IBM Db2 Database vs SAP SQL Anywhere comparison

IBM and SAP are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. IBM is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.1, while SAP is ranked #18 with an average rating of 10.0. IBM holds a 7.1% mindshare in SQL, compared to SAP’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of SAP 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

SAP SQL Anywhere

Read 6 SAP SQL Anywhere reviews

918 Views
487 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

SAP SQL Anywhere

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

SAP SQL Anywhere and IBM Db2 Database compete in the enterprise database solutions category, each offering distinctive capabilities. While SAP SQL Anywhere's competitive pricing and user-friendly approach appeals to smaller businesses, IBM Db2 Database leads with advanced features and robust enterprise support.

Features: SAP SQL Anywhere offers efficient data management with strong mobility solutions, high synchronization capabilities for distributed environments, and lightweight database management. IBM Db2 Database provides comprehensive analytics, superior data integration, and robust security features ideal for complex operations and large enterprises.

Room for Improvement: SAP SQL Anywhere could enhance its analytics capabilities, deepen enterprise-level features, and broaden platform compatibility. IBM Db2 Database might benefit from simpler deployment processes, reducing initial setup complexity, and improving cost-efficiency for smaller deployments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SAP SQL Anywhere is noted for straightforward deployment and strong mobile application support, appealing to smaller organizations. IBM Db2 Database offers extensive deployment models and robust customer service, ensuring quicker issue resolution and seamless large-scale deployments.

Pricing and ROI: SAP SQL Anywhere tends to have lower initial setup costs, offering cost-effectiveness and substantial ROI for smaller businesses. Despite higher setup costs, IBM Db2 Database delivers long-term value through advanced analytics and integration, appealing to large enterprises seeking comprehensive data solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Db2 Database vs. SAP SQL Anywhere Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. SAP SQL Anywhere

April 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 850,028 peers since 2012

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

SAP SQL Anywhere

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

18th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

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 SAP SQL Anywhere is 0.8%, up from 0.7% 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.

Read full review

Crewmem67

IT Consultant at College Notre Dame de Nazareth

Reliable and able to expand but needs to be more secure

It is not as good as a SQL Server. I prefer to work with the SQL Server for Microsoft or Oracle. These are better as there are some comments on SQL Anywhere that makes me feel that I'm blocked. We'd like to have them update to a new version. They should update more often. I find I can't move to a new version without running tests as there are chances of bugs that can get into my system. The initial setup is not simple or straightforward, and it took a while to deploy. It is not as secure as it could be. This is an aspect they need to improve. There needs to be more encryption.

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

"It is a scalable solution."

"The most valuable aspect of this solution is its stability. We have never had any problems and have never had to contact technical support."

"The solution's querying feature is most valuable. It allows me to retrieve data quickly."

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

"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."

"Some of the most valuable features are the scaling from a small very cheap installation to a very large enterprise installation. In addition, the backups and assistance are good."

"I believe that because the support is good, they jump in and assist us in determining the root cause."

"The structure is straightforward, consisting of the test file and the logical and physical files. You have one physical file and many logical files related to it."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"The auto-backup replication is a perfect feature. That is the feature I liked the most."

"The most valuable features of SAP SQL Anywhere are the ease of use and the user interface is intuitive."

"SAP SQL Anywhere is very helpful."

"We've found the solution very reliable overall. It's very fast."

"It works well in general."

Cons

"The licensing fees can be reduced."

"The solution could improve by providing more integration."

"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."

"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."

"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's products tend to be quite costly, especially given the availability of free, open-source alternatives."

"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."

"The solution no longer supports POWER8."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"It is not as secure as it could be."

"We have had some stability issues with SAP SQL Anywhere, but I am not sure if it is an application or network issue. We sometimes have a large amount of data being queried and it cannot handle it."

"The interface is not easy in comparison to the SQL Server. It could be more user-friendly."

"A problem we are experiencing now is when doing a backup in SQL 2012 and 14."

"SAP SQL Anywhere needs to incorporate functionalities like SAP S/4HANA."

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"It is expensive when compared to other products."

"The total cost of the solution depends upon the PVU licensing"

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

"We purchase the product's yearly license."

"We normally handle large size businesses and as far as I am aware, the license is negotiable based on the number of users and the quantitative data."

"The solution costs less than other products."

"They are competitive and honest (compared to how peer firms approach licensing conversations). "

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"SAP SQL Anywhere is affordable."

"SQL Anywhere cost us about $400."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Relational Databases Tools solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

850,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

58%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Government

Computer Software Company

20%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Construction Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

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 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.

See all answers

What do you like most about SAP SQL Anywhere?

SAP SQL Anywhere is very helpful.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP SQL Anywhere?

SAP SQL Anywhere is affordable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SAP SQL Anywhere?

SAP SQL Anywhere needs to incorporate functionalities like SAP S/4HANA.

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

SQL Server vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 30% of the time

Oracle Database vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 24% of the time

SAP HANA vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 24% of the time

SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 23% of the time

More SAP SQL Anywhere 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 SAP SQL Anywhere product report

Also Known As

DB2

Sybase SQL Anywhere

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

SAP SQL Anywhere enables companies to develop custom mobile and IoT application and rapidly design and deploy embedded database applications. The RDBMS solutions can provide secure, reliable data management and synchronization for thousands of mobile devices, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and remote environments. They let business users work uninterrupted, even without a network connection.

SAP

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

AOK Bundesverband, Surgutneftegas Open Joint Stock Company, Molson Coors Brewing Company, City of Buenos Aires, ASR Group, Citrix, EarlySense, Usha International Limited, Automotive Resources International, Wªrth Group, Takisada-Osaka Co. Ltd., Coelba, RZD Russian Railways, National Basketball Association, TALLY WEiJL

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. SAP SQL Anywhere

April 2025

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database vs. SAP SQL Anywhere

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Db2 Database vs. SAP SQL Anywhere and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

850,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our IBM Db2 Database vs. SAP SQL Anywhere report.

See our list of best Relational Databases Tools vendors.

We monitor all Relational Databases Tools reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.