--- title: "Microsoft SQL Server Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Microsoft SQL Server the right Business Intelligence solution for you? Explore 1982 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-09-29" --- Microsoft SQL Server 4.6 (1982) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/1417/SQL-Server/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated September 29th, 2026 # Reviews of Microsoft SQL Server Ease of use 4.3 Customer Service 4.3 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews DR Dave R ManagerMechanical or Industrial Engineering, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “It offers excellent reliability, strong security features, robust backup and recovery capabilities, and integrates well with other Microsoft products.“ July 14, 2026 LD Leo D Embedded software test engineerImport and Export, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Feature overload can confuse even seasoned DBAs.“ April 9, 2026 DR Dave R ManagerMechanical or Industrial Engineering, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “It serves as a dependable database platform supporting business applications, integrations, and operational data across our environment.“ July 14, 2026 AF Adashia F OwnerHealth, Wellness and Fitness, Self-employedUsed the software for: I used a free trial. “The Multi-factor Authentication on all Microsoft products can really be a pain more than a help.“ February 2, 2026 SB Sachita B StudentInformation Technology and Services, Self-employedUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “Microsoft SQL Server is one of the most user-friendly database tools, it is used to run queries manage tables , see execution plans.“ November 20, 2025 KK Kayla K Sales engineerAutomotive, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “One downside of Microsoft SQL Server is its high licensing costs, which can be prohibitive for smaller businesses.“ March 13, 2025 TY Tom Y Developer and administratorNewspapers, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I like the most about Microsoft SQL server always on and SSIS feature, one for cluster and one for Data ETL.“ July 25, 2026 ZP Zoe P EmployeeMining & Metals, 10,001+ employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The costs can also blow out depending on your licensing requirements and if running locally in house, the hardware costs.“ June 7, 2025 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 1982 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Nikitha Y. AI Proposal Intern Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Reliable relational database platform for structured data management" September 21, 2026 5.0 My overall experience with Microsoft SQL Server has been positive. The Ease of Use makes common database tasks manageable once the basic concepts are understood, while the Features provide flexibility for querying, organizing, and managing structured data. Data Management and Relational Data Management are particularly useful when working with connected tables and larger sets of information. Although some advanced configurations and troubleshooting can require additional technical knowledge, these limitations have not significantly affected my overall experience. Overall, I believe SQL Server provides good Value for Money for users who need a capable relational database platform. Pros Microsoft SQL Server provides a strong set of Features for storing, organizing, and working with structured data. The Data Management capabilities are useful for handling databases and querying information efficiently, while Relational Data Management makes it practical to work with structured relationships between tables. Once the basics are understood, the platform is fairly straightforward to use for common database tasks. Overall, it provides good Value for Money for organizations that need a reliable relational database platform. Cons Some advanced database administration and configuration tasks can have a learning curve, particularly for users who are new to database management. Working with larger databases can also require careful optimization and monitoring. I have occasionally encountered minor Bugs and Issues during database operations or configuration that required troubleshooting. I have limited direct experience with Customer Support, so I cannot strongly evaluate that aspect. Review Source BS Ben S. Infrastructure Architect Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Microsoft SQL Server is the databse of choice for no-nonsense, fast, and easy to use SQL enviroments." April 28, 2026 5.0 I could not say enough good things about Microsoft SQL Server “MSSQL”. It does everything we need and more. Pros Microsoft SQL Server “MSSQL” has been the most stable and capable database I have ever user. In over 30 years I have never had, seen, or even heard of a MSSQL database corruption. The application is easy to use, fast, consistent, and integrates into everything with no problems. Cons The costs for Microsoft SQL Server “MSSQL” can get extreme, but especially when working within K-12 the discounts make it basically free to use. Switched from [MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/) MySQL could not handle to back up and restores that were required in a production enviroment. Review Source SB SREEREKHA B. Lead Developer Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Ease of using Microsoft Sql Server" May 3, 2025 3.0 Good to use to develop databases, triggers, database plans, schenas Pros Convenient to develop a database using sql server Cons Integrates with mostly microsoft softwares and tools only Review Source DR Dave R. Manager Mechanical or Industrial Engineering Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Powerful Database Platform for Business-Critical Applications" July 14, 2026 5.0 Our experience with Microsoft SQL Server has been very positive. It serves as a dependable database platform supporting business applications, integrations, and operational data across our environment. The platform has consistently delivered strong performance, reliability, and security while providing the scalability needed to support future growth. From an IT administration perspective, SQL Server has been an important part of maintaining stable business operations and supporting critical enterprise systems. Pros Microsoft SQL Server provides a stable, secure, and high-performance database platform for business-critical applications. It offers excellent reliability, strong security features, robust backup and recovery capabilities, and integrates well with other Microsoft products. From an IT perspective, it provides dependable performance while simplifying database administration and long-term maintenance. Cons Licensing costs can become significant as environments grow, and some advanced administration, performance tuning, and high-availability features require specialized database expertise. Smaller organizations may also find the licensing and edition options somewhat complex. Review Source DS David S. VP of Technology Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Tried and true SQL Server that works well with other Microsoft apps." December 4, 2025 5.0 Used MS SQL Server with our Aptean Made 2 Manage ERP system as it is part of the software's requirements. A third party contractor assisting us with the ERP installation also assisted with the SQL setup. However, we have managed the SQL server internally for over 15 years. Have even migrated from older versions to newer versions without a hiccup. Pros Ease of use with current ERP system (Aptean Made 2 Manage V. 7.51). Works well with MS Report Builder and Power Query within Excel. Cons There is a steep learning curve for non-SQL and non-database users. It's a skillset that is not standard, but necessary for any database management. Alternatives considered [MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/)[Cloud SQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/246666/Cloud-SQL/) Reason for choosing Microsoft SQL Server Ease of use across Microsoft Apps environment. Review Source PG Patric G. CIO Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Several decades with Microsoft SQL Server" July 3, 2025 4.0 I use SQL Server for a long time and the capabilities (compared to Oracle) have been massively expanded during this time. I implement many business processes directly in stored procedures/functions with T-SQL or as CLR functions with C#. I also usually prepare the results of queries within the stored procedures. In doing so, I often pass a string to the procedure that contains a complex structure, which I then break down within the procedure to control the desired outcome. I know this is a dirty way of doing, but for me it works and it is fast! Pros The licensing costs are much lower than with Oracle, even though the Oracle database is a bit better in terms of performance. Furthermore, the licensing of the individual Oracle features is a science in itself. Also the rarely used option to run C# code in the database core is also important to me. Cons The installation on linux/unix systems is not so good described (in my opinion). Also i miss a mobile Version (like SQLLite) and i think LocalDB is not an option. Alternatives considered [PostgreSQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/)[MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/) Reason for choosing Microsoft SQL Server Possibility to use SQL CLR and C# code inside the db-kernel and the language add ons of t-sql. Switched from [Oracle Database](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/) The feature of sql server was simliar to the oracle features but less hard to install and much cheaper. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Software Developer Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Overall good experience" February 14, 2026 4.0 Overall good product with only minor cons of time required to learn for beginners and and some improvements to UI would be good. Pros Great choice for relational database management system. My first choice when learning database management server deployment. Cons Only minor cons such as learning curve for new to SQL Server Databases. May require significant time investment. User interface could use a little bit of improvment. Alternatives considered [MongoDB](https://www.capterra.com/p/127374/MongoDB/) Reason for choosing Microsoft SQL Server No reason other than experiencing and learning a different database server system. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer CEO - IT Consultant Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The Power of SQL on Microsoft" May 29, 2025 4.0 I have used Microsoft SQL along side other SQL database systems for many years and have used it as the data engine behind many software, websites and apps. Pros Microsoft SQL Server is a strong database software and engine well designed and built to operate well with other Microsoft products. Cons Microsoft SQL has a little bit of a learning curve and takes some effort to install and maintain. It is not as easy to use and manage as other SQL database systems available in the market. Alternatives considered [MySQL Data Access Components](https://www.capterra.com/p/250785/MySQL-Data-Access-Components/)[MongoDB](https://www.capterra.com/p/127374/MongoDB/)[MySQL Auto Backup](https://www.capterra.com/p/32412/MySQL-Auto-Backup/)[Oracle Database](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/)[MySQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/11482/MySQL/) Reason for choosing Microsoft SQL Server Microsoft SQL integrates well within the Microsoft environment and it is reliable and capable of managing the data storage any data requirements that my operations may need. Review Source PP Piyusha P. Customer service operator Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Reliable and Powerful Database Management System" August 4, 2026 5.0 My overall experience with Microsoft SQL Server has been very positive. It provides excellent performance, reliable data management, and a comprehensive set of features for developing and maintaining databases. The platform is stable, easy to use for day-to-day tasks, and offers strong security and backup options. While the licensing costs may be a consideration, the overall functionality, scalability, and reliability make it a great choice for businesses of all sizes. Pros Microsoft SQL Server is reliable, secure, and easy to manage for both small and enterprise-level databases. It offers powerful data management features, excellent performance, and strong integration with Microsoft tools like Power BI and Azure. The backup, restore, export, and reporting capabilities are robust, and SQL Server Management Studio makes database administration straightforward. Cons Licensing costs can be expensive, especially for enterprise editions. Some advanced features have a learning curve, and performance tuning for large databases may require experienced database administrators. Occasional updates can also require maintenance downtime. Review Source TY Tom Y. Developer and administrator Newspapers Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Developer and Administrator" July 25, 2026 5.0 Easy to use, can handle more and more data with each newer version, and cloud use of Microsoft SQL server in Azure. Pros I like the most about Microsoft SQL server always on and SSIS feature, one for cluster and one for Data ETL. Cons I think for Microsoft SQL server's scalability, it can be Improved for the scalability of SQL Server to handle larger data volumes and more complex workloads. Review Source Imi C. MIS Developer Political Organization Used the software for: 2+ years ### "SQL is getting better as it grows older" November 21, 2019 4.0 SQL Server centralized my data and allows my staff to "believe" that they are working in Excel, It is super fast for loading data from the server, and allow large data set that will normally take hours, or even crash the Excel spreadsheet to load without any issue. When I am ready for a web app.. SQL server is easy as piece to develop a simple CRUD application and push live. It seem to connect to every thing - from MS Word Mail merge, MS Excel, MS Access and of course for development environment such as Visual Studios. One Database ( Centralized) and many presentation modes for the end users. I love it! Pros MS SQL Server is certainly a competently relational database engine, with reporting service and now R. Easy to install for small onpremise application. Easy to administer, easy to backup, easy because it is a Microsoft application. It is so easy that most of the application today I work on seem to be pulling data from SQL into Excel and or Power BI. You can start from free version and expand as time goes by. The management studio take the pain our of scripting, and the online support community most likely have your questions answered with T-SQL scripts for copy and pasting. If you deciding on an option for an Relational Database system - you should look at this as your most productive option. It allows you to focus on the problem by making the technology easy. Cons The new the version, the more memory intensive this management studio will become. Microsoft need to create some more easy to use tool for change control and change tracking. Backward compatibility - if you used a higher version during development, then it become a pain to use a lower version during production environment. Alternatives considered [PostgreSQL](https://www.capterra.com/p/48791/PostgreSQL/)[Oracle Database](https://www.capterra.com/p/5938/Oracle-Database/) Reason for choosing Microsoft SQL Server Cost and community of supporters, access to information on the open internet . Available of training. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Infrastructure Engineer Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Sometimes difficult to fault find but generally a stable and reliable product" February 24, 2025 4.0 We couldn't live without it, it is the heart of all of our systems. Pros SQL is the core for a lot of businesses, being widely support by third parties it is a very useful system to run. Cons It's not easy to fault find at times with limited tools due to the complexity of some databases. Review Source AF Adashia F. Owner Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "This server does what it needs to do. Muti-factor Authentication can be a pain though." February 2, 2026 5.0 This server does what it needs to do. Muti-factor Authentication can be a pain, though. Once you get past that, this is a decent tool to use. Pros VALUE FOR MONEY - great CUSTOMER SUPPORT EASE OF USE - decent DATABASE MANAGEMENT - great DATA MANAGEMENT - great PERFORMANCE AND SPEED - decent LICENSE AND LICENSING Cons The Multi-factor Authentication on all Microsoft products can really be a pain more than a help. I would use Microsoft products more if that was not an issue. Review Source RS RICARDO S. Sales Representative Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The most reliable database" March 3, 2025 5.0 Very solid database, You can trust this product without any problem. Pros The capability to store large amounts of data without any data corruption. Cons Resources consuming, it requires significant CPU, RAM and Storage. Review Source AH Ajoke H. Data Analyst Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "A good relational database management tool" January 10, 2025 5.0 Pros IT serves the purpose of storing all our data no matter how large they are. It is good for database management. Cons I have not spotted anything I don't like about this. Review Source CC Cosmin C. Senior IT Auditor Insurance Used the software for: 2+ years ### "SQL Server" January 22, 2025 4.0 My experience is limited to running queries, looking at security tables. Pros Easiness to run queries needed for audit testing. Cons Can't really think of anything I don't like about SQL server Review Source PS Prashish S. Developer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Jr. developer" November 28, 2024 5.0 Pros Easy to use, not complicated, easy to use for coding. Easy to download Cons Hard to find the debug, not friendly for the new user. Review Source SA Shubham A. SQL Database Consultant Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best Relational Database with great data capabilities" February 13, 2024 5.0 Pros It supports RDBMS, so it is easy to write SQL queries in SQL Server. User Interface is very good and its easy to implement. It can handle large amount of data. You can mask the data if it contains sensitive or PII information. By Implementing Disaster recovery, at any point in time we can recover the data. Cons Unlike Databricks SQL, SQL server does not provide data visualization functionality. Data Extraction is show if the table contains large amount of data. Review Source GJ Gordon J. Senior SAP Consultant Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Microsoft SQL Server will meet all your Database Server needs" September 11, 2023 5.0 Overall, Microsoft SQL server is a powerful database server option in the market. Pros \- Microsoft SQL server is indeed a robust Database Server option. In this review, I will talk about Microsoft SQL in terms of SAP and compare it to its alternative option in SAP - the HANA Server. - When it comes to SAP ERP, our clients have two options for their database server needs - Microsoft SQL Server or HANA server. Microsoft SQL server is great option that will get the job done. Most of us consultants, have the SQL server installed in our local machines since it is impossible to install the HANA server in our local machines because of the heavy resources needed. SAP HANA requires a minimum of 32 GB ram for example.- Microsoft SQL server is easy to install especially the if you are installing the Express Version which is very light and install quickly. - I did not require much training to be able to use the basic features of Microsoft SQL server and I get a free license for my local machine if you install the evaluation version on your machine. Cons \- Compared to SAP HANA Server, Microsoft SQL Server has less analytical capabilities but generally, Microsoft SQL is a powerful database server option in the market.- There is a bit of a learning curve involved. If you want to be able to do some complex tasks in Microsoft SQL server, you might need to employ the use of some learning material. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Support Team Lead Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "SQL Server Management Studio 18" November 7, 2023 5.0 Overall, a great experience over the last 13 years of use. Easy to set up databases, query them and performance is great. Pros The interface is very easy to use and once you have connected up, the expandable and collapsible views of your databases, tables, stored procs, views, sql jobs etc and easily viewable and excellent to navigate through. You can customise the icon and buttons to suit your setup preferences. The performance of SSMS has dramtically increased over the past few years and the features and functions they offer are great. For someone who has been in support and not a full fledged developer, this is an excellent enterprise tool to manage your data and connect it with .NET applications. Cons Nothing as of yet. I have found it to meet my needs each and every time. Review Source Charan Raj Y. Senior Analyst Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "One of the best Database in the market " June 26, 2021 5.0 Overall, it is good and best for Large size of projects which has more support. So any impediments can solve easily Look and feel Features Integration with other software's everything is best here Pros Best part is , it is a Microsoft product and it has huge performance, demand, support, and everything So easy to learn, Microsoft provide more materials Support to the project Market demands highly scalable and reliable Cons Nothing is least, since it is Microsoft product, demand is more So expensive and there are open source also available in market Review Source SB Shawn B. Financial Systems Data Analyst Legal Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "SQL Server a Building Block of Tech Stack" December 10, 2021 5.0 Good overall experience. We're addressing the need to store, transform, and retrieve data. Information has become the backbone of many technological and business operations, and almost everything I work on goes through a SQL database to accomplish the job. It's one tier of applications that is used almost everywhere. SQL Server allows us to query data for reporting to end users, and also provides options to move and transform the data to different environments. Pros At our firm, we have a completely Microsoft tech stack; from servers, databases, middleware, peripheral applications, etc. When using all Microsoft products, it is extremely easy to connect and integrate between applications, servers, and databases. I am less sure about integrating with other providers (such as oracle), but I know its possible with a little more effort. Maintenance, backups, restores, disaster recovery plans all seem routine now. The product is very familiar and there is ample documentation and general SQL training. Get a good DBA and your servers will stay healthy as well; certain system settings are important, and monitoring those and adjusting for your business is prudent. SSMS is an easy IDE to use and perform any function. You can use SQL to automate many tasks, and I really like the SQL jobs. SSIS lets me automate so much, even to and from external vendors, using SFTP or some other mechanism. It extends SQL Server to use any script or basic Windows command. Cons When you run into an issue, it can be hard to resolve. An example would be when Microsoft data connectors aren't working. Understanding and getting the right supporting software installed is important; like OLE DB and ODBC connectors. Another difficulty can be performance. As data sets get larger, this is more important. While there are enough tools to investigate and troubleshoot, sometimes it's just a big effort to try to query tune, index, or adjust server settings to get the results in performance that you want. Queries seem to only get more complex, and data sets larger. I am pretty sure other databases will perform better with Big Data. Review Source GT Gábor T. IT Business Analyst Automotive Used the software for: 2+ years ### "My past with MS SQL" October 25, 2022 5.0 I met firstly with MS SQL in the uni. The in one of my workplaces I became an admin of it, so as a "user".Its two sides-role widely different. Writing queries, retrieving data, manipulating the results (not the stored data) is a cool option. Easier, faster, more known then Oracle's PL/SQL I would say. The option it gives you are enormous, and how many things uses a DB nowadays are surprising. Knowing and being able to manage a DB, will be an asset in the future. Speed depends on your codes and on your machine. The memory is the enemy of the DBs, so as for MS SQL. Maybe other, non-relational DBs have better results, but on specific tasks. MS SQL is being better, has a lot of devs. behind its back and MS itself, you definitely worth considering it having as a primary database. 3rd party extensions can be used, that can take your productivity to the next level, like APEX.Having a free version up to 10 gigs per database, you would not believe how many company based its business on this "advantage". Pros Can be integrated with a lot of MS and 3rd party tools.The query window is well formed.The speed of the DB is excellent, but bases heavily on your custom codes.Reports, ad-hoc table, integrations with other reporting tools, intranet websites are great. Cons Less training options available comparing it to other MS tools.Intergration, access management can be difficult.Sometimes not easy to track changes in your codes, mostly in big databases.Installation could be easier.It not recommended, but for IT personnel with solid knowledge. Reason for choosing Microsoft SQL Server Can be used its free version up to 10 gigs.Taught in schools, easier, MS product so as Windows. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Senior Software Test Automation Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Powerful and Scalable Database Solution from Microsoft" February 11, 2023 4.0 Pros 1\. It is a robust DBMS and a go to solution for many applications2. Its Management studio and Command line interface is so powerful and easy to use3. All access are managed with built in roles and user defined roles effectively4. Secure, easy to configure and does not require deep experience in using the product5. Business Intelligence tools like SSMS and SSRS work seamlessly6. Its so mature and has great community support Cons Price Price Price!! It is so expensive and Support could have been better. Review Source JA Jerry A. System Administrator Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Ridiculously powerful and full of features we do not make use of. We love it, and cannot do without." July 2, 2018 4.0 This software practically runs our facility. Without it, we couldn't keep track of our animals or our people (staff, members, donors). To us, this software is well worth the costs involved. Pros SQL Server is just so incredibly powerful, most users probably do not know how much it can do, or how much it can handle. In our type of organization, we deal with people and animals. We rely on donors and members for funding, we track everything about our animals from health issues, to medications, to physical exercise. Every one of our systems relies on, as the backbone, SQL Server. This software is powerful, versatile, and reliable. With pretty much every department of ours needing some type of database, standardizing to SQL Server was just the best move. It can handle it all. It can track it all. And it can report on it all for us. To date, we use it for: our Accounting software, our donor tracking, our membership tracking, our animal tracking (includes tracking from what zoo or aquarium animals came, their medical history, their exercise history, their diet, their location in our facility, their trainers, their behavioral issues/environmental factors), our vet's digital imaging systems, our guest services scheduling, our security systems (surveillance, door locks), our water quality and hvac sysytems logging and controls, our point of sale system (for admissions and food court and ecommerce), and our facility management software (maintenance and IT requests). This system does indeed handle everything we need it to. Cons You need a lot of training to make the most of it. Or it could cost you a lot if you have to pay a developer to help you get the most out of your systems. Luckily a couple of us are really into databases, and we both have a lot of experience with SQL, we can do most things in-house. But still the amount of training we go through to keep current, or to keep learning is probably the biggest "problem" with this software. Most software packages, you can buy, setup, receive a few hours or a few days of training, and you'll be good to go. With SQL, if you intend to use it, to get the most of out it, you will need more extensive training, or to hire people to put in the work. It's not cheap. But it can help you accomplish so much if you put in the time. Review Source Similar Products Featured ## Send me user reviews about this product ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.