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Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft SQL Server

Composite Score

8.8 /10

CX Score

9.0 /10

268 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.

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Awards & Recognition

Microsoft SQL Server won the following awards in the Data Integration category

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2025 Emotional Footprint Champion

Latest Award, 2025

2025 Data Quadrant Champion

2025

1 Top Rated Capabilities

1 Top Rated Features

2025

2024 Emotional Footprint Champion

2024

2024 Data Quadrant Champion

2024

1 Top Rated Capabilities

1 Top Rated Features

2024

2023 Emotional Footprint Champion

2023

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

84 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value

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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.

+90 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?

2% Negative

4% Neutral

94% Positive

Pros

Reliable
Performance Enhancing
Enables Productivity
Respectful

Feature Ratings

Average 80

Administrative Features

Data Security

Batch Integration

Exception Handling and Notifications

Real Time Integration

Synchronization and Replication

Metadata Management

Data Quality Profiling and Cleansing

Data Virtualization

Multi Channel Support

API Management and Orchestration

Vendor Capability Ratings

Average 82

Business Value Created

Ease of Implementation

Quality of Features

Ease of Data Integration

Breadth of Features

Usability and Intuitiveness

Availability and Quality of Training

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement

Ease of IT Administration

Vendor Support

Ease of Customization

Also Featured in...

Transaction Data Store

Score 8.9

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Microsoft SQL Server Reviews

John M.

Role: Information Technology
Industry: Government
Involvement: IT Development, Integration, and Administration

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Dec 2023

Reliable, proven product from a great brand

Likeliness to Recommend

10 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

MS SQL Server is extremely compatible with software products across a wide spectrum. You can rest easy knowing that virtually any application you use will be able to connect with SQL, interface with it, and be fully integrated. Microsoft provides a great deal of support, and a lot of third party companies do as well. It's a given that developers and software companies have a close relationship with MS SQL.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

SQL Server has a lot of features that provide a great deal of flexibility in how you setup your data, how it's stored, retrieved, and managed. There are very useful things you can do with SQL such as Views, Stored Procedures, and functions. These features are not terribly difficult to setup, and there is a lot of documentation online to consume if you need it.

What do you dislike most about this product?

Lack of a graphical interface for setting up tables, rows, columns.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Microsoft has been developing and supporting MS SQL Server for many years. Buy purchasing and using MS SQL, you know that this product is mature and highly documented. There's a large community backing the product, so you're never alone.

Pros

Helps Innovate
Continually Improving Product
Reliable
Performance Enhancing

Patrick H.

Role: Consultant
Industry: Energy
Involvement: Business Leader or Manager

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Dec 2022

A market standard product performing as expected.

Likeliness to Recommend

10 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

As consultant we must be skilled in MS SQL Server because so many clients have chosen it as an enterprise platform.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

Ease of use and rich reference documentation provided by Microsoft.

What do you dislike most about this product?

Some odd syntax on occasion where a Microsoft developed, efficient, function would better serve the community.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

This decision is a "best" decision involving performance, economics, and data management strategy. The need to evaluate with an understanding of long term direction and costs is certain.

Pros

Performance Enhancing
Acts with Integrity
Helps Innovate
Reliable

Pranav R.

Role: Information Technology
Industry: Technology
Involvement: IT Development, Integration, and Administration

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Dec 2025

SQL Server: The Ultimate All-in-One Database Power

Likeliness to Recommend

8 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

SQL Server includes enterprise‑grade security features such as Transparent Data Encryption, row‑level security, dynamic data masking, and fine‑grained role‑based controls that integrate with Active Directory.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

Honestly, my favorite thing about Microsoft SQL Server is its all-in-one toolkit, it packs a powerful database engine with built-in goodies like SSIS for data integration, SSRS for reporting, and top-notch high availability features, all playing nice together out of the box.

What do you dislike most about this product?

The thing that bugs me most about Microsoft SQL Server is the licensing it's pricey and a total headache to figure out, especially with per-core packs and CALs that can sneak up on you in virtualized or growing setups.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Leverage Azure SQL for hybrid/cloud to cut on-prem management, especially with your DevSecOps background in CI/CD pipelines.

Pros

Continually Improving Product
Reliable
Performance Enhancing
Enables Productivity

Microsoft SQL Server

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Company Details

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Awards & Recognition

2025 Emotional Footprint Champion

2025 Data Quadrant Champion

2024 Emotional Footprint Champion

2024 Data Quadrant Champion

2023 Emotional Footprint Champion

Microsoft SQL Server Ratings

89 Likeliness to Recommend

98 Plan to Renew

84 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value

Emotional Footprint Overview

+90 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

Administrative Features Includes basic aspects of data extraction, transformation, and loading. Administrative console and process viewing, interruption, restart, cancel, and rollback.

Data Security Includes ability to hide sensitive data by masking with special characters or anonymous information.

Batch Integration Includes ability to schedule integration processes to run on a periodic basis to control the movement of data from a source to target.

Exception Handling and Notifications Ability to catch, report, and handle exceptions; includes transaction logging and event viewing.

Real Time Integration Able to integrate data in near-real time and handle movement of data from a source to target. Monitoring for changes in a data source in a non-invasive manner.

Synchronization and Replication Includes the ability to accurately catch, reflect, and correct changes in data across multiple data stores.

Metadata Management A metadata layer makes reporting easy and eliminates the need for coding and SQL, allowing users to see and access information in simple business language.

Data Quality Profiling and Cleansing Includes data cleansing, reconciliation, and profiling across multiple sources in batch mode.

Data Virtualization Includes ability to create views joining disparate data sources without the need for persistence.

Multi Channel Support The ability to support and connect with channels including Cloud Services, Big Data Platforms, web, mobile, social, IoT, wearables, etc.

API Management and Orchestration Includes publishing, promoting and overseeing APIs and Orchestration Services.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Also Featured in...

Transaction Data Store

Microsoft SQL Server Reviews

John M.

Reliable, proven product from a great brand

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

Patrick H.

A market standard product performing as expected.

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

Pranav R.

SQL Server: The Ultimate All-in-One Database Power

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

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Feature Ratings

Administrative Features

Data Security

Batch Integration

Exception Handling and Notifications

Real Time Integration

Synchronization and Replication

Metadata Management

Data Quality Profiling and Cleansing

Data Virtualization

Multi Channel Support

API Management and Orchestration

Vendor Capability Ratings

Business Value Created

Ease of Implementation

Quality of Features

Ease of Data Integration

Breadth of Features

Usability and Intuitiveness

Availability and Quality of Training

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement

Ease of IT Administration

Vendor Support

Ease of Customization