Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microsoft SQL VS Appian

Compare Microsoft SQL VS Appian and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Microsoft SQL logo Microsoft SQL

Microsoft SQL is a best in class relational database management software that facilitates the database server to provide you a primary function to store and retrieve data.

Appian logo Appian

See how Appian, leading provider of modern low-code and BPM software solutions, has helped transform the businesses of over 3.5 million users worldwide.
  • Microsoft SQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-26
  • Appian Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20

Microsoft SQL features and specs

  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    SQL Server offers a wide range of features including advanced analytics, in-memory capabilities, robust security measures, and integration services.
  • High Performance
    With in-memory OLTP and support for persistent memory technologies, SQL Server provides high transaction and query performance.
  • Scalability
    SQL Server can scale from small installations on single machines to large, data-intensive applications requiring high throughput and storage.
  • Security
    SQL Server offers advanced security features like encryption, dynamic data masking, and advanced threat protection, ensuring data safety and compliance.
  • Integrations
    It easily integrates with other Microsoft products such as Azure, Power BI, and Active Directory, providing a cohesive ecosystem for enterprise solutions.
  • Developer Friendly
    It supports a wide range of development tools and languages including .NET, Python, Java, and more, making it highly versatile for developers.
  • High Availability
    Features like Always On availability groups and failover clustering provide high availability and disaster recovery options for critical applications.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft SQL

  • Cost
    SQL Server can be expensive, particularly for the Enterprise edition. Licensing costs can add up quickly depending on the features and scale required.
  • Complexity
    Due to its comprehensive feature set, SQL Server can be complex to configure and manage, requiring skilled administrators and developers.
  • Resource Intensive
    SQL Server can be resource-intensive, requiring substantial hardware resources for optimal performance, which can increase overall operational costs.
  • Windows-Centric
    While SQL Server can run on Linux, it is primarily optimized for and tightly integrated with the Windows ecosystem, which may not suit all organizations.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Being a proprietary solution, it can cause vendor lock-in, making it challenging to switch to alternative database systems without significant migration efforts.

Appian features and specs

  • Low-Code Development
    Appian allows users to create applications with minimal hand-coding, catering to business analysts and developers alike. Its drag-and-drop interface simplifies development and accelerates time-to-market.
  • Process Automation
    Appian excels in automating complex business processes, improving operational efficiency, and reducing human error. Its powerful BPM tools streamline workflows effectively.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Appian provides strong integration capabilities with various third-party systems, databases, and cloud services. This ensures that applications can seamlessly communicate with existing enterprise systems.
  • Enterprise-Grade Security
    Appian offers robust security features, including role-based access control and data encryption, making it suitable for businesses with stringent security requirements.
  • Scalability
    As a cloud-native platform, Appian is highly scalable, supporting the needs of growing enterprises by easily handling increased loads and more complex applications.
  • User Experience
    The platform provides a user-friendly interface, both for developers building the applications and end-users interacting with them, enhancing overall user satisfaction.

Possible disadvantages of Appian

  • Cost
    Appian can be expensive, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. Its pricing model might not be feasible for organizations operating on a limited budget.
  • Learning Curve
    Although it simplifies development, mastering Appian still requires a learning curve. Users need to invest time in training, which can slow down the initial development phase.
  • Complex Customization
    Highly tailored or very specific customizations can be challenging to implement within Appian. Some complicated functionalities may require extensive workarounds.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    Appian's offline capabilities are limited, which can be a disadvantage for field services or users who need to access the application without a reliable internet connection.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Due to its proprietary technology, organizations may face vendor lock-in, making it challenging to migrate applications or data to another platform if needed.
  • Performance Issues at Scale
    While Appian is scalable, some users report performance issues when running extremely large and complex applications, which can impact user experience and overall efficiency.

Analysis of Microsoft SQL

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Microsoft SQL Server is generally regarded as a good choice for database management, particularly for organizations that require high performance, reliability, and seamless integration with other Microsoft technologies.

Why this product is good

  • Microsoft SQL Server is considered a robust database management system because of its comprehensive features such as high scalability, strong security, and excellent integration with other Microsoft products. It provides tools for data mining, warehousing, and analytics, making it a popular choice for enterprises. Additionally, it offers high availability and disaster recovery solutions, and its active community provides extensive support and resources.

Recommended for

  • Enterprises
  • Businesses using Microsoft ecosystems
  • Organizations requiring robust data security
  • Users needing scalability for large datasets
  • Projects needing high availability and disaster recovery

Microsoft SQL videos

3.1 Microsoft SQL Server Review

More videos:

  • Review - What is Microsoft SQL Server?
  • Review - Querying Microsoft SQL Server (T-SQL) | Udemy Instructor, Phillip Burton [bestseller]

Appian videos

Appian CEO: Delivering ‘Mission-Critical’ Software | Mad Money | CNBC

More videos:

  • Review - This is Appian
  • Review - Appian Application Designer: Build Applications in Days, not Years

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft SQL and Appian)
Databases
100 100%
0% 0
BPM
0 0%
100% 100
Relational Databases
100 100%
0% 0
Workflow Automation
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft SQL and Appian

Microsoft SQL Reviews

We have no reviews of Microsoft SQL yet.
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Appian Reviews

Top 10 Microsoft Power Apps Alternatives and Competitors 2024
Strengths: A powerful low-code platform, Appian caters to large enterprises with complex business process automation needs. It offers robust workflow management capabilities, allowing you to automate intricate business processes with decision-making logic and case management features. Appian excels in industries like finance, insurance, and healthcare, where complex...
Source: medium.com
7 Best Business Process Management Tools (2023)
Appian is used by companies to automate their routine tasks, integrate with other enterprise tools, and create custom workflows. It offers a wide range of features such as mobile app development, chatbots, AI assistants, etc.
11 Business Process Management (BPM) Software for SMBs
Experience the power of business workflow automation with Appian and accelerate your business governance, results, and efficiency. Appian simplifies your workflow design to empower users and pro developers to draw processes, such as a flowchart.
Source: geekflare.com
10 Best Low-Code Development Platforms in 2020
Verdict: Appian is the provider of the software development platform. The Appian low code development platform is a combination of intelligent automation and low-code development.
Best Google App Maker alternatives in 2020
Appian excels when used to create form-based apps. The product does allow building custom UI components, but only by using Appian’s in-product customization tools. Appian’s reasoning for this is security and to ensure JS compliance across browsers and devices.
Source: retool.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Appian seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microsoft SQL mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Microsoft SQL yet. Tracking of Microsoft SQL recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Appian mentions (5)

  • Low-Code tools & Frontend
    Does any of you use a low-code tool like Retool or Appian? If so, what is the most common use case? Source: over 2 years ago
  • Appian Associate Developer Certification help
    Look for use case inspiration in the Solutions area of appian.com and within the AppMarket. See if you can build proof of concepts of some of these. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What is best way to create an online responsive database driven website to help manage my small orchard?
    There are low code database driven website creation systems out there at the moment e.g. OutSystems and Appian however they have very limited free trials (e.g. auto-disable after a few days of no use), and then the paid options are again too expensive. Although I will note that they seem to be great in terms of their usability and would be perfect for creating a simple interface without too much diving into code. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Software Engineer role - Transferable or Pigeon-holed?
    My concern however is - the working software isn't a generic language such as Java, C#/C++, Python etc. - it is with Appian (Business Process Management), which is a rather specific low-code platform for developing workflow and automation solutions. The role does have other elements potentially too such as getting hands on cloud and API dev etc. The pay for Appian Developers currently is GREAT due to high demand -... Source: about 3 years ago
  • What is low code?
    Platforms like UiPath, Workato, and Appian provide ways to integrate apps and automate the processes that connect and flow between them. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft SQL and Appian, you can also consider the following products

MySQL - The world's most popular open source database

Camunda - The Universal Process Orchestrator

PostgreSQL - PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system.

Kintone - Build business apps and supercharge your company's productivity with kintone's all-in-one...

SQLite - SQLite Home Page

Scoop Solar - Scoop Solar is a comprehensive mobile business process management tool for growing solar companies.