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DBMS > Microsoft SQL Server vs. mSQL vs. PostgreSQL vs. SurrealDB

System Properties Comparison Microsoft SQL Server vs. mSQL vs. PostgreSQL vs. SurrealDB

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Editorial information provided by DB-Engines
NameMicrosoft SQL Server  Xexclude from comparisonmSQL infoMini SQL  Xexclude from comparisonPostgreSQL  Xexclude from comparisonSurrealDB  Xexclude from comparison
DescriptionMicrosofts flagship relational DBMSmSQL (Mini SQL) is a simple and lightweight RDBMSWidely used open source RDBMS infoDeveloped as objectoriented DBMS (Postgres), gradually enhanced with 'standards' like SQLA fully ACID transactional, developer-friendly, multi-model DBMS
Primary database modelRelational DBMSRelational DBMSRelational DBMS infowith object oriented extensions, e.g.: user defined types/functions and inheritance. Handling of key/value pairs with hstore module.Document store
Graph DBMS
Secondary database modelsDocument store
Graph DBMS
Spatial DBMS
Document store
Graph DBMS infowith Apache Age
Spatial DBMS
Vector DBMS infowith pgvector extension
DB-Engines Ranking infomeasures the popularity of database management systemsranking trend
Trend Chart
Score821.56
Rank#3  Overall
#3  Relational DBMS
Score1.27
Rank#169  Overall
#76  Relational DBMS
Score636.25
Rank#4  Overall
#4  Relational DBMS
Score1.02
Rank#190  Overall
#33  Document stores
#18  Graph DBMS
Websitewww.microsoft.com/­en-us/­sql-serverhughestech.com.au/­products/­msqlwww.postgresql.orgsurrealdb.com
Technical documentationlearn.microsoft.com/­en-US/­sql/­sql-serverwww.postgresql.org/­docssurrealdb.com/­docs
DeveloperMicrosoftHughes TechnologiesPostgreSQL Global Development Group infowww.postgresql.org/­developerSurrealDB Ltd
Initial release198919941989 info1989: Postgres, 1996: PostgreSQL2022
Current releaseSQL Server 2022, November 20224.4, October 202116.3, May 2024v1.5.0, May 2024
License infoCommercial or Open Sourcecommercial inforestricted free version is availablecommercial infofree licenses can be providedOpen Source infoBSDOpen Source
Cloud-based only infoOnly available as a cloud servicenononono
DBaaS offerings (sponsored links) infoDatabase as a Service

Providers of DBaaS offerings, please contact us to be listed.
SQLServer Flex @ STACKIT offers a managed version of SQL Server with adjustable CPU, RAM, storage amount and speed, in enterprise grade to perfectly match all application requirements. All services are 100% GDPR-compliant.
  • PostgreSQL Flex @ STACKIT offers managed PostgreSQL Instances with adjustable CPU, RAM, storage amount and speed and several extensions available, in enterprise grade to perfectly match all application requirements. All 100% GDPR-compliant.
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Implementation languageC++CCRust
Server operating systemsLinux
Windows
AIX
HP-UX
Linux
OS X
Solaris SPARC/x86
Windows
FreeBSD
HP-UX
Linux
NetBSD
OpenBSD
OS X
Solaris
Unix
Windows
Linux
macOS
Windows
Data schemeyesyesyesschema-free
Typing infopredefined data types such as float or dateyesyesyesyes
XML support infoSome form of processing data in XML format, e.g. support for XML data structures, and/or support for XPath, XQuery or XSLT.yesnoyes infospecific XML-type available, but no XML query functionality.
Secondary indexesyesyesyes
SQL infoSupport of SQLyesA subset of ANSI SQL is implemented infono subqueries, aggregate functions, views, foreign keys, triggersyes infostandard with numerous extensionsSQL-like query language
APIs and other access methodsADO.NET
JDBC
ODBC
OLE DB
Tabular Data Stream (TDS)
JDBC
ODBC
ADO.NET
JDBC
native C library
ODBC
streaming API for large objects
GraphQL
RESTful HTTP API
WebSocket
Supported programming languagesC#
C++
Delphi
Go
Java
JavaScript (Node.js)
PHP
Python
R
Ruby
Visual Basic
C
C++
Delphi
Java
Perl
PHP
Tcl
.Net
C
C++
Delphi
Java infoJDBC
JavaScript (Node.js)
Perl
PHP
Python
Tcl
Deno
Go
JavaScript (Node.js)
Rust
Server-side scripts infoStored proceduresTransact SQL, .NET languages, R, Python and (with SQL Server 2019) Javanouser defined functions inforealized in proprietary language PL/pgSQL or with common languages like Perl, Python, Tcl etc.
Triggersyesnoyes
Partitioning methods infoMethods for storing different data on different nodestables can be distributed across several files (horizontal partitioning); sharding through federationnonepartitioning by range, list and (since PostgreSQL 11) by hash
Replication methods infoMethods for redundantly storing data on multiple nodesyes, but depending on the SQL-Server EditionnoneSource-replica replication infoother methods possible by using 3rd party extensions
MapReduce infoOffers an API for user-defined Map/Reduce methodsnononono
Consistency concepts infoMethods to ensure consistency in a distributed systemImmediate ConsistencynoneImmediate Consistency
Foreign keys infoReferential integrityyesnoyes
Transaction concepts infoSupport to ensure data integrity after non-atomic manipulations of dataACIDnoACIDACID
Concurrency infoSupport for concurrent manipulation of datayesnoyesyes
Durability infoSupport for making data persistentyesyesyesyes
In-memory capabilities infoIs there an option to define some or all structures to be held in-memory only.yesnono
User concepts infoAccess controlfine grained access rights according to SQL-standardnofine grained access rights according to SQL-standardyes, based on authentication and database rules

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Related products and services
3rd partiesNavicat Monitor is a safe, simple and agentless remote server monitoring tool for SQL Server and many other database management systems.
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Navicat for SQL Server gives you a fully graphical approach to database management and development.
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SharePlex is the reliable and affordable data replication solution for PostgreSQL migrations, high availability and more.
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Redgate webinars: A series of key topics for new PostgreSQL users.
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Aiven for PostgreSQL: Fully managed PostgreSQL for developers with 70+ extensions and flexible orchestration tools.
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Navicat for PostgreSQL is an easy-to-use graphical tool for PostgreSQL database development.
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Navicat Monitor is a safe, simple and agentless remote server monitoring tool for PostgreSQL and many other database management systems.
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pgDash: In-Depth PostgreSQL Monitoring.
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CYBERTEC is your professional partner in PostgreSQL topics for over 20 years. As our main aim is to be your single-source all-in-one IT service provider, we offer a wide range of products and services. Visit our website for more details.
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Instaclustr: Fully Hosted & Managed PostgreSQL
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More resources
Microsoft SQL ServermSQL infoMini SQLPostgreSQLSurrealDB
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