Compare IBM Db2 and Microsoft SQL Server
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Enterprise (66.0% of reviews)
Enterprise (45.4% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Free Trial 1 License
No pricing available
IBM Db2
Star Rating
(682)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (66.0% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Free Trial 1 License
Browse all 6 pricing plans
Microsoft SQL Server
Star Rating
(2,268)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Enterprise (45.4% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Microsoft SQL Server
Summary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Microsoft SQL Server excels in user experience, particularly for beginners. Users appreciate its intuitive interface in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and straightforward implementation process, making it easy to navigate and set up.
- According to verified reviews, IBM Db2 is recognized for its robustness and reliability, especially in critical enterprise workloads. Users highlight its strong data integrity and efficient SQL optimization, making it a preferred choice in industries like finance and healthcare.
- Users say that Microsoft SQL Server offers a wealth of features, such as the 'Always On' feature that enhances database durability and performance. This capability allows for effective segregation of read and write operations, which is a significant advantage for performance-focused applications.
- Reviewers mention that while IBM Db2 is a solid choice for enterprise environments, it faces challenges in ease of use compared to Microsoft SQL Server. Users have noted that the learning curve can be steeper, which may impact new users or smaller teams looking for quick deployment.
- G2 reviewers highlight that Microsoft SQL Server's integration with other Microsoft tools is seamless, enhancing its usability for organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. This integration is often cited as a key factor in its strong performance ratings.
- Users report that IBM Db2's scalability is impressive, particularly for large datasets and complex queries. However, some users feel that its setup process could be more user-friendly, as they have encountered challenges during initial configuration compared to the more straightforward setup of Microsoft SQL Server.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
IBM Db2
Db2 On Cloud - Lite
Free Trial
1 License
A completely free edition of DB2 on Cloud.
- Enjoy high performance and elastic scaling with Db2’s fully managed database and warehouse solutions in the cloud. Try for free.
Microsoft SQL Server
No pricing availableFree Trial
IBM Db2
Free Trial is available
Microsoft SQL Server
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.5
488
9.0
1,860
Ease of Use
8.0
497
8.6
1,876
Ease of Setup
7.7
263
8.1
999
Ease of Admin
7.7
242
8.3
952
Quality of Support
8.1
461
8.3
1,654
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.3
234
8.4
901
Product Direction (% positive)
6.8
456
8.4
1,831
Features by Category
Data Management
8.6
52
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
48
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.6
49
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
48
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.5
34
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
34
|
Verified
Not enough data
Integration
7.8
43
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
45
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
42
|
Verified
Not enough data
Deployment
8.4
50
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.8
41
|
Verified
Not enough data
Performance
8.6
51
|
Verified
Not enough data
Security
8.7
46
|
Verified
Not enough data
9.0
35
|
Verified
Not enough data
Generative AI
8.3
8
Not enough data
8.3
8
Not enough data
Management
Not enough data
8.9
154
Not enough data
8.8
153
Not enough data
9.2
161
Not enough data
8.9
154
Not enough data
8.9
158
Maintenance
Not enough data
8.9
156
Not enough data
9.0
162
Not enough data
9.1
155
Security
Not enough data
8.9
153
Not enough data
9.1
155
Management
8.6
60
9.1
150
8.4
62
9.2
155
8.2
52
8.8
139
8.5
55
8.8
141
Support
8.0
57
8.5
144
8.4
60
9.0
150
7.9
60
8.6
144
8.4
61
8.3
152
Security
8.5
60
8.8
148
8.8
60
9.0
148
8.4
58
8.8
145
8.4
56
9.0
149
Performance
8.6
62
8.7
145
8.6
58
8.8
140
8.5
56
8.7
146
8.4
57
8.6
144
8.4
57
8.8
146
Database Features
8.7
306
8.9
1290
8.8
309
9.0
1293
8.8
309
8.9
1303
8.4
304
8.7
1269
8.8
302
8.8
1269
8.4
303
8.8
1274
8.4
308
9.1
1295
Automation
8.3
9
Not enough data
8.1
9
Not enough data
8.3
9
Not enough data
8.5
9
Not enough data
Functionality
7.4
9
Not enough data
8.1
9
Not enough data
8.0
9
Not enough data
Administration
8.3
8
Not enough data
7.7
8
Not enough data
7.7
8
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Data Warehouse Automation
Not enough data
Not enough data
Configuration
8.5
65
Not enough data
8.1
60
Not enough data
8.5
66
Not enough data
8.3
61
Not enough data
8.6
62
Not enough data
Database Administration
8.6
60
Not enough data
8.8
60
Not enough data
8.8
59
Not enough data
Availability
8.9
63
Not enough data
9.1
62
Not enough data
8.8
63
Not enough data
8.9
63
Not enough data
Security
8.4
41
Not enough data
8.8
42
Not enough data
8.8
41
Not enough data
Data Management
8.7
45
Not enough data
8.6
44
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
46
Platform
Not enough data
8.2
50
Not enough data
8.5
53
Not enough data
8.2
46
Processing
Not enough data
8.5
52
Not enough data
8.5
56
Building Reports
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
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
Database Features
8.7
306
8.9
1290
8.8
309
9.0
1293
8.8
309
8.9
1303
8.4
304
8.7
1269
8.8
302
8.8
1269
8.4
303
8.8
1274
8.4
308
9.1
1295
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
IBM Db2 and Microsoft SQL Server are categorized as Relational Databases
Unique Categories
IBM Db2 is categorized as Data Warehouse, Object-Oriented Databases, XML Databases, Database as a Service (DBaaS), and Data Warehouse Automation
Microsoft SQL Server is categorized as Database Management Systems (DBMS), Big Data Processing and Distribution, and On-Premise Data Integration
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
IBM Db2
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
21.6%
Banking
11.7%
Computer Software
10.1%
Financial Services
7.2%
Insurance
5.9%
Other
43.6%
Information Technology and Services
24.1%
Computer Software
13.8%
Hospital & Health Care
5.4%
Financial Services
4.4%
Higher Education
2.9%
Other
49.5%
Alternatives
Discussions
Where can I find answers to other questions I may have?
2 Comments
Official Response from IBM Db2
Please visit: https://developer.ibm.com/answers/questions/436870/common-questions-about-the-db2-on-cloud-free-plan/Read more
What is IBM Db2 used for?
1 Comment
VC
It is a name of the database which is used in IBM I system.Read more
What does Ibm Dashdb do?
1 Comment
PS
IBM dashDB is a fully managed in-memory cloud data warehousing service for developers, database administrators, business analysts, data scientists and more.Read more
How can I work on the same query if the connection is lost (timeout) and then I reconnect?
4 Comments
SE
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 ...Read more
How could I make much easier the experience with the order of my database?
4 Comments
RS
If you have SQL knowledge you can generate queries to obtain the specific data you're looking for based on selected criteria.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
