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 8.3, while SAP is ranked #18 with an average rating of 10.0. IBM holds a 7.4% 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 74 IBM Db2 Database reviews

5,504 Views
2,309 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

SAP SQL Anywhere

Read 6 SAP SQL Anywhere reviews

853 Views
302 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

SAP SQL Anywhere

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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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: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. SAP SQL Anywhere

June 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

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 June 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.4%, 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

ArpitKhare

Database Admin Senior Consultant at Capgemini

Offers optimizer plan and ALSM features along with exceptional stability

The TSA version of IBM Db2 Database doesn't meet my stability expectations. Every time when a switch over occurs, some stability issues can be noticed. The vendor should offer a free version of IBM Db2 Database. For instance, if our company wants to train new individuals on all the features of IBM Db2 Database, they can only be trained after purchasing the paid version of the solution. About ten years ago, a trial version was available for the solution that was highly beneficial for companies. The vendor can add AI or ML features in the future version of IBM Db2 Database.

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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.

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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

"Db2 database scalability and performance capabilities match our database needs. It covers pretty much everything a database administrator or engineer might need."

"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."

"The most valuable feature of IBM Db2 Database is its ability to perform automatic self-management, reducing the need for manual tasks such as managing logs and folders."

"The solution can scale."

"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."

"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."

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

"Reliable, robust with great features."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

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

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

"It works well in general."

"SAP SQL Anywhere is very helpful."

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

Cons

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

"Do not use support. Freely available documentation is a bit weak."

"I would say that the tool has to be made more cloud-friendly and should have agreements with AWS, Microsoft, or Google to run things on hyperscalers."

"The solution could be more modern and have updated database technology."

"The licensing fees can be reduced."

"The ease of use, or ease of management, could be improved."

"The backup solution lacks flexibility."

"The user interface is not user-friendly."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

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

"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."

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The solution's pricing is fine."

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

"The solution costs less than other products."

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

"There is a license for this solution and we pay every three years."

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

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

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"SQL Anywhere cost us about $400."

"SAP SQL Anywhere is affordable."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

37%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

17%

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

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?

IBM is implementing some release improvements. It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology.

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 33% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 18% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 15% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 13% of the time

MySQL vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 5% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

SQL Server vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 31% of the time

Oracle Database vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 21% of the time

SAP HANA vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 18% of the time

SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 17% of the time

MySQL vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 12% of the time

More SAP SQL Anywhere Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

June 2025

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Buyer's Guide

Relational Databases Tools

June 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

June 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: June 2025.

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