--- title: "Best Microsoft SQL Server Alternatives 2026 | Capterra" description: "Looking for alternatives to Microsoft SQL Server? Find out how Microsoft SQL Server stacks up against its competitors with real user reviews, pricing information, and what features they offer." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/alternatives/" page_type: "alternatives" language: "en" --- # Microsoft SQL Server alternatives Last updated on September 17th, 2026 The best Microsoft SQL Server alternatives are Universal Data Access Components (best overall), Google Cloud (best free plan), PostgreSQL (best budget option), and Airtable (most reviewed). Together they hold 5,047 verified Capterra reviews, with overall ratings from 4.6 to 4.9 out of 5. Microsoft SQL Server itself holds 4.6 out of 5 across 1,981 reviews. ### Microsoft SQL Server - Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (1,981 reviews) - Ease of use: 4.3 out of 5 - Starting price: $209.00 /one-time - Key features: 5 of 9 top category features --- ## Top alternatives Microsoft SQL Server alternatives compared | Product | Rating difference | Ease of use | Starting price | Key features | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Airtable](https://www.capterra.com/p/146652/Airtable/) — 4.6 out of 5 (2,244 reviews) | Rated the same as this product | 4.4 out of 5 | $20.00 /user/mo | 4 of 9 top category features | | [MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/) — 4.6 out of 5 (2,099 reviews) | Rated the same as this product | 4.4 out of 5 | $2000.00 /user/yr | 9 of 9 top category features | | [Google Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/268690/Google-Cloud-Platform/) — 4.7 out of 5 (2,330 reviews) | Rated 0.1 higher than this product | 4.5 out of 5 | Not available | 9 of 9 top category features | | [MongoDB](https://www.capterra.com/p/127374/MongoDB/) — 4.7 out of 5 (473 reviews) | Rated 0.1 higher than this product | 4.4 out of 5 | $30.00 /usage/mo | 8 of 9 top category features | | [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.com/p/233275/Microsoft-Access/) — 4.4 out of 5 (212 reviews) | Rated 0.2 lower than this product | 4.0 out of 5 | Not available | 1 of 9 top category features | | [PostgreSQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/) — 4.6 out of 5 (412 reviews) | Rated the same as this product | 4.3 out of 5 | $0.01 /one-time | 7 of 9 top category features | | [Oracle Database](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/) — 4.6 out of 5 (473 reviews) | Rated the same as this product | 4.1 out of 5 | Not available | 8 of 9 top category features | | [Amazon RDS](https://www.capterra.com/p/192201/Amazon-RDS/) — 4.7 out of 5 (220 reviews) | Rated 0.1 higher than this product | 4.4 out of 5 | $0.01 /feature/mo | 6 of 9 top category features | | [SQL Complete](https://www.capterra.com/p/233932/SQL-Complete/) — 4.6 out of 5 (88 reviews) | Rated the same as this product | 4.7 out of 5 | $129.95 /user/yr | 1 of 9 top category features | | [Universal Data Access Components](https://www.capterra.com/p/250786/Universal-Data-Access-Components/) — 4.9 out of 5 (61 reviews) | Rated 0.3 higher than this product | 4.9 out of 5 | $329.95 /user/one-time | 3 of 9 top category features | --- ## Top Free alternatives to Microsoft SQL Server The best free alternatives to Microsoft SQL Server are Airtable, MySQL, and Google Cloud — all three offer a free plan alongside paid tiers. ### [Airtable](https://www.capterra.com/p/146652/Airtable/) — 4.6 out of 5 (2,244 reviews) - Free options: Free trial, Free version - Starting price: $20.00 /user/mo ### [MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/) — 4.6 out of 5 (2,099 reviews) - Free options: Free trial, Free version - Starting price: $2000.00 /user/yr ### [Google Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/268690/Google-Cloud-Platform/) — 4.7 out of 5 (2,330 reviews) - Free options: Free trial, Free version - Starting price: Not available --- ## Top alternatives for SMBs Among reviewers from companies with 1-200 employees, the highest-rated Microsoft SQL Server alternatives are Universal Data Access Components (4.8), PostgreSQL (4.7), and MySQL (4.6). ### [Universal Data Access Components](https://www.capterra.com/p/250786/Universal-Data-Access-Components/) - 44 SMB reviewers say - Overall rating: 4.8 out of 5 across 44 SMB reviews - Ease of use: 4.8 out of 5 across 44 SMB reviews > "Was able to get started and do basic functionality very quickly." — David S., Consultant (August 5, 2025) ### [PostgreSQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/) - 156 SMB reviewers say - Overall rating: 4.7 out of 5 across 156 SMB reviews - Ease of use: 4.3 out of 5 across 156 SMB reviews > "I have used postgresql to create difficult subqueries, the implementation is easy and scalability is a game changer." — Samuel Isaí R., Full stack developer (January 2, 2025) ### [MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/) - 907 SMB reviewers say - Overall rating: 4.6 out of 5 across 907 SMB reviews - Ease of use: 4.4 out of 5 across 907 SMB reviews > "I use MySQL for all our internal projects in our company for our DB software." — Ryan M., Board Advisor (May 14, 2026) --- ## Why do teams switch from Microsoft SQL Server? Of the 51 Capterra reviewers who reported switching away from Microsoft SQL Server, the most common destinations were MySQL, Oracle Database, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL. ### What users preferred ### [MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/) - 4.6 out of 5 (2,099 reviews) — 30 reviewers switched here > "We made the switch to MySQL to save on license costs and licensing complexity." — Ben S., Infrastructure Architect (July 26, 2026) ### [Oracle Database](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/) - 4.6 out of 5 (473 reviews) — 10 reviewers switched here > "Microsoft SQL Server is a supported product by our company." — Daniel Q., IT Intern (July 26, 2019) ### [MongoDB](https://www.capterra.com/p/127374/MongoDB/) - 4.7 out of 5 (473 reviews) — 6 reviewers switched here > "Because of the availability of an easy-to-use cloud with zero setups." — Anees H., Solution Architect (April 1, 2022) ### [PostgreSQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/) - 4.6 out of 5 (412 reviews) — 5 reviewers switched here > "I changed this app to learn too, not because I'm not satisfied with the others" — Ilker Y., Production Planner (November 28, 2022) --- ## Find software for your specific use case ### Database - [monday.com AI Work Platform](https://www.capterra.com/p/147657/monday-com/) — 4.6 out of 5 (6,116 reviews) - [Cloud SQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/246666/Cloud-SQL/) — 4.4 out of 5 (8 reviews) - [BigQuery](https://www.capterra.com/p/268689/Google-Cloud-BigQuery/) — 4.6 out of 5 (37 reviews) ### Business Intelligence - [BigQuery](https://www.capterra.com/p/268689/Google-Cloud-BigQuery/) — 4.6 out of 5 (37 reviews) - [SAS Viya](https://www.capterra.com/p/10004983/SAS-Viya/) — 4.4 out of 5 (12 reviews) - [Looker](https://www.capterra.com/p/169053/Looker/) — 4.5 out of 5 (286 reviews) ---