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 8.3, while Oracle is ranked #13 with an average rating of 9.0. IBM holds a 7.5% mindshare in SQL, compared to Oracle’s 0.8% 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 74 IBM Db2 Database reviews

4,932 Views
4,735 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Oracle Multitenant

Read 20 Oracle Multitenant reviews

623 Views
617 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: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database vs. Oracle Multitenant

July 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

13th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Relational Databases Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Db2 Database is 7.5%, up from 6.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Multitenant is 0.8%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Relational Databases Tools

Featured Reviews

ArpitKhare

Database Admin Senior Consultant at Capgemini

Offers optimizer plan and ALSM features along with exceptional stability

The TSA version of IBM Db2 Database doesn't meet my stability expectations. Every time when a switch over occurs, some stability issues can be noticed. The vendor should offer a free version of IBM Db2 Database. For instance, if our company wants to train new individuals on all the features of IBM Db2 Database, they can only be trained after purchasing the paid version of the solution. About ten years ago, a trial version was available for the solution that was highly beneficial for companies. The vendor can add AI or ML features in the future version of IBM Db2 Database.

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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

"It has a good, stable performance."

"The valuable features include access path optimization, excellent performance, a robust locking mechanism, parallelism, and effective buffering in memory."

"The initial setup was easy."

"Scales well enough for a relational database."

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

"Reliable, robust with great features."

"The solution is stable."

"The performance of the solution is valuable."

More IBM Db2 Database pros

"You can scale the solution as needed."

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

"The database becomes pluggable. Inside this container is called a pluggable database and each application contains this pluggable database inside Multitenant. We can then share resources like control files, memory, etc. This lets you stop and start each application without impacting the others. This resource sharing is the most valuable feature"

"Maintaining databases is a valuable feature for us."

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

"The stability of Oracle Multitenant is excellent, and I would rate it a nine out of ten."

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

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

More Oracle Multitenant pros

Cons

"In terms of improvements, IBM Db2 can improve its interface and its functionality. Also, the embedded functions should be much richer than the current ones - the functions which are embedded in the engine itself."

"The usage of Db2 could be simplified, as it is quite complex and requires substantial knowledge of Db2 and zOS."

"The price should be lower."

"It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology."

"The only drawback that we see in Db2 Database is the crash recovery. When there is a crash and somebody has to do the recovery, Db2 Database first stops, and then it does any crash recovery. In Oracle Database, crash recovery happens within the database. The database is not shut down."

"The application development requires a Java developer and not every company has these resources."

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

"Db2 interface could be improved a bit. Comparing it to Oracle, Db2's interfaces could be improved."

More IBM Db2 Database cons

"From the scope of improvement, I would say that people are adopting new query options. Certain databases like MongoDB adopt new query options so that they can just pull the data."

"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."

"This solution is a bit complicated when collecting from containers - that feature should be a bit better."

"While the product is overall excellent, it is quite expensive."

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

"The user interface for this solution can be made better."

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

More Oracle Multitenant cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

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

"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."

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

"It is expensive."

"I think that everyone knows that with IBM the standard price is higher than the others."

"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."

"They are competitive and honest (compared to how peer firms approach licensing conversations). "

More IBM Db2 Database pricing and cost advice

"This solution is a little bit pricey."

"The price is worth the quality."

"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."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

18%

Educational Organization

17%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

21%

Healthcare Company

Insurance Company

Computer Software 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.

See all answers

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?

IBM is implementing some release improvements. It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology.

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 33% of the time

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 19% of the time

SAP HANA vs IBM Db2 Database

Compared 14% 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 35% of the time

Oracle Database vs Oracle Multitenant

Compared 23% of the time

More Oracle Multitenant Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Db2 Database

July 2025

Download IBM Db2 Database product report

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Multitenant

June 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

July 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: July 2025.

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