SQL Server Reviews

Name: SQL Server
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4.2 (269 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

269 reviews
93% willing to recommend

What is SQL Server?

SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) by Microsoft. The product's main purposes are to store data and retrieve it as requested by other software applications - on the same computer or on another computer across a shared network. The solution is built on top of Structured Query Language (SQL), which is a standardized programming language used for relational database management.

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SQL Server is the #1 ranked solution in top Relational Databases. PeerSpot users give SQL Server an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. SQL Server is most commonly compared to Teradata: SQL Server vs Teradata. SQL Server is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 62% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 16% of all views.

Helped 863,679 peers since 2012

Featured SQL Server reviews

Kapil Dev Khatri

Database administrator at K electric

SQL Server is very simple due to its GUI, which is available for users. It allows for modifications and has execution plans available, along with options such as activity monitoring. This helps monitor queries and identify which indexes need to be created in the databases, tables, or columns to improve performance.

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Abdulkadir Ozdemir

Cyber Security Engineer at Oyak Cimento

I have worked with Microsoft Entra ID Protection for ten years. I also use Microsoft Defender. Over the other solutions of the market, I started to use SQL Server since it is available for free and is more secure, while offering good performance. SQL Server offers good performance even over Elasticsearch, or maybe the others open-source database products.

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Chaithanya Chereddy

Senior Software Engineer at Capgemini

We use SQL Server to store applications. The SQL Server manages various functions, such as digital innovation projects, document storage, handling login credentials, and maintaining authentication and authorization through the database Unlike MySQL, SQL Server is advantageous because it allows…

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SQL Server mindshare

As of July 2025, the mindshare of SQL Server in the Relational Databases Tools category stands at 16.9%, down from 22.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools

PeerResearch reports based on SQL Server reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Relational Databases Tools	Jul 28, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jul 28, 2025	Download
Comparison	SQL Server vs Oracle Database	Jul 28, 2025	Download
Comparison	SQL Server vs SAP HANA	Jul 28, 2025	Download
Comparison	SQL Server vs MariaDB	Jul 28, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Teradata	4.1	5.3%	87%	76 interviews Add to research
MySQL	4.1	8.0%	91%	149 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

SQL Server's most valuable features include dynamic resource allocation, Graphical Query Analyzer, OLAP services, Data Transformation Services, AlwaysOn availability, In-Memory OLTP, robust management, and ease of use. Users appreciate its scalability, flexibility, performance, security, and the availability of extensive online support. Integration with Microsoft tools and features like SQL Profiler, SQL Server Management Studio, integration services, and high availability clustering are highly valued. The system is widely praised for its user-friendliness and cost-effectiveness.

"SQL Server is a good solution for me."
"It is easy to use for a BI specialist."
"The Azure SQL Server database requires almost zero maintenance and management."

Room for Improvement

SQL Server users express concerns over high costs, performance issues with large data volumes, and limited compatibility with non-Windows platforms. There is a demand for better integration with other databases and increased security features. Users also call for enhanced user interfaces, improved data analytics capabilities, and simplified setup processes. SQL Server's scalability and complex licensing are often criticized, prompting requests for streamlined pricing models and better support documentation.

"Microsoft could improve SQL Server by integrating the tools better."
"It can be better if it enables the use of AI functions."
"SQL Server database capacities could be further increased to be more accessible for larger data requirements."

ROI

SQL Server shows a significant impact on return on investment. Users benefit from lower costs compared to Oracle, enhancing profitability. Some report an ROI timeline of about 12 months due to training investments, particularly since SQL Server 2014's free tool offerings. Business-critical features and cost-effectiveness make it indispensable for small applications and enterprises with high transaction volumes. Analytics automation and a notable competitive edge contribute to its high perceived value.

Pricing

SQL Server pricing varies by edition and usage, often favoring enterprise-level functionality and performance. Standard Edition, priced around $3,700 per core, is more affordable but lacks some advanced features of the Enterprise Edition, which enhances performance. Licensing costs can be high, particularly for enterprise-scale deployments, with variations based on the number of cores and processors. Volume discounts may benefit larger purchases, but smaller businesses often struggle with upfront costs. Subscription and perpetual licensing models are available.

"On a scale of one to ten, when one is cheap and ten is an expensive solution, I rate the product price as seven. The product is expensive."
"SQL Server offers three versions. You can get a free trial for 30 days."
"The product's price is reasonable."

Popular Use Cases

Users primarily use SQL Server for data storage, retrieval, and management. It supports various applications like ERP, CRM, analytics, and reporting. Departments implement it for transaction processing and data warehousing, while developers leverage it for application backends and data processing. Organizations utilize it for business intelligence, financial transactions, and database integration. SQL Server's ease of installation and use makes it ideal for beginners and experts alike, fostering diverse deployment in different sectors.

Service and Support

Microsoft's SQL Server support is generally helpful and efficient, offering various resources such as extensive online materials and responsive paid options. While some find the response times slow, others praise the knowledgeability of the technical team. Feedback varies, with some satisfied and others preferring self-service or relying on community forums. The quality often depends on the support tier and specific context, yet it's widely regarded as strong among commercial database options.

Deployment

SQL Server's initial setup is generally simple, often described as user-friendly and efficient. Installation is typically quick, taking from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on network speed and complexity. Many find it straightforward, especially with the use of GUI, Wizards, and PowerShell scripts. While basic installations are easy, advanced features and clusters can introduce complexity, requiring experienced professionals for optimal configuration and performance.

Scalability

SQL Server demonstrates notable scalability. Many users confirm it can handle significant user loads, though they mention some limitations with very large enterprise environments. Companies can expand usage efficiently, benefitting from flexibility in scaling vertically and horizontally. It supports a diverse range of applications, although hardware and version might influence performance. Microsoft provides tools that aid in managing scalability, making it a suitable choice across various business sizes.

Stability

SQL Server's stability receives high praise from most users, with common references to its robustness and minimal issues. Occasional problems arise with high availability configurations, SSRS deployments, and interactions with Java interfaces. Long queries sometimes require procedural handling to prevent crashes. Regular indexing updates and configurations enhance stability. Although some report performance issues, most agree on SQL Server's reliability, with ratings predominantly between 8 and 10. A few suggest improvements for better handling large volumes.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

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Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Educational Organization

Energy/Utilities Company

University

Insurance Company

Non Profit

Construction Company

Media Company

Hospitality Company

Performing Arts

Real Estate/Law Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Pharma/Biotech Company

Transportation Company

Outsourcing Company

Legal Firm

Logistics Company

Consumer Goods Company

Compare SQL Server with alternative products

Learn more about SQL Server

The product is tied to Transact-SQL (T-SQL), which is an implementation of SQL from Microsoft that adds several proprietary programming extensions to the standard language. SQL Server is built similarly to other RDBMS products, as its structure is a row-based table that connects related data elements in different tables to one another. One of its most important components is the SQL Server Database Engine, as it controls data processing, storage, and security. Beneath the Database Engine is the SQL Server Operating System, which is used for memory and I/O management, locking data to avoid unneeded upgrades, and job scheduling.

The solution has four editions with different sets of services and tools. They include:

SQL Server Developer
SQL Server Expression
SQL Server Standard
SQL Server Enterprise

The first two are available for free and are typically utilized by smaller companies, as they work with fewer functions and storage. The second two editions are generally used by bigger organizations and enterprises and offer more features.

The solution has several functions through which users can facilitate different data-related processes. These include:

Aggregate functions: These functions are used to calculate one or more values and return a single value.
Window functions: Window functions calculate an aggregate value based on a group of rows and return multiple rows for each involved group.
Date functions: These functions allow clients to handle data and time data efficiently.
String functions: Through the string functions, SQL Server processes an input string and returns a string or numeric value.
System functions: The system functions of the product return objects, values, and settings.

SQL Server Services

SQL Server has a wide range of add-on services that provide additional benefits beyond database management. These services include:

Machine learning: SQL Server machine learning services allow users to do machine learning and data analytics within the product.
Service broker: This feature is a part of the database engine and offers messaging and message queuing for applications on the platform.
Replication: This feature consists of transaction replication, merge replication, and snapshot replication.
Analysis: SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) adds online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining capabilities to SQL Server databases.
Reporting: This feature supports the development of custom reporting applications.
Notifications: This feature generates data-driven notifications which are sent to subscribers of Notification Services.
Integration: This SQL Server feature provides capabilities for data integration, data import, and data warehousing.
Full-text search: Through this feature, users can utilize specialized indexing and query for unstructured text stored in the solution.
Visual studio: This feature supports data programming with SQL Server.
Azure Data Studio: This is a cross-platform query editor that can be downloaded and used alongside SQL Server.

SQL Server Benefits

The solution has many benefits for users. These include the following:

The platform ensures a consistent experience across other platforms while being fast and agile.
Through the built-in intelligence features, users can understand their data better.
The solution has enterprise-level security, which ensures the smooth and safe performance of users' data.
SQL Server offers the ability to retrieve large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.
The product installation process is fairly easy, and it offers a user-friendly interface.
SQL Server offers improved data storage and retrieval functions through frequent upgrades.
The solution reduces the risk of database server attacks, since it is not an open-source database.

Reviews from Real Users

A president at a consultancy evaluates SQL Server as a veteran solution with critical log shipping feature.

Harkamal S., a user at a manufacturing company, rates SQL Server with a high mark because it is a stable, scalable, and easy-to-deploy solution that pretty much covers everything.

SQL Server was previously known as Microsoft SQL Server, MSSQL, MS SQL.

SQL Server customers

Microsoft SQL Server is used by businesses in every industry, including Great Western Bank, Aviva, the Volvo Car Corporation, BMW, Samsung, Principality Building Society, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.