This is a list of notable Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...

 Compare Tools that are used to compare the schemas and/or data of differing Microsoft SQL Server databases.

General information

The following tools are available as Freeware

Freeware

Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...

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Tool	Maintainer	First public release date	Latest stable release
BucketSoft Data Comparisons Express	BucketSoft	2009-04	0.97
CoderTools Schema Compare	CoderTools	2009-01-31	1.0.0
Data Inspector / Schema Inspector	Atlantis Interactive UK Ltd.	2010-01-17	2.1.23 / 2.1.18
Free Database Compare	Starinix	2008-01-01	2.0
SQL Server Compare	Yes Soft	2006-05-31	2.2 (2006-01-20)
sql-dbdiff	Spiked Software	2010-02-21	0.4 (2010-04-16)
MSSQL.SchemaDiff	WinTestGear	2010-07-21	1.05 (2010-08-03)
sp_CompareDB Get the code/tool from this forum thread post by Shastryv	Viktor Gorodnichenko?	May 24, 2001	06/25/2003?
DBComparer	DBComparer Inc	2009-04-24	3.0
OpenDBDiff

The following tools are not free software, but most of them have trial versions available, some with "lite" features.

Tool	Maintainer	First Public Release Date	Latest stable release	Free/lite version available?
AdeptSQL Diff	RaysLab	?	2010.09	Yes
ApexSQL Data Diff	ApexSQL	2008.01	2010.01	No
ApexSQL Diff	ApexSQL	1.2.11	2011.01.0262	No
CompareData CompareData CompareData is a native Microsoft Windows cross-DBMS database data comparison and synchronization tool that uses ODBC API to work with a wide-range of databases.-Architecture:...	Zidsoft	2004-12-29	1.6.5.132 (2011-11-17)	Yes
Database Compare	Nob Hill Software	2006-06	1.6	Yes
D-Softs Database Compare	D-Softs Ltd	2009-06-15	2.2	No
DB Ghost Schema Compare	Innovartis	2002-02-23	5.0.1311	No
Datanamic SchemaDiff for MS SQL	Datanamic Datanamic Datanamic is a software company based in Leiden, The Netherlands. It was founded in 1999. It provides tools for database designers, developers and administrators...	?	2011.01	No
dbForge Data Compare	Devart	2009-02-02	3.0	Yes, if you qualify
dbForge Schema Compare	Devart	2009-03-25	2.0	Yes, if you qualify
Gemini Delta - SQL Difference Manager for .NET	Gemini Software Solutions, LLP	2011-05-12	1.6	No
Embarcadero Change Manager	Embarcadero Technologies Embarcadero Technologies Embarcadero Technologies is an American computer software company that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services related to software through its various dynamic product divisions...	?	4.0	No
EMS DB Comparer for SQL Server	EMS Database Management Solutions	?	2.2.0.1	No
MS SQL Data Sync	SQL Maestro Group	October 12, 2011	11.10	No
MS SQL Server Compare Two Tables Software	Sobolsoft	?	7.0	No
Nob Hill Database Compare	Nob Hill software	?	1.3.01	No
SQL Compare	Red Gate Software Red Gate Software Red Gate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, UK. It primarily provides tools for database developers and administrators. In addition, through its Simple Talk Publishing subsidiary, it maintains community websites such as SQL Server Central and Simple Talk...	1999	9.0	No
SQL Data Compare	Red Gate Software Red Gate Software Red Gate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, UK. It primarily provides tools for database developers and administrators. In addition, through its Simple Talk Publishing subsidiary, it maintains community websites such as SQL Server Central and Simple Talk...	2000	9.0	No
SQL Delta	The Australian Software Company	?	4.1	No
SQL Examiner Suite	TulaSoft	2005	4.0	No
Teratrax Database Compare	Teratrax	?	2.0.3	Yes
Visual Studio Team System Database Edition	Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...	?	?
tablediff (part of SQL Server 2005)	Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...	?	?	Yes?
xSQL Object	xSQL Software	?	2.5.1.7	Yes
Cross-Database Comparator Pro	DBBALANCE	2006-02-10	7.0	No
SQL Accord	SQL Effects Software	May 2005	1.3.6	Yes
SQLDBDiff	SQLDBTools	?	3.5	Yes

Compare

Tool	Maintainer	Table/View									Query Information retrieval Information retrieval is the area of study concerned with searching for documents, for information within documents, and for metadata about documents, as well as that of searching structured storage, relational databases, and the World Wide Web...	Stored Procedure/Function
		Data Data The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...	Data (where clause)	Columns	Primary Keys	Index Index (database) A database index is a data structure that improves the speed of data retrieval operations on a database table at the cost of slower writes and increased storage space...	Foreign Key Foreign key In the context of relational databases, a foreign key is a referential constraint between two tables.A foreign key is a field in a relational table that matches a candidate key of another table...	Exported Foreign Key	Permission File system permissions Most current file systems have methods of administering permissions or access rights to specific users and groups of users. These systems control the ability of the users to view or make changes to the contents of the filesystem....	Trigger Database trigger A database trigger is procedural code that is automatically executed in response to certain events on a particular table or view in a database. The trigger is mostly used for keeping the integrity of the information on the database...	Data Data The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...	Text Plain text In computing, plain text is the contents of an ordinary sequential file readable as textual material without much processing, usually opposed to formatted text....	Parameters
ApexSQL Data Diff / ApexSQL Diff	ApexSQL LLC
Gemini Delta - SQL Difference Manager for .NET	Gemini Software Solutions, LLP
CompareData CompareData CompareData is a native Microsoft Windows cross-DBMS database data comparison and synchronization tool that uses ODBC API to work with a wide-range of databases.-Architecture:...	Zidsoft
Cross-Database Comparator Pro	DBBalance
D-Softs Database Compare	【D-Softs】
dbForge Schema Compare for SQL Server	Devart
dbForge Data Compare for SQL Server	Devart
DB Ghost	Innovartis Ltd
MS SQL Data Sync	SQL Maestro Group
SQL Compare / SQL Data Compare	Red Gate Software Red Gate Software Red Gate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, UK. It primarily provides tools for database developers and administrators. In addition, through its Simple Talk Publishing subsidiary, it maintains community websites such as SQL Server Central and Simple Talk...
Data Inspector / Schema Inspector	Atlantis Interactive UK Ltd.
SQL Examiner / SQL Data Examiner	TulaSoft

Generate Sync Script

Tool	Maintainer	Table/View							Query Query In general, a query is a form of questioning, in a line of inquiry. A query may also refer to:* The Queries, a set of 31 questions outlined by Isaac Newton beginning in 1704...	Stored Procedure/Function
		Data Data The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...	Columns	Primary Keys	Index Index (database) A database index is a data structure that improves the speed of data retrieval operations on a database table at the cost of slower writes and increased storage space...	Foreign Key Foreign key In the context of relational databases, a foreign key is a referential constraint between two tables.A foreign key is a field in a relational table that matches a candidate key of another table...	Permission File system permissions Most current file systems have methods of administering permissions or access rights to specific users and groups of users. These systems control the ability of the users to view or make changes to the contents of the filesystem....	Trigger Database trigger A database trigger is procedural code that is automatically executed in response to certain events on a particular table or view in a database. The trigger is mostly used for keeping the integrity of the information on the database...	Data Data The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...
ApexSQL Data Diff / ApexSQL Diff	ApexSQL LLC
CompareData CompareData CompareData is a native Microsoft Windows cross-DBMS database data comparison and synchronization tool that uses ODBC API to work with a wide-range of databases.-Architecture:...	Zidsoft
Cross-Database Comparator Pro	DBBalance
D-Softs Database Compare	D-Softs
dbForge Schema Compare for SQL Server	Devart
dbForge Data Compare for SQL Server	Devart
DB Ghost	Innovartis Ltd
MS SQL Data Sync	SQL Maestro Group
SQL Compare / SQL Data Compare	Red Gate Software Red Gate Software Red Gate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, UK. It primarily provides tools for database developers and administrators. In addition, through its Simple Talk Publishing subsidiary, it maintains community websites such as SQL Server Central and Simple Talk...
Data Inspector / Schema Inspector	Atlantis Interactive UK Ltd.
SQL Examiner / SQL Data Examiner	TulaSoft

Synchronize

Tool	Maintainer	Table/View							Query Information retrieval Information retrieval is the area of study concerned with searching for documents, for information within documents, and for metadata about documents, as well as that of searching structured storage, relational databases, and the World Wide Web...	Stored Procedure/Function
		Data Data The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...	Columns	Primary Keys	Index Index (database) A database index is a data structure that improves the speed of data retrieval operations on a database table at the cost of slower writes and increased storage space...	Foreign Key Foreign key In the context of relational databases, a foreign key is a referential constraint between two tables.A foreign key is a field in a relational table that matches a candidate key of another table...	Permission File system permissions Most current file systems have methods of administering permissions or access rights to specific users and groups of users. These systems control the ability of the users to view or make changes to the contents of the filesystem....	Trigger Database trigger A database trigger is procedural code that is automatically executed in response to certain events on a particular table or view in a database. The trigger is mostly used for keeping the integrity of the information on the database...	Data Data The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...
ApexSQL Data Diff / ApexSQL Diff	ApexSQL LLC
CompareData CompareData CompareData is a native Microsoft Windows cross-DBMS database data comparison and synchronization tool that uses ODBC API to work with a wide-range of databases.-Architecture:...	Zidsoft
Cross-Database Comparator Pro	DBBalance
D-Softs Database Compare	D-Softs
dbForge Schema Compare for SQL Server	Devart
dbForge Data Compare for SQL Server	Devart
DB Ghost	Innovartis Ltd
MS SQL Data Sync	SQL Maestro Group
SQL Compare / SQL Data Compare	Red Gate Software Red Gate Software Red Gate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, UK. It primarily provides tools for database developers and administrators. In addition, through its Simple Talk Publishing subsidiary, it maintains community websites such as SQL Server Central and Simple Talk...
Data Inspector / Schema Inspector	Atlantis Interactive UK Ltd.
SQL Examiner / SQL Data Examiner	TulaSoft

Data Comparison & Synchronization

The Adventure Works 2008R2 SR1 demobase was used for tests. It takes 185 Mb on hard disk and has 761 thousand rows in all tables of various data types.

Test #1: Compare the database with itself and measure "Comparison Time" - how fast data comparison engine compares data.

Test #2: Compare the database with similar but empty one - how fast a tool stores different rows on a disk. The time taken is "Caching time", and size of all temporary files is "Cache size". Some tools have "Compress temporary data cache" option which writes compressed data on a disk.

Test #3: Generate synchronization script after test #2 - how fast a tool generates an output file and how big it is.

Test #4: Execute generated script via a tool - check if script is valid, how optimum it is, and how fast a tool generates and sends query batches.

Tool	Maintainer	Version	Comparison Time	Caching time	Caching time (compressed)	Cache size	Cache size (compressed)	Sync. script generation time	Output file size	Script execution time
ApexSQL Data Diff	ApexSQL	2010.01.0016	29 sec	16 sec		?		12 sec	215 Mb (UTF-16 only)	2 min 34 sec
dbForge Data Compare	Devart	2.0.159	8 sec		5 sec		24 Mb	20 sec	224 Mb (UTF-8)	2 min 12 sec
SQL Data Compare	Red Gate Software Red Gate Software Red Gate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, UK. It primarily provides tools for database developers and administrators. In addition, through its Simple Talk Publishing subsidiary, it maintains community websites such as SQL Server Central and Simple Talk...	9.0.0.117	10 sec	6 sec	12 sec	125 Mb	36 Mb	21 sec	245 Mb (UTF-8)	2 min 27 sec
SQL Data Examiner	TulaSoft	4.0.0.120	10.5 sec	6.5 sec		135 Mb		18 sec	239 Mb (UTF-8)	6 min 56 sec failed at 99.9%
xSQL Data Compare	xSQL Software	4.0.0.0	22 sec	16 sec		?		17 sec	232 Mb (ANSI only!)	6 min 39 sec
SQL Delta	The Australian Software Company	5.1.0.9	55 sec	57 sec		230 Mb		2 min 10 sec	448 Mb (UTF-16 only)	3 min

Test configuration:

• Intel i7-2630QM (4 cores @ 2GHz, 8 threads)
• 12 Gb RAM DDR3 @ 1333 MHz (9-9-9-24)
• Intel SSD X25-M 120 Gb
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Developer Edition 64-bit
• Windows 7 Ultimate x64

Licensing

This section lists the licensing options of available products.

Tool	Maintainer	License	Price	Free version	Technical support	Free updates	Evaluation period	Money-back guarantee
ApexSQL Data Diff	ApexSQL		$ 579 to 399$	Free Trial version		With Software Assurance	14 days	No
ApexSQL Diff	ApexSQL		$ 579 to 399$	Free Trial version		With Software Assurance	14 days	No
CompareData CompareData CompareData is a native Microsoft Windows cross-DBMS database data comparison and synchronization tool that uses ODBC API to work with a wide-range of databases.-Architecture:...	Zidsoft		$395	Yes		3 years	30 days	No
Cross-Database Comparator Pro	DBBalance		$499 to $324	Free Trial Version		1 year	14 + days	?
dbForge Schema Compare for SQL Server	Devart		$230 to $115	Free Trial Version		1 year	30 days
dbForge Data Compare for SQL Server	Devart		$230 to $115	Free Trial Version		1 year	30 days
DB Ghost	Innovartis Ltd		$440 to $189	?
MS SQL Data Sync	SQL Maestro Group		$129 to $69	Free Trial Version		1-3 years	15 days
SQL Compare	Red Gate Software Red Gate Software Red Gate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, UK. It primarily provides tools for database developers and administrators. In addition, through its Simple Talk Publishing subsidiary, it maintains community websites such as SQL Server Central and Simple Talk...		$595 to $227	Free Trial Version		With Support and Upgrades	14 days
SQL Data Compare	Red Gate Software Red Gate Software Red Gate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, UK. It primarily provides tools for database developers and administrators. In addition, through its Simple Talk Publishing subsidiary, it maintains community websites such as SQL Server Central and Simple Talk...		$595 to $227	Free Trial Version		With Support and Upgrades	14 days