizing query performance. These include indexing, query tuning, statistics management, and execution plan analysis. Understanding query optimization principles is crucial for ensuring efficient database operations and application responsiveness.
Q: How do I troubleshoot performance issues in SQL Server?
A: SQL Server includes tools like Activity Monitor, Dynamic Management Views (DMVs), and Extended Events to monitor performance and identify bottlenecks. These tools help diagnose issues such as slow queries, resource contention, and blocking.
Q: What security features does SQL Server offer?
A: SQL Server provides comprehensive security features to protect data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. These include authentication, authorization, encryption, auditing, and vulnerability management. Implementing appropriate security measures is essential for safeguarding sensitive data and complying with regulatory requirements.
Q: How do I manage high availability and disaster recovery in SQL Server?
A: SQL Server supports various high availability and disaster recovery (HADR) technologies to minimize downtime and data loss. These include failover clustering, Always On Availability Groups, and database mirroring. Selecting the right HADR solution depends on your organization's recovery point objectives (RPOs) and recovery time objectives (RTOs).