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LocalDB vs Oracle Database In-Memory vs SQL Server 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 August 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of LocalDB is 2.0%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Database In-Memory is 1.7%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SQL Server is 16.6%, down from 22.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Relational Databases Tools
 

Featured Reviews

Srini-Dhanaraj - PeerSpot reviewer
The database always has structured data, like rows, columns, and bases
LocalDB is an excellent solution for learners, beginners, and projects of negligible size; it is very good. Any startup can use a local database to start. Once they grow beyond its limits, they can migrate to a MS SQL server that's also available on-premises. I rate it ten out of ten.
Laksiri Bala - PeerSpot reviewer
Faster processing and improved memory operations have enhanced transaction and analytics efficiency
The valuable features of Oracle Database In-Memory include its capability to bypass disk storage for faster memory operations, which is critical for transactions and analytics. It also offers specific memory areas, like in-memory cache, that act as intermediaries between disk and buffer cache. This feature helps organizations handle real-time memory requirements effectively.
Kapil Dev Khatri - PeerSpot reviewer
Helps monitor queries and identify which indexes need to be created in the databases
SQL Server is very simple due to its GUI, which is available for users. It allows for modifications and has execution plans available, along with options such as activity monitoring. This helps monitor queries and identify which indexes need to be created in the databases, tables, or columns to improve performance.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The initial setup is very straightforward. The guidelines are very easy to follow. Maintenance is very easy and requires very little manpower."
"The solution is fast."
"LocalDB is an excellent solution for learners, beginners, and projects of negligible size; it is very good."
"The most valuable feature of LocalDBis the connection between the application and DB."
"The initial setup was simple."
"We find the dashboard and the speed of data processing very valuable in Oracle Database In-Memory."
"The solution is very fast."
"The scalability is very good."
"The product offers high scalability."
"The application development is very user-friendly."
"The most valuable feature is that Database-In-Memory is more consistent and faster than traditional databases as it requires fewer CPUs to process instructions."
"It accelerates query processing, which in turn speeds up operations and streamlines workflow, and ultimately enhancing productivity."
"The solution's most valuable feature is its performance optimization within our hardware environment."
"This solution is user-friendly and easy to understand."
"It's a flexible solution."
"Enables us to convert to bigger DBs and more easily move or upgrade between branches."
"The performance of SQL Server is perfect."
"I like that it's relatively stable."
"The Azure SQL Server database requires almost zero maintenance and management."
"The product is easy to use."
"SQL Server is widely used and it's simple. You cannot do without Microsoft if you want to manage IT for a business customer."
 

Cons

"The ALM features can be improved, but the database by itself is reliable."
"The initial setup is complex and requires a skilled person."
"It is only for a small amount of data. Local DB is made for the purpose of small-volume optics."
"The solution needs to create a management tool. Right now, the solution has tools for creating a local installation, but it's too simplistic. We need something that's a bit more complex so that we can extend the tools with our scripts."
"The internal connection features of LocalDB could improve."
"The product could benefit from enhancements in its graphical user interface."
"It would be good if Oracle could reduce downtime when transferring from non-In-Memory to In-Memory."
"We often have to find solutions on our own through the support site, so there's room for improvement in this regard."
"The solution should move to the new way of writing software code with AI that is intelligent and learns."
"Oracle Database In-Memory appliance-based solutions can be restrictive for some applications, as they may require more flexibility in the database design to be tuned and sized to the customer's needs."
"Lacks sufficient integration with other tools."
"They should improve the solution's scalability for large databases."
"The platform’s pricing needs improvement."
"It would be nice if there was a feature to search for a specific value across multiple tables. This would save a lot of time for its users."
"The GUI needs improvement. From a technical perspective, it's quite complex, which may not be a problem for individuals with technical backgrounds like ours, especially since we've encountered similar interfaces. However, navigating the GUI can be challenging for newcomers or product owners without technical experience. For example, as someone transitioning from a developer role to a product management role, I find it relatively easy to use the GUI. But for those without a technical background, it's much more challenging to grasp what's happening."
"It can be better if it enables the use of AI functions."
"I would like to see SQL Server add the ability to write to multiple sites or support replication between multiple sites at the transaction level."
"As SQL server could not support the number of connections we desired, we were forced to go with Oracle."
"The agility of the non-SQL-based features is relevant on the market."
"In some cases it is quite difficult, like the lack of ease of the replication and other issues. They have to improve on that. They do not have features like "always on," which is complicated."
"The upgrades are unstable."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing cost is too high for LocalDB."
"The fees are fair."
"The solution's pricing is high."
"It's quite costly and it comes with a fixed price."
"I rate the pricing a zero out of ten because Database In-Memory is too costly."
"The platform's licensing cost needs improvement."
"Database In-Memory is priced a bit higher than its competitors like Microsoft."
"The product is expensive."
"Oracle Database In-Memory is expensive."
"The pricing is pretty good so I rate it an eight out of ten."
"The licenses are purchased annually."
"SQL Server has the best licensing price."
"Our customers do pay license fees for the MS SQL Server but the Rabbit is free, as it is open-source software."
"The cost is high and because it's an expensive product, we are in the process of moving towards open-source solutions."
"For smaller companies, they find this solution expensive."
"It requires the purchase of a license."
"The product’s price depends on the specific server requirements."
"We're looking at alternative solutions because we think Microsoft's licensing costs have been expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Computer Software Company
11%
Government
10%
Financial Services Firm
18%
Computer Software Company
10%
Government
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with LocalDB?
Technically speaking, you don't need to get any updates because it's not online. It's on-premise. So once it is insta...
What is your primary use case for LocalDB?
There were multiple systems, some planned, like the mainframe, the gold database, a website, and a manual Excel sprea...
What do you like most about Oracle Database In-Memory?
We can integrate it with any data sources as well.
What needs improvement with Oracle Database In-Memory?
I currently don't know how Oracle Database In-Memory has benefited my organization. We recently received this query f...
Would you say the price of SQL Server is high compared to that of similar products?
SQL Server is fairly priced because it has various editions, depending on the number of users, servers, or core packs...
Has using SQL Server helped your organization in any way?
SQL Server has helped my organization through partitioning to distribute the workload, as it splits them up into smal...
Which authentication mode is best for SQL Server?
My company connects through SQL Server authentication. We have company Windows accounts, but we do not want to connec...
 

Also Known As

No data available
No data available
Microsoft SQL Server, MSSQL, MS SQL
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

AstraZeneca, Kienzle Automotive GmbH, Kodak Alaris, Unilever, Floatel International and Kongsberg Maritime, MyHero
Shanghai Customs
Microsoft SQL Server is used by businesses in every industry, including Great Western Bank, Aviva, the Volvo Car Corporation, BMW, Samsung, Principality Building Society, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and others in Relational Databases Tools. Updated: August 2025.
865,140 professionals have used our research since 2012.