Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Microsoft MDS vs Semarchy xDM comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

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

Microsoft MDS
Ranking in Master Data Management (MDM) Software
4th
Average Rating
7.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Semarchy xDM
Ranking in Master Data Management (MDM) Software
6th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
Cloud Master Data Management (MDM) (5th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Master Data Management (MDM) Software category, the mindshare of Microsoft MDS is 6.9%, down from 11.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Semarchy xDM is 11.1%, up from 7.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Master Data Management (MDM) Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Microsoft MDS6.9%
Semarchy xDM11.1%
Other82.0%
Master Data Management (MDM) Software
 

Featured Reviews

AB
Senior Data Engineer at a insurance company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Outdated capabilities hinder data mapping efficiency but facilitate cost-free data standardization
Microsoft MDS is outdated and lacks modern capabilities. It is too slow and does not support automated mapping or AI-based functionalities. Although I created Python scripts for some machine learning libraries, we seek tools that offer AI-enabled automated mapping without custom coding. Microsoft support for MDS is also going away.
Syed-Hasan - PeerSpot reviewer
Director at Inspiring Software
Quick MVP development facilitated by low-code data management
Semarchy xDM's unique selling point is its quick turnover time, allowing for the rapid development of a proof of concept or minimum viable product. Its low-code approach, essentially a wrapper for SQL, enables easy and quick development. The core features include validation business rules, deduplication, merging, and consolidation from multiple sources.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature is the administration console."
"It has been a long-standing tool in our organization since it was free."
"Enables non-technical people to directly interact with the BI system."
"Technical support is very good."
"The best thing about it is that it comes with the Microsoft package."
"Compared to other databases, it is easier to manage and administer."
"The solution is easy to install."
"It's very easy to use."
"Their documentation is excellent."
"The flexibility of Semarchy xDM allows for possible deployment on-premises, in the cloud, or both."
"Semarchy xDM's unique selling point is its quick turnover time, allowing for the rapid development of a proof of concept or minimum viable product."
 

Cons

"From my understanding, MS, as of 2021, will not maintain the product going forward."
"Microsoft MDS isn't getting strong support because Microsoft is focusing more on cloud solutions."
"There are occasions when the solution maintains SD and we get duplications of MDS."
"It would be a better option to have an on-cloud version."
"In the next version, I would like to see integration with Azure."
"JMD repositories have records that come in thousands and millions, which takes a long time to process."
"I do not like using Silverlight and Internet Explorer. The new 2019 version gets rid of that, which is one of the reasons why we are looking to switch."
"The stability could be improved."
"There is room for improvement in the developer experience, particularly for those who are SQL proficient, as having more direct access would be beneficial."
"They need to make the workflow more enhanced or dynamic in its functionality."
"There is room for improvement in terms of local support."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I would like to see better pricing."
"The pricing of this solution is good."
"The solution does require a license and we have enterprise licenses."
"Product licensing is very complicated. It would be helpful to have an online calculator to estimate the cost of a license."
"With Microsoft, we buy everything though an agreement, so we purchase volume licensing every year."
"SAP is more expensive than Microsoft."
"Microsoft MDS is an expensive solution."
"MDS is a part of the SQL Server enterprise license. I am not aware of any additional costs."
Information not available
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Master Data Management (MDM) Software solutions are best for your needs.
881,707 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
11%
Media Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
15%
Computer Software Company
13%
Retailer
9%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise15
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft MDS?
More generic related things can be included in the services.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft MDS?
Microsoft MDS was pretty affordable. We implemented the solution without a problem.
What needs improvement with Microsoft MDS?
I cannot really give specifics about disadvantages. From what we have seen, speaking to customers, Microsoft MDS was sometimes a bit slow. The frustration they had was just around usability and use...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Semarchy xDM?
The pricing model is based on the number of golden records. It is considered reasonable to good compared to other products that might be more expensive.
What needs improvement with Semarchy xDM?
There is room for improvement in the developer experience, particularly for those who are SQL proficient, as having more direct access would be beneficial. Additionally, configuring Semarchy xDM re...
What is your primary use case for Semarchy xDM?
The primary use case of Semarchy xDM is as a data management tool, specifically for master data management and reference data. It provides a platform to standardize information during mergers and a...
 

Also Known As

Microsoft Master Data Services, Microsoft MDM, Microsoft SQL Server Master Data Services, MS MDS
Semarchy Intelligent MDM
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

ETA a.s., Apeejay Surrendra Group, Blue Star Infotech, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, New Belgium Brewing
DiamondStream, Oakley, Araymond, EBU/Eurovision, Groupe Roullier, BOSE, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Putnam Investments, BAE Systems, Mundi Pharma, Merck, Elsevier, CMA CGM
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft MDS vs. Semarchy xDM and other solutions. Updated: February 2026.
881,707 professionals have used our research since 2012.