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4D vs DataEase

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. DataEase: 1980s PC relational database and RAD tool, still sold today with builds for legacy DOS and Windows apps.

key differences

  • Transactions: 4D offers full ACID; DataEase offers limited.
  • Only 4D has transactions, full-text search, json, triggers, stored procedures.
  • 4D can run embedded in your application process.

choose 4d for

  • +Vertical ISV business applications for SMBs
  • +Desktop client/server apps on mixed Mac and Windows fleets
  • +Internal line-of-business tools with REST integrations

best at · OLTP, Embedded

choose dataease for

  • +Keeping legacy DataEase for DOS or Windows applications running
  • +Small departmental database applications built without coding

best at · OLTP

4DFrench integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps.
DataEase1980s PC relational database and RAD tool, still sold today with builds for legacy DOS and Windows apps.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Object
–
Type
Backend platform
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
4D SAS
DataEase (Sapphire International)
First release
1987
1981
Latest version
21 R4 (Oct 12, 2026)
LegEasy 9 LE9.7441 (pre-release) (Jul 17, 2026)
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryCommercial license
Free tier
—
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
12.8
6.6
Rank
#261
#358
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
115
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
None
ACID
Full
Limited
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Strict
Strict
Architecture
Client server, Embedded
Single node, Client server
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
✓
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
–
–
capabilities
Transactions
✓
—
Joins
✓
✓
Secondary indexes
✓
✓
Full-text search
✓
—
Vector search
—
—
Geospatial
—
—
JSON
✓
—
Change data capture
—
—
Triggers
✓
—
Stored procedures
✓
—
Materialized views
—
—
TTL / expiry
—
—
Pub/Sub
—
—
Columnar storage
—
—
In-memory
—
—
Durable persistence
✓
✓
Compression
—
—
Encryption at rest
✓
—
Role-based access
✓
✓
Time travel
—
—
Branching
—
—
Online schema changes
—
—
Streaming ingest
—
—
Offline sync
—
—
Runs in WebAssembly
—
—
interfaces
Query languages
4D language, ORDA queries, SQL
DQL
Client languages
4D, PHP, JavaScript
–
Best for
OLTP, Embedded
OLTP
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4D vs DataEase: FAQ

What is the difference between 4D and DataEase?

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. DataEase: 1980s PC relational database and RAD tool, still sold today with builds for legacy DOS and Windows apps. Transactions: 4D offers full ACID; DataEase offers limited. Only 4D has transactions, full-text search, json, triggers, stored procedures. 4D can run embedded in your application process.

When should I choose 4D over DataEase?

Choose 4D for vertical ISV business applications for SMBs; desktop client/server apps on mixed Mac and Windows fleets; and internal line-of-business tools with REST integrations. Choose DataEase for keeping legacy DataEase for DOS or Windows applications running and small departmental database applications built without coding.

Is 4D or DataEase more popular?

4D ranks #261 on the WhichDB Score (12.8/100) and DataEase ranks #358 (6.6/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are 4D and DataEase open source?

No. 4D is proprietary, closed-source software. No. DataEase is proprietary, closed-source software. License: Commercial license.