# ClickHouse vs Microsoft SQL Server Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Microsoft SQL Server excels in reliability and ease of management, making it a preferred choice for handling large datasets. Users appreciate its robust performance features, which allow for effective query optimization and indexing strategies.
- **Users say** ClickHouse stands out for its exceptional speed and performance, particularly when dealing with large volumes of data. Reviewers highlight its ability to run complex queries quickly, which is crucial for real-time analytics.
- **According to verified reviews** , Microsoft SQL Server is recognized for its strong community support and extensive documentation, which simplifies troubleshooting and enhances the overall user experience. This maturity in the tool is a significant advantage for enterprise-grade applications.
- **Reviewers mention** that ClickHouse offers a seamless implementation process, with many users noting its complete ease of use. This makes it an attractive option for businesses looking to quickly set up a data warehouse without extensive technical overhead.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that while Microsoft SQL Server has a slightly lower score in ease of setup compared to ClickHouse, it compensates with its comprehensive features for data management and security, which are critical for enterprise environments.
- **Users report** that both products have their strengths, but Microsoft SQL Server's extensive feature set and community support make it a more reliable choice for larger organizations, while ClickHouse's performance and simplicity cater well to small businesses and specific use cases like data warehousing.



| | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.4 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 23 | 2,286 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (54.5% of reviews) | Enterprise (45.3% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Starting at $1.00 Per Month | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### ClickHouse

Pros:
- Analytics (1 reviews)
- Availability (1 reviews)

Cons:
- Beginner Unfriendliness (1 reviews)
- Complex Usage (1 reviews)

### Microsoft SQL Server

Pros:
- Ease of Use (32 reviews)
- Database Management (29 reviews)

Cons:
- Expensive (21 reviews)
- High Licensing Cost (12 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.2 (14 reviews) | 9.0 (1873 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.8 (14 reviews) | 8.6 (1891 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.0 (10 reviews) | 8.1 (1014 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 7.5 (6 reviews) | 8.3 (953 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.3 (12 reviews) | 8.3 (1667 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | Not enough data | 8.4 (902 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 10.0 (13 reviews) | 8.4 (1842 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### ClickHouse

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: ClickHouse Pricing

Price: Starting at $1.00 Per Month

Description: Options for every user, organization, and use case.

Key Features:
- Up to 1 TB storage
- 16 GiB total memory
- Burstable CPU

[Learn more about ClickHouse](https://www.g2.com/products/clickhouse/reviews)

#### Free Trial

No

### Microsoft SQL Server

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Database Management Systems (DBMS)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **ClickHouse** | 8.9/10 | 7 |
| **Microsoft SQL Server** | 9.0/10 | 179 |

#### Management

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data dictionary** | 9.4 (6 reviews) | 8.9 (156 reviews) | 
| **Data Replication** | 7.9 (7 reviews) | 8.8 (154 reviews) | 
| **Query Language** | 9.3 (7 reviews) | 9.2 (162 reviews) | 
| **Data Modeling** | 9.4 (6 reviews) | 8.9 (156 reviews) | 
| **Performance Analysis** | 10.0 (5 reviews) | 9.0 (161 reviews) | 
| **Data Synchronization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Storage Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Maintenance

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Migration** | 8.8 (7 reviews) | 8.9 (159 reviews) | 
| **Backup and Recovery** | 7.8 (6 reviews) | 9.1 (164 reviews) | 
| **Multi-User Environment** | Not enough data | 9.1 (156 reviews) | 

#### Security

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Encryption** | Not enough data | 8.9 (154 reviews) | 
| **User Access Control** | Not enough data | 9.1 (156 reviews) | 
| **Mobile Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Extraction** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Relational Database Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Connectors** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Templates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Full Text Search** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Virtualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Fields** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Data Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Mapping** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multiple Programming Languages Supported** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Capture and Transfer** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **NOSQL Database Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Calendar Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Charting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Relational Databases

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **ClickHouse** | 9.0/10 | 6 |
| **Microsoft SQL Server** | 8.8/10 | 1469 |

#### Management 

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Schema** | Not enough data | 9.1 (153 reviews) | 
| **Query Language** | 9.3 (5 reviews) | 9.2 (157 reviews) | 
| **ACID - Complaint** | Feature Not Available | 8.8 (142 reviews) | 
| **Data Replication** | Not enough data | 8.8 (142 reviews) | 

#### Support 

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Text Search** | Not enough data | 8.6 (145 reviews) | 
| **Data Types** | Not enough data | 9.0 (152 reviews) | 
| **Languages** | Not enough data | 8.6 (145 reviews) | 
| **Operating Systems** | Not enough data | 8.3 (155 reviews) | 

#### Security

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Database Locking** | Feature Not Available | 8.8 (151 reviews) | 
| **Access Control** | Not enough data | 9.0 (152 reviews) | 
| **Encryption** | Not enough data | 8.8 (148 reviews) | 
| **Authentication** | Not enough data | 9.0 (150 reviews) | 

#### Performance 

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Disaster Recovery** | Not enough data | 8.7 (150 reviews) | 
| **Data Concurrency** | Not enough data | 8.8 (143 reviews) | 
| **Workload Management** | Not enough data | 8.7 (154 reviews) | 
| **Advanced Indexing** | Not enough data | 8.6 (148 reviews) | 
| **Query Optimizer** | Not enough data | 8.8 (151 reviews) | 

#### Database Features

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Storage** | 9.0 (5 reviews) | 8.9 (1299 reviews) | 
| **Availability** | 9.3 (5 reviews) | 9.0 (1303 reviews) | 
| **Stability** | 9.0 (5 reviews) | 8.9 (1314 reviews) | 
| **Scalability** | 9.0 (5 reviews) | 8.7 (1281 reviews) | 
| **Security** | Not enough data | 8.8 (1279 reviews) | 
| **Data Manipulation** | Not enough data | 8.8 (1281 reviews) | 
| **Query Language** | 8.7 (5 reviews) | 9.1 (1301 reviews) | 

### Columnar Databases

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **ClickHouse** | 8.5/10 | 9 |
| **Microsoft SQL Server** | N/A | N/A |

#### Storage

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Model** | 9.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Data Types** | 9.0 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Availability

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Auto Sharding** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Auto Recovery** | 7.8 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Data Replication** | 8.3 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Performance

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Integrated Cache** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Role-Based Authorization** | 9.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Logs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | 8.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Support

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-Model** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Operating Systems** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Real-time Analytic Database

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **ClickHouse** | N/A | N/A |
| **Microsoft SQL Server** | N/A | N/A |

#### Query latency

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Lower query latency** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Continuous queries** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Data latency

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Lower data latency** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data pipeline performance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Connectors

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Faster ingestion** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Built-in connectors** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Scale

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Linearly scalable database** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Storage management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Architecture

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Lockless architecture** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Big Data Processing and Distribution

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **ClickHouse** | N/A | N/A |
| **Microsoft SQL Server** | 8.4/10 | 62 |

#### Database

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Real-Time Data Collection** | Not enough data | 8.6 (58 reviews) | 
| **Data Distribution** | Not enough data | 8.8 (57 reviews) | 
| **Data Lake** | Not enough data | 8.4 (54 reviews) | 

#### Integrations

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Hadoop Integration** | Not enough data | 7.8 (45 reviews) | 
| **Spark Integration** | Not enough data | 8.2 (46 reviews) | 

#### Platform

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Machine Scaling** | Not enough data | 8.2 (50 reviews) | 
| **Data Preparation** | Not enough data | 8.5 (54 reviews) | 
| **Spark Integration** | Not enough data | 8.2 (46 reviews) | 

#### Processing

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Cloud Processing** | Not enough data | 8.6 (53 reviews) | 
| **Workload Processing** | Not enough data | 8.5 (56 reviews) | 

### Big Data

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **ClickHouse** | N/A | N/A |
| **Microsoft SQL Server** | N/A | N/A |

#### Building Reports

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Transformation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Modeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **WYSIWYG Report Design** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integration APIs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Mobile User Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customization ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Internationalization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sandbox / Test Environments** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Breadth of Partner Applications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Metadata Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (2):** [Database Management Systems (DBMS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/database-management-systems-dbms), [Relational Databases](https://www.g2.com/categories/relational-databases)

**Unique to ClickHouse (2):** [Real-time Analytic Database Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/real-time-analytic-database), [Columnar Databases](https://www.g2.com/categories/columnar-databases)

**Unique to Microsoft SQL Server (2):** [Big Data Processing And Distribution Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/big-data-processing-and-distribution), [On-Premise Data Integration Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/on-premise-data-integration)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | ClickHouse | Microsoft SQL Server | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 54.5% | 18.2% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 36.4% | 36.5% | 
| **Enterprise** | 9.1% | 45.3% | 

### By Industry

#### ClickHouse

- **Information Technology and Services:** 31.8%
- **Computer Software:** 22.7%
- **Wholesale:** 4.5%
- **Telecommunications:** 4.5%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 4.5%
- **Leisure, Travel & Tourism:** 4.5%
- **Information Services:** 4.5%
- **Hospitality:** 4.5%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 4.5%
- **Financial Services:** 4.5%
- **Other:** 9.1%

#### Microsoft SQL Server

- **Information Technology and Services:** 24.1%
- **Computer Software:** 13.7%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 5.4%
- **Financial Services:** 4.3%
- **Higher Education:** 2.9%
- **Education Management:** 2.6%
- **Banking:** 2.5%
- **Government Administration:** 2.4%
- **Insurance:** 2.4%
- **Telecommunications:** 2.2%
- **Other:** 37.5%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to ClickHouse

- [Google Cloud BigQuery](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-bigquery/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1224 reviews)
- [MySQL](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1682 reviews)
- [Snowflake](https://www.g2.com/products/snowflake/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (763 reviews)
- [Teradata Autonomous Knowledge Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/teradata-autonomous-knowledge-platform/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (376 reviews)
- [SAP HANA Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/sap-hana-cloud-2025-10-01/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (620 reviews)
- [MariaDB](https://www.g2.com/products/mariadb/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (226 reviews)
- [Amazon Redshift](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-redshift/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (404 reviews)
- [Oracle Database](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-database/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1019 reviews)
- [PostgreSQL](https://www.g2.com/products/postgresql/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (684 reviews)
- [Amazon Aurora](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-aurora/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (458 reviews)

### Alternatives to Microsoft SQL Server

- [Teradata Autonomous Knowledge Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/teradata-autonomous-knowledge-platform/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (376 reviews)
- [SAP HANA Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/sap-hana-cloud-2025-10-01/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (620 reviews)
- [Google Cloud SQL](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-sql/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (367 reviews)
- [Snowflake](https://www.g2.com/products/snowflake/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (763 reviews)
- [MySQL](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1682 reviews)
- [Oracle Database](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-database/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1019 reviews)
- [Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-relational-database-service-rds/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (909 reviews)
- [PostgreSQL](https://www.g2.com/products/postgresql/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (684 reviews)
- [IBM Db2](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-db2/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (683 reviews)
- [Amazon Aurora](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-aurora/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (458 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### ClickHouse

No discussions available for this product.

### Microsoft SQL Server

- Title: [How can I work on the same query if the connection is lost (timeout) and then I reconnect?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/15675-how-can-i-work-on-the-same-query-if-the-connection-is-lost-timeout-and-then-i-reconnect) — 4 comments, 2 upvotes
  > **Top comment:** "You can change the timeout for the query:

In the object explorer, right click a server and select properties. 
Go to Remote server connections, look for ..."
- Title: [How could I make much easier the experience with the order of my database?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/13520-how-could-i-make-much-easier-the-experience-with-the-order-of-my-database) — 4 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "If you have SQL knowledge you can generate queries to obtain the specific data you're looking for based on selected criteria."
- Title: [What is the best way to save your queries?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/12127-what-is-the-best-way-to-save-your-queries) — 4 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "I recommend that you use the saved querys in plain text or .sql or txt format you can use the same sql server query creator or a notepad +++ tool, they are..."
- Title: [Is there a free version of Microsoft SQL Server?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-there-a-free-version-of-microsoft-sql-server) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "yes, SQL Server Express offers it as a free edition. It provides service, albeit in a limited framework."
- Title: [how did you import a MySQL database?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-did-you-import-a-mysql-database) — 3 comments, 2 upvotes
  > **Top comment:** "You can use the LinkedServer feature to mySQL database using the provider.
Check here for further..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/clickhouse-vs-microsoft-sql-server)