Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Standard Core License Download

Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Standard Core License is a digital-download license for running SQL Server 2025 Standard on a per-core basis. It suits production databases, business applications and data services where user counts are high or hard to predict.

Why Per-Core Licensing?

• No CALs: unlimited users and devices can connect
• Simple to size around your server or virtual machine
• Scales as your hardware grows

What SQL Server 2025 Standard Offers

• Relational database engine with T-SQL, JSON and modern data types
• Built-in vector data support for AI-enabled apps
• Reporting, backup, encryption and high-availability features suitable for mid-size workloads
• Integration with Excel, Power BI and Azure

Sizing Reminder

• SQL Server core licenses require a minimum of 4 cores per server or VM
• Count the virtual cores allocated to the VM, or the physical cores on the host

Standard or Enterprise?

Standard covers most departmental and mid-size workloads. Choose Enterprise for very large databases and advanced high-availability needs.