LocalDB vs SAP SQL Anywhere comparison

Microsoft and SAP are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. Microsoft is ranked #14 with an average rating of 10.0, while SAP is ranked #17 with an average rating of 10.0. Microsoft holds a 1.8% mindshare in SQL, compared to SAP’s 1.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of SAP users who would recommend it.

LocalDB

Read 6 LocalDB reviews

1,379 Views
1,379 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SAP SQL Anywhere

Read 6 SAP SQL Anywhere reviews

724 Views
702 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

LocalDB

SAP SQL Anywhere

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

SAP SQL Anywhere and LocalDB compete in the small to medium-scale application database category. SAP SQL Anywhere has the upper hand due to its extensive feature set and advanced capabilities.

Features: SAP SQL Anywhere offers advanced synchronization capabilities, high availability, and scalability suitable for distributed environments. LocalDB is a lightweight, easily deployable SQL Server solution that provides streamlined, development-focused functionalities.

Room for Improvement: SAP SQL Anywhere could enhance its ease of use and streamline its complex setup process to reach smaller development teams. It may also benefit from more intuitive customer support interfaces. LocalDB could improve its feature set to support more comprehensive enterprise scenarios and enhance its scalability to match larger applications.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SAP SQL Anywhere supports intricate deployment configurations with strong customer service, ideal for complex environments. LocalDB's simple installation and self-contained nature are beneficial for quick development setups, catering primarily to developers seeking minimal configuration.

Pricing and ROI: SAP SQL Anywhere involves higher initial costs due to licensing and support, potentially offering long-term value with its extensive feature set. LocalDB, part of SQL Server Express, is a cost-effective option with minimal startup expenses, offering substantial returns for development-focused projects.

To learn more, read our detailed LocalDB vs. SAP SQL Anywhere Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

LocalDB vs. SAP SQL Anywhere

September 2025

Download the complete report

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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

LocalDB

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

14th

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SAP SQL Anywhere

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

17th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

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 LocalDB is 1.8%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP SQL Anywhere is 1.1%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
LocalDB	1.8%
SAP SQL Anywhere	1.1%
Other	97.1%

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

Srini-Dhanaraj

Founder & CEO at imfine.club

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.

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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.

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

"The most valuable feature of LocalDBis the connection between the application and DB."

"The initial setup was simple."

"The solution is fast."

"The initial setup is very straightforward. The guidelines are very easy to follow. Maintenance is very easy and requires very little manpower."

"LocalDB is an excellent solution for learners, beginners, and projects of negligible size; it is very good."

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

"It works well in general."

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

"SAP SQL Anywhere is very helpful."

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

Cons

"The internal connection features of LocalDB could improve."

"The ALM features can be improved, but the database by itself is reliable."

"It is only for a small amount of data. Local DB is made for the purpose of small-volume optics."

"The initial setup is complex and requires a skilled person."

"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."

"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."

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

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

"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

"The licensing cost is too high for LocalDB."

"The fees are fair."

"SQL Anywhere cost us about $400."

"SAP SQL Anywhere is affordable."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

10%

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for LocalDB?

It's free of cost.

See all answers

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 installed, then you get a desktop-grade version. But the purpose of LocalDB is not th...

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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 spreadsheet. These were the various data sources, and we wanted to bring everything i...

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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 LocalDB

Compared 73% of the time

MySQL vs LocalDB

Compared 19% of the time

MariaDB vs LocalDB

Compared 8% of the time

More LocalDB Competitors

SQL Server vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 31% of the time

SAP HANA vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 22% of the time

Oracle Database vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 19% of the time

MySQL vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 15% of the time

SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise vs SAP SQL Anywhere

Compared 13% of the time

More SAP SQL Anywhere Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Relational Databases Tools

August 2025

Download LocalDB product report

Buyer's Guide

Relational Databases Tools

August 2025

Download SAP SQL Anywhere product report

Also Known As

No data available

Sybase SQL Anywhere

Overview

LocalDB is a lightweight version of the SQL Server Express Database Engine that is targeted for program development. LocalDB starts on demand and runs in user mode, so there is no complex configuration.

Microsoft

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

AstraZeneca, Kienzle Automotive GmbH, Kodak Alaris, Unilever, Floatel International and Kongsberg Maritime, MyHero

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

LocalDB vs. SAP SQL Anywhere

September 2025

Free Report: LocalDB vs. SAP SQL Anywhere

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