PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) are both powerful relational database
management systems (RDBMS), but they have key differences in features, licensing,
performance, and usage. Here’s a detailed comparison:
Feature PostgreSQL MSSQL (Microsoft SQL Server)
Proprietary (Paid, with free
Open-Source (PostgreSQL
Licensing editions like Express and
License, similar to BSD)
Developer)
Platform Cross-platform (Windows, Primarily Windows, with Linux
Support Linux, macOS) support since SQL Server 2017
ACID
Fully ACID-compliant Fully ACID-compliant
Compliance
Supports CLR (Common
Supports custom functions,
Extensibility Language Runtime) for stored
extensions (e.g., PostGIS)
procedures
Better for complex queries, Optimized for transactional
Performance analytical workloads, and read- processing and large enterprise
heavy operations applications
Advanced JSON support with JSON support but with limited
JSON Support
indexing indexing capabilities
Partitioning & Native table partitioning and Table partitioning is available, but
Sharding logical sharding sharding requires additional tools
Stored Uses PL/pgSQL, supports
Procedures & procedural languages like Uses T-SQL, integrates with .NET
Functions Python, Perl
Uses Multi-Version Concurrency
Concurrency & Uses locking mechanisms,
Control (MVCC), reducing lock
MVCC causing potential blocking issues
contention
Replication & Native replication, logical
Always On availability groups,
High replication, streaming
transactional replication
Availability replication
Role-based access control, Advanced security, including
Security
row-level security, and Transparent Data Encryption
Features
encryption (TDE), Always Encrypted
Backup & Full backup, differential, and
pg_dump, WAL archiving
restore transaction log backups
Community & Large open-source community, Enterprise-level support from
Feature PostgreSQL MSSQL (Microsoft SQL Server)
Support free updates Microsoft
When to Choose PostgreSQL:
If you need an open-source and cost-effective database.
If your workload is read-heavy, analytical, or involves complex queries.
If you need JSON or NoSQL-like capabilities in an RDBMS.
If you prefer Linux/macOS environments.
When to Choose MSSQL:
If you need enterprise support and integration with Microsoft products
(e.g., .NET, Azure).
If your workload involves high-volume transactions (OLTP).
If you require built-in advanced security and backup features.
If you’re working within a Windows-based infrastructure.