--- description: Discover the benefits and disadvantages of Microsoft SQL Server. Learn the software price, see the description, and read the most helpful reviews for UK business users. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/capterra/og_logo-e5a8c001ed0bd1bb922639230fcea71a.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress title: Microsoft SQL Server Pricing, Cost & Reviews - Capterra UK 2026 --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Database Software](/directory/18/database-management/software) > [Microsoft SQL Server](/software/1417/sql-server) # Microsoft SQL Server Canonical: https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/1417/sql-server Page: 1 / 81\ Next: [Next page](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/1417/sql-server?page=2) > Database and analysis offering for rapidly delivering the next generation of scalable e-commerce \& line-of-business solutions. > > Verdict: Rated **4.6/5** by 1981 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Overview ### Who Uses Microsoft SQL Server? Companies of all sizes, looking for database management software ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.6/5** | 1981 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 4.3/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support | 4.3/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Value for Money | 4.3/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Features | 4.6/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Recommendation percentage | 90% | (9/10 Likelihood to recommend) | ## About the vendor - **Company**: Microsoft - **Location**: Redmond, US - **Founded**: 1975 ## Commercial Context - **Starting Price**: US$13,748.00 - **Pricing model**: Flat Rate (Free version available) (Free Trial) - **Pricing Details**: SQL Server offers a 180-day free trial for new users, after which the software is available across various pricing tiers Enterprise - $13748 Standard (per core) - $3586 Standard (server) - $899 Standard (CAL) - $209 Developer – Available to users for free Express – Available to users for free Additional cost for subscriptions and add-ons include - SQL Server Enterprise - $5434/year SQL Server Standard - $1418/year Big data node cores - $400/year - **Target Audience**: Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000, 5,001–10,000, 10,000+ - **Deployment & Platforms**: Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, Windows (Desktop), Linux (Desktop), Windows (On-Premise), Linux (On-Premise) - **Supported Languages**: English, French - **Available Countries**: France, Italy, United States ## Features - Ad hoc Reporting - Backup and Recovery - Collaboration Tools - Dashboard - Data Connectors - Data Import/Export - Data Replication - Data Synchronisation - Data Visualisation - Multiple Data Sources - Performance Metrics - Predictive Analytics - Reporting & Statistics - Search/Filter - Visual Analytics ## Integrations (5 total) - Microsoft Azure - Microsoft Excel - Microsoft Power BI - Microsoft Visual Studio - MySQL ## Support Options - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat ## Category - [Database Software](https://www.capterra.co.uk/directory/18/database-management/software) ## Related Categories - [Database Software](https://www.capterra.co.uk/directory/18/database-management/software) - [Business Intelligence Platform](https://www.capterra.co.uk/directory/23/business-intelligence/software) ## Alternatives 1. [MySQL](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/11482/mysql) — 4.6/5 (2098 reviews) 2. [Google Cloud](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/170983/google-cloud-platform) — 4.7/5 (2322 reviews) 3. [MongoDB](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/127374/mongodb) — 4.7/5 (472 reviews) 4. [Airtable](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/146652/airtable) — 4.6/5 (2243 reviews) 5. [Microsoft Access](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/1015743/microsoft-access) — 4.4/5 (210 reviews) ## Reviews ### "The Database That Keeps You on Your Toes" — 5.0/5 > **Leo** | *9 April 2026* | Import & Export | Recommendation rating: 9.0/10 > > **Pros**: What I liked most? The sense of accomplishment when a query actually runs without error. Nothing beats that sweet, sweet feeling of victory after wrestling SQL Server into submission. > > **Cons**: nstallation feels like prepping for a NASA launch. Typos in SQL = database rage. Random performance swings: cheetah one day, sloth the next. Feature overload can confuse even seasoned DBAs. Cloud integrations are temperamental, like a cat during bath time. Documentation exists… mostly to make you cry. > > Using Microsoft SQL Server is like taming a dragon: infuriating at times, baffling at others, but oddly satisfying when it finally behaves. Powerful, feature-packed, and occasionally a proper headache. ----- ### "Sometimes difficult to fault find but generally a stable and reliable product" — 4.0/5 > **Verified Reviewer** | *24 February 2025* | Education Management | Recommendation rating: 9.0/10 > > **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. > > We couldn't live without it, it is the heart of all of our systems. ----- ### "A good relational database management tool" — 5.0/5 > **Ajoke** | *10 January 2025* | Information Technology & Services | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **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. ----- ### "Simplification of work" — 5.0/5 > **Abiola** | *6 December 2024* | Insurance | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: In my role as a data analyst, it helped me analyse huge data sets easily > > **Cons**: Can be cumbersome to use until one becomes familiar > > Awesome, makes my life and work very easy ----- ### "Solid easy to deploy database platform" — 4.0/5 > **Glyn** | *20 September 2018* | Insurance | Recommendation rating: 6.0/10 > > **Pros**: SQL server is a fairly solid database platform for smaller scale database systems. Easy to deploy, patch and replicate data. > > **Cons**: Some of the concepts are slightly backwards; "replication" process run as agent jobs that never end - except they do end when they crash, bizarre concept of archiving off transaction logs ("backing up") on a fixed schedule rather than after bytes of data means transaction logs often bloat out for no good reason. Bad choices often made with regards to utility functions, that end up working the way the developer wanted it to rather than in a way that conforms with other widely used standards. > > It's OK, fairly stable, has most sought after features but is pretty underwhelming performance-wise. ----- Page: 1 / 81\ Next: [Next page](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/1417/sql-server?page=2) ## Links - [View on Capterra](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/1417/sql-server) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | de | | | de-AT | | | de-CH | | | en | | | en-AE | | | en-AU | | | en-CA | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-IL | | | en-IN | | | en-NZ | | | en-SG | | | en-ZA | | | es | | | es-AR | | | es-CL | | | es-CO | | | es-CR | | | es-DO | | | es-EC | | | es-MX | | | es-PA | | | es-PE | | | fr | | | fr-BE | | | fr-CA | | | fr-LU | | | it | | | ja | | | nl | | | nl-BE | | | pt | | | pt-PT | | ----- ## Structured Data