Top 5 Microsoft MDS Replacements in 2026
Microsoft dropped Master Data Services from SQL Server 2025. SQL Server 2022 mainstream support ends July 2028 — that is your real deadline. Here are the five best replacements, with honest pricing and a clear recommendation.
Try Primentra free — 60-day trialMDS Replacements at a Glance
| Platform | Annual cost | Deployment | Setup time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primentra | €7,500/year | On-premise (SQL Server) | < 1 hour |
| Profisee | €30,000–150,000+/year | Cloud or on-premise | 2–6 months |
| Semarchy xDM | €20,000–80,000+/year | Cloud or on-premise | 2–6 months |
| Microsoft Dataverse / Power Apps | Power Platform licensing required | Cloud (Microsoft hosted) | 1–4 months |
| SQL Spreads | From ~€1,500/year | Excel Add-in (SQL Server backend) | < 1 day |
The 5 Best Microsoft MDS Alternatives
Primentra
Best overall MDS replacement for mid-market teams
Primentra is the closest like-for-like replacement for Microsoft MDS — same SQL Server foundation, modern UI, and a built-in migration wizard that imports your existing MDS models in minutes. It covers entities, hierarchies, domain references, approval workflows, and integration views at a flat €7,500/year with unlimited users.
Profisee
Best for large enterprises on the Microsoft stack
Profisee is an enterprise MDM platform with deep Microsoft integration, match-and-merge, and advanced data stewardship workflows. Well suited for large organizations on Azure and SQL Server with complex governance needs. Expensive to license and requires a 2–6 month implementation with certified partners.
Semarchy xDM
Best for agile, cloud-first MDM
Semarchy xDM is an agile MDM platform with a modern interface and a flexible data model. Cloud-first and more user-friendly than traditional enterprise MDM tools. Does not run natively on SQL Server and does not include an MDS migration wizard — teams migrating from MDS need to plan a manual data migration.
Microsoft Dataverse / Power Apps
Best for organizations already in the Power Platform
Microsoft Dataverse (part of Power Apps and Dynamics 365) can serve as a structured data store with governance features. It stays within the Microsoft ecosystem and integrates with Power BI and Azure. Requires Power Platform licensing, is cloud-only, and is not a purpose-built MDM replacement — governance capabilities are limited compared to dedicated MDM tools.
SQL Spreads
Best for Excel-based reference data entry
SQL Spreads is an Excel Add-in that lets users read and write directly to SQL Server tables through a familiar spreadsheet interface. It is not a full MDM platform — there are no approval workflows, no hierarchy management, and no structured governance model. A practical option for simple reference data entry by small teams with minimal governance requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Microsoft MDS replacement in 2026?
For teams migrating from Microsoft MDS, Primentra is the closest like-for-like replacement. It runs on the same SQL Server infrastructure, includes a built-in migration wizard, and covers the reference data management use cases most MDS teams relied on — at €7,500/year flat. Enterprise teams with complex match-and-merge needs should evaluate Profisee or Semarchy xDM.
Why was Microsoft MDS removed from SQL Server 2025?
Microsoft removed Master Data Services from SQL Server 2025 as part of a broader product rationalization. MDS is still available in SQL Server 2022, but mainstream support for SQL Server 2022 ends July 9, 2028 — after that, organizations running MDS are on unsupported software. The recommended action is to migrate before upgrading SQL Server.
Is there a self-hosted MDS replacement?
Yes. Primentra is a self-hosted MDM platform that runs on your own SQL Server instance — the same infrastructure that MDS used. Your data stays on your own servers with no cloud dependency. This is the closest architectural match to Microsoft MDS.
How long does it take to migrate from MDS to Primentra?
Most teams complete the migration in under an hour. Primentra's built-in migration wizard exports your MDS models with a single SQL query and imports them — entities, attributes, hierarchies, and domain values — in minutes. You can run both systems in parallel during validation before cutover.
Can I use Dataverse or Power Apps instead of MDS?
Dataverse can store structured data and offers some governance features, but it is not a purpose-built MDM platform. It requires Power Platform licensing, is cloud-only, and lacks the structured approval workflows, hierarchy management, and integration views that MDS provided. For teams that need a direct governance replacement, a dedicated MDM tool is a stronger choice.
Ready to migrate from MDS?
Primentra includes a built-in MDS migration wizard. Export your models with one SQL query, import into Primentra in minutes, and run both systems in parallel until you are ready to cut over.