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Instant Activation
SQL Server 2016 Standard
Microsoft · SQL Server
The release that introduced Query Store, temporal tables and native JSON support, in extended support until July 2026.
- Platform
- Windows Server
- License Type
- Perpetual, single server
- Edition
- Standard
- Delivery
- Digital key by email
- Servers
- 1 server
Pricing
$4.70one-time
Covers 1 device.
- Not currently self-service — we confirm price and availability before you pay
- Activated automatically after checkout
- Delivery: Digital key by email
- License Type: Perpetual, single server
- Activation: Online activation
- Payment handled by the payment provider
Prices exclude any applicable tax. Licenses are issued to the account used at checkout.
Overview
SQL Server 2016 Standard introduced several features that are now routine in day-to-day database work: Query Store, which records execution plans and runtime statistics so a regression can be found and forced back to a known-good plan; temporal tables, which keep a system-versioned history of every row; and native JSON parsing in T-SQL. Service Pack 1 moved a large set of programmability features — columnstore indexes, table partitioning, data compression and Always Encrypted — down into the Standard edition. Extended support ends in July 2026.
Features
Query Store
Retains execution plans and runtime statistics so a plan regression can be identified and forced.
Temporal tables
System-versioned tables keep the full history of every row and query it as of any point in time.
Native JSON support
Parses and generates JSON in T-SQL with FOR JSON, OPENJSON and the JSON_VALUE functions.
Row-level security and data masking
Predicate-based row filtering and dynamic masking of sensitive columns, in every edition from SP1.
License details
- Platform
- Windows Server
- License Type
- Perpetual, single server
- Edition
- Standard
- Delivery
- Digital key by email
- Servers
- 1 server
- Support
- Extended support until 14 July 2026
- Activation
- Online activation
- Compute Limit
- 4 sockets or 24 cores, whichever is lower
- Buffer Pool Memory
- 128 GB per instance
- Database Size
- 524 PB maximum
- CALs
- Client Access Licenses sold separately
System requirements
Operating system
- Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016 or later
- Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 or later
Hardware
- x64 processor, 1.4 GHz or faster
- 1 GB RAM minimum, 4 GB recommended
- 6 GB available disk space
- NTFS or ReFS file system
Software
- .NET Framework 4.6 or later
- Windows PowerShell 3.0 or later
Licensing
- One key activates one server
- Client Access Licenses are sold separately under the Server + CAL model
- Per-core licensing is a separate volume agreement and is not this key
Installation
The installation media is downloaded from the Microsoft Evaluation Center or Volume Licensing Service Center, and the supplied key is entered during setup to install the Standard edition rather than the evaluation build.
Frequently asked questions
How long is SQL Server 2016 supported?
Mainstream support ended on 13 July 2021. Extended support ends on 14 July 2026, after which no further security updates are published without an Extended Security Update agreement.
Do I need Service Pack 1?
For the Standard edition it matters: SP1 moved columnstore indexes, table partitioning, data compression and Always Encrypted into Standard. Without it those remain Enterprise-only.
What is the difference between Standard and Enterprise?
Standard covers the database engine, Integration Services, Reporting Services and basic high availability. Enterprise removes the compute and memory ceilings and adds online index operations, table partitioning at scale, and advanced availability groups. Standard is capped at 128 GB of buffer pool memory per instance.
Do I need Client Access Licenses as well?
Under the Server + CAL model every user or device connecting to the server needs a CAL. CALs are not included with this key and are purchased separately.
Can I install it on more than one server?
No. One key activates one server. Additional servers need additional licenses.
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