Microsoft Access review
A mature Windows database builder for relational apps, automation, and SQL-connected workflows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Microsoft Access is a Windows desktop database application for creating and sharing custom business database apps. It suits Windows users who need structured relational data, configurable interfaces, and business workflows without starting from a blank programming project. Teams can build from templates or from scratch, using tables, relationships, queries, forms, reports, macros, and VBA customization. Access also supports connections to external data sources and can link a desktop front end to SQL Server or Azure SQL.
Pricing is tied to Microsoft 365 subscriptions or a separate Access 2024 one-time purchase. According to the published Microsoft 365 plans, Microsoft 365 Apps for business costs $10 per user per month with annual billing and includes desktop Microsoft 365 apps, 1 TB of cloud storage per user, availability for up to 300 employees, and Microsoft Access. Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes desktop, web, and mobile Microsoft 365 apps, 1 TB of cloud storage per user, and Access, although a price is not specified here. The subscription route makes sense for organizations already standardizing on Microsoft 365, while the one-time purchase may suit a Windows user seeking a standalone desktop option.
Its strongest fit is a traditional database workflow: relational tables with referential integrity, queries for combining data, forms for record editing, reports with grouping and totals, and macros or VBA for automation. SQL Server, Azure SQL, ODBC data sources, and SharePoint extend its ecosystem, while DAO and ADO provide programming interfaces. The trade-off is platform and architecture: Microsoft states that Access is available for PC only, and the product is primarily locally installed rather than cloud-native. User-level permissions are documented for earlier .mdb and .ade formats, while those controls are unavailable in newer .accdb and .accde formats. Choose Access for Windows-based business databases and SQL-connected front ends; choose an alternative if cross-platform or cloud-native workflows are central.
Microsoft Access pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Relational tables, queries, forms, reports, and referential integrity
- VBA, macros, DAO, and ADO support for customization and automation
- Connects to SQL Server, Azure SQL, ODBC sources, and SharePoint
- Where it doesn't
- Windows-only availability limits cross-platform deployment
- Locally installed design is less cloud-native than newer no-code tools
- Permission controls differ between older and newer Access file formats
Microsoft Access fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update