Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server are competitors in the enterprise database market space. The products are both relational databases, meaning that the data is organized using common characteristics found in each database table. Oracle database software is the market leader with a 44.3 percent market share, while Microsoft SQL has an 18.5 percent market share. However, market share does not tell the whole story--Microsoft has regularly introduced new features to ensure it remains competitive.
Structured Query Language
The SQL referred to within both products stands for Structured Query Language. SQL is the syntax used to set up databases, define data and query for data. Some terms are different. To return NULL if two values are equal, Oracle uses the command "DECODE" while the Microsoft product uses "NULLIF." Oracle also includes some standard commands that are unused by Microsoft such as TRUNC to truncate a number.
Development Environments
The two products also use separate development environments. Oracle uses the Java-based Oracle SQL Developer. The main advantage of SQL Developer is its price--Oracle distributes the software for free. Microsoft SQL server development tool is called SQL Server Management Studio. Both tools offer tools for developing, administering, accessing, configuring and managing relational databases. Both products also have large developer communities and have developed web portals to help developers find the information they need to develop solid databases.
Scale
Oracle's major advantage over Microsoft is scalability. MS SQL Server allows you to cluster several computers to improve performance, while Oracle allows a user to set up a grid of hundreds of computers. This means that Oracle databases "scale up" well beyond the needs of almost all potential users, while Microsoft users run the risk of outgrowing their database set-up. Careful consideration of future usage is important when deciding between SQL Server and an Oracle database.
Cost
As of 2008, price was a major advantage for Microsoft. The Enterprise Edition, 32-CPU version of Oracle priced out at $2,560,000. A 32-processor Enterprise version of SQL Server cost only $639,968. Similarly, the Standard edition of SQL Server cost only $159,968, while the standard edition of Oracle cost $480,000. Additionally, fewer developers are needed to build the software and fewer Database Administrators (DBAs) are needed to maintain the database once it is rolled out to the users. These two differences save an organization time and, therefore, money. When the savings are calculated, SQL Server can save an organization significant sums of money.