SQL Server Developer Edition is a free, full-featured version of Microsoft's database engine, designed specifically for use as a development and test database in a non-production environment. It includes all the functionality of the Enterprise Edition, allowing developers to build and test applications with advanced features like high availability and in-memory performance without the cost of a paid license.
| Feature | Developer Edition | Express Edition | Enterprise (Production) | |---------|------------------|----------------|--------------------------| | | Free | Free | $7,000+ per core | | Max Database Size | 524 PB (theoretical) | 10 GB | Unlimited | | Max Memory | OS Maximum | 1.4 GB | OS Maximum | | Max CPU Cores | OS Maximum | 4 cores | OS Maximum | | Enterprise Features | ✅ All | ❌ None | ✅ All | | Allowed for Production | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
: It is completely free for development and testing purposes.
Have questions about licensing or setup? Drop a comment or reach out to your Microsoft licensing partner for clarity on production use.
The most critical aspect of the Developer Edition is its licensing. While it is from the Microsoft SQL Server Downloads page, it comes with strict usage rights:
: Unlike the Express Edition, Developer includes premium features like Always On Availability Groups, online index operations, and advanced data compression.