IBM Db2 Database vs Oracle Database In-Memory comparison

IBM and Oracle are both solutions in the Relational Databases Tools category. IBM is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.2, while Oracle is ranked #9 with an average rating of 9.2. IBM holds a 7.1% mindshare in SQL, compared to Oracle’s 1.6% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Oracle users who would recommend it.

IBM Db2 Database

Read 73 IBM Db2 Database reviews

6,202 Views
4,021 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Oracle Database In-Memory

Read 31 Oracle Database In-Memory reviews

964 Views
750 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

Oracle Database In-Memory

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

IBM Db2 Database and Oracle Database In-Memory compete in the enterprise database management category. Based on the comparison, IBM Db2 seems to have an advantage in flexibility and integration, whereas Oracle leads in speed and performance for analytics.

Features: IBM Db2 Database offers a versatile SQL dialect with object tables, Java method support, and user-defined functions. Its broad platform support provides flexibility across diverse environments, and its self-tuning memory management optimizes performance automatically. Oracle Database In-Memory is recognized for real-time analytics capabilities and fast performance in data warehouses due to its columnar format for queries. Its multitenant features facilitate easy database consolidation and cloning.

Room for Improvement: IBM Db2 faces challenges with a steep learning curve and difficulty in finding skilled administrators. Licensing complexity and costs are additional concerns, and there is a need for improvements in the database management interface and backup processes. Oracle Database In-Memory could improve its pricing models and adaptability, making costs lower and more automation in analytics desirable, especially for smaller businesses. AI integration and user interface enhancements are areas for both products to consider.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Db2 primarily offers on-premises deployments with some hybrid cloud instances. It provides strong technical support but faces availability issues outside North America. Oracle Database In-Memory offers both on-premises and hybrid cloud solutions. While it has reliable customer service, pricing and technical support may lack transparency. IBM's support is praised for its knowledge, whereas Oracle customers appreciate quick issue resolution.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Db2's pricing is high but offers bundled packages for cost-effectiveness, generally costing less than Oracle and providing better ROI through integrated solutions. Oracle Database In-Memory is known for being expensive despite including significant features in its Enterprise edition. While both systems demonstrate substantial ROI, IBM's pricing is more competitive, whereas Oracle delivers speed and performance at a higher cost.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database In-Memory Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database In-Memory

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM Db2 Database

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Oracle Database In-Memory

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

9th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Embedded Database (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.1%, up from 6.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Database In-Memory is 1.6%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

SimonHiggins

Mainframe Technical Manager/Service Integration Lead at Saudi Business Machines

Very scalable with high availability and excellent technical support

The good thing is that there are improvements coming with later function levels for the z/OS Db2. I'd like it if, with the operating system that we've got, z/OS, on the mainframe, it would allow us to refresh the hardware to run Linux dockers on the mainframe. This means this might give us opportunities for different ways of coming into the Db2 environment in the future. We just want a bit more integration with Linux. That said, we are already seeing Linux more readily available on the mainframe environment. Not only have we got the premium operating systems on OS. We can run LPARs on the same mainframe footprint that is also supporting Linux. This is what has improved and made the mainframe environment more competitive. We're also looking at AI for Db2 as well, and machine learning for the future. We know that AI has come out, that we're going to get that, and we're going to evaluate that product next year for Db2. That said, I haven't got any real complaints about Db2 on the mainframe. For the most part, a lot of the problems we have nowadays are to do with communication between the various teams that you would class as stakeholders.

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Laksiri Bala

DB Architect / Consultant at Virtusa Global

Faster processing and improved memory operations have enhanced transaction and analytics efficiency

The valuable features of Oracle Database In-Memory ( /products/oracle-database-in-memory-reviews ) include its capability to bypass disk storage for faster memory operations, which is critical for transactions and analytics. It also offers specific memory areas, like in-memory cache, that act as intermediaries between disk and buffer cache. This feature helps organizations handle real-time memory requirements effectively.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution is stable."

"Very good for performance and scalability."

"It's the best solution in terms of security, performance, and availability because the system is available 24/7."

"The self-management and optimization features are probably the best on the market"

"I like that its true active-active. For example, if there are two instances within a cluster, we can take one of them down and there's no failover or switch over. There's no primary and secondary, it's true active-active. We can take one side down and we can upgrade that with new maintenance or a new version, obviously testing coexistence beforehand, without impacting the business."

"The solution is easy to install and simple to maintain. The most valuable aspect of the solution is its general user-friendliness for users of all kinds."

"The most valuable features are the simplicity of the database and the access to Db2 and Db2 information."

"Some of the most valuable features are the scaling from a small very cheap installation to a very large enterprise installation. In addition, the backups and assistance are good."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"The scalability of the solution is very good. It's able to support large amounts of data."

"We find the dashboard and the speed of data processing very valuable in Oracle Database In-Memory."

"It efficiently handles low-code data and supports read-and-write operations for clustering."

"We can integrate it with any data sources as well."

"The product offers high scalability."

"It accelerates query processing, which in turn speeds up operations and streamlines workflow, and ultimately enhancing productivity."

"The most valuable aspects of this solution are the fast caching and improved performance to the database"

"Security is the most valuable feature."

More Oracle Database In-Memory pros

Cons

"The solution could be more modern and have updated database technology."

"The initial set up was complex."

"The solution no longer supports POWER8."

"There are some issues with Db2's database file system not being readable. The storage could also be increased, and the monitoring could be improved."

"The technical support can be faster."

"Its process of building up queries could be more accessible."

"They should simplify the management of Db2 as a relational database system. There should be the simplification of management. This is probably one of the most important asks for being successful in the future."

"The price should be lower."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"Oracle should include column store or advanced query optimization so a database can be optimized by enabling analytic queries to run faster."

"We use some partitions in In-Memory. We have a very large table and a low dose. It is very expensive in data to load all of them into In-Memory. It takes up more memory slots in the server, as well as a lot of RAM. We use last partitions on the table. We always need to create a script and make a schedule that can load a last partition in In-Memory. Oracle doesn't have features to do this automatically. I would like them to allow us to load last partitions, as well as other table partitions, in In-Memory. I think a good feature would do that automatically, letting you see a table, load a large partition, and monitor loading memory. It's quite a good feature."

"It would be good if Oracle could reduce downtime when transferring from non-In-Memory to In-Memory."

"Oracle Database In-Memory could improve by better supporting generative AI challenges, such as hallucination management."

"Oracle Database In-Memory appliance-based solutions can be restrictive for some applications, as they may require more flexibility in the database design to be tuned and sized to the customer's needs."

"The high cost of the product is an area of concern where improvements are required."

"The solution is quite expensive."

"The pricing could be improved. It would ideal if it was more reasonable."

More Oracle Database In-Memory cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."

"The solution's hardware and subscription model for support are very expensive."

"The solution costs less than other products."

"Compared to other databases, Db2 is relatively cheaper."

"It is expensive when compared to other products."

"Among Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Db2, Microsoft SQL Server is the cheapest one, and Oracle is the most expensive one. Db2 is in the middle. As compared to SQL Server, its price could go down. It will be good for customers."

"We did not buy it. It came with our hardware without any complimentary maintenance. If I compare Db2 Database with Oracle Database, its price is lower than Oracle Database."

"We normally handle large size businesses and as far as I am aware, the license is negotiable based on the number of users and the quantitative data."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"I rate the pricing a zero out of ten because Database In-Memory is too costly."

"The platform's licensing cost needs improvement."

"There is a need to make a yearly payment towards the licensing costs, after which there is any to pay towards the support cost attached to the solution."

"It's quite costly and it comes with a fixed price."

"The product is expensive."

"The solution's pricing is high."

"Oracle Database In-Memory is expensive."

"Database In-Memory is priced a bit higher than its competitors like Microsoft."

More Oracle Database In-Memory pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

55%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

20%

Computer Software Company

11%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Db2 Database?

Db2 database scalability and performance capabilities match our database needs. It covers pretty much everything a database administrator or engineer might need.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Db2 Database?

IBM Db2 is an expensive solution. While I am not heavily involved with pricing, additional companies provide capabilities or products like those from BMC, which many installations might also purchase.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Db2 Database?

The user interface is old and needs to be improved. It doesn't match the responsive and suggestion-rich UI of cloud solutions. New functions don't come to mind.

See all answers

What do you like most about Oracle Database In-Memory?

We can integrate it with any data sources as well.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Database In-Memory?

Pricing is justified by the performance and business value offered by Oracle Database In-Memory. Although slightly higher, recent reductions in cloud costs and learning opportunities, such as free ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Oracle Database In-Memory?

Oracle Database In-Memory could improve by better supporting generative AI challenges, such as hallucination management. Enhancing features like CAG augmentation and cache augmentation could signif...

See all answers

Comparisons

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 32% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 18% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 16% of the time

Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 13% of the time

SingleStore vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 1% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

SAP HANA vs Oracle Database In-Memory

Compared 26% of the time

SQL Server vs Oracle Database In-Memory

Compared 15% of the time

DuckDB vs Oracle Database In-Memory

Compared 14% of the time

Progress OpenEdge RDBMS vs Oracle Database In-Memory

Compared 8% of the time

Vertica vs Oracle Database In-Memory

Compared 5% of the time

More Oracle Database In-Memory Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

May 2025

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Database In-Memory

May 2025

Download Oracle Database In-Memory product report

Also Known As

DB2

No data available

Overview

DB2 Enterprise for Linux, UNIX, and Windows is the ideal data server for the most demanding workloads. New XML support is designed to help firms minimize the time and effort it takes to persist and use their XML data reducing development costs and improving business agility.

IBM

Oracle Database In-Memory transparently accelerates analytics by orders of magnitude while simultaneously speeding up mixed-workload OLTP. With Oracle Database In-Memory, users get immediate answers to business questions that previously took hours.

Oracle Database In-Memory delivers leading-edge in-memory performance without the need to restrict functionality, or accept compromises, complexity and risk. Deploying Oracle Database In-Memory with any existing Oracle Database compatible application is as easy as flipping a switch - no application changes are required. Oracle Database In-Memory is fully integrated with the Oracle Database’s renowned scale-up, scale-out, storage tiering, availability, and security technologies making it the most industrialstrength offering on the market.

The ability to easily perform real-time data analysis together with real-time transaction processing on all existing applications enables organizations to transform into Real-Time Enterprises that quickly make data-driven decisions, respond instantly to customer demands, and continuously optimize all key processes.

For more information on Oracle Database In-Memory, visit Oracle.com

Oracle

Sample Customers

Knorr-Bremse, Mizuho Bank Ltd., Australian Government Department of Defence, SCHWENK Zement, Friedhelm Loh Group, YAZAKI Europe Limited, Ekornes ASA, Baldor Electric, VSN Systemen BV, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, PLANSEE Group, TE Connectivity, Hansgrohe SE, Openmatics, University of Toronto

Shanghai Customs

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database In-Memory

April 2025

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Database In-Memory

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