IBM Db2 Database vs Oracle Database Cloud Service comparison

IBM and Oracle are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. IBM is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.3, while Oracle is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.6. IBM holds a 7.5% mindshare in SQL, compared to Oracle’s 0.9% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Oracle users who would recommend it.

IBM Db2 Database

Read 75 IBM Db2 Database reviews

4,188 Views
4,020 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Oracle Database Cloud Service

Read 13 Oracle Database Cloud Service reviews

423 Views
410 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

Oracle Database Cloud Service

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

IBM Db2 Database and Oracle Database Cloud Service are leading competitors in the enterprise database market, each offering unique strengths. IBM Db2 has the edge in supporting high-volume environments with its robust performance and integration capabilities.

Features: IBM Db2 is known for its flexible SQL dialect, high scalability, and self-tuning memory management. It integrates effectively with IBM Optim and Websphere while supporting Java methods and object tables. Oracle Database Cloud Service excels in cloud capabilities, high availability, and scalability. Its advanced technology and flexible licensing make it appealing for modern cloud infrastructures.

Room for Improvement: IBM Db2 users mention challenges with its complex licensing and steep learning curve. There is a call for better centralized management and performance monitoring tools. Oracle Database Cloud Service faces criticism for pricing concerns and needs better cross-region replication features and customer relationship management.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Db2 offers versatile deployment options, including on-premises and hybrid cloud settings, but users find its support response time slower. Oracle Database Cloud Service, focused on public and hybrid clouds, is favored for its swift technical support, yet both require enhancements in customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Both IBM Db2 and Oracle Database Cloud Service are considered costly. IBM Db2's complex licensing is noted, though it is seen as more cost-effective for high-volume businesses due to performance benefits. Oracle offers flexible cloud pricing to scale expenses, providing significant ROI despite the high initial investment.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database Cloud Service Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database Cloud Service

July 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

IBM Db2 Database

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Oracle Database Cloud Service

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

15th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.5%, up from 6.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Database Cloud Service is 0.9%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
IBM Db2 Database	7.5%
Oracle Database Cloud Service	0.9%
Other	91.6%

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

Michael Raz

Consultant at Discount Bank

Efficient access path optimization and performance excellence with helpful support

IBM Db2 for zOS serves as the central database for all the core business applications in the two banks I work with. All applications use Db2 as a data server. We fully implement and utilize most of Db2's functionalities and capabilities for core banking business applications IBM Db2 has…

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Ajeet-Sachan

Architect at Sony Pictures Entertainment

Self-maintenance features reduce downtime and improve efficiency but enterprise edition limits can be restrictive

The availability of different editions within Oracle Database Cloud Service could be improved. The model divides their standard edition versus enterprise editions into two categories and limits the standard edition on a particular configuration set. This limitation, such as the thirty-two vCPU limit, should be removed. Another area for improvement is the affordability of the enterprise version.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"We had a crash of the backup system and the IBM DB2 was always up and consistent. It's robust, and for us, it was always up and running."

"The solution has many beneficial features, such as security, support, and stability."

"Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."

"The scalability and availability of this solution are the most valuable features."

"The solution's security is very tough and impenetrable."

"The solution is easy to install and simple to maintain. The most valuable aspect of the solution is its general user-friendliness for users of all kinds."

"It's very secure."

"The most valuable features are the simplicity of the database and the access to Db2 and Db2 information."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"The product’s most valuable feature is affordable pricing compared to other providers."

"Oracle DCS's most valuable features are its high availability and scalability."

"Data storage is the most valuable feature of Oracle Database Cloud Service."

"The most valuable features of Oracle Database Cloud Service are its scalability, advanced technology, cost-effectiveness, and the flexibility it provides with licensing."

"It is a very stable program."

"I recommend Oracle Database Cloud Service as a good technology with excellent support and documentation."

"What I like best about Oracle Database Cloud Service is its nice performance. My company doesn't have any problems with the service. The technical support for it is also good. My company is satisfied with Oracle Database Cloud Service. I also like the availability of the service. It's a trustworthy service. I didn't experience any downtime from it. My company also has additional features included in the contract, such as WAP, which makes operations easier. My team can implement all the architecture with the features and services that Oracle Database Cloud Service offers. Technically, this is a very, very, good product or database, whether on-premises or on the cloud."

"Security is the most valuable feature provided by the product."

More Oracle Database Cloud Service pros

Cons

"The backup solution lacks flexibility."

"IBM Db2 Database could improve with better security."

"The vendor should offer a free version"

"Microsoft SQL Server is comparatively very simple to use. I wish IBM would move towards making Db2 easy to use for both basic and advanced users. This is where I see room for advancement. Db2 is also more expensive than Microsoft SQL Server, and its price can be reduced. The replication feature needs to be there in Db2. Microsoft provides similar functionality in SQL Server. IBM also has similar functionality, but it exists in a different product. So, to have the replication ability, you have to buy a different product. It makes sense to have this functionality within Db2 instead of a different product. It will also be helpful in terms of competition. In Africa, the problem for Db2 is competition. Oracle Database and Microsoft SQL Server have been in this market for a very long time. These companies have built the ecosystem and the brand within this market for a very long time. So, they are very popular with users. Db2 or IBM came a little later in the game, and that's where the problem lies. They also don't do a lot of marketing for it, which is also a problem."

"The only drawback that we see in Db2 Database is the crash recovery. When there is a crash and somebody has to do the recovery, Db2 Database first stops, and then it does any crash recovery. In Oracle Database, crash recovery happens within the database. The database is not shut down."

"GUI needs improvement."

"When I look at Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server provides me with better tools for database management."

"Also, the website could be more intuitive. I didn't find it easy to find documentation on the website."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"Oracle Database Cloud Service is a good engine and at the moment, there isn't any new feature I can think of that I'd like added to the service. The only problem I see in Oracle Database Cloud Service is it's more commercial, so it has a relation to how it deals with customers. I don't feel secure in a deal with Oracle because that team changes the conditions each year, and there's no representative from the team that talks to my company about new needs. Oracle needs to improve its relationship with customers and partners in general."

"It would be nice to have a data dictionary reporting feature in the solution."

"In my opinion, the price of Oracle Database Cloud Service should be more affordable. Additionally, the interface of the application could be more user-friendly."

"We're actually going through licensing issues and are looking to perhaps changing to another solution, something that is perhaps open-source."

"The initial setup is a bit complex for the beginner, so you need a little technical experience to install it."

"The availability of different editions within Oracle Database Cloud Service could be improved."

"We encountered connection failures for some of our sites."

"Oracle Database Cloud Service could improve by adding some cross-region replication features."

More Oracle Database Cloud Service cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Clients are required to purchase a license."

"Among Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Db2, Microsoft SQL Server is the cheapest one, and Oracle is the most expensive one. Db2 is in the middle. As compared to SQL Server, its price could go down. It will be good for customers."

"We purchase the product's yearly license."

"The solution's pricing is fine."

"If I consider the price of IBM Db2 Database, I would say there are cheaper products in the market."

"Compared to other databases, Db2 is relatively cheaper."

"It is expensive when compared to other products."

"I would rate the pricing a five out of ten. It's not super expensive, but also not cheap."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"I think the program is rather expensive, so I would like to see it becoming more affordable."

"Pricing for Oracle Database Cloud Service could be more competitive. Lately, pricing for it has been increasing, so my company may have to review different options to find a solution with competitive pricing. From what I know, there's no additional cost apart from the standard licensing fees for Oracle Database Cloud Service."

"Every year we are increasing the price of the solution. There is hardware licensing available. We pay approximately $20,000 monthly to use the solution."

"The tool is not cheap."

"Price is always higher for all Oracle products."

"The product has reasonable pricing. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

20%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	20
Midsize Enterprise	13
Large Enterprise	48

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	7

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 database administrator or engineer might need.

See all answers

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 capabilities or products like those from BMC, which many installations might also purchase.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Db2 Database?

The IBM Db2 Database is a good solution, but now there is a high maintenance charge. The IBM Db2 Database needs improved support, and there are many difficulties in using it. We tend to use the clo...

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What do you like most about Oracle Database Cloud Service?

Security is the most valuable feature provided by the product.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Oracle Database Cloud Service?

In my opinion, the price of Oracle Database Cloud Service should be more affordable. Additionally, the interface of the application could be more user-friendly.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Oracle Database Cloud Service?

I primarily use Oracle Database Cloud Service in HR services, collaborating with other teams on projects. It is used for database management for clients, especially in HR solutions.

See all answers

Comparisons

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 35% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 19% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 13% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 13% of the time

MySQL vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 6% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

Amazon Aurora vs Oracle Database Cloud Service

Compared 37% of the time

Kinetica vs Oracle Database Cloud Service

Compared 34% of the time

Oracle Database vs Oracle Database Cloud Service

Compared 29% of the time

More Oracle Database Cloud Service Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

August 2025

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Buyer's Guide

Relational Databases Tools

August 2025

Download Oracle Database Cloud Service product report

Also Known As

DB2

No data available

Overview

DB2 Enterprise for Linux, UNIX, and Windows is the ideal data server for the most demanding workloads. New XML support is designed to help firms minimize the time and effort it takes to persist and use their XML data reducing development costs and improving business agility.

IBM

Oracle Database Exadata Cloud Service (Exadata Service) delivers the world's best Cloud Database Platform by combining the world's #1 database with Exadata, the most powerful database platform, and adding all the simplicity and cost effectiveness of the public cloud.

Oracle

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

Kagool, iPoint-Systems

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database Cloud Service

July 2025

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database Cloud Service

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database Cloud Service and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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