IBM Db2 Database vs Oracle Java DB comparison

IBM and Oracle are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. IBM is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.1, while Oracle is ranked #19 with an average rating of 9.0. IBM holds a 7.1% mindshare in SQL, compared to Oracle’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 71% of Oracle users who would recommend it.

IBM Db2 Database

Read 73 IBM Db2 Database reviews

6,854 Views
4,346 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Oracle Java DB

Read 9 Oracle Java DB reviews

540 Views
421 Comparison Views

71% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

Oracle Java DB

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

IBM Db2 Database and Oracle Java DB compete in the database management space. IBM Db2 has a potential advantage with its pricing and extensive support, while Oracle Java DB is appealing for its advanced functionalities.

Features: IBM Db2 Database offers optimized performance, robust security measures, and integration with AI capabilities. It supports multiple platforms and provides a powerful SQL dialect with object tables and Java method support. Oracle Java DB integrates seamlessly with Java, has lightweight operations, and offers great portability for developers who prioritize simplicity and flexibility.

Room for Improvement: IBM Db2 could improve in terms of initial setup complexity, enhancing user experience with a smoother configuration process. Additionally, simplifying its interface and reducing costs for smaller businesses would be beneficial. Oracle Java DB might enhance its performance under high workloads, increase its scalability options, and offer broader integration capabilities beyond Java, expanding its reach for diverse developer needs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Oracle Java DB is known for a straightforward deployment process, reducing setup complexities. It aligns with a lightweight service model that focuses on simplicity and rapid deployment. IBM Db2, with its more involved configuration process, compensates through detailed support, ensuring users can navigate the complex setup successfully.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Db2 may require higher initial costs but offers significant ROI through its analytics and AI capabilities, driving business insights. Oracle Java DB, more cost-effective with minimal upfront investment, is suited for projects with budget constraints, providing a balanced cost-benefit ratio that attracts developers seeking straightforward solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Java DB Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Java DB

April 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

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Oracle Java DB

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

19th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

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 Oracle Java DB is 0.8%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

SimonHiggins

Mainframe Technical Manager/Service Integration Lead at Saudi Business Machines

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.

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Anil-Sinha

Senior Consultant at CGI

Able to process all the reporting and processing in the database itself

We have been upgrading and moving to new environments. I was involved in the solution's initial setup. Some things in the setup are very smooth sailing. However, some setups become complicated because what they set up doesn't meet your needs. So, some tweaking is necessary in certain instances. Having a good understanding of the tool really helps. Oracle Java DB is easy to deploy if it's a new setup. Migrating from an old environment to a new environment takes time because you need the old functionality. A first-time deployment of the application is easy. We just did a default setup and started using it. When we have to migrate, there is too much baggage behind that application, especially from the security point of view.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"We are dealing with millions of transactions a month and the performance is very good."

"It's a very mature product."

"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."

"It has a good feature called pureScale, which is just for scalability. It is a perfect solution for environments where scalability is going to be an issue."

"The most valuable feature of the IBM Db2 Database is security."

"The solution is very stable, in both hardware and database."

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

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

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"There have been no issues in relation to stability. We've never really had do to any recoveries. It is very stable."

"It has a programming language so anything that we require for Selenium is all available there."

"The additional value of having Java inside the Oracle database is all the security that is applied to an Oracle database will be enforced on Java's stored procedures as well."

"The most valuable feature is automation."

"The database is quite robust in terms of performance from the SQL side."

"The solution is stable."

"Able to write queries more efficiently and the management of data has become better and easier."

"It's very clever."

More Oracle Java DB pros

Cons

"There could be more user-friendly tools with features such as drag-and-drop functionality, visual basics, and low-code capabilities."

"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."

"Db2 interface could be improved a bit. Comparing it to Oracle, Db2's interfaces could be improved."

"The queries can be difficult for beginners because there are so many. I would like to see more use cases for flow analysis that enable us to correlate the flow with events. Adding this feature in a QI format would be good for beginners."

"The tool is not easy to use. It needs to improve scale computing so that the tool can be scaled vertically. The product needs to enhance pre-engine optimization and it needs to be more efficient in completing queries. The documentation should be updated to include different scenarios of deployment."

"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."

"They could enhance the product's cloud integration and general-purpose database capabilities."

"The technical support can be faster."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"Needs improvement in consistency issues with respect to timeframes."

"The solution could be more user-friendly."

"Oracle can improve by providing more connection string variations and relay servers on the path to the database."

"The solution should continue to keep updating and improving the Java language."

"In terms of improvement, I'd like an automation tool that is lower priced. The core prices are very high."

"It'll be better if Oracle Java supports open source technologies, like Node.js."

"The tool might be integrated, but we see performance issues because of overhead."

"The biggest lesson that I have learned from using Oracle products is vendor lock-in."

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"Clients are required to purchase a license."

"We did not buy it. It came with our hardware without any complimentary maintenance. If I compare Db2 Database with Oracle Database, its price is lower than Oracle Database."

"The solution's hardware and subscription model for support are very expensive."

"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."

"Compared to Oracle, it is so much cheaper."

"We don't see what the specific price of the DB2 license is because we pay for the backup license as a package."

"It's very expensive for West African countries like ours."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"The product's pricing is very friendly, with no extra costs after the licensing fees."

"Oracle Java DB is a pricey solution."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

59%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

20%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Educational Organization

12%

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 database administrator or engineer might need.

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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.

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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 solutions. New functions don't come to mind.

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What needs improvement with Oracle Java DB?

Oracle can improve by providing more connection string variations and relay servers on the path to the database. Various ways of connecting would enhance functionality.

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What is your primary use case for Oracle Java DB?

I have experience connecting to a database with Java by using Java code and interrogating the database.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Oracle Java DB?

It's important to consider several settings and connection strings, as well as firewall rules when connecting to the database. I would rate the overall solution nine out of ten.

See all answers

Comparisons

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 32% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 18% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 16% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 12% of the time

MySQL vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 6% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

MySQL vs Oracle Java DB

Compared 53% of the time

Oracle Database vs Oracle Java DB

Compared 30% of the time

More Oracle Java DB Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

April 2025

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Buyer's Guide

Relational Databases Tools

March 2025

Download Oracle Java DB 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

Java DB is a relational database management system (RDBMS). Data is stored and queried via SQL or JDBC. Like other RDBMSs, Java DB can also be accessed through a persistence layer such as JPA, Hibernate, or JDO. Java objects can be stored in the columns of Java DB tables.

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

Université Nice Sophia Antipolis

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Java DB

April 2025

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Java DB

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