SQL Server 2022 vs 2025
Licensing is identical in both releases: per-core with a four-core minimum per physical processor or individually licensed VM, or Server + CAL for Standard edition when every user can be counted. SQL Server 2025 is the AI-era release — native vector data type and vector indexes, a native JSON type, and built-in REST/AI model integration — while 2022 focuses on Azure-connected features such as Synapse Link and managed disaster recovery. Choose 2025 for new builds; 2022 remains fully supported until January 2033.
Last reviewed by MSLicenseHub Licensing Desk on 2026-10-22.
SQL Server 2022 vs SQL Server 2025: full comparison
Support lifecycle at a glance
Before you upgrade or buy: checklist
- Confirm which edition you actually run today (Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, LTSC) — edition, not version, drives most of the price.
- Count the licensing metric this product uses (physical cores, users, devices or seats) on the hosts that will run the new version.
- Check whether active Software Assurance already grants new-version rights before buying new base licences.
- For server products, confirm CALs match or exceed the server version — older CALs never cover a newer server.
- Verify application and hardware vendor support for SQL Server 2025 before scheduling the migration.
- Keep the invoice, agreement number and edition records; activation alone does not prove licence ownership.
Dates are taken from the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy; licensing rules from the Microsoft Product Terms.
Which one should you buy?
Choose SQL Server 2025 if
You want in-database vector search and AI model calls, native JSON storage, or the longest support window on a perpetual purchase.
Stay on SQL Server 2022 if
Your ISV certifies 2022 only, or you already hold 2022 core licences without Software Assurance — extended support runs to January 2033.
Licensing does not change
Both versions use the same rules: four core licences minimum per physical processor or individually licensed VM, two-core packs, Enterprise required for unlimited virtualisation, and qualifying passive failover rights under subscription or Software Assurance terms.
Frequently asked questions
Does SQL Server 2025 change the licensing model?
No. Per-core licensing with a four-core minimum per physical processor or individually licensed VM and the Server + CAL option for Standard edition both carry over unchanged from SQL Server 2022.
Can I upgrade from SQL Server 2022 to 2025 for free?
Only with active Software Assurance or a subscription licence. SA grants new-version rights; without it you must buy 2025 licences.
When must I use per-core instead of Server + CAL?
Per-core is required whenever users are anonymous or uncountable — public web applications, customer portals, or any internet-facing workload. Server + CAL is only available on Standard edition.
Is Server + CAL still available for SQL Server 2025?
Yes, for Standard edition. Enterprise edition is per-core only, and per-core is the only model that scales without counting users or devices.