PostgreSQL vs Microsoft SQL Server

MySQL

Oracle Database

MongoDB

Microsoft Access

MariaDB

IBM Db2

Compare PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) designed to help businesses record, update, and manage data and deploy cloud-native applications. Features include data masking and de-identification, multi-document transaction support, intrusion detection, alerts & configuration management.

AI demands adaptability. MongoDB offers flexible, scalable, AI-ready data solutions, eliminating friction and accelerating innovation.

MariaDB is the database for all, supporting any workload, in any cloud, at any scale. Try MariaDB now.

PostgreSQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS), which helps businesses store, manage, and scale data workloads, from single machines to data warehouses with multiple concurrent users.

Access Controls/Permissions

Authentication

Backup and Recovery

Configuration Management

Data Dictionary Management

Data Import/Export

Data Migration

Data Replication

Data Retrieval

Data Storage Management

Data Synchronization

Database Conversion

Disaster Recovery

Full Text Search

Monitoring

Multiple Programming Languages Supported

NOSQL Database Management

OLAP

OLTP

Performance Analysis

Relational Database Management

Role-Based Permissions

Search/Filter

Secure Data Storage

PostgreSQL

Web-based

Windows

Software Engineer

It is an impressive open source software, really reliable. I love its PostGIS spatial module, which enables powerful geospatial functions.

Fixed Income Operations Specialist

After switching over from Access, it has been nice to be able to have a more robust experience.

Computer Science Student

It's a great relational database management system. It's open-source, free, reliable and secure.

Developer

It's a great tool and perfect value for money, since it's completely free. Perfect for small and medium sized applications.

Quality Engineer

It also has a perfect UI environment i.e. Pg Admin to run and save your SQL commands. It has a wonderful support page and can be integrated with any language.

Software developer

Probably because of bad stats but from time to time the problem happens again.

Software engineer

Best DBMS that I've used so far. Ability of saving data as objects and being a relational database management system make it most suitable for micro service architecture based developments.

IT Manager

The ease of use is a plus but I haven't dug deep into it yet as it's a test base for us right now. I like that it runs on linux and windows platforms, good support for JSON.

Quality Lead

Community support is superb: When ever you are stuck, you can ask the community, they will help you.

Freelancer

Overall the experience with PostgreSQL is pretty good. I have been using it continuously with different web development projects with the Django web development framework.

Owner

PostgreSQL is good for larger projects as it is relatively quick and easy to set up.

Consultant

Lot of features are missing from it as compared to the other products in the market.

It's the best open source relational database available. It's a full featured database, easy to use and integrate to you software.

Student

I had skipped the few initial classes and missed the part where the professor taught how to use the app.

Head of Engineering

Easy to use and scalable Open Source Database. Good indexing and search features, plus with json support you can easily make tables extendable and adaptable without schema changes.

Senior Software Engineer

Postgres provides poor support for identifying the queries that are running really slowly. E.g. you have to install a buggy plugin and then query a funky poorly documented table.

Java Developer

Thus, you can benefit from many features without paying any fees. It also has a very large community network.

PostgreSQL is one of the most feature-rich, powerful and advanced open-source database management systems. Though this power comes at a cost.

PostgreSQL screenshot: PostgreSQL create database profile

PostgreSQL screenshot: PostgreSQL backup database

PostgreSQL screenshot: PostgreSQL SQL operations

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Non Profit

Public Administrations

Small Business

Oracle Database is a data warehouse software designed to help businesses of all sizes manage data and automate recurring tasks using machine learning-enabled tools. The platform enables managers to generate business models, transform data, and detect hidden anomalies across datasets.

IBM Db2 is a cloud-based data management solution, which provides features such as data virtualization, containerization, automated administration, and development lifecycle management.

Microsoft Access is a database management system that provides intuitive application development tools to create functional database apps in any format.

SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDMS) designed to help businesses of all sizes analyze structured or unstructured data across various data environments including Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, MySQL, and more.

Ad hoc Query

Ad hoc Reporting

Benchmarking

Collaboration Tools

Dashboard

Data Connectors

Data Extraction

Data Mapping

Data Profiling

Data Transformation

Data Verification

Data Visualization

Performance Metrics

Predictive Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Reporting/Analytics

Self Service Data Preparation

Visual Analytics

Microsoft SQL Server

Linux

marketing

For instance, rather than receiving a syntax error, you can receive a weird message if you forget to include a comma while listing the fields you are asking for.

Instructional Technology Specialist

This is a great way to leverage your data to get better metrics and results. The world is driven by data these days and this is a great way to leverage that.

Very good - SQL Server have so far been a joy to work with. Along with T-SQL support and Azure integration, we're very happy with its performance and environment, including cool data visualization.

Teaching Assistant

I like that it's really stable and it doesn't consume a lot of resources. It's easy to use, highly customizable, and the performance is great.

Database Systems Engineer 

Excellent repository of Governments actionable data. Cost effective, ACID compliant, robust, interoperable and reliable.

Principal Consultant

One of the evergreen relational database servers with good reliability, talent pool. It is easy to implement, maintain and work with.

System administrator senior supervisor

High availability is one of the best features and also option to meet the HA is great,  and easy of deployment.

aux de escritorio

Very good sql server, great database building software, easy and agile to move, you don't need a lot of experience to connect a bank with just a few researches and it is already very helpful.

What I don't like most about this is that the error messages can be lacking sometimes leaving you puzzled as to what actually occurred.

For example if you miss a comma while listing out the fields you are querying for you can get a strange error rather than a syntax error.

Senior Python Engineer

It has great support options it also has a huge community as well. It has great performance and is a workhorse.

Technical Consultant

Overall It has been fantastic experience, learning, writing, executing sql queries here in really amazing. I prefer others to learn and use SQL Server.

Assistant Manager (IT)

It is a good RDBMS by microsoft it provide a good stability and has all the required features which are required for todays world.

Technical service engineer

Overall it is a very good software. It is use friendly and good value for money.

Web Developer

Easy to use, trusted and reliable tool. Years into using this tool and it is going great.

Senior Technical Consultant

The best about SQL Server is its ease of use, intuitive GUI, best support available from Microsoft and online support from community etc, which is lagging in for e.g. Oracle or MySQL.

Data Analyst

There is not much I don't like. But one thing that is very frustrating is the inability to share templates with a team of other programmers.

Senior Application Developer

SQL server is an easy to use solution if you need an on premise database. It is easy to integrate with and interact with, especially via tools like SSMS.

PostgreSQL vs Microsoft SQL Server Comparison (2026)

PostgreSQL

Microsoft SQL Server

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives