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VERDICT

Should I use Global Pricing and Licensing | Oracle?

Not disclosed - oracle.com

Depends. Only large enterprises with dedicated license admins and real negotiation leverage should buy Oracle software. Small teams and simple apps should use Postgres, MySQL, or a managed cloud database instead.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 14 public sources; no independent product reviews found, so user-experience scores are omitted or cautious.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo support evidence in sources
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Oracle Cloud Free Tier

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Enterprise licensesPer published price list, then negotiated

Best for

  • Large enterprises with license-admin teams
  • Big orgs with negotiation leverage
  • Regulated industries needing hardened databases

Not for

  • Startups and small teams
  • Anyone wanting simple, predictable pricing
  • Simple apps — use Postgres instead

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Licensing is a maze; even forum regulars tell you to study the price list first

medium

Core-count rules can multiply license costs on modern multi-core hardware

medium

Published prices are list prices; actual costs come from private negotiation

medium

License metrics vary by product — per-core, named-user, cloud credits — easy to miscount

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Publishes public price lists for most products
  • Named Leader in 2025 KuppingerCole Data Security Compass
  • Deep database security: encryption, data masking, auditing, privileged-access controls
  • Software Investment Guide explains licensing options in detail

Cons

  • Users describe the licensing model as a maze
  • Dedicated License Management Services exist because licensing is that complex
  • Historically charged per core, inflating costs on multi-core servers
  • Buyers routinely argue over price-list line items; compliance guides exist for this

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/22/2026 - 10 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed. Oracle markets a security-first approach and leads the 2025 KuppingerCole Data Security Compass.

official x3review x2security x1news x4

Key stats

  • Value for money: 2/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 2/5. Licensing maze; real prices live behind negotiation
  • Ease of use: 2/5. Users call the licensing model a maze
  • Feature depth: 5/5. Huge catalog, deep database security controls
  • Support quality. No support evidence in sources
  • Security posture: 5/5. 2025 KuppingerCole Leader for data security
  • Leader KuppingerCole standing 2025 Data Security Platforms Compass
  • Yes Public price lists Most Oracle products listed
  • Yes Free tier Oracle Cloud Free Tier
  • 1977 Founded Legacy enterprise vendor

Pricing

Oracle Cloud Free Tier

Free

  • Limited cloud services at no cost

Enterprise licenses

Per published price list, then negotiated

  • Per-core or named-user metrics
  • Discounts via sales negotiation

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

Oracle markets a security-first approach and leads the 2025 KuppingerCole Data Security Compass.

What users say

No independent reviews found; forum users consistently flag licensing complexity.

“Oracle Licensing model is a maze, I would advise...”
Oracle Forums user
Full analysis

Based on 14 public sources; no independent product reviews found, so user-experience scores are omitted or cautious.

A price list, not a product. Oracle licensing is a maze for enterprises with procurement muscle — small teams, walk away.

Methodology

Based on 14 public sources; no independent product reviews found, so user-experience scores are omitted or cautious.

Sources

  1. Oracle Global Pricing and Licensing (Japanese pricing FAQ)oracle.com
    official
  2. Oracle Security, Identity, and Complianceoracle.com
    security
  3. Does Oracle publish its price lists? - Remendremend.com
    news
  4. Oracle Price List PDF: How to Read and Cite It - Redress Complianceredresscompliance.com
    news
  5. Discoverer 11g Licensing - Oracle Forumsforums.oracle.com
    review
  6. Licensing with Oracle RAC - Spiceworks Communitycommunity.spiceworks.com
    review
  7. Oracle Charges Premium For Dual-Core Software - Forbesforbes.com
    news
  8. Oracle Software Investment Guide (PDF)certificacaobd.com.br
    official
  9. Oracle Software Investment Guide: transparent view - Scoop Newsm.scoop.co.nz
    news
  10. Oracle Site Map (License Management Services)oracle.com
    official

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