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Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft SQL Server

Composite Score

8.9 /10

CX Score

9.2 /10

167 Reviews Write a Review

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What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Apply intelligence across all your data with SQL Server 2022. Whether your data is structured or unstructured, query and analyze it using the data platform with industry-leading performance and security. Regardless of where your data is stored, query and analyze it with the data platform known for performance, security, and availability.

Company Details

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Awards & Recognition

Microsoft SQL Server won the following awards in the Transaction Data Store category

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2025 Data Quadrant Champion

Latest Award, 2025

5 Top Rated Capabilities

2 Top Rated Features

Latest Award, 2025

2025 Emotional Footprint Champion

2025

Contract Negotiation

2025

2024 Data Quadrant Champion

2024

4 Top Rated Capabilities

6 Top Rated Features

2024

2024 Emotional Footprint Champion

2024

2023 Data Quadrant Champion

2023

3 Top Rated Capabilities

2 Top Rated Features

2023

3 Top Rated Capabilities

2 Top Rated Features

2022

Microsoft SQL Server Ratings

Real user data aggregated to summarize the product performance and customer experience.
Download the entire Product Scorecard to access more information on Microsoft SQL Server.

Product scores listed below represent current data. This may be different from data contained in reports and awards, which express data as of their publication date.

89 Likeliness to Recommend

98 Plan to Renew

1
Since last award

84 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value

1
Since last award

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Emotional Footprint Overview

Product scores listed below represent current data. This may be different from data contained in reports and awards, which express data as of their publication date.

+92 Net Emotional Footprint

The emotional sentiment held by end users of the software based on their experience with the vendor. Responses are captured on an eight-point scale.

How much do users love Microsoft SQL Server?

0% Negative

2% Neutral

98% Positive

Pros

Reliable
Performance Enhancing
Enables Productivity
Fair

Feature Ratings

Average 84

Database Management

Data Management

Analytics and Reporting

Data Protection and Security

High Availability

High Speed & Online Transaction Processing

Data Monitoring and Administration

Data Backup

Data Replication

Operations Management

Systems Performance Management

Vendor Capability Ratings

Average 82

Quality of Features

Business Value Created

Ease of Implementation

Usability and Intuitiveness

Breadth of Features

Ease of Data Integration

Availability and Quality of Training

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement

Ease of IT Administration

Ease of Customization

Vendor Support

Also Featured in...

Data Integration

Score 8.7

View Microsoft SQL Server in this category (opens in a new tab)

Microsoft SQL Server Reviews

Thong K.

Role: C-Level
Industry: Technology
Involvement: IT Leader or Manager

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Jan 2024

Powerful and reliable enterprise database

Likeliness to Recommend

8 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

It is feature rich has unparalleled integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Windows Server as the underlying platform and Visual Studio for development and enhancement of integrations and customized solutions.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

Development of data solutions and integrations are very easy with SSIS and made even easier when used with tools such as Visual Studio. There are a number of connectors and integration options available so finding something that works for your needs is simple. SQL Server is very mature so has support for most of anyone's data needs, and if there isn't something in the base product, support is so ubiquitous that there is probably a third-party solution available.

What do you dislike most about this product?

The licensing is getting more and more expensive as time goes one and can be very confusing. Managing and supporting high availability clusters can be overly complex.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

If you need an established database management system that is mature, reliable, and well supported, then you can't go wrong with SQL Server, even if you are not in the Windows ecosystem.

Pros

Helps Innovate
Performance Enhancing
Enables Productivity
Unique Features

Cons

Less Friendly Negotiation
Less Generous
Less Efficient Service

Shaun M.

Role: Consultant
Industry: Consulting
Involvement: IT Leader or Manager

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Dec 2023

A scalable DBMS with all the required features

Likeliness to Recommend

9 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

Its intuitiveness, simplicity when compared to other DBMSs like DB2 and the amount of support and documentation that is available

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

SQL Server Management Studio provides access to most of the product features in a consistent way. One interface as opposed to many.

What do you dislike most about this product?

The fact that SQL Server Management Studio is sometimes not bundled with the installer (depending on the version).

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

You will find that answers are readily available for any questions you may have without recourse to Microsoft.

Pros

Helps Innovate
Continually Improving Product
Reliable
Performance Enhancing

Rituja N.

Role: Finance
Industry: Banking
Involvement: IT Development, Integration, and Administration

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Dec 2023

reliable and stable platform, Good performance

Likeliness to Recommend

9 /10

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

My favorite aspect of Microsoft SQL Server is its reliability and stability, which have provided a solid foundation for efficient data management. The platform's performance and reliability have been exceptional, ensuring the smooth operation of critical business processes.

What do you dislike most about this product?

The aspect I dislike most about Microsoft SQL Server is its limited cross-platform compatibility.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Microsoft SQL Server is highly regarded for its reliability, stability, and good performance. It has been described as a solid foundation for efficient data management, making it a suitable choice for personal users who prioritize these aspects

Pros

Saves Time
Client Friendly Policies
Acts with Integrity
Over Delivered

Microsoft SQL Server

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Company Details

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Awards & Recognition

2025 Data Quadrant Champion

2025 Emotional Footprint Champion

2024 Data Quadrant Champion

2024 Emotional Footprint Champion

2023 Data Quadrant Champion

Microsoft SQL Server Ratings

89 Likeliness to Recommend

98 Plan to Renew

1 Since last award

84 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value

1 Since last award

Emotional Footprint Overview

+92 Net Emotional Footprint

How much do users love Microsoft SQL Server?

Pros

Feature Ratings Average rating of all product features, some of which may not be shown below

Database Management Supports multiple data types, data structuring, data retrieval, database customization, and multi-user access.

Data Management Includes data sharing, data storage, records management, and data security.

Analytics and Reporting Includes historical & real-time dashboard visualizations, detailed & summary reporting and easy data extraction for data analysis.

Data Protection and Security Includes data encryption, data audit, and data compliance.

High Availability HA DB designed for near-zero downtown by seamless replication of data between environments for uninterrupted real-time access and fail-over capabilities.

High Speed & Online Transaction Processing Also referred to as OLTP (Online Transaction processing). OLTP databases include strong support for CRUD operations and ACID compliance.

Data Monitoring and Administration Includes ability to continuously monitored data quality rules, as well as generate alerts to notify data stewards when they need to address an issue.

Data Backup Includes the creation of duplicate instances to recover from an unplanned data loss. Also, support for high volumes of data processing and data compression.

Data Replication Support for a real-time copy of the database in more than one system to facilitate access to the copy of data from multiple systems without any inconsistencies.

Operations Management Includes cost control, production management, and performance management.

Systems Performance Management Includes monitoring, analyzing and configuration in order to optimize performance and increase efficiency.

Vendor Capability Ratings Average rating of all vendor capabilities, some of which may not be shown below

Quality of Features Feature quality is just as important as quantity. Use this data to determine if this product will do what you're purchasing it to do, easily, intuitively, reliably, and effectively.

Business Value Created Software needs to create value for employees, customers, partners, and, ultimately, shareholders. This data expresses user satisfaction - or lack thereof - with the product's business value.

Ease of Implementation Successfully implementing new software is necessary to realize its full value and promote end user adoption. This data indicates whether or not the product is easy to implement.

Usability and Intuitiveness End user learning curves cost the organization money. Pay attention to your end users' technical ability to determine how important UX is in your purchase.

Breadth of Features Users prefer feature rich software that enables them to perform diverse series of tasks. This data expresses user satisfaction with the product's breadth of features.

Ease of Data Integration Use this data to determine whether the product will cause headaches or make data integration easy.

Availability and Quality of Training Effective and readily available training enables users to get the most out of the software you've chosen. Use this section to make sure your vendor's training programs and materials measure up.

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement Vendors who don't stay on top of emerging needs and trends won't enable you to meet your business goals. Use this data to separate innovators from imposters.

Ease of IT Administration This data indicates whether IT personnel will be able to resolve issues and perform configurations efficiently and effectively.

Ease of Customization Don't get bogged down in a difficult customization; use this data to make sure you can easily achieve the functionality you need for your particular situation.

Vendor Support The importance of vendor support will vary for each organization depending on internal capabilities, but there will always be issues that only the vendor can resolve.

Also Featured in...

Data Integration

Microsoft SQL Server Reviews

Thong K.

Powerful and reliable enterprise database

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

Cons

Shaun M.

A scalable DBMS with all the required features

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

Rituja N.

reliable and stable platform, Good performance

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

Most Popular Microsoft SQL Server Comparisons

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1
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Feature Ratings

Database Management

Data Management

Analytics and Reporting

Data Protection and Security

High Availability

High Speed & Online Transaction Processing

Data Monitoring and Administration

Data Backup

Data Replication

Operations Management

Systems Performance Management

Vendor Capability Ratings

Quality of Features

Business Value Created

Ease of Implementation

Usability and Intuitiveness

Breadth of Features

Ease of Data Integration

Availability and Quality of Training

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement

Ease of IT Administration

Ease of Customization

Vendor Support