Microsoft SQL Server vs MySQL

Oracle Database

MongoDB

PostgreSQL

SQLite

MariaDB

Aiven for PostgreSQL

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Access Controls/Permissions

Ad hoc Query

Ad hoc Reporting

Backup and Recovery

Benchmarking

Collaboration Tools

Dashboard

Data Connectors

Data Dictionary Management

Data Extraction

Data Import/Export

Data Mapping

Data Migration

Data Profiling

Data Storage Management

Data Synchronization

Data Transformation

Data Verification

Data Visualization

Full Text Search

Performance Analysis

Performance Metrics

Predictive Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Reporting/Analytics

Search/Filter

Self Service Data Preparation

Visual Analytics

Microsoft SQL Server

Linux

Web-based

Windows

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.

Developer

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.

Microsoft SQL Server screenshot: SQL Server add or remove content

Microsoft SQL Server screenshot: SQL Server search content

Microsoft SQL Server screenshot: SQL Server manage content

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Non Profit

Public Administrations

Small Business

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

SQLite is an open-source database engine designed to help organizations store, retrieve, and modify data across web browsers, iOS and Android mobile devices, and other applications. The built-in C-language library lets users implement compact, self-reliant, and secure transactional database engines.

Aiven for PostgreSQL is a fully managed, scalable PostgreSQL service, deployable in the cloud of your choice. It is cloud-native, full-featured, secure and backed by a 99.99% SLA. You have access to premium features, such as Point in Time Restore, database forking, connection pooling and more.

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.

Access Management

Active Directory Integration

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

AI/Machine Learning

Alerts/Escalation

Alerts/Notifications

Anomaly Detection

Application Encryption

Application Management

Application-Level Analysis

Asset Tracking

Audit Management

Audit Planning

Audit Trail

Authentication

Automated Discovery

Automatic Backup

Behavior Tracking

Built-In Database

Capacity Management

Capacity Planning

Change Management

Charting

Cloud Encryption

Compliance Management

Configurable Workflow

Configuration Management

Content Filtering

Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)

Credential Management

Customizable Fields

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Dashboard Creation

Data Capture and Transfer

Data Management

Data Replication

Data Retrieval

Data Security

Data Virtualization

Database Conversion

Database Support

Diagnostic Tools

Disaster Recovery

Disk Encryption

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Encryption

Event Logs

File Encryption

Filtering

Hardware Integration

High Availability

HIPAA Compliant

Historical Trend Analysis

Incident Management

Indexing

Intrusion Detection System

Intrusion Prevention System

IP Filtering

Issue Management

Issue Tracking

Key Management

Log Access

Metadata Management

ML Algorithm Library

Mobile Access

Model Training

Monitoring

Multi-Language

Multi-Location

Multiple Data Sources

Multiple Programming Languages Supported

Multitenancy

Network Monitoring

Next-Generation Firewall

NOSQL Database Management

OLAP

OLTP

P2P Encryption

Password Management

MySQL

Business Developer

Easy to install and free, nice tool to write SQL queries. Important for data analysts and a good tool on the market.

Senior Software Engineer

Overall MySQL is an amazing database for any kind of application. It is robust with almost every feature an application needs.

Java developer

Great database for open-source but commercial products as well. It has very good performance and lots of additional features (like log-based replication) included without additional cost.

Developer intern

Has been the most popular relational database until recently. Has a great workbench application.

This is the beat transactional and relational database solution, i am having a great experience with this, all the dump and require are very easy with commands like msqldump.

Software Developer

Error messages are not well explanatory. If you are stuck with an issue, it is difficult to get a support.

My overall experience with MySQL is fantastic, it is extremely reliable and fast, it's supported out of the box by all major cloud providers, and the support is top notch.

Lead Developer

It is a very well-documented software, also well supported especially by the community. It also has a few nice to have syntaxes on top of the common SQL ones like LIMIT (looking at you Oracle).

Web Application Developer

Overall MySQL is feature full DB system best suitable for beginner programmers and for small scalled oraganizations. It is very easy to use and fully supported by most backend technologies.

Network Engineer

Good power product for the price considering that it's free. Good for certain website integration solutions.

Owner

Really large databases become slow and need a lot of maintenance. Error messages are often vague and unhelpful so finding what went wrong requires a lot of work.

Consultant

MY SQL is a great product bets suited to smaller to medium sized businesses or for the quick proof of concept or pilot project in larger settings. Easy to get started with , easy to use.

Principal Software Engineer

Worst thing is that in scenarios with multitenant databases with somewhat mediocre load MySQL starts to leak memory.

Engineering student 

There for it helps to work fast your software and there for I think using MYSQL is a good investment for developing a software.

SEO Content Creator

I also quite appreciate how fast the software is able to run, as long as you have configured it properly, and the fact that it can be run on any connection makes it perfect.

Microsoft SQL Server vs MySQL Comparison (2026)

Microsoft SQL Server

MySQL

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives