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IBM Db2 Database vs MySQL vs SAP HANA comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.1%, up from 6.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MySQL is 8.4%, down from 8.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP HANA is 11.0%, down from 11.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Relational Databases Tools
 

Featured Reviews

SimonHiggins - PeerSpot reviewer
Very scalable with high availability and excellent technical support
The good thing is that there are improvements coming with later function levels for the z/OS Db2. I'd like it if, with the operating system that we've got, z/OS, on the mainframe, it would allow us to refresh the hardware to run Linux dockers on the mainframe. This means this might give us opportunities for different ways of coming into the Db2 environment in the future. We just want a bit more integration with Linux. That said, we are already seeing Linux more readily available on the mainframe environment. Not only have we got the premium operating systems on OS. We can run LPARs on the same mainframe footprint that is also supporting Linux. This is what has improved and made the mainframe environment more competitive. We're also looking at AI for Db2 as well, and machine learning for the future. We know that AI has come out, that we're going to get that, and we're going to evaluate that product next year for Db2. That said, I haven't got any real complaints about Db2 on the mainframe. For the most part, a lot of the problems we have nowadays are to do with communication between the various teams that you would class as stakeholders.
Muzzamil  Hussain - PeerSpot reviewer
Native encryption ensures secure data management with a simple deployment
The most valuable feature is the on-premises data encryption facilities. By default, we can provide encryption, and this feature in MySQL is why we prefer it over other databases. The native encryption in MySQL encourages us to use this database model more frequently compared to Oracle and other databases. With Oracle, we have to buy another solution for encryption and masking, but MySQL supports native encryption, which enhances our return on investment. It perfectly supports our ROI, and we have no issues with its functionality.
Jayarami Reddy Pujeri - PeerSpot reviewer
Comprehensive system with real-time analytics for versatile industry applications
Our primary use case is working with various clients in industries such as pharmaceuticals and other services. We support clients as implementers of SAP HANA, providing expertise in functionality, finance, logistics, and processes The solution is very user-friendly and supports all kinds of…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"IBM Db2 was much cheaper as a package than using other products. This is because IBM supplied a package with its product. It's an application. So it was much more efficient and a stronger competitor in that regard."
"The most valuable feature of the IBM Db2 Database is security."
"it is very stable and runs smoothly once it is deployed and it is almost maintenance-free."
"It is quite a stable solution."
"The self-management and optimization features are probably the best on the market"
"The solution can scale."
"Your iOS, your throughputs, your performance cycles, you cannot touch it with Microsoft or with Oracle scalability-wise. That is far and away the most scalable systems and the highest performing systems of the set of them."
"As part of your licensing with IBM, you get access to their case system, which lets you raise incidents related to software or hardware. This system is helpful for problem determination and quickly identifying issues."
"We use it as a data store and from that perspective, we get everything we need."
"I rate the solution's stability a ten out of ten since it has been running flawlessly."
"I like the JSON stuff."
"The solution has been very easy to scale so far."
"For sure, the solution is very stable."
"However, it is easy to scale MySQL using the functions provided with the product."
"The most valuable features are that it's free and the documentation is good."
"We use the basic features of MySQL. The interface that allows us to see the parameters of the server is good."
"What I like best about SAP HANA is that it's faster than Microsoft SQL Server."
"What I like most are the dashboards and pervasive analytics."
"Using this solution has given us better details for reporting and analytics."
"SAP HANA's most valuable features are monitoring, reporting, and price and stock control."
"A very feature-rich solution with excellent performance."
"Provides us with predictive capabilities for asset maintenance, and real-time forecasts."
"The most valuable features are the flexibility and the integration with other solutions in data quality."
"As I only worked part-time on SAP HANA, I did not have the opportunity to explore the advanced features of the solution. However, I did work with basic features, such as user administration and access controls for the accounting department. The feature that stood out to me the most was the Single Sign-On and user administration, backup, and server management. My experience with SAP HANA was mainly focused on basic server improvements."
 

Cons

"In terms of improvements, IBM Db2 can improve its interface and its functionality. Also, the embedded functions should be much richer than the current ones - the functions which are embedded in the engine itself."
"IBM Db2 Database is not ACID compliant, which would improve it. Db2 lacks Isolation, so when two people are trying to update the same field at the same time it can become stuck. Other newer databases do not have this issue, such as Microsoft SQL, Oracle DB, PostgreSQL, and SAP HANA."
"The price should be lower."
"IBM Db2 Database could improve the user-defined functions. There are some user-defined functions that are missing, such as the spring functions. I used to have Teradata for my projects and I was used to working in the environment. They had a good set of user-defined functions."
"The management of Db2 should be simplified because there are not too many specialists in this area, and the learning curve of Db2 specialists is very long. After the courses, probably it takes one and a half or two years to get to the point when you are using the product properly in the production systems. So, the complexity is very high, and the most important thing is to simplify the management of the product, including self-maintenance. They should simplify the installation, management, and monitoring to simplify the product. It takes too long for a person to be a specialist in this product."
"I would like to see better support for advanced analytics."
"The solution no longer supports POWER8."
"The data table names are very short which is not user-friendly compared to the Oracle SQL server. It should have longer column and table names."
"It would be helpful if there were a graphical user interface to administer, configure, and tune it."
"MySQL could be improved by adding more automation."
"The GUI could improve in MySQL."
"I feel that some tools which make it easier to create queries or make it easier for other functions would be really interesting to see."
"Oracle should start putting in some of the enterprise features in the standard feature. There are some key features that should be part of the standard."
"I find the Microsoft solution a bit better. But mostly in terms of the UI layout, I would say. I just find it a little bit more efficient."
"There should be an arrangement for end-users to get trained to use the tool...Improvement-wise, a graphical interface could be added for new users, eliminating the need to memorize the complex syntax."
"In an upcoming release, there should be something added similar to EPL. For example, when using the flow diagram, we can create a schema. We have two useful features to add or create the table, but there should be some UI features to allow us to drag and drop to create other schemas. This would be very helpful."
"One notable issue is the difficulty in finding consultants with experience in the SuccessFactors product, a human resource management tool part of SAP's cloud-based solutions. For example, learning the Oracle database is straightforward. You can easily go to the Oracle website, download the database, install it on your laptop, and access technical resources and books."
"When we are using SAP HANA we have some difficulty with the customization. We would like to be able to add and make customized menus."
"The releases need to be more stable. It's surprising to still encounter significant bugs after ten years of the product being available."
"While SAP HANA is good, it would be better if it comes at a more affordable price."
"The pricing could be better."
"A documents preview could be helpful."
"The JDBC connectors are very slow."
"What needs improvement in SAP HANA is its automation, in particular, it needs more enhancements in that area."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Compared to Oracle, it is so much cheaper."
"I think that everyone knows that with IBM the standard price is higher than the others."
"It's very expensive."
"There is a license for this solution and we pay every three years."
"I rate the product pricing a nine out of ten."
"We don't see what the specific price of the DB2 license is because we pay for the backup license as a package."
"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."
"It is expensive. The price depends on the size of the machine on which you are installing the Db2 and the features you are using. It also depends on the country. IBM has different policies and different options for payment for this product."
"The solution’s pricing depends on customer requirements. A license is not required for the community edition."
"My company uses MySQL's corporate licenses."
"I am not paying, but I am not sure about the exact licensing requirements."
"We are using the free version of MySQL. We prefer paying for a yearly license."
"The solution is open source so is free."
"I use the open-source free community version."
"We do have a couple of clients who choose to use the paid, enterprise version of the solution and who take full advantage of it."
"The tool is open source."
"We pay annually for the license of the solution."
"The price is on the expensive side, at eight out of ten, with ten being expensive."
"People who are technical will accept the cost, but financially they will assess whether this solution will bring them revenue or not. People often ask, how will I profit when the cost is so high?"
"We pay $200 on a monthly basis."
"Price-wise, the product falls on the higher side of the spectrum. There is no need to pay for maintenance and support additionally. Support is available for bug fixes in the product."
"SAP HANA is more expensive than other solutions."
"The tool has a high price. I rate the solution’s pricing, one on a scale of ten, where one is expensive and ten is cheap."
"It is expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
59%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Computer Software Company
4%
Government
4%
Computer Software Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Educational Organization
6%
Manufacturing Company
15%
Computer Software Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Db2 Database?
Db2 database scalability and performance capabilities match our database needs. It covers pretty much everything a da...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Db2 Database?
IBM Db2 is an expensive solution. While I am not heavily involved with pricing, additional companies provide capabili...
What needs improvement with IBM Db2 Database?
The user interface is old and needs to be improved. It doesn't match the responsive and suggestion-rich UI of cloud s...
Why are MySQL connections encrypted and what is the biggest benefit of this?
MySQL encrypts connections to protect your data and the biggest benefit from this is that nobody can corrupt it. If y...
Considering that there is a free version of MySQL, would you invest in one of the paid editions?
I may be considered a MySQL veteran since I have been using it since before Oracle bought it and created paid version...
What is one thing you would improve with MySQL?
One thing I would improve related to MySQL is not within the product itself, but with the guides to it. Before, when ...
What are the biggest benefits of using SAP HANA?
Based on my work with SAP HANA, the biggest benefit that it can bring to your business is total data management. This...
Is SAP HANA’s customer and technical support reliable?
We have been using SAP HANA for a fairly short period of time and have only taken advantage of their customer support...
Is SAP HANA difficult to set up and start using?
SAP HANA is fairly easy to set up, however, I do not think a complete beginner can do it. You certainly need some pre...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

DB2
No data available
SAP High-Performance Analytic Appliance, HANA
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Knorr-Bremse, Mizuho Bank Ltd., Australian Government Department of Defence, SCHWENK Zement, Friedhelm Loh Group, YAZAKI Europe Limited, Ekornes ASA, Baldor Electric, VSN Systemen BV, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, PLANSEE Group, TE Connectivity, Hansgrohe SE, Openmatics, University of Toronto
Facebook, Tumblr, Scholastic, MTV Networks, Wikipedia, Verizon Wireless, Sage Group, Glassfish Open Message Queue, and RightNow Technologies.
Unilever, NHS 24, adidas Group, CHIO Aachen, Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and others in Relational Databases Tools. Updated: March 2025.
849,686 professionals have used our research since 2012.