Is it worth continuing to run SQL Server when PostgreSQL licensing is zero? Rebecca Lewis has a well written post on why that looks at some of the pros and cons of paying for SQL Server instead of moving to PostgreSQL. She starts with some of the things PostgreSQL does well, of which I think the Extensibility is really cool. SQL Server has some of this in CLR and the non-SQL language support, but those seem kludgy and complex to me. They aren’t really integrated into the SQL Server platform.
They’re good, but I do wish vendors or the community could add some extensions in a way PostgreSQL does. Of course, I also worry about stability, so maybe this is a wish that isn’t really a great idea.
The pros list for SQL Server is quite a good list, at least for existing users. Tooling isn’t close, both for DBAs and developers, and inside the platform. At Redgate, we support both SQL Server and PostgreSQL with Redgate Monitor, and there is so much more information that we can gather from SQL Server on what’s happening. It’s truly amazing when I compare them. We constantly are looking to add to our PostgreSQL monitoring solution and ensure admins see as close a view in PostgreSQL as SQL Server, but the reality is so much information is available.
On the dev tool side, while SSMS can be slow, it’s still way better than any other database development tools I’ve seen.
The innovation argument for SQL Server over PostgreSQL isn’t a great one, as PostgreSQL continues to evolve, but I’m glad Microsoft continues to work on the engine. I wasn’t enamored with SQL Server 2022, but I do like 2025 and look forward to what comes in 2028 (my guess). What I really wish, however, is that Microsoft marketed SQL Server more, with a little less Fabric in the way.
That being said, I am continually grateful for the SQL Server marketing team’s support of SQL Saturday/Day of Data events.
It is interesting to think that the Microsoft-stack gravity is Rebecca’s third argument. It certainly makes a lot of work convenient if you use Microsoft tools, and I completely agree that ripping this out is a major reason why people stick with SQL Server. Across the last 5-6 years, I’ve had many customers tell me they’re moving to PostgreSQL and abandoning SQL Server. They constantly ask Redgate for more PostgreSQL tools (and we’ve built some), but the reality is that a year, or two, or three later, they still have those ambitious plans. They haven’t moved.
It’s really, really hard to change database platforms.
That might not seem like a pro, but it is a reason why SQL Server still wins in many organizations. It’s comfortable, effective, performs well under a variety of situations, and quite frankly, there are millions of people who are more comfortable with it than many other platforms.
I like other platforms, but I love SQL Server. It’s been good for my career and I look forward to spending the next 10-15 years continuing to help others get the most out of their installations.
Steve Jones
Listen to the podcast at Libsyn, Spotify, or iTunes.
Note, podcasts are only available for a limited time online.
Voice of the DBA 
The way I see it is that the old classic saying is as true today as in the past; “you get what you pay for”. At my own company they always try to go cheap and so anytime we’ve had to get a 3rd party to help we’ve gone with the cheapest proposal and I’ve yet to see that result in anything other than more work and $$ over the long haul. In one case we went thru 3 different entities and the first was the cheapest. For another significant customization project we spent 1.5 years with one company before abandoning them and trying another and having to effectively start over. Even as of today, where in year #4 with tis custom thing and still it’s not able to be left unattended as was planned to be the case. All b/c instead of going with a more expensive but reliable solution/company we had to go cheap.
It’s so odd b/c in my industry, higher ups have no problem spending 10s to 100’s of thousands on landscaping but when it comes to anything to do with computers they always try to go with the cheapest thing they can, remember eMachine PC’s?
IN this case I know that PostGreSQL is popular, powerful & flexible but if you have built ss product you sell and provide support for that needs a reliable DB, when you go with MS SQL Server or Oracle you’re not just going with something b/c it works but b/c there’s a monetary incentive behind it to make sure bugs and the like are kept to a minimum.
LikeLike
It is crazy. I think people get fixated on certain things, like licensing, and then they obsess. Likly a renewal that caught their eye with $400,000 thinking they should save that money. It’s silly, and short term thinking, IMHO.
LikeLike