Compare IBM Cognos Analytics and Microsoft SQL Server 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Enterprise (58.6% of reviews)
Enterprise (45.5% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $10.00 1 User Per Month
No pricing available
IBM Cognos Analytics
Star Rating
(460)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (58.6% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $10.00 1 User Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 3 pricing plansMicrosoft SQL Server
Star Rating
(2,261)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (45.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Microsoft SQL ServerIBM Cognos Analytics vs Microsoft SQL Server
When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Microsoft SQL Server easier to use, set up, and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with Microsoft SQL Server overall.
- Reviewers felt that Microsoft SQL Server meets the needs of their business better than IBM Cognos Analytics.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Microsoft SQL Server is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Microsoft SQL Server over IBM Cognos Analytics.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
IBM Cognos Analytics
Cognos® Analytics On Demand - Standard
Starting at $10.00
1 User Per Month
Upload and model data, combine data sets, create dashboards and stories, and view report outputs.
- https://www.ibm.com/marketplace/purchase/configuration/en/us/checkout?editionID=EID2RPAX
- Dashboards, storytelling and collaboration
- Cognos mobile
Microsoft SQL Server
No pricing availableFree Trial
IBM Cognos Analytics
Free Trial is available
Microsoft SQL Server
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.2
317
9.0
1,854
Ease of Use
7.5
340
8.6
1,870
Ease of Setup
7.2
199
8.1
992
Ease of Admin
7.0
143
8.3
950
Quality of Support
7.5
284
8.3
1,649
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
7.8
139
8.4
900
Product Direction (% positive)
7.9
300
8.4
1,825
Features by Category
Reports
8.1
206
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
164
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
194
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
144
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
189
|
Verified
Not enough data
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
194
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
179
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
164
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
160
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.3
126
|
Verified
Not enough data
Advanced Analytics
7.9
132
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
167
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
119
|
Verified
Not enough data
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
120
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
107
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
91
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Reports
8.1
206
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
164
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
194
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
144
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
189
|
Verified
Not enough data
Data Preparation
8.3
72
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
73
|
Verified
Not enough data
Data Modeling and Blending
8.4
77
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
77
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
74
|
Verified
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.3
37
Not enough data
7.5
37
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Analytics Platforms
7.8
10
Not enough data
8.0
9
Not enough data
8.0
9
Not enough data
8.1
9
Not enough data
8.3
10
Not enough data
8.0
10
Not enough data
8.0
10
Not enough data
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
194
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
179
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
164
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
160
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.3
126
|
Verified
Not enough data
Deployment & Integration - Analytics Platforms
8.8
7
Not enough data
8.3
7
Not enough data
7.8
6
Not enough data
8.3
7
Not enough data
Advanced Analytics
7.9
132
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
167
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
119
|
Verified
Not enough data
Performance & Scalability - Analytics Platforms
8.6
7
Not enough data
8.8
7
Not enough data
Advanced Analytics & Modeling - Analytics Platforms
9.0
8
Not enough data
8.9
6
Not enough data
8.8
7
Not enough data
Agentic AI Capabilities - Analytics Platforms
9.2
8
Not enough data
8.8
7
Not enough data
8.1
6
Not enough data
7.8
6
Not enough data
Personalized Intelligence - Analytics Platforms
8.1
6
Not enough data
8.3
6
Not enough data
8.6
6
Not enough data
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
120
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
107
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
91
|
Verified
Not enough data
Reports
8.1
206
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
164
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
194
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
144
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
189
|
Verified
Not enough data
Self Service
8.1
176
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
194
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
179
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
164
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
160
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.3
126
|
Verified
Not enough data
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
120
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
107
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
91
|
Verified
Not enough data
Management
Not enough data
8.9
153
Not enough data
8.8
153
Not enough data
9.2
158
Not enough data
8.9
153
Not enough data
8.9
156
Maintenance
Not enough data
8.9
154
Not enough data
9.0
159
Not enough data
9.0
154
Security
Not enough data
8.9
153
Not enough data
9.1
155
Management
Not enough data
9.0
149
Not enough data
9.2
151
Not enough data
8.8
137
Not enough data
8.8
142
Support
Not enough data
8.6
145
Not enough data
9.0
149
Not enough data
8.6
144
Not enough data
8.4
151
Security
Not enough data
8.8
148
Not enough data
9.0
148
Not enough data
8.8
145
Not enough data
9.0
149
Performance
Not enough data
8.7
144
Not enough data
8.8
141
Not enough data
8.7
147
Not enough data
8.6
145
Not enough data
8.8
146
Database Features
Not enough data
8.9
1287
Not enough data
9.0
1291
Not enough data
8.9
1299
Not enough data
8.7
1266
Not enough data
8.8
1267
Not enough data
8.8
1271
Not enough data
9.1
1291
Statistical Tool
8.2
31
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Data Analysis
8.7
34
Not enough data
8.8
33
Not enough data
Decision Making
8.7
31
Not enough data
8.6
34
Not enough data
8.5
35
Not enough data
8.3
31
Not enough data
Generative AI
8.0
18
Not enough data
8.1
18
Not enough data
Database
Not enough data
8.5
56
Not enough data
8.8
57
Not enough data
8.4
54
Integrations
Not enough data
7.8
45
Not enough data
8.2
45
Platform
Not enough data
8.2
50
Not enough data
8.5
53
Not enough data
8.2
45
Processing
Not enough data
8.5
52
Not enough data
8.5
55
Building Reports
8.2
122
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
120
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.9
107
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
91
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
IBM Cognos Analytics and Microsoft SQL Server share no categories
Unique Categories
IBM Cognos Analytics is categorized as Embedded Business Intelligence, Analytics Platforms, and Predictive Analytics
Microsoft SQL Server is categorized as Relational Databases, Database Management Systems (DBMS), Big Data Processing and Distribution, and On-Premise Data Integration
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
IBM Cognos Analytics
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Microsoft SQL Server
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Information Technology and Services
11.1%
Insurance
8.5%
Financial Services
8.3%
Computer Software
6.5%
Banking
5.4%
Other
60.2%
Information Technology and Services
24.1%
Computer Software
13.7%
Hospital & Health Care
5.4%
Financial Services
4.3%
Higher Education
2.9%
Other
49.6%
Alternatives
Discussions
Where can I find more answers on my questions?
2 Comments
MD
We're IBM Gold partners with a ton of experience implementing Cognos, and have lots of good free technical information on our blog at...Read more
I heard Cognos Analytics 11.11 was out - where can I find more information?
2 Comments
MD
As of October 2019, the latest version is 11.1.4. We just did a livestream earlier this week to review the latest updates. You can check that out here:...Read more
Have you used DMR ? Have you found it better than a relational or a powercube?
1 Comment
CM
Yes, I have used DMR. However, the performance here is not so great compared to a PowerCube. However, you don't have to worry about building cubes. I...Read more
How could I make much easier the experience with the order of my database?
4 Comments
AF
You can create different tables with your employee information eg employee table, employee roles etc. Then you can create a single view that will pull data...Read more
What is the best way to save your queries?
4 Comments
CA
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...Read more
How can I work on the same query if the connection is lost (timeout) and then I reconnect?
4 Comments
JE
When this happens to me in SQL Server Management Studio, I just have to type USE {your database name here} and then select only that statement and execute...Read more
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