IBM Db2 Database vs Oracle Multitenant 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 #14 with an average rating of 9.0. IBM holds a 7.1% mindshare in SQL, compared to Oracle’s 0.6% 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 Multitenant

Read 20 Oracle Multitenant reviews

669 Views
361 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Db2 Database

Oracle Multitenant

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

DB2 and Oracle Multitenant operate in the enterprise database management space. DB2 seems to have an advantage in terms of flexibility and integration with IBM solutions, while Oracle Multitenant offers a seamless database management experience through its multitenancy capabilities.

Features: DB2 stands out with features such as powerful structured query language support with object tables, self-tuning memory management, and robust security. It also offers platform flexibility and reliable integration with IBM products like Websphere. Oracle Multitenant's key features include consolidating multiple databases within a single engine, ease of database upgrades, and the utility of pluggable databases which facilitate cloning processes and management.

Room for Improvement: DB2 could improve by increasing resources for learning and simplifying licensing and querying tools. There's a need for better web enablement to enhance user experience. Oracle Multitenant would benefit from more detailed I/O resource control and integration across all Oracle features. Users also mention the restrictive pricing structure and desire faster processes for handling large database plug/unplug operations.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both DB2 and Oracle are noted for reliability in deployment. DB2's support is considered comprehensive but slower, with challenges noted outside North America. Oracle's support is perceived as more efficient, providing quick resolutions to issues. DB2’s broad platform support also enhances deployment ease, whereas both solutions efficiently accommodate on-premises environments.

Pricing and ROI: While DB2 is often cheaper than Oracle, complexities in licensing and regional price disparities remain concerns. However, it offers competitive pricing for businesses using IBM Power Systems. Oracle Multitenant can be costlier due to extra feature fees, yet both solutions manifest significant ROI through long-term performance stability and minimal downtime. Each product’s financial benefits vary based on organizational choices and technical requirements.

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

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Multitenant

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 Multitenant

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

14th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

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 Multitenant is 0.6%, up from 0.6% 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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Saikat Nag

Oracle Application Database Administrator at RP Sanjiv Goenka Group

Manages extensive utility billing applications efficiently with trusted performance and robust support

Currently, I have a very good experience with Oracle Multitenant. The pluggable database is easy to handle and manage, sharing resources efficiently. However, Oracle license pricing is an issue due to its high cost. Our organization is compelled to reduce CPU usage by seventy CPUs because the Oracle license cost depends on it.

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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

"Its functionality and availability are valuable. Its availability is great. It is available 99.99% of the time."

"The structure is straightforward, consisting of the test file and the logical and physical files. You have one physical file and many logical files related to it."

"The solution can scale."

"The most valuable feature of IBM Db2 Database is its ability to perform automatic self-management, reducing the need for manual tasks such as managing logs and folders."

"It has a good feature called pureScale, which is just for scalability. It is a perfect solution for environments where scalability is going to be an issue."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is the integration with other IBM products."

"It's easy to search and extract data from the warehouse using queries."

"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."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"It is quite stable. We have not faced any kind of instability in the database."

"The best thing about Oracle Multitenant is its ability to consolidate multiple databases into one engine."

"Multitenant has a container database with many pluggable databases."

"The feature that I like on Multitenant is the ease - it is very easy for my team to run the database."

"The most valuable features are the speed and ease of use."

"Maintaining databases is a valuable feature for us."

"You can scale the solution as needed."

"I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten. Our clients are mostly medium and enterprise businesses."

More Oracle Multitenant pros

Cons

"The product needs to improve its configuration and storage."

"The queries can be difficult for beginners because there are so many. I would like to see more use cases for flow analysis that enable us to correlate the flow with events. Adding this feature in a QI format would be good for beginners."

"Some of the internal rearrangement in the administration is not as straightforward as it is in competing products."

"The pricing could be improved, it's expensive."

"The solution no longer supports POWER8."

"Not very solid compared to its competitors' products."

"The tool is not easy to use. It needs to improve scale computing so that the tool can be scaled vertically. The product needs to enhance pre-engine optimization and it needs to be more efficient in completing queries. The documentation should be updated to include different scenarios of deployment."

"We need some time to improve the performance. We have to perform a weekly REORG, or else RUNSTATS for the databases."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"That said, Oracle in general doesn't invest in their UI for any of their applications. If we're talking about the dashboard or other user experience, there is room for improvement. I'm talking about on premises. The cloud version has started to improve."

"It would be beneficial to include this solution with Oracle Enterprise, but Oracle charges additional fees for it."

"There is room for improvement in customer service and support."

"It can be complicated to scale up the solution, but it's scalable."

"Oracle license pricing is an issue due to its high cost. Our organization is compelled to reduce CPU usage by seventy CPUs because the Oracle license cost depends on it."

"There are many functions where changes are not easy to implement, and we try to avoid modifying these areas due to security issues and the complexity of maintaining them."

"The solution lacks a GUI for commands."

"Technical support could be faster."

More Oracle Multitenant cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the price of the IBM Db2 Database an eight out of ten."

"There is a license for this solution and we pay every three years."

"We don't see what the specific price of the DB2 license is because we pay for the backup license as a package."

"It is expensive."

"If I consider the price of IBM Db2 Database, I would say there are cheaper products in the market."

"It is expensive. The price depends on the size of the machine on which you are installing the Db2 and the features you are using. It also depends on the country. IBM has different policies and different options for payment for this product."

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

"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."

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"This solution is a little bit pricey."

"For me, I will go with it if I have the budget. Some features are nicer than before, but at the end of the day, you always have a limited budget. I prefer to upgrade and get a specific hardware when possible. At the end, you will have to make a compromise. You will not get everything you would have liked to have."

"The price is worth the quality."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

57%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

20%

Government

Healthcare Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

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 Multitenant?

The best thing about Oracle Multitenant is its ability to consolidate multiple databases into one engine.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Multitenant?

Oracle's licensing costs are very high. Due to the increased license costs, we migrated from Oracle hardware like SuperCluster and MiniCluster to HPE Nutanix to manage costs while continuing to use...

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What needs improvement with Oracle Multitenant?

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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

Amazon Aurora vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 2% of the time

More IBM Db2 Database Competitors

SQL Server vs Oracle Multitenant

Compared 41% of the time

More Oracle Multitenant Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

May 2025

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Multitenant

May 2025

Download Oracle Multitenant product report

Also Known As

DB2

Oracle Pluggable Database

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 Multitenant - an Oracle Database 12c Enterprise Edition option – introduces a new architecture that enables customers to easily consolidate multiple databases, without changing their applications. This new architecture delivers all the benefits of managing many databases as one, yet retains the isolation and resource prioritization of separate databases. In addition, Oracle Multitenant enables rapid provisioning and upgrades, and fully complements other options including Oracle Real Application Clusters and Active Data Guard.

For more information on Oracle Multitenant, 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

An Post, National Oilwell Varco, SAS Institute, Sportmaster, Y-Telecom

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Multitenant

April 2025

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Multitenant

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Multitenant and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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