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Databases · head to head

Microsoft SQL Server vs SAP BusinessObjects

Microsoft SQL Server logo

Microsoft SQL Server

Databases

Enterprise-grade relational database management system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SAP BusinessObjects logo

SAP BusinessObjects

Business Intelligence

Enterprise business intelligence suite

From
$400/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft SQL Server has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft SQL Server licensing and on-premises deployment costs are high compared to open-source alternatives, with Enterprise Edition exceeding $60,000 for minimum core requirements; SAP BusinessObjects sAP BusinessObjects Private Cloud Edition is listed on UK G-Cloud 14 as a Cloud software service by SAP (UK) Limited titled 'SAP Business Objects Private Cloud Edition', alongside a reseller listing from NTT DATA Business Solutions; the G-Cloud search results describe it as subscription-based but show no per-user or per-month figure in the listing summary
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft SQL Server covers T-SQL, SAP BusinessObjects covers Crystal Reports.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft SQL Server and SAP BusinessObjects actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft SQL Server and SAP BusinessObjects differ
AttributeMicrosoft SQL ServerSAP BusinessObjects
Starting priceFree$400/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows Server, Linux (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), Docker, AzureWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryDatabasesBusiness Intelligence
Founded19891972

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Microsoft SQL Server

  • T-SQL
  • ACID Compliance
  • Advanced Security
  • In-memory OLTP
  • Columnstore Indexes
  • Always On Availability
  • Machine Learning Services
  • Azure

Only in SAP BusinessObjects

  • Crystal Reports
  • Web Intelligence
  • Lumira
  • Analysis for Office
  • Live Office
  • SAP HANA
  • SAP ERP
  • Oracle

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft SQL Server

  • Transaction processingnot SAP BusinessObjects
  • Data storagenot SAP BusinessObjects
  • Application backendnot SAP BusinessObjects
  • Reportingnot SAP BusinessObjects
  • Data analyticsnot SAP BusinessObjects

SAP BusinessObjects

  • Enterprise reportingnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • Executive dashboardsnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • Regulatory compliancenot Microsoft SQL Server
  • Strategic planningnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • Operational analyticsnot Microsoft SQL Server

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft SQL Server

  • Licensing and on-premises deployment costs are high compared to open-source alternatives, with Enterprise Edition exceeding $60,000 for minimum core requirements
  • Performance monitoring toolset is insufficient for hybrid cloud environments requiring real-time analytics across multiple deployment types
  • Heavy I/O resource consumption can saturate disk volumes and degrade performance when processing large transaction workloads
  • Always On availability groups with up to 8 secondary replicas are limited to Enterprise edition only; Standard supports only basic availability groups with 2 replicas
  • CPU and memory scaling is capped at 4 sockets or 32 cores on Standard edition, limiting deployments requiring higher compute capacity

SAP BusinessObjects

  • SAP BusinessObjects Private Cloud Edition is listed on UK G-Cloud 14 as a Cloud software service by SAP (UK) Limited titled 'SAP Business Objects Private Cloud Edition', alongside a reseller listing from NTT DATA Business Solutions; the G-Cloud search results describe it as subscription-based but show no per-user or per-month figure in the listing summary

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft SQL Server

Free
  • ExpressFree
    • 4 cores maximum
    • 1.4 GB memory per instance
    • 50 GB database size limit
  • DeveloperFree
    • All Enterprise features
    • Non-production use only
  • Standard$3945/per 2-core pack
    • 32 core maximum per instance
    • 256 GB buffer pool memory
    • Basic availability groups with 2 replicas
  • Enterprise$15123/per 2-core pack
    • Unlimited scaling
    • Always On with up to 8 secondaries
    • Advanced security and HA features

SAP BusinessObjects

$400/month
  • Standard$400/month
    • Core BI Tools
    • Web Intelligence
    • Crystal Reports
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Full Suite
    • Advanced Features
    • Premium Support

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft SQL Server if

  • You need t-sql.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows Server, Linux (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), Docker, Azure.
  • You also want acid compliance.
Microsoft SQL Server review

Choose SAP BusinessObjects if

  • You need crystal reports.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want web intelligence.
SAP BusinessObjects review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft SQL Server or SAP BusinessObjects better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft SQL Server starts at Free and SAP BusinessObjects at $400/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft SQL Server or SAP BusinessObjects?
Microsoft SQL Server has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft SQL Server and $400/month for SAP BusinessObjects.
Does Microsoft SQL Server or SAP BusinessObjects run on more platforms?
Microsoft SQL Server runs on Windows Server, Linux (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), Docker, Azure. SAP BusinessObjects runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Microsoft SQL Server for free?
Yes. Microsoft SQL Server has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SAP BusinessObjects starts at $400/month.
What is Microsoft SQL Server best used for?
Microsoft SQL Server is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what SAP BusinessObjects is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft SQL Server do that SAP BusinessObjects cannot?
Microsoft SQL Server covers T-SQL, ACID Compliance, Advanced Security, In-memory OLTP. SAP BusinessObjects covers Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence, Lumira, Analysis for Office.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft SQL Server: What is the pricing model for SQL Server?

SQL Server uses core-based licensing with per-2-core pack pricing. Enterprise Edition costs approximately $15,123 per 2-core pack (minimum 8 cores). Standard Edition costs approximately $3,945 per 2-core pack. Developer and Express editions are free. Software Assurance adds 25-35% annually for upgrades and support.

Source
Microsoft SQL Server: Does SQL Server run on Linux?

Yes. SQL Server 2017 and later run on Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Ubuntu), Docker containers, and Windows with feature parity including Always On availability groups, Active Directory authentication, and encryption.

Source
Microsoft SQL Server: Is there a free edition of SQL Server?

Yes. SQL Server Express is free and includes all functionality of Enterprise edition for development and testing, with limits of 4 cores, 1,410 MB memory per instance, and 50 GB per database. Developer edition is also free for non-production use.

Source
Microsoft SQL Server: Can SQL Server be deployed offline?

Yes. SQL Server can be installed from offline media on machines without internet access. Microsoft provides complete offline installation packages for SQL Server, SSMS, and supporting components, making deployment in isolated or air-gapped environments feasible.

Source
Microsoft SQL Server: What high availability options does SQL Server provide?

SQL Server offers Always On availability groups (Enterprise only), Always On failover cluster instances, database mirroring, log shipping, and for disaster recovery, failover servers in Azure and Accelerated Database Recovery for faster recovery after failures.

Source
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