SQL Server 2008 R2 Express with Advanced Services is an extended version of the free edition of the Microsoft database server. It contains full functionality of SQL Server 2008 R2 Express and is available under the same license terms. In addition, it integrates the management tool SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio Express, available as a separate add-on, and - what is much more important - has been extended by the ability to execute full-text queries working on text data stored in tables (which enables quick and advanced searches) and to generate statements and reports based on SQL Server Reporting Services.

Some replication functionality is also available (including the role of the subscriber). R2 version (or "Release 2") is a refreshed edition of SQL Server 2008. The most important innovation is to increase the size of the database from 4 GB to 10 GB (free version limitation).

In addition, there are PowerPivot add-ons for SharePoint and Excel and SQL Server Utility, which now provides a central repository of performance data and management policies. R2 version also supports Extended Protection mode to prevent attacks during authentication in Reporting Services. The reporting services themselves have also been refreshed and offer, among others, new types of charts and diagrams, extended caching options, improved integration with SharePoint and SQL Azure websites.