--- title: "Compare Microsoft SQL Server vs Microsoft Access 2026 | Capterra" description: "Unsure of what to choose? Check Capterra to compare Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access based on pricing, features, product details, and verified reviews." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/compare/1417-233275/SQL-Server-vs-Microsoft-Access" page_type: "comparison" language: "en" --- # Microsoft SQL Server vs Microsoft Access Features and Cost Comparison Last updated September 17th, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team.[Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) Your comparison: Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft Access2/4 selected [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/)[4.6 (1,982)](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/)[4.4 (212)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) [## Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/)[4.6 (1,982)](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) Starting Price $13748.00one time Value-for-Money 4.3 Functionality 4.6 Ease of Use 4.3 Customer Service 4.3 Reviews Sentiment Based on [1,982 reviews](#user-reviews) Positive 1,923 Neutral 55 Negative 4 [## Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/)[4.4 (212)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Value-for-Money 4.3 Functionality 4.4 Ease of Use 4 Customer Service 3.9 Reviews Sentiment Based on [212 reviews](#user-reviews) Positive 193 Neutral 17 Negative 2 ## Not a match? 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Fit Score methodology Our Fit Score reflects how reviewers rate a product’s performance against a set of features reviewers rate as most important. A higher score indicates the product is rated better in delivering what reviewers most care about. If the Fit Score is not shown for a specific product, that only means there are currently not enough relevant data points to develop a meaningful score. It does not indicate that the product should be excluded from further evaluation. Best for Methodology \--%Fit Missing features Feature ratings Secure Data Storage NA Backup and Recovery 4.6 Customizable Fields NA Data Storage Management 4.6 Real-Time Data NA \--%Fit Missing features Feature ratings Secure Data Storage NA Backup and Recovery NA Customizable Fields 4.5 Data Storage Management 4.4 Real-Time Data NA User satisfaction User satisfaction 4.6 User reviews[1,982](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) Ease of use 4.3 Functionality 4.6 Value for money 4.3 Customer support 4.3 User satisfaction 4.4 User reviews[212](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) Ease of use 4.0 Functionality 4.4 Value for money 4.3 Customer support 3.9 Price starts from Price starts from $13748Flat Rate, One Time - Free version - Free trial Price starts from \-- - Free version - Free trial Best for Best for Companies of all sizes, looking for database management software Best for Database management system that allows users to store and manage data and create database-powered apps. ## User reviews Pros & cons DR Dave R. Manager > "It offers excellent reliability, strong security features, robust backup and recovery capabilities, and integrates well with other..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7184322) LD Leo D. Embedded software test engineer > "Feature overload can confuse even seasoned DBAs." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7127594) DR Dave R. Manager > "It serves as a dependable database platform supporting business applications, integrations, and operational data across our..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7184322) AF Adashia F. Owner > "The Multi-factor Authentication on all Microsoft products can really be a pain more than a help." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7089227) SB Sachita B. Student > "Microsoft SQL Server is one of the most user-friendly database tools, it is used to run queries manage tables , see execution plans." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7048400) KK Kayla K. Sales engineer > "One downside of Microsoft SQL Server is its high licensing costs, which can be prohibitive for smaller businesses." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6735213) TY Tom Y. Developer and administrator > "I like the most about Microsoft SQL server always on and SSIS feature, one for cluster and one for Data ETL." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7189519) ZP Zoe P. Employee > "The costs can also blow out depending on your licensing requirements and if running locally in house, the hardware costs." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6828671) DR Dave R. Manager > "The platform has consistently delivered strong performance, reliability, and security while providing the scalability needed to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7184322) LD Leo D. Embedded software test engineer > "Typos in SQL = database rage." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7127594) KK Kayla K. Sales engineer > "Its user-friendly management tools, strong security features, and powerful analytics capabilities make it a reliable choice for..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6735213) Suraj D. Senior AI engineer > "It is a bit slow to handle billions of rows." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7087424) TB Tyler B. Tier Two Technician > "It integrates quite seamlessly with cloud applications, can be easy to use and features many use cases across multiple fields" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7119809) CC Cosmin C. Senior IT Auditor > "My experience is limited to running queries, looking at security tables." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6665468) DS Daniel S. Director of Research and Development > "My favorite flow is using migrations to do database updates." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7136524) VR Verified Reviewer It Support > "The most i least like from the Microsoft SQL Server is when i change mw computer name, i have to reinstal the software, if not mw..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6063321) VR Verified Reviewer Analyst > "Queries run fast most of the time, and the tools make pulling reports or building dashboards really straightforward." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7016218) HC Humberto C. Systems Engineer > "The biggest disadvantage I see is that it is not as mature in its implementation in unix environments." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6066197) TB Tyler B. Tier Two Technician > "However, scheduled SQL backups are also very important and are easily managed." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7119809) AN Adam N. Director of IT > "Very Expensive, especially compared to open source alternatives" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6578316) VP Ville P. Systems Manager > "With options ranging from on-premises installations to a wide array of cloud offerings, there’s a solution to suit everyone’s needs." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6563204) LS Lauren S. Accounting > "Sometimes their are glitches and we are booted from the server" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6403392) Suraj D. Senior AI engineer > "Microsoft SQl server is widely used too and it makes the support and maintenance better." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7087424) HA Harun A. Engineer > "The 10 GB limit for the express version is insufficient." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___5051985) VR Verified Reviewer Data Engineer > "Excellent performance with large datasets and highly reliable security features." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7089500) LD Lana D. Support > "Managing sql server can be challenging for beginners" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6144561) BS Ben S. Infrastructure Architect > "The application is easy to use, fast, consistent, and integrates into everything with no problems." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7140331) Ryan M. Marketing Analytics Engineer > "I also had quite a few authentication problems because I was logging in with different credentials than my laptop password and it..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4490292) Amanda L. Designer > "My experience with Microsoft server is very delightful, I am an independent contractor and I own my own business, so I'm always on..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6101042) KB Kawther B. journalist > "For whatever reason, the primary database stops responding or behaves abnormally if the primary and secondary databases become out..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4577101) AN Adam N. Director of IT > "Great relational database engine that we've used for years, pairs very well with .NET development and Microsoft shop." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6578316) MS Mahmoud S. marketing > "For instance, rather than receiving a syntax error, you can receive a weird message if you forget to include a comma while listing..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3913915) AF Adashia F. Owner > "Muti-factor Authentication can be a pain, though. Once you get past that, this is a decent tool to use." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7089227) DV Dat V. IT Manager > "Can be too structured when storing data, need sql query scripting skill to fully get the best use of the system." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4895927) Suraj D. Senior AI engineer > "Given little bit of changes it is the best tool I used for the databases." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7087424) KB Kawther B. journalist > "Given that there are numerous open-source options on the market that can offer comparable functionality but unquestionably lack the..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4577101) VR Verified Reviewer Analyst > "I like that security is tight—we don’t have to stress about sensitive data getting out." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7016218) KT Keith T. Sr Software Engineer > "a bit expensive and a bit hard to understand the pricing structure sometimes, not a ton of addons, and many built in features keep..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4196176) DS Daniel S. Director of Research and Development > "Our company has learned to rely on it." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7136524) CF Carnisha F. Freelancer > "Permitting is confounding, at whatever point you have a permit by call or by central processor center, it's a digit hard to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4752009) VR Verified Reviewer Analyst > "It makes it easier to integrate into Power BI." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___7016218) VR Verified Reviewer Billing and Operations Analyst > "intellisense doesn’t work" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6205074) VR Verified Reviewer Internship for software developer > "Great features, cross-platform, well equiped, a good search/filter system, data secured, and the permissions system seemed pretty..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6239720) RB Rony B. Accounts Manager > "The licensing costs, especially for enterprise editions, might be a limiting factor for smaller organizations." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4872282) DO Diosdado O. Freelancer > "Overall it's a great choice for a secure server storage and offers features that will help database developers or administrator in..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6307872) TA Turan A. IT Expert > "There is no minor or major deficiency in the system. If a very careful plan is not made during the installation phase, problems may..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4056993) SS Sam S. Self Employed > "Microsoft SQL Server offers a powerful platform for managing and organizing large amounts of data effectively." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6029716) JN Jeff N. Web Manager > "We had issues with it after a year or two." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6035457) Juan Antonio R. IT Consultant > "It was also able to perform data analysis and visualizations with ease, thanks to integration with other Microsoft products." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6174896) WI Wassim I. Associate Professor > "The performance of MS-SQL Server lags with concurrent user access." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4899736) SR Samuel R. Business Analyst > "It was a simple and effective tool to ETL data from ERP sources and analyse data outside the system." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6432970) AP Alejandro P. IT Planning > "MSQL don't have a visual performance dashboard that help you to understand better is a performance issue is happening so you have..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3162078) AH Ajoke H. Data Analyst > "It is good for database management." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6652093) RB Rony B. Accounts Manager > "One drawback was the complexity of the platform, which required a steep learning curve and technical expertise." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4872282) Panashe B. IT Specialist > "Microsoft SQL Server is a powerful database, though its complexity can be a challenge, its capabilities are undeniably impressive." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6004037) NP Nikhil P. Sr. software developer > "It has got very steep learning curve .Also the cloud offering of MS SQL server is not to the mark" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4577276) DH Dan H. IT Manager > "I like the security setup, and the ability to export databases and configurations." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6323735) BK Bishoy K. Infrastructure Engineer > "There may also be compatibility problems with more recent technologies." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4542216) Andres Ernesto L. Developer - Data specialist > "It's very difficult for it to leave you wrong, it's the number 1 relational database manager on the market, a software with years..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6077153) Oleg P. HSBC > "While it's not a feature that I dislike, be warned that unlike with MS Access (which is a simplified version) there is no query..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3513219) RS RICARDO S. Sales Representative > "Very solid database, You can trust this product without any problem." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6715235) JE Jun E. MIS Supervisor > "Creating table indexes as it constantly bothers me." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4574688) TW Tanner W. Integrity Engineer > "Very easy to connect to databases and write queries" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6501723) NJL Nacky J L. Data Administrator > "Licensing can be expensive, and some features require additional costs." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4747869) CF Carnisha F. Freelancer > "SQL server is perfect since I can utilize a similar language same application, and for little clients, it utilizes free choice, and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4752009) Ashish C. System Administrator > "The information was dispersed and hard to find, so I had trouble answering my simple queries." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4563392) JM Julius M. ICT Assistant > "Microsoft SQL Server is the go-to software for my Data storage needs, it gives great UI and data management services like..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___5013782) NT Natia T. Financial Officer > "First thing what i don't like, it's price." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6091301) FQ Farida Q. Director > "Microsoft sql server is valuable software to run a company it all the features which would be needed for administration and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4095030) AA Ashikuzz A. Quality Assurance Analyst > "The significant price gap between the Standard and Enterprise editions is a turnoff, as certain capabilities such as table..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3418198) NT Natia T. Financial Officer > "It helps me to manage, retrieve, update data." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6091301) VS Vinicius S. Software Engineer > "Full installation takes up a lot of disk space." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4487489) LMM Luis Miguel M. cco > "Even when through the time new technologies emerger to the scene, MS SQL server still be the best option to enterprise solution,..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4882535) VR Verified Reviewer EVP Operations / IT > "Even Synapse which is Microsoft's attempt at a cloud platform has many of the same limitations due to the foundational way..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3315962) ZP Zoe P. Employee > "It's almost rock solid and runs without many issues." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6828671) EE Emam E. freelancer > "I worked on SQL Server 2000 and noticed that the rapid development and accessibility is very high, especially in terms of technical..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3207917) GbT Gábor T. IT Business Analyst > "rd party extensions can be used, that can take your productivity to the next level, like APEX.Having a free version up to 10 gigs..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4080036) IW Ian W. Director > "I don’t like that the free edition is limited with tables when other packages like MySQL is free with unlimited features and no..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3362807) BNK B.Naveen K. Software Engineer > "Microsoft SQL Server is a powerful database. Although its complexity can be daunting, its capabilities are undoubtedly impressive." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___6021618) GN Guy N. Developer > "When querying a remote DB, fetching the data takes time. When not indicated that it's remote, people can think that the query is..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3522225) VR Verified Reviewer Infrastructure Engineer > "MS SQL server is user friendly tool with good interface." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4173180) FC Filipe C. Resident Engineer > "It is not a simple software to use." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4881493) AA Aswathy A. Teacher > "Very user friendly interface." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___4181337) Anthony G. CEO > "I've never really had a good experience using Microsoft support as it is slow and cumbersome and many times the reps don't..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___2968157) RR Ricardo R. Manager > "Simplicity and the clean interface straights foward" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3617990) Kushal G. Project Manager > "Works only with Windows platform and open source OS not supported." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___2752357) Raj S. Software Developer > "The user interface is very good and Microsoft SQL Server is easy to use." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___3395232) Anthony G. CEO > "It's not a SQL Server thing per se... but Microsoft's support in general is weak at best." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#Capterra___2968157) [View Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) JK Jonathan K. Chief Marketing Officer > "I also like that it integrates well with other Microsoft Office products like Excel, making it easy to import and export data. Once..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___7180317) RS RICARDO S. Sales Representative > "You cannot create executables, this forces you to have MS Access installed on the PC where you want to run your application." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6721713) JK Jonathan K. Chief Marketing Officer > "It's great for organizing large amounts of data, creating forms for data entry, and generating reports." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___7180317) KD Kevin D. Broker > "Sometimes its a bit difficult to know why an item is ending up in paste-errors." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6662881) AM Antoine M. Audit > "It is strong for combining tables, queries, forms, and reports in one desktop tool." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___7142242) Chuck K. Software Engineer > "Its performance starts lagging when your database starts getting somewhat large." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6878808) JK Jonathan K. Chief Marketing Officer > "What I like most about Microsoft Access is how flexible it is for building custom databases without needing a huge budget." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___7180317) MG Marco G. Avv > "For personal use it is effective but trying to use it by sharing access to network resources presents a lot of problems (from..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6045411) AB Aaron B. Manufacturing Engineer > "Access has been a power full tool do handle and take care of my large data bases tasks, and its potential for automatization" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6854002) CB Caitlyn B. Office Administration > "It was no longer supported and so we lost our database and had to switch to an online provider." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6697590) SK Sheila K. Admin > "My overall experience with Microsoft Access was a very good experience dealing with customers databases." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___7151458) EM Ezra M. Owner > "It sometimes has trouble importing files from other databases not created with Access giving you a mess to clean up." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6462825) Chuck K. Software Engineer > "Overall it is a great tool if you are starting with a small dataset. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6878808) MH Mark H. Operational Excellence > "Overall user interface is challenging at times and is not a very intuitive learn." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6361998) VS Vijay S. Student > "Access gives the user a wide range of features that enhance user experience and functions well in storing data." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___5099616) TB Travis B. Quality Engineer > "Also, when working within the various versions (2003, 2010, 2013, 2016, etc.) and the changes made to functionality there is an..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3984720) MG Marco G. Avv > "It is easy to have the program installed on your PC and create tables in which to insert data and forms with which to populate them" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6045411) MMK Mokwena Macdee K. Owner and Software Developer > "Not suitable to be deployed on the internet." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6168529) LC Lauren C. Cofounder > "I find it really useful as a database to link lots of spreadsheets when there is a lot of data." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6221018) LF LEonardo F. University Professor > "The weakness in cloud capability and the lack of integration with other external software" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4271195) JM John M. Operations Supervisor > "From using to access product information from callers, to using for call tracking and resolution of issues, it is a very versatile..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4145497) AR Alaa R. Site Engineer > "Dealing with a large amount of data or complicated queries may cause performance problems." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4819744) VR Verified Reviewer Director Monitoring > "Field control, data control options are awesome which to provide easier method than to code it, while for advance scenarios vba..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3840163) VR Verified Reviewer business operative assistent > "Access databases may be more susceptible to security vulnerabilities if not properly secured and maintained." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4824234) VR Verified Reviewer business operative assistent > "Microsoft Access is a widely used desktop database management system that offers a range of features for creating, managing, and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4824234) ID Igor D. Sr. Software Developer > "It lacks User management, Backup and other important for Enterprise software features." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4474927) VR Verified Reviewer freelancing > "also, the great thing I love is the fact that there is automation and macros in the system which makes work much easier." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6055301) EH Edward H. Lead Infrastructure Engineer > "It is limited vs SQL and not scalable for many applications or business needs" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4474930) VR Verified Reviewer business operative assistent > "User-friendly interface, Versatility:, Access offers a wide range of functionalities, allow to create and manage small to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4824234) JM Jim M. Equipment Administrator > "Cumbersome with large data sets and data connections are easily lost" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4111778) ID Igor D. Sr. Software Developer > "MS Access has built-in easy to learn Visual Basic development environment that allows to build user interface for data entry." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4474927) TB Travis B. Quality Engineer > "Occasionally data corruption can be a thing for multi-user situations." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3984720) VR Verified Reviewer CEO > "It fits very well with the rest of the Microsoft suite if your company uses them, we pay for the full licence of the suite so is a..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4051324) SC Shoshana C. Senior Human Resource Officer > "Setting up the queries can be too technical for less tech savvy persons." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4463653) VR Verified Reviewer Physical Therapist > "Wizard help features if you need to create tables, queries, reports, or forms." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4171437) JM John M. Operations Supervisor > "Access can be a bit cumbersome to program." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4145497) LC Lauren C. Cofounder > "The queries that can be made is very useful to make things quicker" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6221018) CHMC Carlos Hugo Martin C. Consultor > "Large databases become difficult to maintain and manage, and there are no options to improve the performance of the database from..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3434590) SC Shoshana C. Senior Human Resource Officer > "I can easily import from either software into the database and set up the database for easy reporting." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4463653) SS Scott S. CFO > "Since Microsoft has gone 360/cloud, you seem to get a lot less value for the money. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4968433) Alejandro S. Engineer > "MS Access is included in all MS Office packages, making it a viable alternative for small business database management or personal..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3601535) DV Dima V. Software Developer > "The setup of the server was really tough. When I had to set it up on one of my clients' machines, it took me a couple of hours to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3233168) BD Bailey D. Architectural Associate > "The ability to customize a database to whatever the company needs is a huge selling point, as there's no one planning software out..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3437752) VR Verified Reviewer Senior Planner > "Not suitable for organizations who are responsible for analyzing large databases, as it has a finite limit." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3138753) VR Verified Reviewer Brand Ambassador > "It will save you time when creating a system that will only get used on one computer, enabling you to create reports in an easily..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3526049) IS Ian S. Business Development Manager > "there is almost too much information out there from developer forums but hard to find anything direct from Microsoft that trains..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3108057) LF LEonardo F. University Professor > "The full and perfect integration with all the other Microsoft products, like Word, Outlook, and Excel." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4271195) AU Allison U. Ward clerk > "It feels old, like it could be visually updated" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4466611) JM John M. Operations Supervisor > "Microsoft Access provides quick sorting and distribution of database information" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4145497) Griffin B. Senior Strategic Planning Analyst > "I consider myself a database expert (Information Systems degree) and I still don't exactly know how to make forms fully work..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3260455) SS Scott S. CFO > "There are "free" alternatives, that are good for using with access, but when starting from scratch I would still push for Access..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4968433) KM Kobus M. System Administrator > "It is difficult to manage large databases and it is not possible to improve performance by using MS Access." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3459054) AT Austin T. Instrumentation Team Leader > "The ability to use the same database across multiple platforms is excellent and extremely useful." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4466694) VR Verified Reviewer Brand Ambassador > "Large amounts of data tend to cause the software to operate slower and it can't be purchased separately." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3526049) RM Rodica M. Teacher > "I have used it in my class very efficient." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___6427498) NY Nathan Y. Analyst > "I have a feeling this may have something to do with Windows 10 settings, but I am not that technically enough to troubleshoot,..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3192010) SC Shoshana C. Senior Human Resource Officer > "What I like most about the database is its easy interface with other Microsoft products, especially excel and word." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4463653) VR Verified Reviewer Director of Education > "Trying to see more data is hard - Access doesn’t give pretty charts or good data analysis options." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3353806) AE Andrew E. Web Developer Intern > "Overall, Microsoft Access provides fast deployment, easy write times, security, and great data managment tools to make our business..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3814495) PB Pam B. Research > "The design feature, though flexible, is extremely difficult and time-consuming to learn. Once it is set up, it is easy to enter..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3829116) AU Allison U. Ward clerk > "Once you learn to use it it’s a very useful product for keeping track of medical records" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4466611) RB Ratulovszky B. Web Developer > "Often, the software is not yet completely clear or has an old design, which raises errors and questions for the user." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3796088) AD Aldrin D. Mr > "I like MS office access because its easy to use specially if someone is using a developed system developed by some users for easy..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4733325) VR Verified Reviewer HSBC > "Compacting still takes to long, and sometimes database crashes while doing that." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3472018) Marie M. Entrepreneur > "Creating table from scratch might be technical but Microsoft simplify things with templates and each category has a demo video to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3510488) Shane J. Data Analyst > "I also experienced regular freezes or glitches that were annoying and a bit time consuming." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3610589) MM Maizy M. Music Director > "My workplace uses Access for data storage, and it does well in its presentation and response from querying." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3225784) Federico A. Management > "The only thing that I don't like is that it is not very powerful and gets slow with some big databases." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3218939) VR Verified Reviewer Senior Software Developer > "Access is more than just an RDBMS, it also allows you to build an application around that database." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3220444) VR Verified Reviewer dipl.oec. > "Because the data is not on the internet to be available at all times, when people need it." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3220508) SS Scott S. CFO > "Access does it's job well for being a self contained DB program." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4968433) Yasser T. Student > "Microsoft Access sometimes have illogical errors and to solve them I have to reopen it." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3279279) PM Paul M. Senior Consultant > "It's a powerful program suite that helps me create and edit documents, databases, and more." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3668829) PM Paul M. Senior Consultant > "It is very difficult to learn on my own, I had to be taught in school to get around it and it looks old fashioned hence need to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3668829) AT Austin T. Instrumentation Team Leader > "It can be easily implemented into existing systems." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4466694) Nwokocha P. Adoption and Change Management Executive > "Data teams cannot collaborate through the desktop application." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3640974) EE Elroy E. Internal Auditor > "I love the query feature as it allows you to mine through thousands of data in a second." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3190132) JB Jonnadula B. Freelancer > "Data groups can't team up through the work area application." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3704982) Abid S. Manager Operations > "I am using Microsoft Access from last 12 years for preparing foreign exchange returns and i always found it very helpful and full..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3363716) MYU Muhammad Yasir U. Sales Manager > "Not good for individual working team work require, only for small databases" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3717855) VR Verified Reviewer business operative assistent > "User-friendly interface, Versatility:, Access offers a wide range of functionalities, allow to create and manage small to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4824234) Nwokocha P. Adoption and Change Management Executive > "Which makes me uncomfortable in times of impatience." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3640974) ID Igor D. Sr. Software Developer > "MS Access has built-in easy to learn Visual Basic development environment that allows to build user interface for data entry." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___4474927) AS Andy S. EHSQ Specialist > "Easy to get lost within the system." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#Capterra___3759383) [View Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) ## User interface [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/) 4.60 (1,982) [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/) 4.41 (212) ## Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ### Features Do these products fit your needs? Prioritize real-user-identified key features according to your needs to find your best fit. \--% Fit vs \--% Fit Access Controls/Permissions 207 Important Activity Dashboard 150 Important Ad hoc Query 120 Important Microsoft SQL Server Top features 20/48 - Access Controls/Permissions - Activity Dashboard - Ad hoc Query - AI Copilot - API - Audit Management - Authentication - Automatic Backup - Backup and Recovery - Calendar Management - Charting - Customizable Fields - Customizable Templates - Database Conversion - Data Capture and Transfer - Data Connectors - Data Dictionary Management - Data Encryption - Data Extraction - Data Import/Export - Data Mapping - Data Migration - Data Modeling - Data Replication - Data Storage Management - Data Synchronization - Data Virtualization - Data Visualization - Document Storage - Drag & Drop - Full Text Search - Generative AI - Mobile Access - Multiple Programming Languages Supported - Multi-User Environment - NOSQL Database Management - Performance Analysis - Real-Time Data - Real-Time Monitoring - Relational Database Management - Reporting & Statistics - Search/Filter - Secure Data Storage - SSL Security - Third-Party Integrations - User Access Control - User Management - Workflow Management [See all features](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/#features) Microsoft Access 12/48 - Access Controls/Permissions - Activity Dashboard - Ad hoc Query - AI Copilot - API - Audit Management - Authentication - Automatic Backup - Backup and Recovery - Calendar Management - Charting - Customizable Fields - Customizable Templates - Database Conversion - Data Capture and Transfer - Data Connectors - Data Dictionary Management - Data Encryption - Data Extraction - Data Import/Export - Data Mapping - Data Migration - Data Modeling - Data Replication - Data Storage Management - Data Synchronization - Data Virtualization - Data Visualization - Document Storage - Drag & Drop - Full Text Search - Generative AI - Mobile Access - Multiple Programming Languages Supported - Multi-User Environment - NOSQL Database Management - Performance Analysis - Real-Time Data - Real-Time Monitoring - Relational Database Management - Reporting & Statistics - Search/Filter - Secure Data Storage - SSL Security - Third-Party Integrations - User Access Control - User Management - Workflow Management [See all features](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/#features) ### Recognition Microsoft SQL Server is recognized as a top-rated tool in 3 Capterra Shortlist reports Microsoft Access is recognized as a top-rated tool in 3 Capterra Shortlist reports ### Deployment & support Microsoft SQL Server Deployment - Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based - Desktop Mac - Desktop Windows - Desktop Linux - On-Premise Windows - On-Premise Linux - Desktop Chromebook - Mobile Android - Mobile iPhone - Mobile iPad Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Microsoft Access Deployment - Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based - Desktop Mac - Desktop Windows - Desktop Linux - On-Premise Windows - On-Premise Linux - Desktop Chromebook - Mobile Android - Mobile iPhone - Mobile iPad Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos ### Company Details Microsoft SQL Server - By Microsoft - Located in United States - Founded in 1975 Microsoft Access - By Microsoft - Located in United States - Founded in 1975 ## Popular Comparisons [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/)[4.60 (1,982)](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) vs [MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/)[4.59 (2,099)](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/reviews/) $13748one time Price $2000/year 4.6 Features 4.5 4.3 Ease of Use 4.4 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/1417-11482/SQL-Server-vs-MySQL) [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/)[4.41 (212)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) vs [MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/)[4.59 (2,099)](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $2000/year 4.4 Features 4.5 4.0 Ease of Use 4.4 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/11482-233275/MySQL-vs-Microsoft-Access) [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/)[4.60 (1,982)](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) vs [Google Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/268690/Google-Cloud-Platform/)[4.68 (2,330)](https://www.capterra.com/p/268690/Google-Cloud-Platform/reviews/) $13748one time Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.6 Features 4.6 4.3 Ease of Use 4.5 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/1417-268690/SQL-Server-vs-Google-Cloud-Platform) [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/)[4.41 (212)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) vs [Airtable](https://www.capterra.com/p/146652/Airtable/)[4.65 (2,244)](https://www.capterra.com/p/146652/Airtable/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $20/month 4.4 Features 4.5 4.0 Ease of Use 4.4 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/146652-233275/Airtable-vs-Microsoft-Access) [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/)[4.60 (1,982)](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) vs [MongoDB](https://www.capterra.com/p/127374/MongoDB/)[4.66 (473)](https://www.capterra.com/p/127374/MongoDB/reviews/) $13748one time Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.6 Features 4.6 4.3 Ease of Use 4.4 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/1417-127374/SQL-Server-vs-MongoDB) [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/)[4.41 (212)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) vs [Google Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/268690/Google-Cloud-Platform/)[4.68 (2,330)](https://www.capterra.com/p/268690/Google-Cloud-Platform/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.4 Features 4.6 4.0 Ease of Use 4.5 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/233275-268690/Microsoft-Access-vs-Google-Cloud-Platform) [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/)[4.60 (1,982)](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) vs [Airtable](https://www.capterra.com/p/146652/Airtable/)[4.65 (2,244)](https://www.capterra.com/p/146652/Airtable/reviews/) $13748one time Price $20/month 4.6 Features 4.5 4.3 Ease of Use 4.4 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/1417-146652/SQL-Server-vs-Airtable) [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/)[4.41 (212)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) vs [MongoDB](https://www.capterra.com/p/127374/MongoDB/)[4.66 (473)](https://www.capterra.com/p/127374/MongoDB/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.4 Features 4.6 4.0 Ease of Use 4.4 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/127374-233275/MongoDB-vs-Microsoft-Access) [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/)[4.60 (1,982)](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) vs [PostgreSQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/)[4.64 (412)](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/reviews/) $13748one time Price $0.01one time 4.6 Features 4.6 4.3 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/1417-48791/SQL-Server-vs-PostgreSQL) [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/)[4.41 (212)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) vs [PostgreSQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/)[4.64 (412)](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $0.01one time 4.4 Features 4.6 4.0 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/48791-233275/PostgreSQL-vs-Microsoft-Access) [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/)[4.60 (1,982)](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/) vs [Oracle Database](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/)[4.55 (473)](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/reviews/) $13748one time Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.6 Features 4.5 4.3 Ease of Use 4.1 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/1417-5938/SQL-Server-vs-Oracle-Database) [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/)[4.41 (212)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/reviews/) vs [Oracle Database](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/)[4.55 (473)](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.4 Features 4.5 4.0 Ease of Use 4.1 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/5938-233275/Oracle-Database-vs-Microsoft-Access)