--- title: SQL Server Management Studio canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/sql-server-management-studio/ category: Database Client Software points: 56 rank: 11 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # SQL Server Management Studio Free Windows-only client for SQL Server and Azure SQL, with no support for other engines. 56 points out of 100. #11 of 12 database clients. Vendor: Microsoft. Website: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/ - SSMS is free for personal or enterprise use [1]. - It runs on Windows only; Microsoft's FAQ says there is no macOS version [1]. - Its engine list covers SQL Server, Azure SQL, Synapse and Fabric SQL, and no PostgreSQL, MySQL or Oracle [3]. - Schema Compare needs SSMS 22.7 or later [5]. - Release 22.10.2 is dated 28 September 2026 [4]. Verdict: SSMS suits anyone who works only with SQL Server or Azure SQL and wants a free tool with plans, diagrams and schema compare [1][5][8][9]. It scores low on the engine lines by design, because it connects only to Microsoft engines [3]. The catch: Windows only, closed source, and the Copilot assistant is a separate install [1]. Best for: SQL Server and Azure SQL administrators and developers on Windows. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | None | 0/6 | The FAQ says SSMS is available only for Windows; system requirements list only Windows versions [1][2]. | | Databases | Main SQL engines | SQL Server | 3/15 | Supported engines are SQL Server and Microsoft cloud SQL services such as Azure SQL and Synapse [3]. | | Databases | NoSQL and cloud engines | None | 0/8 | The engine list names only Microsoft SQL engines, none of the four we count [3]. | | Databases | JDBC or ODBC drivers | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's components page [3]; ODBC appears only in the import and export wizard [7]. | | Connections and trust | SSH tunnel | Not published | 0/8 | Not published on the vendor's FAQ or components pages [1][3]. | | Connections and trust | Open-source apps | No | 0/6 | The FAQ asks if SSMS is open source and answers no [1]. | | Connections and trust | Recent release | Yes | 3/3 | Release notes show 22.10.2, released 28 September 2026 [4]. | | Tools | SQL code completion | Yes | 4/4 | The FAQ lists IntelliSense and keyword completion in the query editor [1]. | | Tools | Visual query builder | Yes | 3/3 | Microsoft says SSMS includes visual designers for building Transact-SQL queries [8]. | | Tools | ER diagrams | Yes | 4/4 | Microsoft says SSMS includes visual designers for diagramming databases; the FAQ mentions database diagrams [8][1]. | | Tools | Schema or data compare | Yes | 4/4 | Schema Compare compares databases, .dacpac files and projects; it needs SSMS 22.7 or later [5]. | | Tools | Import from CSV or Excel | Yes | 4/4 | The Import Flat File wizard loads .csv and .txt files into a new table [6]. | | Tools | Export formats | CSV, Excel, JSON | 3/3 | The FAQ says results save as CSV. Release 22.4.1 added Excel, JSON, Markdown and XML as formats for saving grid results [1][4]. | | Tools | Query plan viewer | Yes | 4/4 | Docs show graphical actual execution plans in the results pane [9]. | | Tools | AI assistant | Yes | 3/3 | Release notes of 18 March 2026 say GitHub Copilot in SSMS is generally available. Some overview pages still say Preview [4][10]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 6/6 | The FAQ says SSMS is free for personal or enterprise use [1]. | | Price | Perpetual licence | Yes | 5/5 | The app is entirely free [1]. | | Price | Cheapest paid plan | $0 | 10/10 | Free for personal or enterprise use [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | SSMS | Free [1] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free for personal or enterprise use [1]. - Includes schema compare, database diagrams, a visual query designer and graphical execution plans [5][8][9]. - Imports CSV and text files with a wizard, and the import and export wizard handles Excel [6][7]. - GitHub Copilot in SSMS became generally available in March 2026 [4]. - Gets frequent releases; 22.10.2 is dated 28 September 2026 [4]. ## Limits - Runs on Windows only [1][2]. - Works with Microsoft SQL engines only [3]. - Not open source [1]. - GitHub Copilot is a separate component that is not installed by default and needs a GitHub sign-in [1][10]. ## Sources 1. [SQL Server Management Studio frequently asked questions](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/faq), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [System requirements for SQL Server Management Studio](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/system-requirements), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Components and features](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/components-features), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio 22](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/release-notes-22), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Schema Compare in SQL Server Management Studio](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/schema-compare), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Import Flat File to SQL](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/import-export/import-flat-file-wizard), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Import and export data with the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/integration-services/import-export-data/import-and-export-data-with-the-sql-server-import-and-export-wizard), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Visual Database Tools](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/visual-db-tools/visual-database-tools), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Display an actual execution plan](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/performance/display-an-actual-execution-plan), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Get started with GitHub Copilot in SQL Server Management Studio](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/github-copilot/get-started), Microsoft Learn, accessed 2026-10-08