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What Is Microsoft Access?

Database management system that allows users to store and manage data and create database-powered apps.

Who Uses Microsoft Access?

Database management system that allows users to store and manage data and create database-powered apps.

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Microsoft Access Software - Microsoft Access forms
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Reviews of Microsoft Access

Average score

Overall
4.4
Ease of Use
3.9
Customer Service
3.9
Features
4.4
Value for Money
4.2

Reviews by company size (employees)

  • <50
  • 51-200
  • 201-1,000
  • >1,001
Guy
Guy
Director in UK
Verified LinkedIn User
Health, Wellness & Fitness, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

A good database and query solution

4.0 6 months ago

Comments: find for small or quick projects, but sometimes lacking for more complex needs

Pros:

Compatibility and familiarity with all other Microsoft product family

Cons:

feels somewhat less powerful and functional than other database and query engines

Mark
Technical Manager in UK
Facilities Services, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Microsoft Access & SQL

4.0 9 months ago

Comments: In general MS Access is great tool which can be used to manage small company data, reducing the need for lots of spreadsheets.

Pros:

If you are a beginner to database management and dash boards MS Access is a good place to start. It then has the additional features to connect to other databases such as SQL. There are also many customization you can make with VBA.

Cons:

After using Access for many years the updated versions would often have different file types and previous VBA would become redundant. This seems not to be such a problem in recent years.

Kevin
Broker in US
Transportation/Trucking/Railroad, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Evergreen - Access

5.0 3 weeks ago New

Comments: Positive with an improvement in office workflow

Pros:

Access is a full-fledged database program will all of the necessary features

Cons:

Sometimes its a bit difficult to know why an item is ending up in paste-errors.

Kayla
Executive Director in US
Nonprofit Organization Management, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Access is ok for low level needs

1.0 last year

Comments: I did not love our overall experience with Microsoft, I was most happy when we no longer had to use it.

Pros:

It was very intuitive to use and like other microsoft products.

Cons:

The inability to put multiple donations in and have them show when we pulled reports.

Emily
Treasurer in US
Nonprofit Organization Management, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Thank goodness for Microsoft Acces

5.0 2 months ago

Comments: I've had more than 30 years of using it for various business practices. It's the right tool for the job in so many cases.

Pros:

Microsoft Access has been around for more than 30 years for a reason. It's useful and I couldn't do my work without it.

Cons:

It's usable, but complex. Thankful for lots of YouTube videos to help teach me lots of cool solutions for best practices with using Microsoft Access.

Ezra
Owner in UK
Luxury Goods & Jewelry, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Creates Databases with Ease

5.0 5 months ago

Comments: This is by far the hest software for creating databases ive ever used. It helps create databases for medical data entry that companies still use 20 years later.

Pros:

I love how easy it is to create databases for companies with this software. The graphics are awsome and it gives you all the settings and options on a easy to use platform.

Cons:

It sometimes has trouble importing files from other databases not created with Access giving you a mess to clean up.

Mark
Operational Excellence in US
Automotive, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Premier consumer database

4.0 7 months ago

Comments: Absolutely critical to our business and very powerful.

Pros:

Great functionality in helping us create databases as well as workflows with permissions. Can perform and monitor most business functions.

Cons:

Overall user interface is challenging at times and is not a very intuitive learn.

Tonji
Sales in US
Consumer Goods, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Access the list and the report

4.0 3 weeks ago New

Comments: Working with Access can be as small as creating a table listed with names, address, and telephone number to as big as analyzing report information in a big company.

Pros:

It stores, creates reports and tables. It uses tables to store data and you can share the created reports.

Cons:

Limited at working with other databases it has some restrictions.

Rodica
Teacher in Romania
E-Learning, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

A good asset for teachers and students

5.0 6 months ago

Pros:

An easy Database application, for students and teachers. I have used it in my class very efficient.

Cons:

Some features are difficult to find in the beginning, but using it often it gets better and user friendlier.

Joshua
Supervisor in Canada
Construction Software, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

5.0 4 months ago

Comments: So far, I’ve had great experience with this

Pros:

If we have an issue with something, you guys look at and fix it right away

Cons:

We’re still having issues uploading certain items we need

Brian
Owner in US
Retail, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Brian’s Review

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: Overall I recommend this product that I use quite often to everyone and anyone.

Pros:

"It is a viable and strong framework for information assortment and its administration. Simple to utilize and coordinate, you don"t should be a specialist to have the option to overseeing it."

Cons:

"The arrangement of the server was truly extreme. At the point when I needed to set it up on one of my clients' machines, it required me several hours to sort out where libraries were going wrong."

Alaa
Site Engineer in Jordan
Construction Software, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Best solution for small business

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: I found it as the first step to beginning development, it's elementary and straightforward and can automate any procedure or process.

Pros:

Access enables the creation of database-driven applications quickly. It offers pre-built elements like forms and reports that may be readily altered and integrated into the application, as well as templates.

Cons:

Large-scale or enterprise-level data requirements could be difficult for Access to handle, despite the fact that it is appropriate for small to medium-sized databases. Dealing with a large amount of data or complicated queries may cause performance problems.

Aldrin
Mr in Uganda
Architecture & Planning, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

Perfect for Data management file for small to medium type of organization

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: As a newbie learner apps a like tools developer , this apps is for you. Its convenient to use. It needs no enough knowledge in VBA language to develop a simple data system but its compulsory to know programming to have an appealing one. For an office to have a nice office documentation, this is recommended.

Pros:

I like MS office access because its easy to use specially if someone is using a developed system developed by some users for easy functionality. Its good for office documents and reporting. It can handle large data files. For small developers using this software, easy to use and convenient. Not needing more vba knowledge to creates a simple system, Easy to create tables, query, forms and reports. Buttons are ready made. You just need to follow proper clicking of commands to get the right function. More convenient that MS Excel.

Cons:

If not properly setup in a network can affects its full functionality due to overloading of users. It may stop on working and need to restart the software again. It crashes sometimes if not properly handled.

John
John
Database Administrator in Costa Rica
Verified LinkedIn User
Information Technology & Services, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Access for small data apps and reports

4.0 2 years ago

Comments: It works great when it becomes to a quick and small solution.

Pros:

It is available with the Office Suite, so no extra cost. You can have the data and the app, within the same solution. Great for small data handling.

Cons:

Not recommended for big data, or to create a very big application.

Matteo
Product Manager in Italy
Financial Services Software, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Difficult to learn: you need time

2.0 2 years ago

Pros:

Its various functions, like for example the capacity to back up many data

Cons:

The fact that is not so user friendly and so not so intuitive. The first steps are very difficult.

badawy
freelancer in Saudi Arabia
Architecture & Planning, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Review about Microsoft Access

5.0 3 years ago

Comments: I have been working on Microsoft Access since my studies and after graduating from the Urban Planning Department, and I am still practicing it in my job, as it is the rest of the Microsoft group, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, among the programs that are indispensable in many fields.

Pros:

• The main reason may be availability. Microsoft workplace licensing is a should these days and comes with it access. • Most of the time, within the absence of an appropriate information environment, access is incredibly helpful for making a info, which might be simply achieved through an access database with easy queries to extract information. In addition, creating I/O forms makes life a lot of easier to navigate through the database it's very straightforward and intelligible that beginners can handle easily...Where and what will this operate do. • the developer also can use it for his or her own news purposes, it's going to facilitate in data analysis and that they also can work on reporting. • we will even have information during a table format that customers can simply understand. making entity relationship diagrams for multiple tables and creating sample diagrams is incredibly simple

Cons:

• One of the downsides of the program is that with the massive range of information inputs, the applying becomes slower, that ends up in a rise within the time in extracting ANd process data. • Typically it produces a mistake because of an sudden ending that I ne'er understood. • It' not as climbable as alternative enterprise information solutions, though it will still do the task.

Austin
Instrumentation Team Leader in US
Automotive, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Powerful Software - Training Required

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: Overall Access is a feature rich, powerful, versatile solution for database management. To really use the product to its full potential, I would highly recommend some sort of formal training.

Pros:

Microsoft Access is a very powerful database tool. It can be easily implemented into existing systems. The ability to use the same database across multiple platforms is excellent and extremely useful. The data management tools offered are extremely powerful as well.

Cons:

It takes quite some time to get acclimated to the software due to the sheer amount of features that are offered. If users have access to any sort of formal training, it is highly recommended. It is very easy to become overwhelmed and lost when first starting out.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Mental Health Care, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Perfect for Running Reports and Data Analysis

4.0 3 years ago

Comments: I can create quality reports monthly, and I can analyze a lot of data using it. It's helped me with all my clients' projects. Microsoft users should definitely consider this product.

Pros:

It will save you time when creating a system that will only get used on one computer, enabling you to create reports in an easily accessible format. Reports and various forms are available, linked to a programming code using programming languages, and complex arithmetic operations executed using code stored in the application. Also, adding tables and linking them together is very easy.

Cons:

Large amounts of data tend to cause the software to operate slower and it can't be purchased separately.

Jonnadula
Freelancer in India
Computer Software, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Microsoft Access Review of Group Collaboration and User Experience

5.0 3 years ago

Comments: I understood Microsoft access needs a more vigorous arrangement in information capacity regions where its boundaries are surpassed particularly with enormous informational indexes. I have been involving it for SMB data sets and can say it has been a commendable encounter. SMBs upscale their organizations at any point time and their information expands this is where I require some investment of MS Access likewise increments. Which makes me self-conscious in the midst of anxiety. The presentation is impacted over the long run as the information get greater in any event, when put away in the cloud. I would cherish an improvement with stacking time against bigger informational index. Additionally mix of MS access into new innovations like blockchain is important. I'm designing my strategy for getting around utilizing MS Access with blockchain exercises and the advancement has been empowering.

Pros:

Data groups can team up on a data set and tables progressively on the web application. This web Collaboration makes distant information groups profoundly useful without expecting to move out of the internet browser.

Cons:

Data groups can't team up through the work area application. Cooperative suers are exposed to the limit of their internet browsers. The User experience of the web connection point isn't so smooth and pleasant as the work area application which make information the board, storehouses and inquiries somewhat hostile with huge informational index.

Andrew
Web Developer Intern in US
Information Technology & Services, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Excellent product for low-level database management

4.0 2 years ago

Comments: Overall, Microsoft Access provides fast deployment, easy write times, security, and great data managment tools to make our business run efficently.

Pros:

Deployment, write speed, secure access, data managment

Cons:

Pricing can be expensive for small businesses

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Design, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Practical for home or small business use

4.0 3 years ago

Pros:

Great speed compared to Excel. Possibility of relationships between tables, which works very well. Custom reports. The possibility of building forms and transforming the database into a small system. Easy integration via VBA with other Microsoft Office applications.

Cons:

The impossibility of purchasing it separately. Not everyone needs all the tools included in Microsoft Office 365

Shoshana
Senior Human Resource Officer in Jamaica
Banking, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Perfect database for any use

4.0 2 years ago

Pros:

What I like most about the database is its easy interface with other Microsoft products, especially excel and word. I can easily import from either software into the database and set up the database for easy reporting. It transforms data into actually information which can be used to make an actual decision in minutes.

Cons:

It becomes annoying to use when the database exceeds a certain size. Setting up the queries can be too technical for less tech savvy persons.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Research, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Microsoft Access is still relevant in 2021, but only just

3.0 3 years ago

Comments: MS Access is easy to learn; use and get started - which is why it was so popular. It’s fine for hobbies and things but I don’t recommend it for much more. It’s also good as a quick and dirty interface to SQL Server.

Pros:

Access is more than just an RDBMS, it also allows you to build an application around that database. Mostly it is all very dated though, the height of its success being in the late 90s and early 2000s. It does make building a database quite easy and as long as you are using it for what it is meant for, it can still be useful. In my organisation we use it to give researchers read-only access to collected study and clinical trial data in SQL Server.

Cons:

Access is no good for any kind of secure multi-user database, just don’t try. There are much better products out there for that. Really it works well only as a small desktop style database or a quick and dirty front end on SQL Server. I’m r member in the early 2000s when I first started working, a lot of businesses and government agencies used MS Access in ways it shouldn’t have been - they tried to use it as an enterprise system. Big mistake.

matt
Accounts assistant in UK
Accounting Software, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Microsoft Access Review

4.0 2 years ago

Pros:

In my organisation we use access for time management on projects. It is great because it allows all users to input their data and time worked on a project and allows us to monitor time spent.

Cons:

We have issues when multiple people try to enter the program, this sometimes causes loss of data.

Panashe
Freelancer in Australia
Computer Software, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Microsoft Access review

5.0 3 years ago

Comments: Very excellent and the fact that its charged reasonable is good

Pros:

Its easy to configure and use environment The relationship drawing option is very handy in different product development The option to set description in data fields is very useful

Cons:

If they can improve the data security and also overall performance improvement of the ole objects its bit slow

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