The barrier of entry here for these free SQL licenses can run about $17,500 per year for three years for 50 cores of SQL Server Standard, or $66,750 for 50 cores of SQL Server Enterprise.

SQL Server for Linux is just another example of how Microsoft’s view of competing platforms has changed in recent years. This move would’ve been unthinkable under its former CEO Steve Ballmer.

By comparison, a Standard Azure SQL database (S0 plan, 250GB) costs approximately $15 per month while some high-performance Premium plans command thousands of dollars.