Cost guide
SQL Server 2022 licence cost: per-core vs Server+CAL
Last reviewed 2026-08-01
Short answer
Microsoft prices SQL Server 2022 Standard at about $3,945 per 2-core pack and Enterprise at about $15,123 per 2-core pack, with a 4-core minimum per instance. Server+CAL licensing is $989 per server plus about $230 per CAL and is capped at 24 cores. Perpetual keys start at $79.99 at LicenseVault.
Price table
| Edition | Microsoft list | LicenseVault | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard, 2-core pack | $3,945 | $79.99 | 2 physical cores, 4-core minimum per instance |
| Enterprise, 2-core pack | $15,123 | $279.00 | 2 cores, unlimited virtualisation with SA |
| Standard server licence (Server+CAL) | $989 | — | 1 server instance, up to 24 cores |
| SQL CAL | ~$230 | — | 1 user or device |
| Express / Developer | Free | Free | 10 GB database cap / non-production |
Microsoft list prices are indicative US open-licence figures and change without notice.
Per-core or Server+CAL?
Per-core licensing charges for every physical core the SQL instance can use, with a four-core floor. It is the only model available for Enterprise edition and the only model that supports unlimited client connections — which is why every public-facing or web-tier workload uses it.
Server+CAL is Standard-only. It's cheaper when the user count is small and predictable: a 4-core server with 20 named users costs $989 + 20 × $230 ≈ $5,589 versus $7,890 for two 2-core packs.
- Per-core: no client limit, required for Enterprise
- Server+CAL: Standard only, hard cap of 24 cores per server
- Break-even sits near 30 users on a 4-core box
Virtualisation changes the maths
Licensing individual VMs uses the same 4-core minimum per VM, so four small 2-vCPU VMs still cost 16 cores. Licensing the whole host with Enterprise plus Software Assurance grants unlimited SQL VMs on that host, which is why dense virtual estates standardise on Enterprise.
Buy these licences
SQL Server 2025 Standard
Perpetual · Server + CAL or Per-Core
Newest SQL Server 2025 Standard — AI-ready, vector search built in.
SQL Server 2025 Enterprise
Perpetual · Per-Core
SQL 2025 Enterprise — unlimited scale, AI vectors, full Always On.
Frequently asked questions
How much is SQL Server 2022 Standard?
About $3,945 per 2-core pack at Microsoft list, with a four-core minimum, so roughly $7,890 for the smallest compliant deployment. Perpetual keys start at $79.99 at LicenseVault.
Is SQL Server 2022 a subscription?
No. SQL Server 2022 licences are perpetual. Software Assurance and Azure Hybrid Benefit are the optional annual add-ons.
Is SQL Server Express really free?
Yes, including for production, but each database is capped at 10 GB and the engine uses at most 1 socket / 4 cores and 1,410 MB of buffer pool.
Do I need CALs with per-core licensing?
No. Per-core licensing covers unlimited users and devices; CALs only apply under the Server+CAL model.
Compare the editions
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