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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Oracle Database

    Score8.2 out of 10
    N/AOracle Database, currently in edition 23ai, is a converged, multimodel database management system. It is designed to simplify development for AI, microservices, graph, document, spatial, and relational applications.

    $0.05

    per hour

    Microsoft SQL Server

    Score8.7 out of 10
    N/AMicrosoft SQL Server is a relational database.

    $1,418

    Per License

    Pricing
    Oracle DatabaseMicrosoft SQL Server
    Editions & Modules
    Oracle Base Database Service - Standard
    $0.0538
    per hour
    Oracle Base Database Service - Enterprise
    $0.1075
    per hour
    Oracle Base Database Service - High Performance
    $0.2218
    per hour
    Standard Edition
    Contact Sales
    Enterprise Edition
    Contact Sales
    Personal Edition
    Contact Sales
    Subscription
    $1,418.00
    Per License
    Enterprise
    $13,748.00
    Per License
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Oracle DatabaseMicrosoft SQL Server
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Oracle DatabaseMicrosoft SQL Server
    Considered Both Products
    Oracle
    Chose Oracle Database
    We currently use all of the above database technologies in different applications, but where the application is mission-critical we use Oracle. Microsoft SQL Server is good for canned applications such as back-office or HR. MySQL does not have the same level of logging or …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle Database 12c is far superior to Microsoft SQL Server (or any other database in fact). For starters, Oracle 12c offers much better performance and higher reliability. That itself should make the difference. Oracle 12c is also superior in terms of features.
    On a high level, …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Our primary purpose for originally selecting Oracle Database was for housing SAP and there were no other options.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle is placed in a good spot against its competitors. It has advantages over its competitors in its legacy stability and high availability. A common engine to handle relational, JSON, Vector, and graph data makes it more cost-effective. Given all the good features, the …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle Database is best in business, consistent, and robust. Even the standard version is sufficient for the best performance. The main thing is I have never seen corruption and in my opinion, it is best when used with Linux.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    In my opinion, Oracle Database is highly reliable, has better performance with large databases and little to no maintenance once everything is setup. Also, recovery of the Oracle database is much simpler and easier.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Microsoft SQL is just as stable and almost as sellable with a much lower cost of ownership (staff and licensing). But as our primary application doesn't support Microsoft SQL we had to license Oracle.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle Database is among the easiest to integrate with, program against, have a reliable cluster with DR, and has the most understood and well-documented databases. It suits really well if the software shop is primarily Java-based, and deals with large volumes of data with a …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle is more of an enterprise-level database than Access and SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise isn't getting developed much (some people wonder how close it is to end of life) but SQL Server is miles ahead of Oracle IMO in terms of user experience and comparable in terms of …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    We use SQL Server for other modules of our MLFF Tolling System, so I work on a daily basic with both database engines. Oracle is recognized and distinguished by scalability and performance, ensuring a secure environment to host our critical data that comes from multiple …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    We use IBM DB2 in AS400 to handle part of our accounting system and our legacy ERP. We are migrating all functionalities to Oracle Database 12c because it is more secure and stable. We have some applications using SQL Server but we want to handle those systems in it because at …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle is by far a more professional and robust solution.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle Database 12c is head and shoulders above SQL Server for what we need it to do, and the performance is much better. Oracle Database has been in place at our company for a while, and it was really a no brainer going to Oracle Database version 12c instead of another …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle database is the top one. As we have been using Oracle databases, we upgraded Oracle Database 11g to Oracle Database 12c R2.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle is much more advanced and more reliable.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    While I was not available for the original selection, the reason I have fought to keep it in place and not change is mainly due to performance and security. The company has sought other options, however, I continue to maintain that this is the best course of action in our …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    For mission-critical data analytical delivery for database over 100GB, Oracle provides much better performance and stability over SQL server.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    We used SQL Server mainly because customers have some legacy applications that can only run on that environment, but SQL Server is good as well. It is easiest to manage users privileges, set up maintenance plans or create a new database from scratch by just using a backup file. …
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle 12c is good for all business applications but still consider Microsoft SQLServer for internal/other applications to save on cost.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Since we were already using a previous version or Oracle Database 12c, there was not much of an evaluation or comparison of similar products.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Oracle is, I believe, the most expensive, but also the most feature-rich of the group. For in-house development, it stands apart from the pack.
    Incentivized
    Chose Oracle Database
    Currently I utilize SQL Server to support vendor code and do not go very much in there.
    Incentivized
    Microsoft
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    Microsoft SQL Server is a comprehensive solution as transactional database, data warehouse, analytics, reporting, and ETL. It also integrates with the cloud well (Azure). The ease of use and setup makes this better than Oracle Database because the query syntax is also different …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    UI of the Microsoft SQL Server makes it easy to use and learn. The better technical support and documentation give it an extra edge over other databases. The Microsoft ecosystem provides additional advantages, as we can seamlessly use other Microsoft products, such as Power …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    I think both tools are really powerful and close to each other but since I moved to Europe I realized that most of the companies have been using SQL Server which in my opinion means something. The support from Microsoft I also consider a bit better and you can also find more …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle are both extremely powerful and scalable enterprise relational database platforms. Microsoft SQL sets itself apart with its ease of use and licensing and support model. Microsoft is good company to work with and they provide clear and …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    The free version is very powerfull and easy to install and use for small companies.
    Going to Professional and Standard, gives you all the support and the flexibility needed. It is known within the Database Administrator crew, and you can get support very easily over the …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    I was not too impressed with Oracle. Following the manual prohibited installation. They did provide a phone number and explained the manual was wrong and provided me with the correct information with which I was able to install the product. This was awhile back and I do not …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    Microsoft SQL Server is one of the fastest RDBMS systems available in the market. Pricing is a bit on the higher side but all the features it provides pretty much justifies it. It can be integrated with a large number of frameworks thus enabling to work on multiple frameworks …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    Oracle DB and SQL Server are very much alike. They provide the same quality of service and applications. The difference is only the price and support from them. Development codes and almost similar and can be used either way, which is very favorable for users. They can adopt to …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    For a single vendor solution, SQL Server is the best choice in my opinion. Most of the other solutions do not offer the full range of products in a single package. Also, for a largely Microsoft shop, there are additional integrations which increase the value proposition. …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    We use both Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server for our entire product line, using the best features of each of them to solve different business requirements and technical challenges. Microsoft SQL Server is simpler to install and use, but lacks some advanced features and has fewer …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    Compared to free versions, SQL Server just blows away the free/open-source software. Things just run faster, and better, and at less overhead. This is truer and truer with the later versions. Microsoft just invests so much into research and development into their product. And …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    86%
    Would buy again
    24 Answers
    100%
    Would buy again
    53 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    83%
    Delivers good value for the price
    19 Answers
    96%
    Delivers good value for the price
    45 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    25 Answers
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    53 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    88%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    14 Answers
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    39 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    91%
    Implementation went as expected
    21 Answers
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    45 Answers
    Features
    Oracle DatabaseMicrosoft SQL Server
    Relational Databases
    Comparison of Relational Databases features of Oracle Database and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Oracle Database
    8.3
    7 Ratings
    2% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    ACID compliance8.47 Ratings00 Ratings
    Database monitoring8.77 Ratings00 Ratings
    Database locking8.77 Ratings00 Ratings
    Encryption9.06 Ratings00 Ratings
    Disaster recovery8.86 Ratings00 Ratings
    Flexible deployment6.47 Ratings00 Ratings
    Multiple datatypes8.17 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Oracle DatabaseMicrosoft SQL Server
    Small Businesses
    Amazon RDS
    Score8.1 out of 10
    Amazon RDS
    Score8.1 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    SingleStore
    Score8.2 out of 10
    SingleStore
    Score8.2 out of 10
    Enterprises
    SAP IQ
    Score5.5 out of 10
    SAP IQ
    Score5.5 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Oracle DatabaseMicrosoft SQL Server
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.2
    (199 ratings)
    7.9
    (107 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (6 ratings)
    9.0
    (8 ratings)
    Usability
    7.6
    (13 ratings)
    7.6
    (17 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.0
    (5 ratings)
    7.9
    (26 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    9.6
    (3 ratings)
    9.0
    (6 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Data Sharing and Collaboration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (5 ratings)
    Data Sources
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Oracle DatabaseMicrosoft SQL Server
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Oracle
    We migrated from NoSQL to an Oracle database. One of the reasons was robust backup and recovery options available in the Oracle database, which provide zero data loss. A transactional database like Oracle is a better fit for our use case than NoSQL. On a large scale, deployment was evaluated as a cheaper option than the NoSQL engine. This conclusion came even after considering Oracle license is expensive.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    Microsoft SQL is ubiquitous, while MySQL runs under the hood all over the place. Microsoft SQL is the platform taught in colleges and certification courses and is the one most likely to be used by businesses because it is backed by Microsoft. Its interface is friendly (well, as pleasant as SQL can be) and has been used by so many for so long that resources are freely available if you encounter any issues.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Oracle
    • Supports most of the Operating Systems like Unix, Linux and Windows Server.
    • It works well in high load environment under intense parallel transactions setup.
    • Highly reliable DBMS, especially RAC is very much reliable.
    • Well managed and predictable release of security patches.
    • We have highly scaled it from on-prem to a cloud cluster environment for our product.
    • One of the best-performing DBMSs on Linux machines under test delivers high throughput (QPS).
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • Easy to configure and use with Visual Studio and Dot Net
    • Easy integration with MSBI to perform data analysis
    • Data Security
    • Easy to understand and use
    • Very easy to export database and tables in the form of SQL query or a script
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Oracle
    • The memory demand and management makes it impossible to run it in a container.
    • It is hard to perform local unit testing with Oracle even using the personal edition (aggressive all the available memory grab for itself).
    • Lack of built in database migrations (e.g. as Flyway).
    • The need to install the Oracle client in addition to its drivers.
    • The cost of running it, especially in the Cloud.
    • Comes with very spartan community grade client/management tools whereas the commercial offerings tend to demand a premium price.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise edition has a high cost but is the only edition which supports SQL Always On Availability Groups. It would be nice to include this feature in the Standard version.
    • Licensing of Microsoft SQL Server is a quite complex matter, it would be good to simplify licensing in the future. For example, per core vs per user CAL licensing, as well as complex licensing scenarios in the Cloud and on Edge locations.
    • It would be good to include native tools for converting Oracle, DB2, Postgresql and MySQL/MariaDB databases (schema and data) for import into Microsoft SQL Server.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Oracle
    There is a lot of sunk cost in a product like Oracle 12c. It is doing a great job, it would not provide us much benefit to switch to another product even if it did the same thing due to the work involved in making such a switch. It would not be cost effective.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    We understand that the Microsoft SQL Server will continue to advance, offering the same robust and reliable platform while adding new features that enable us, as a software center, to create a superior product. That provides excellent performance while reducing the hardware requirements and the total cost of ownership of our solution.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Oracle
    Many of the powerful options can be auto-configured but there are still many things to take into account at the moment of installing and configuring an Oracle Database, compared with SQL Server or other databases. At the same time, that extra complexity allows for detailed configuration and guarantees performance, scalability, availability and security.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    SQL Server mostly 'just works' or generates error messages to help you sort out the trouble. You can usually count on the product to get the job done and keep an eye on your potential mistakes. Interaction with other Microsoft products makes operating as a Windows user pretty straight forward. Digging through the multitude of dialogs and wizards can be a pain, but the answer is usually there somewhere.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Oracle
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    Its does not have outages.
    Incentivized
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    Performance
    Oracle
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    SSAS data cubes may some time slow down your Excel reports.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Oracle
    1. I have very good experience with Oracle Database support team. Oracle support team has pool of talented Oracle Analyst resources in different regions. To name a few regions - EMEA, Asia, USA(EST, MST, PST), Australia. Their support staffs are very supportive, well trained, and customer focused. Whenever I open Oracle Sev1 SR(service request), I always get prompt update on my case timely. 2. Oracle has zoom call and chat session option linked to Oracle SR. Whenever you are in Oracle portal - you can chat with the Oracle Analyst who is working on your case. You can request for Oracle zoom call thru which you can share the your problem server screen in no time. This is very nice as it saves lot of time and energy in case you have to follow up with oracle support for your case. 3.Oracle has excellent knowledge base in which all the customer databases critical problems and their solutions are well documented. It is very easy to follow without consulting to support team at first.
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    We managed to handle most of our problems by looking into Microsoft's official documentation that has everything explained and almost every function has an example that illustrates in detail how a particular functionality works. Just like PowerShell has the ability to show you an example of how some cmdlet works, that is the case also here, and in my opinion, it is a very good practice and I like it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Oracle
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    It was good
    Incentivized
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    Online Training
    Oracle
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    very hands on and detailed training
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Oracle
    Overall the implementation went very well and after that everything came out as expected - in terms of performance and scalability. People should always install and upgrade a stable version for production with the latest patch set updates, test properly as much as possible, and should have a backup plan if anything unexpected happens
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    Other than SQL taking quite a bit of time to actually install there are no problems with installation. Even on hardware that has good performance SQL can still take close to an hour to install a typical server with management and reporting services.
    Incentivized
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    Alternatives Considered
    Oracle
    Because of a rich user base and support for any critical issue, this is one of the best options to choose. In case the project has a TCO issue, it can compromise and choose Postgres as the best alternative. SQL server is also good and easy to code and maintain but performance is not as good as the Oracle
    Incentivized
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    Microsoft
    [Microsoft] SQL Server has a much better community and professional support and is overall just a more reliable system with Microsoft behind it. I've used MySQL in the past and SQL Server has just become more comfortable for me and is my go to RDBMS.
    Incentivized
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    Scalability
    Oracle
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    SQL server does handle growing demands of a mid sized company.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Oracle
    • Multiple applications can use the same database and still get high performance
    • Licensing cost is still a concern compared to the other options available in the market that are very very inexpensive
    • Almost a maintenance free database
    • Oracle Grid makes life easy in terms of monitoring and managing the databases
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • Increased accuracy - We went from multiple users having different versions of an Excel spreadsheet to a single source of truth for our reporting.
    • Increased Efficiency - We can now generate reports at any time from a single source rather than multiple users spending their time collating data and generating reports.
    • Improved Security - Enterprise level security on a dedicated server rather than financial files on multiple laptop hard drives.
    Incentivized
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