Microsoft SQL Server vs MySQL
Microsoft SQL Server
microsoft.com
MySQL
mysql.comSide by side
| Figure | Microsoft SQL Server | MySQL |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 20 | 18 |
| Spec score · Database Software | 8.5 (#24) | 9.5 (#1) |
| Spec score · Spatial Databases | 8.1 (#16) | 8.9 (#6) |
| Spec score · Relational Databases | 8.0 (#17) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Spec score · Sql Databases | 8.0 (#14) | 8.9 (#2) |
| Spec score · Transaction Data Store Software | 8.0 (#20) | 8.9 (#5) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Microsoft SQL Server
- Standard per corePriced on request
- Standard per corePrice not published
- Standard serverPriced on request
- Standard serverPrice not published
- Standard CALPriced on request
- Standard CALPrice not published
- Enterprise pay-as-you-go$274 a month
- Developer – Standard & EnterpriseFree
- ExpressFree
- Standard pay-as-you-go$73 a month
MySQL
- Community EditionPrice not published
- Community EditionPriced on request
- Standard EditionPriced on request
- Standard EditionPrice not published
- Enterprise EditionPriced on request
- Enterprise EditionPrice not published
- Cluster Carrier Grade EditionPriced on request
- Cluster Carrier Grade EditionPrice not published
- MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade EditionPriced on request
- MySQL Enterprise EditionPriced on request
In their own words
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a database platform for storing, processing, and securing data, offered with both deployment models and a free plan. Its Database Engine includes replication, full-text search, relational, XML, and JSON data management, as well as Python and R machine-learning services. Integration Services provides graphical tools and programmable objects for moving and transforming data, while PolyBase can query Azure Storage, S3, and ODBC sources. SQL Server 2025 adds vector search, vector embedding generation, text chunking, and DiskANN vector indexing, and integrates with LangChain, Semantic Kernel, Entity Framework Core, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Fabric. Microsoft provides downloads for Windows and Linux and a SQL Server container image for Docker. Express is a free entry-level edition for learning and desktop or small server applications; its single Database Engine instance is limited to the lesser of one socket or four cores. Developer editions provide Enterprise or Standard functionality for development and testing, not production. SQL Server 2025 does not support SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.