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IBM Db2 Database pros and cons

Vendor: IBM

4.1 out of 5

75 reviews
90% willing to recommend

Pros & Cons summary

IBM Db2 Database offers stability, scalability, strong security, and performance for high-volume businesses and enterprise environments through seamless integration with IBM products. However, it requires simplification for easier management, faces pricing concerns, and lacks cloud integration, built-in backup, replication capabilities, and quality support. These challenges impact its competitiveness against Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server, making it less ideal for users seeking comprehensive database solutions.

Buyer's Guide

Get pricing advice, tips, use cases and valuable features from real users of this product.

Prominent pros & cons

PROS

IBM Db2 Database offers excellent scalability and performance, making it suitable for various business needs.

It provides robust security and stability, ensuring reliable protection and uninterrupted performance.

The integration capabilities, particularly with other IBM products, add significant value.

Its self-management and optimization features are top-notch, reducing the need for manual intervention.

The high availability and resilience features, including the pureScale functionality, offer efficient operations even during upgrades.

CONS

IBM Db2 Database has complex initial setup and requires specialized knowledge, which leads to a steep learning curve.

There is a need for improved support with better response times in comparison to competitors like Oracle.

The pricing of IBM Db2 Database is considered high, and there's a demand for cost reduction.

Integration capabilities for cloud services and advanced analytics need enhancement.

IBM Db2 Database's replication feature is insufficient and should be included within the database instead of requiring a separate product purchase.

IBM Db2 Database Pros review quotes

Database Manager at a tech company with 51-200 employees

Feb 2, 2013

IBM’s DB2 is a robust relational database management system (RDBMS).

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Developer at a transportation company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Feb 18, 2013

DB2 is a very good, reliable and solid database server with many functionalities.

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VP of IT at a financial services firm

Jan 3, 2018

It has a good, stable performance.

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IBM Db2 Database

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about IBM Db2 Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.

884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

CTO at Jutel

Oct 24, 2018

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.

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Business Intelligence Consultant at a university with 10,001+ employees

Aug 8, 2019

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

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EC

Evaristo Carvalho

IT Director at BISTP

Oct 15, 2019

The most valuable features of this solution are security and stability.

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Managing Director, North America at Business Consultants, Inc.

Oct 24, 2019

The solution is very stable, in both hardware and database.

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Consultant at Discount Bank

Nov 27, 2019

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

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AV

System Administrator at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Dec 19, 2019

We had a crash of the backup system and the IBM DB2 was always up and consistent. It's robust, and for us, it was always up and running.

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Department Head of Big Data and Analytic Solutions at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees

Dec 22, 2019

When you submit a ticket the response time is quick.

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Show 10 more reviews (out of 63)

IBM Db2 Database Cons review quotes

Database Manager at a tech company with 51-200 employees

Feb 2, 2013

Learning and understanding DB2 is a difficult process because no more resources are available for knowledge base.

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Developer at a transportation company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Feb 18, 2013

For me and the company that I work for was expensive.

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VP of IT at a financial services firm

Jan 3, 2018

Do not use support. Freely available documentation is a bit weak.

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IBM Db2 Database

Free Report: IBM Db2 Database Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about IBM Db2 Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.

884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

CTO at Jutel

Oct 24, 2018

The initial set up was complex.

Read full review

Business Intelligence Consultant at a university with 10,001+ employees

Aug 8, 2019

I would like to see better support for advanced analytics.

Read full review

EC

Evaristo Carvalho

IT Director at BISTP

Oct 15, 2019

It would be helpful to have more querying tools and more development tools for us to work easily with Microsoft.

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Managing Director, North America at Business Consultants, Inc.

Oct 24, 2019

End-to-end encryption specifically is something the solution needs to have in the next release.

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Consultant at Discount Bank

Nov 27, 2019

The ease of use, or ease of management, could be improved.

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AV

System Administrator at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Dec 19, 2019

The licensing fees can be reduced.

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Department Head of Big Data and Analytic Solutions at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees

Dec 22, 2019

The price should be lower.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 63)

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Product Categories

Product Categories

Relational Databases Tools

Popular Comparisons

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Teradata vs IBM Db2 Database

SQL Server vs IBM Db2 Database

MySQL vs IBM Db2 Database

Oracle Database vs IBM Db2 Database

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