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Databases · head to head

Microsoft SQL Server vs Temenos Transact

Microsoft SQL Server logo

Microsoft SQL Server

Databases

Enterprise-grade relational database management system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Temenos Transact logo

Temenos Transact

APIs

Established core banking system used by banks in over a hundred countries

From
On request
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; Temenos Transact the codebase originates in the 1990s, so banks on older releases face major upgrade programmes to reach current versions, and many defer them for years.
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft SQL Server covers T-SQL, Temenos Transact covers Country model banks.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft SQL Server and Temenos Transact actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft SQL Server and Temenos Transact differ
AttributeMicrosoft SQL ServerTemenos Transact
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows Server, Linux (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), Docker, AzureWeb, Linux, Windows, REST API
CategoryDatabasesAPIs
Founded1989Unknown

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 Temenos Transact

  • Country model banks
  • Multi-product core
  • Payments processing
  • API layer
  • Cloud deployment
  • Accounting engine

What people use each for

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

Microsoft SQL Server

  • Transaction processingnot Temenos Transact
  • Data storagenot Temenos Transact
  • Application backendnot Temenos Transact
  • Reportingnot Temenos Transact
  • Data analyticsnot Temenos Transact

Temenos Transact

  • A bank in an emerging market needing local regulatory compliance without building it from scratchnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • An institution running Islamic banking products alongside conventional ones on one corenot Microsoft SQL Server
  • A bank that needs a large pool of experienced implementation consultants to de-risk a migrationnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • A group standardising subsidiaries in several countries onto one core banking systemnot 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

Temenos Transact

  • The codebase originates in the 1990s, so banks on older releases face major upgrade programmes to reach current versions, and many defer them for years.
  • Total cost is dominated by implementation partner fees rather than licence, and those programmes routinely overrun their original estimates.
  • Product changes that cloud-native cores treat as configuration can require development work and a release cycle, which slows time to market for new products.
  • Heavy customisation is common and it makes every subsequent upgrade harder, creating a compounding cost that banks feel a decade after go-live.
  • Temenos has repeatedly restructured its product line and naming, so buyers must check carefully which components a proposal actually includes and which are separately licensed.

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

Temenos Transact

On request
  • Temenos Transact$undefined/year
    • Perpetual or subscription licence scaled by assets, accounts or users
    • Annual maintenance typically a percentage of licence value
    • Implementation delivered by partners and charged separately

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 Temenos Transact if

  • You need country model banks.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Windows, REST API.
  • You also want multi-product core.
Temenos Transact review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft SQL Server or Temenos Transact better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft SQL Server starts at Free and Temenos Transact at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft SQL Server or Temenos Transact?
Microsoft SQL Server has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft SQL Server and On request for Temenos Transact.
Does Microsoft SQL Server or Temenos Transact run on more platforms?
Microsoft SQL Server runs on Windows Server, Linux (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), Docker, Azure. Temenos Transact runs on Web, Linux, Windows, REST API.
Can I use Microsoft SQL Server for free?
Yes. Microsoft SQL Server has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Temenos Transact starts at On request.
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 Temenos Transact is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft SQL Server do that Temenos Transact cannot?
Microsoft SQL Server covers T-SQL, ACID Compliance, Advanced Security, In-memory OLTP. Temenos Transact covers Country model banks, Multi-product core, Payments processing, API layer.

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
Temenos Transact: Is Transact the same as T24?

Yes. T24 was renamed Temenos Transact; older installations and much of the consultant population still use the T24 name.

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
Temenos Transact: Can it run in the cloud?

Yes, it is offered on public cloud, though many existing installations remain on-premises and moving them is a project.

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
Temenos Transact: What drives the cost?

Licence scaled by size, annual maintenance as a percentage of licence, and implementation partner fees that usually exceed the software cost.

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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