Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FileMaker Pro VS SQLite

Compare FileMaker Pro VS SQLite and see what are their differences

FileMaker Pro logo FileMaker Pro

FileMaker Pro Advanced includes all the features of FileMaker Pro plus a set of advanced tools so you can rapidly build powerful custom apps.

SQLite logo SQLite

SQLite Home Page
  • FileMaker Pro Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-21
  • SQLite Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

FileMaker Pro features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    FileMaker Pro features a highly intuitive design with drag-and-drop functionality, making it accessible for users with limited technical skills.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The software is compatible with both macOS and Windows, offering flexibility for users operating on different systems.
  • Customizability
    Users can create highly customized databases suited to their specific needs, from small business operations to larger enterprise solutions.
  • Integration Capabilities
    FileMaker Pro seamlessly integrates with various external applications and services, including APIs, AppleScript, and ODBC/JDBC connectivity.
  • Rapid Development
    The platform enables quick development and deployment of database solutions, which can be a time-saver for businesses needing immediate solutions.
  • Cloud Hosting
    Claris' cloud hosting option provides secure, centralized access to your databases from anywhere, enhancing collaboration and remote work.
  • Strong Community Support
    A large, active community of users and developers provides extensive resources, forums, and third-party plugins to extend functionality.

Possible disadvantages of FileMaker Pro

  • Cost
    FileMaker Pro can be relatively expensive, especially for small businesses or individual users, considering the licensing fees.
  • Limited Scalability
    It may become less efficient for extremely large, enterprise-level databases, making it less suitable for very high-scale operations.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functions are easy to learn, mastering advanced features and scripting can be complex and may require comprehensive training.
  • Proprietary Nature
    FileMaker uses its own proprietary technology, which can make integration with some other systems and platforms more challenging compared to open-standard solutions.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance slowdowns when dealing with very large datasets or numerous concurrent users.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    The mobile version, FileMaker Go, may have limitations compared to the desktop version, particularly in terms of functionality and complexity.

SQLite features and specs

  • Zero Configuration
    SQLite does not require any server setup or configuration, allowing for easy integration and deployment in applications.
  • Lightweight
    It is extremely lightweight, with a small footprint, making it ideal for embedded systems and mobile applications.
  • Self-Contained
    SQLite is self-contained, meaning it has minimal external dependencies, which simplifies its distribution and usage.
  • File-Based Storage
    Data is stored in a single file, which makes it easy to manage and transfer databases as simple files.
  • ACID Compliance
    SQLite supports Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability (ACID) properties, ensuring reliable transactions.
  • Cross-Platform
    SQLite is available on numerous platforms, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, providing a broad compatibility range.
  • Public Domain
    SQLite operates under the public domain, allowing for unrestricted use in commercial and non-commercial applications.

Possible disadvantages of SQLite

  • Limited Scalability
    SQLite is not designed to handle high levels of concurrency and large-scale databases, making it less suitable for large, high-traffic applications.
  • Write Performance
    Write operations can be slower compared to server-based databases, especially under heavy write loads.
  • Lack of Certain Features
    SQLite lacks some advanced features offered by other RDBMS like stored procedures, user-defined functions, and full-text search indexing.
  • Security
    As SQLite is file-based, it might lack some of the security features present in server-based databases, such as sophisticated access control.
  • Concurrency
    SQLite uses a locking mechanism to control access to the database, which can lead to contention and performance bottlenecks in highly concurrent environments.
  • Backup and Restore
    While it's straightforward to copy SQLite database files, it lacks the advanced backup and restore features found in more complex RDBMS.

Analysis of SQLite

Overall verdict

  • SQLite is an excellent choice for a variety of use cases, particularly where ease of use, scalability for smaller applications, and integration simplicity are prioritized. Its robust feature set and extensive community support make it a reliable option for many developers.

Why this product is good

  • SQLite is highly regarded for its efficiency, simplicity, and portability. It is a self-contained, serverless database engine that requires no configuration, making it easy to integrate into applications. Its zero-configuration system and minimal setup offer a lightweight solution that supports complex queries with ACID compliance. SQLite is also used widely due to its high reliability and performance, and it is included by default in several programming environments.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized applications
  • Embedded devices and IoT applications
  • Mobile applications
  • Testing and prototyping
  • Internal or standalone tools and applications
  • Education and learning environments

FileMaker Pro videos

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SQLite videos

SQLite | What, Why , Where

More videos:

  • Review - W20 PROG1442 3.3 UWP sqLite Review
  • Tutorial - How To Create SQLite Databases From Scratch For Beginners - Full Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FileMaker Pro and SQLite)
Databases
16 16%
84% 84
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Relational Databases
0 0%
100% 100
Spreadsheets
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SQLite seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 18 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FileMaker Pro mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of FileMaker Pro yet. Tracking of FileMaker Pro recommendations started around Mar 2021.

SQLite mentions (18)

  • Can I have my Lightroom catalogue pointing at two sources...?
    Yes. A Lightroom catalog file is, after all, just a SQLite database. (Srsly, make a copy of your catalog file, rename it whatever.sqlite and use your favorite SQLite GUI to rip it open and look at the tables and fields). It's just storing the pathame to the RAW file for that file's record in the database. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Building a database to search Excel files
    I use visidata with a playback script I recorded to open the sheet to a specific Excel tab, add a column, save the sheet as a csv file. Then I have a sqlite script that takes the csv file and puts it in a database, partitioned by monthYear. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Saw this on my friends Snapchat story, this hurts my heart
    Use the most-used database in the world: https://sqlite.org/index.html. Source: over 2 years ago
  • "Managing" a SQLite Database with J (Part 2)
    With this in mind, I wrote a few versions of this post, but I hated them all. Then I realized that jodliterate PDF documents mostly do what I want. So, instead of rewriting MirrorXref.pdf, I will make a few comments about jodliterate group documents in general. If you're interested in using SQLite with J, download the self-contained GitHub files MirrorXref.ijs and MirrorXref.pdf and have a look. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • "Managing" a SQLite Database with J (Part 1)
    SQLite, by many estimates, is the most widely deployed SQL database system on Earth. It's everywhere. It's in your phone, your laptop, your cameras, your car, your cloud, and your breakfast cereal. SQLite's global triumph is a gratifying testament to the virtues of technical excellence and the philosophy of "less is more.". - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing FileMaker Pro and SQLite, you can also consider the following products

Zoho Creator - Zoho Creator is a low-code application development platform that helps you build a custom, mobile-ready apps to run your business.

PostgreSQL - PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system.

SoftMaker Office - SoftMaker Office is one of the most powerful and reliable office suite that is fully compatible with the MS Office Suite.

MySQL - The world's most popular open source database

Apache OpenOffice - Apache OpenOffice is an open source, office document productivity suite.

Microsoft SQL - Microsoft SQL is a best in class relational database management software that facilitates the database server to provide you a primary function to store and retrieve data.