Microsoft SQL Server AlternativesTop Relational Databases and other similar apps like Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is described as 'SQL Server delivers on Microsoft’s Data Platform vision by helping your organization manage your data by enabling you to store data from structured, semi-structured, and unstructured documents within the database' and is a popular relational database in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Microsoft SQL Server for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, Web-based and BSD apps. The best Microsoft SQL Server alternative is SQLite, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Microsoft SQL Server are PostgreSQL, MySQL Community Edition, MariaDB and MongoDB.

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Microsoft SQL Server alternatives are mainly Relational Databases but may also be Database Management Tools or Business Intelligence Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft SQL Server.
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SQL Server delivers on Microsoft’s Data Platform vision by helping your organization manage your data by enabling you to store data from structured, semi-structured, and unstructured documents within the database.

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Microsoft SQL Server alternatives page was last updated Jan 16, 2024
  1. SQLite icon
     335 likes

    SQLite is a software library that implements a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, transactional SQL database engine. SQLite is the most widely deployed SQL database engine in the world. The source code for SQLite is in the public domain.

    70 SQLite alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  File Based Storage
    2.  Web-Database
    3.  Import from SqlServer
    4.  Embeddable
    5.  In-process file-based
    SQLite iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    SQLite VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is SQLite a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
    • Most users think SQLite is a great Microsoft SQL Server alternative.

    • SQLite is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Microsoft SQL Server.

    • SQLite is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Microsoft SQL Server.

    • SQLite is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft SQL Server is Freemium and Proprietary
    • SQLite is LightweightMicrosoft SQL Server is not according to our users
  2. PostgreSQL icon
     309 likes

    PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system with over 35 years of active development that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, feature robustness, and performance.

    75 PostgreSQL alternatives
    PostgreSQL screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted

    PostgreSQL Features

    1.  Community-based
    2.  Relational Database
    3.  GIS Data
    4.  Cross-Platform
    5.  High stability
    6.  Fast speed
    PostgreSQL iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    PostgreSQL VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is PostgreSQL a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
    Comments about PostgreSQL as an Alternative to Microsoft SQL Server
     
    Guest

    Its free with same power of MS SQL

    Positive commentSep 25, 2019
    1
    Guest

    similar syntax, familiar environnment

    Positive commentOct 6, 2018
    1
    Guest

    I'm a begginer but I think is because of features and small disc space usage!

    Positive commentJul 9, 2017
    0
    Microsoft SQL Server Icon
    PostgreSQL icon
    • Almost everyone thinks PostgreSQL is a great Microsoft SQL Server alternative.

    • PostgreSQL is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft SQL Server is Freemium and Proprietary
  3. MySQL Community Edition icon
     294 likes

    MySQL Community Edition is a freely downloadable version of the world's most popular open source database that is supported by an active community of open source developers and enthusiasts.

    69 MySQL Community Edition alternatives
    MySQL Workbench

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    MySQL Community Edition Features

    1. MariaDB icon  Support for MariaDB
    MySQL Community Edition iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    MySQL Community Edition VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is this a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
  4. MariaDB icon
     133 likes

    MariaDB is a backward compatible, drop-in replacement of the MySQL® Database Server. It includes all major open source storage engines.

    56 MariaDB alternatives
    Deploy

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    MariaDB Features

    1.  Relational Database
    2.  Replication
    MariaDB iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    MariaDB VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is MariaDB a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
  5. MongoDB icon
     144 likes

    MongoDB is a document database with the scalability and flexibility that you want with the querying and indexing that you need

    106 MongoDB alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD

    MongoDB Features

    1.  NoSQL database
    MongoDB iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    MongoDB VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is MongoDB a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
    • MongoDB is the most popular Web-based alternative to Microsoft SQL Server.

    • MongoDB is Freemium and ProprietaryMicrosoft SQL Server is also Freemium and Proprietary
  6. DbGate icon
     16 likes

    DbGate is cross-platform database manager. Simple and effective, allowing to work with many various databases simultaneously - SQL and NoSQL.

    164 DbGate alternatives
    DbGate screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Database Management Tool
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Relational Database
    4.  MongoDB
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Support for MS SQL Server
    7.  ER Diagrams
    8. MariaDB icon  Support for MariaDB
    9.  SQLite
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Import CSV Data
    12.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    DbGate iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    DbGate VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is DbGate a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
  7. Triplit icon
     7 likes

    A full-stack, syncing database that runs on both server and client. Pluggable storage (indexeddb, sqlite, durable objects), syncs over websockets, and works with your favorite framework (React, Solid, Vue, Svelte).

    58 Triplit alternatives
    Triplit screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Triplit Features

    1.  Low Latency
    2.  Real-time sync
    Triplit iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    Triplit VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is Triplit a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
    • Triplit is the most popular SaaS alternative to Microsoft SQL Server.

    • Triplit is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft SQL Server is Freemium and Proprietary
  8. CouchDB icon
     47 likes

    Apache CouchDB is a distributed, fault-tolerant and schema-free document-oriented database accessible via a RESTful HTTP / JSON API. It includes incremental map / reduce mechanics for queries and keeps data safe with an append-only datastore.

    80 CouchDB alternatives
    CouchDB screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD

    CouchDB Features

    1.  NoSQL database
    2.  Database Server
    3.  REST API
    4.  Distributed Database
    CouchDB iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    CouchDB VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is CouchDB a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
  9. Apache Cassandra icon
     32 likes

    The Apache Cassandra database is the right choice when you need scalability and high availability without compromising performance.

    48 Apache Cassandra alternatives
    Apache Cassandra screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Amazon Web Services
    • Google Cloud Platform
    • Microsoft Azure

    Apache Cassandra Features

    1.  NoSQL database
    2.  Persistent Storage
    3.  High Availability
    4.  REST API
    5.  GraphQL
    6.  Distributed
    Apache Cassandra iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    Apache Cassandra VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is Apache Cassandra a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
  10. Firebird icon
     21 likes

    Firebird is a relational database offering many ANSI SQL-92 features that runs on Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix platforms. Firebird offers excellent concurrency, high performance, and powerful language support for stored procedures and triggers.

    48 Firebird alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Firebird iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    Firebird VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is Firebird a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
    • Firebird is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Microsoft SQL Server.

    • Firebird is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft SQL Server is Freemium and Proprietary
  11. CockroachDB icon
     16 likes

    Cockroach is a distributed key/value datastore which supports ACID transactional semantics and versioned values as first-class features. The primary design goal is global consistency and survivability, hence the name.

    91 CockroachDB alternatives
    CockroachDB screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    CockroachDB iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    CockroachDB VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is CockroachDB a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
  12. EdgeDB icon
     2 likes

    EdgeDB is a database designed to solve some fundamental design flaws that make working with databases—both relational and NoSQL alike—unnecessarily onerous.

    69 EdgeDB alternatives
    EdgeDB screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    EdgeDB Features

    1.  Graph database
    EdgeDB iconMicrosoft SQL Server Icon

    EdgeDB VS Microsoft SQL Server

    Is EdgeDB a good alternative to Microsoft SQL Server?
     
12 of 69 Microsoft SQL Server alternatives