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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:
 

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
268
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of Oracle Database In-Memory is 1.5%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SQL Server is 18.6%, down from 23.1% 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.
Azizul Haque - PeerSpot reviewer
It has eliminated all kinds of inconsistencies, and it is reliable, secure, and fast
I don't know whether SQL Server can support large organizations where the database size is more than 100 GB. It might be because of SQL Server, or it might be because of the programming of the software vendor, but a lot of people think that it is a problem with SQL Server. It can't handle a large amount of data or large data size. In terms of its usage, about 90% of our applications are running on the SQL Server database. We have around 1,600 users for our software, and all the applications are connected to the SQL Server database.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The application development is very user-friendly."
"The most valuable feature is that Database-In-Memory is more consistent and faster than traditional databases as it requires fewer CPUs to process instructions."
"The solution's most valuable feature is its performance optimization within our hardware environment."
"The solution is very fast."
"It efficiently handles low-code data and supports read-and-write operations for clustering."
"Security is the most valuable feature."
"The on-premise version is stable. We have different teams and resources for the server side, for admin, and for development. We can easily take care of all the services and applications."
"It accelerates query processing, which in turn speeds up operations and streamlines workflow, and ultimately enhancing productivity."
"The performance is reliable."
"can extract data from the server and store it in a local data source for BI purposes."
"Its usability is very good. Its performance is satisfactory."
"It's a good learning environment, it's easy enough to learn and understand. Anybody that picks up the language early on will be able to develop in it."
"Similar to Microsoft SQL, it is easy to scale."
"Its availability for a secured server is one of its most valuable features. Also its replications - we can manage eight replicas. Their clustering and availability groups are also valuable."
"SQL Server is very scalable because we use it across a couple of different types of applications, such as micro-infrastructure setup and server farm."
"Stability and usability, which is quite simple, are two of the solution's most valuable features."
 

Cons

"The solution should move to the new way of writing software code with AI that is intelligent and learns."
"The platform’s pricing needs improvement."
"The pricing could be improved. It would ideal if it was more reasonable."
"They should improve the solution's scalability for large databases."
"We often have to find solutions on our own through the support site, so there's room for improvement in this regard."
"Oracle should include column store or advanced query optimization so a database can be optimized by enabling analytic queries to run faster."
"Technical support is below our expectations currently. It could be improved."
"I would like Oracle Database In-Memory to include a data replication feature."
"The performance could be better."
"The tool's support needs to be improved."
"They could improve by adding the SQL format."
"It would be better if it had more integration with other systems."
"The pricing of the product could be better."
"You do need to have technical knowledge in order to install the solution. It's not something a layperson can do."
"In some cases it is quite difficult, like the lack of ease of the replication and other issues. They have to improve on that. They do not have features like "always on," which is complicated."
"Third-party services from Redgate should be built-in to it, like SQL Search."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the pricing a zero out of ten because Database In-Memory is too costly."
"Database In-Memory is priced a bit higher than its competitors like Microsoft."
"It's quite costly and it comes with a fixed price."
"The solution's pricing is high."
"The product is expensive."
"Oracle Database In-Memory is expensive."
"There is a need to make a yearly payment towards the licensing costs, after which there is any to pay towards the support cost attached to the solution."
"The pricing is pretty good so I rate it an eight out of ten."
"The price of SQL Server could be reduced, the license is expensive. We have an annual subscription."
"We didn't have any licensing costs for SQL Server."
"I don't need a license for it as I will be migrating to Office 365."
"There is a subscription that needs to be purchased to use the solution."
"We purchased our license and the pricing is fine for us."
"The price of the solution is fine."
"Pricing is a bit on the higher side."
"We pay approximately $12,000 USD per month for both the server and the license."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
18%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
7%
Educational Organization
50%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
5%
 

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: April 2025.
848,716 professionals have used our research since 2012.