Category

SQL Server licenses

Genuine SQL Server 2025 and 2022 Standard and Enterprise licenses with Server+CAL and Per-Core options. Native AI vector search on 2025. Digital delivery, lifetime activation.

Editions
Standard · Enterprise
Models
Server+CAL · Per-Core
Releases covered
2022 · 2025 (new)
Avg. delivery
8 minutes

SQL Server licensing has two routes: Server+CAL (best for predictable user counts under 100) or Per-Core (best for internet-facing or high-density workloads). We stock both for the two current LTSC releases — SQL Server 2025 (newest, AI-ready) and SQL Server 2022 — plus 5-pack User CALs, with the matching keys delivered digitally within 30 minutes.

Standard edition covers up to 24 cores and 128 GB of buffer pool — plenty for departmental and most line-of-business apps. Enterprise unlocks unlimited compute and memory, full Always On Availability Groups, advanced HA/DR, partitioning, and unlimited virtualization rights with Software Assurance.

SQL Server 2025 adds a native VECTOR data type and similarity search for AI/RAG workloads, in-engine generative-AI calls from T-SQL, and seamless Microsoft Fabric mirroring on top of everything 2022 already delivers (Ledger, Azure Synapse link, parameter-sensitive plans).

In stock — 5 licenses

Frequently asked questions

Server+CAL vs Per-Core — how do I choose?

Server+CAL is cheaper when ≤ ~50 known users access SQL. Per-Core is required when the workload is internet-facing, anonymous, or used by hundreds of users. Per-Core licenses come in 2-core packs with a 4-core per processor minimum.

Standard vs Enterprise — what's the real difference?

Standard caps at 24 cores, 128 GB buffer pool, and basic AG (single replica). Enterprise removes those caps and adds full Always On AGs, partitioning, in-memory OLTP at scale, transparent data encryption, and unlimited virtualization with SA.

Is SQL Server Developer free?

Yes — Developer edition is the full Enterprise feature set, free for dev/test only. It cannot be used in production. For production, use Standard or Enterprise.