SQL Server 2022 pricing and licensing
Learn about SQL Server 2022 pricing and licensing, including new flexibility and benefits.
How to license SQL Server
SQL Server licensing makes choosing the right edition simple and economical.
Simple pricing metrics
Meet different business needs with different editions of SQL Server.
Flexibility and innovation
Benefit from the new, flexible pay-as-you-go-pricing option enabled via Azure Arc.
Industry-leading value
Get a lower total cost of ownership for your database needs.
SQL Server 2022 pricing1
| Open no-level price (US dollar) | Licensing model | Channel availability |
| $13,748[2] | 2 core pack | Volume licensing, hosting |
| $3,586[2] | 2 core pack | Volume licensing, hosting |
| $899[2] | Server[3] | Volume licensing, hosting |
| $209 | CAL | Volume licensing, hosting |
| Free | Per user | Free download |
| See your hosting partner for pricing | Not applicable | Hosting only |
| Free | Not applicable | Free download |
Pay-as-you-go billing for Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server 2022
Introducing a new cloud billing option for SQL Server customers, providing pay-as-you-go flexibility across on-premises and cloud environments.
| Monthly rate (US dollar) | Hourly rate |
| $73 | $0.100 |
| $274 | $0.375 |
Subscriptions and add-ons
| Price (US dollar) | Licensing model | Channel availability |
| $5,434/year | 2 core pack | Volume Licensing |
| $1,418/year | 2 core pack | Volume Licensing |
SQL Server 2022 Software Assurance benefits
| Description |
| Allows customers to elect to license SQL Server 2022 by virtual operating system environment (OSE). |
| Allows customers to install and run passive SQL Server 2022 instances in a separate OSE or server for disaster recovery in anticipation of a failover event. |
| Allows customers to install and run passive SQL Server 2022 instances in a separate OSE or server for disaster recovery in SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines or Azure SQL Managed Instance in anticipation of a failover event. |
| Enables customers to use SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses to pay a reduced rate (“base rate”) on SQL Database vCore-based options such as managed instance, vCore-based single database, and vCore-based elastic pool; on SQL Server in Azure Virtual Machines (including, but not limited to, Azure Dedicated Host); and on SQL Server Integration Services. |
| Allows customers to install and run passive SQL Server 2022 instances in a separate OSE or server for high availability in anticipation of a failover event. |
| Allows customers to run any number of instances of SQL Server 2022 Enterprise Edition software in an unlimited number of VMs. Applicable under the core licensing model only. |
| Allows SQL Server Enterprise Edition customers to run Power BI Report Server. |
| Allows customers to create any number of containerized instances of SQL in their virtual OSE if they license all the virtual cores on their virtual OSE. |
| Allows license reassignment of SQL Server 2022 to third-party shared servers. Does not apply to SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW). |
| In addition to the benefits noted above, Server and Cloud Enrollment (SCE) customers may also qualify for premium benefits, including unlimited problem resolution support. |
| In addition to the benefits noted above, SCE customers may also qualify for premium benefits, including Unlimited Problem Resolution Support. |
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What is SQL Server user CAL?
A SQL Server user client access license (CAL) authorizes one user to access SQL Server from any device when the server is deployed using the Client/Server mode. For example, an employee might access the server from a computer at work and another at home. This offer provides one user CAL.
Does SQL Server come with any CALs?
SQL CALs are a requirement only for the SQL license + CAL model, meaning that if you purchase SQL Server licenses per core (Standard Core / Enterprise Core) you will not need to purchase any additional licenses.
Is SQL Server 2022 free?
SQL Server 2022 Express is a free edition of SQL Server, ideal for development and production for desktop, web, and small server applications.
What is user CAL license?
A CAL is not a software product; rather, it is a license that gives a user the right to access the services of the server. Likewise, if you manage the devices on your network by using management software such as Microsoft System Center, a Management License (ML) may be required for the device being managed.