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SQL Server — Server+CAL vs Per-Core

Decide between SQL Server's two licensing models with a clear break-even calculation and worked examples.

The two models

Microsoft sells SQL Server Standard two ways: Server license + User/Device CALs, or Per-Core licensing. Enterprise edition is Per-Core only.

Per-Core is sold in 2-core packs with a 4-core-per-processor minimum. You must license all physical cores on the box, not just the ones SQL uses.

When Server+CAL wins

Server+CAL is cheaper when the user count is known, bounded, and small. Internal apps, ERP back-ends, BI tools used by a defined finance/ops team.

Roughly, with fewer than ~50 named users on Standard edition, Server+CAL is the cheaper route.

When Per-Core wins (and when it's required)

Per-Core is required when the workload is internet-facing, anonymous, or accessed by unknown / very large user populations. Public web apps, customer portals, anything fronted by anonymous traffic.

Per-Core also wins on small/medium core counts with many users — past ~50 users on a 4-8 core server, Per-Core breaks even.

Worked example

Mid-size company with an internal HR app: 8-core server, 40 named HR users. Server+CAL is the obvious pick — 1 server license + 40 CALs.

Same company adds a public job-applicant portal on the same database — that traffic is anonymous, so Per-Core licensing is now mandatory for that workload.