SQL Server
Buy a genuine SQL Server 2022 Standard, SQL Server 2022 Enterprise or SQL Server 2019 Enterprise license key for a production database server. Every key in this category is a perpetual license with the license model stated on the product page, and it is delivered by email within minutes of payment with the official Microsoft download link.
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Showing all 3 results
SQL Server 2022 Standard and Enterprise licenses
Microsoft SQL Server is the relational database engine behind a large share of the line-of-business applications, ERP systems, reporting platforms and web back ends running on Windows Server today. This category holds the SQL Server licenses we sell: SQL Server 2022 Standard, SQL Server 2022 Enterprise and SQL Server 2019 Enterprise. Each is a genuine product key for the full version of the software, a perpetual license with no subscription, delivered by email within minutes of payment with the official Microsoft download link and the license type stated on the product page.
Microsoft SQL Server 2022 is the current release. It runs on Windows Server 2022 and 2025, on Windows 10 and 11 for development, and on supported Linux distributions and containers. SQL Server 2019 is the previous release, now in Microsoft's extended support phase, and remains relevant when an application vendor certifies only that version or when you are adding a node to an existing 2019 environment. For a new deployment we recommend 2022.
SQL Server 2022 Standard vs Enterprise
The two editions run the same engine and use the same tools, drivers and T-SQL. The differences are compute and memory limits, high availability depth, and a set of Enterprise-only features aimed at very large or mission-critical databases.
| Capability | SQL Server 2022 Standard | SQL Server 2022 Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Compute per instance | Lesser of 4 sockets or 24 cores | Operating system maximum |
| Buffer pool memory per instance | 128 GB | Operating system maximum |
| Licensing model | Per core, or Server plus CAL | Per core only |
| Always On availability groups | Basic availability groups: 2 nodes, 1 database per group, no readable secondary | Full availability groups with multiple readable secondaries, distributed and contained groups |
| Online index operations | Not included | Included |
| Resource Governor | Not included | Included |
| Backup compression, encryption, TDE, Always Encrypted | Included | Included |
| Typical fit | Departmental and small business databases, single-application servers | Large OLTP and data warehouse workloads, consolidation hosts, strict uptime targets |
For most small and mid-sized deployments, SQL Server 2022 Standard edition is the right license. Twenty-four cores and 128 GB of buffer pool cover a great deal of work, and features that used to be Enterprise-only, including transparent data encryption and Always Encrypted, are in Standard as of recent releases. Enterprise becomes necessary when a single instance needs more than 24 cores or more than 128 GB of cache, when you need readable secondaries or more than one database in an availability group, or when online index rebuilds and Resource Governor are part of your operating model.
How SQL Server licensing works
Microsoft licenses SQL Server two ways, and the model you choose depends on how many people and applications connect.
Per core
Every physical core in the server, or every virtual core assigned to a virtual machine, must be licensed. Core licenses are sold in 2-core packs, with a minimum of 4 cores per physical processor (or per VM). A server with two 8-core processors needs 16 core licenses; a 2-vCPU virtual machine still needs 4. Per core licensing does not require client access licenses, so it is the natural choice for internet-facing applications and any server where the number of users is large or unknown. Enterprise is only available per core.
Server plus CAL
Available for Standard only. You license the server instance once, and then every user or device that connects to it needs a SQL Server CAL. This model suits a small office where a known number of staff use one application backed by one database. It becomes uneconomical as user counts grow, at which point per core is less expensive. Remember that users also need a Windows Server CAL for the underlying operating system, which is a separate license covered in our Windows Server category.
The product page for each SQL Server key states the license model and coverage it provides. If you are not sure how many cores your server has, or whether Server plus CAL would cost less for your headcount, email us the processor model, core count and user count before you order and our team will confirm the correct license set.
Free editions and when they are enough
Microsoft also publishes two free editions, and we would rather you know about them than buy a license you do not need. SQL Server Express is free for production use but is limited to 10 GB per database, one socket or four cores, and a small memory footprint, which makes it suitable for small applications and embedded scenarios. SQL Server Developer is free and has every Enterprise feature, but its license permits development and testing only, never production. If your database is under 10 GB and traffic is light, Express may be all you need. The moment a workload goes into production above those limits, Standard or Enterprise is required.
Which edition should I choose?
- Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Standard: the default recommendation for a new production database on a server with up to 24 cores and up to 128 GB of buffer pool. Available per core or Server plus CAL as stated on the product page.
- Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Enterprise: for instances that need more compute or memory than Standard allows, full Always On availability groups with readable secondaries, online indexing or Resource Governor.
- Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Enterprise: the previous release for environments where the application vendor has certified only 2019, or where you are adding a licensed node to an existing 2019 cluster.
If you are also buying the operating system, SQL Server 2022 pairs with Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Standard or Datacenter, and the two licenses are independent of one another: Windows Server cores and SQL Server cores are counted and licensed separately.
How activation and delivery work
- Choose the edition, confirm the license model and core coverage stated on the product page, and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through our encrypted, PCI-compliant checkout.
- Within minutes of payment, 7 days a week, we email the 25-character product key, the official Microsoft download link for the SQL Server installation media and a short guide. The key is stored under My Account too.
- Download the ISO, mount it on the server, and run setup. Choose a new stand-alone installation, and on the Product Key page select Enter the product key and paste your key. Setup detects the edition from the key and installs it. Select the features you need, set authentication mode and service accounts, and finish.
- An already-installed Evaluation or Developer instance can be converted without reinstalling: run setup, choose Maintenance, then Edition Upgrade, and enter the key.
- If setup rejects the key or you have any question, email support@softwareinstore.com. A person answers every day of the week.
Every key is covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee. If a key cannot be activated and our support team cannot resolve the problem, we replace the key or refund the order in full.
Retail, OEM or volume: read the product page
SQL Server keys are stated as retail or volume on each product page. Because SQL Server is licensed per core or per server, the practical questions are different from a desktop application: what matters is that the license model and core count on the page match your hardware. A key may be reassigned to a replacement server in line with Microsoft's license terms, and virtual machines may be licensed by virtual core rather than by host.
Frequently asked questions
What are the limits of SQL Server 2022 Standard edition?
Each Standard instance can use the lesser of 4 sockets or 24 cores, and its buffer pool is capped at 128 GB. You can install Standard on a larger server; the engine simply will not use cores or memory above those limits. Always On is limited to Basic availability groups with two nodes and one database per group, and there is no readable secondary. Online index operations and Resource Governor are Enterprise-only. Within those limits, Standard runs the full engine, including backup compression, transparent data encryption, Always Encrypted, columnstore indexes and in-memory OLTP.
Should I license SQL Server per core or Server plus CAL?
Count your users. Server plus CAL, which is only offered for Standard, licenses the instance once and then requires a SQL Server CAL for every user or device that connects. It is economical for a small office with a known headcount using one application. Per core licenses every core in the server or VM, sold in 2-core packs with a 4-core minimum per processor, and requires no CALs at all, which suits web applications, large user counts and any scenario where users cannot be counted. Enterprise is available per core only.
Is there a free version of SQL Server?
Yes, two. SQL Server Express is free and can be used in production, but it is limited to 10 GB per database, one socket or four cores, and a small amount of memory. SQL Server Developer is free and includes every Enterprise feature, but its license covers development and testing only, not production workloads. If your needs fit within Express, use it. If you are running a production database beyond those limits, or your application vendor requires Standard or Enterprise, a paid license from this category is the compliant choice.
Can SQL Server 2022 run on Windows Server 2025 or on Linux?
Yes to both. SQL Server 2022 is supported on Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2025, and it also runs on Windows 10 and 11 for development and small workgroup use. Microsoft publishes supported builds for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Ubuntu, as well as Docker containers, and the same product key activates the Linux edition through the mssql-conf tool. The operating system license is separate: Windows Server needs its own core licenses and CALs, which we cover in the Windows Server category.
How do I move from SQL Server 2019 to 2022?
Two common paths exist. An in-place upgrade runs SQL Server 2022 setup on the existing server, chooses Upgrade from a previous version, and converts the instance and its databases while preserving logins, jobs and settings. A side-by-side migration installs 2022 on new hardware or a new VM, then restores backups or uses the Data Migration Assistant to move databases across. Side-by-side gives you a rollback path and is what most administrators choose for production. Either way, the SQL Server 2022 key from this category licenses the new instance.
A database server needs an operating system underneath it. Browse the Windows Server category for Windows Server 2025 and 2022 Standard and Datacenter licenses and RDS CAL packs, and see the Visual Studio category if your developers need an IDE alongside the database. For a plain description of ordering, delivery and activation, read how it works.