Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Oracle Database In-Memory vs SQL Server comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
7.7
Organizations find Oracle Database In-Memory offers significant returns and enhanced performance, despite long-term licensing costs.
Sentiment score
7.3
SQL Server delivers strong ROI through cost-effectiveness, automation, and efficiency, enhancing data processes and supporting substantial transactions.
All applications need our repository to provide services for our online business or our customers, so the return is good.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
5.3
Opinions on Oracle Database In-Memory's support are mixed, citing both effective assistance and frequent issues with inconsistency and responsiveness.
Sentiment score
6.5
Microsoft SQL Server support is efficient yet slow initially, with online resources crucial, and on-premise users face more delays.
Support quality varies across regions, with more advanced solutions from the U.S. and UK compared to Asian region support.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Oracle Database In-Memory excels in scalability, supporting large-scale operations and multiple users with minimal performance impact and downtime.
Sentiment score
7.0
SQL Server is versatile in scaling across environments but may face challenges with costs and large data volumes.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
Oracle Database In-Memory is stable, reliable, and ideal for high-transaction systems, though premium support may be necessary.
Sentiment score
7.6
SQL Server is stable and reliable, though it faces memory and scaling challenges; proper configuration enhances performance.
 

Room For Improvement

Oracle Database In-Memory requires analytics, security, scalability improvements; cost, user interface, migration, and support challenges persist.
SQL Server needs better integration, cost efficiency, scalability, support, security, and compatibility with non-Windows systems for improved performance.
Enhancing features like CAG augmentation and cache augmentation could significantly optimize performance for large language models.
I would appreciate using Microsoft Pro as it can integrate with Excel or, with a simple query, consume information from the database using Microsoft Excel.
 

Setup Cost

Oracle Database In-Memory is costly but valued for features; however, smaller businesses struggle despite recent cost reductions.
SQL Server offers generally lower costs than Oracle, but enterprise edition pricing and licensing complexities can be expensive and challenging.
Recent reductions in cloud costs and learning opportunities, such as free portals for students, make the pricing reasonable without hindering access to powerful features and performance.
 

Valuable Features

Oracle Database In-Memory boosts performance with fast transactions, real-time capabilities, advanced security, and efficient memory management for large datasets.
SQL Server offers high performance, scalability, and user-friendly tools like dynamic resource allocation and advanced data management services.
The valuable features of Oracle Database In-Memory include its capability to bypass disk storage for faster memory operations, which is critical for transactions and analytics.
I have been working with SQL Server for a long time, and it works well for me as I am using it in different applications, such as web applications, Windows applications, or the data warehouse reporting.
 

Categories and Ranking

Oracle Database In-Memory
Ranking in Relational Databases Tools
9th
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.9
Number of Reviews
31
Ranking in other categories
Embedded Database (3rd)
SQL Server
Ranking in Relational Databases Tools
1st
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
269
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of Oracle Database In-Memory is 1.6%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SQL Server is 17.6%, down from 23.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Relational Databases Tools
 

Featured Reviews

Laksiri Bala - PeerSpot reviewer
Faster processing and improved memory operations have enhanced transaction and analytics efficiency
The valuable features of Oracle Database In-Memory ( /products/oracle-database-in-memory-reviews ) include its capability to bypass disk storage for faster memory operations, which is critical for transactions and analytics. It also offers specific memory areas, like in-memory cache, that act as intermediaries between disk and buffer cache. This feature helps organizations handle real-time memory requirements effectively.
Kapil Dev Khatri - PeerSpot reviewer
Helps monitor queries and identify which indexes need to be created in the databases
SQL Server is very simple due to its GUI, which is available for users. It allows for modifications and has execution plans available, along with options such as activity monitoring. This helps monitor queries and identify which indexes need to be created in the databases, tables, or columns to improve performance.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Relational Databases Tools solutions are best for your needs.
855,347 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
20%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
7%
Educational Organization
42%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Computer Software Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Oracle Database In-Memory?
We can integrate it with any data sources as well.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Database In-Memory?
Pricing is justified by the performance and business value offered by Oracle Database In-Memory. Although slightly higher, recent reductions in cloud costs and learning opportunities, such as free ...
What needs improvement with Oracle Database In-Memory?
Oracle Database In-Memory could improve by better supporting generative AI challenges, such as hallucination management. Enhancing features like CAG augmentation and cache augmentation could signif...
Would you say the price of SQL Server is high compared to that of similar products?
SQL Server is fairly priced because it has various editions, depending on the number of users, servers, or core packs you are using. If you compare the product to others in this category, the price...
Has using SQL Server helped your organization in any way?
SQL Server has helped my organization through partitioning to distribute the workload, as it splits them up into smaller pieces so the machines can easily deal with it. However, this comes with a h...
Which authentication mode is best for SQL Server?
My company connects through SQL Server authentication. We have company Windows accounts, but we do not want to connect the two, out of security concerns and to keep things separated for our own pur...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Microsoft SQL Server, MSSQL, MS SQL
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Shanghai Customs
Microsoft SQL Server is used by businesses in every industry, including Great Western Bank, Aviva, the Volvo Car Corporation, BMW, Samsung, Principality Building Society, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.
Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle Database In-Memory vs. SQL Server and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
855,347 professionals have used our research since 2012.