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4D vs Claris FileMaker

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. Claris FileMaker: Low-code database app builder for Mac, Windows, iPad and web, owned by Apple's Claris.

key differences

  • Transactions: 4D offers full ACID; Claris FileMaker offers limited.
  • Only 4D has json, stored procedures.
  • Only Claris FileMaker has vector search.

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 filemaker for

  • +Small-business CRM, inventory and job tracking
  • +Departmental apps in schools, labs and nonprofits
  • +iPad field data collection
  • +Replacing spreadsheets with a shared, permissioned app

best at · OLTP, Content, Mobile/offline

4DFrench integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps.
Claris FileMakerLow-code database app builder for Mac, Windows, iPad and web, owned by Apple's Claris.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Object
–
Type
Backend platform
Backend platform
Status
Active
Active
Developer
4D SAS
Claris International (Apple)
First release
1987
1985
Latest version
21 R4 (Oct 12, 2026)
2026 (26.0) (Jun 9, 2026)
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
Free tier
—
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
12.8
31.2
Rank
#261
#80
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
115
1.3K
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
Client server, Embedded
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
FileMaker calculation and script language, SQL (ExecuteSQL, read-oriented)
Client languages
4D, PHP, JavaScript
JavaScript, PHP, Python
Best for
OLTP, Embedded
OLTP, Content, Mobile/offline
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

4D vs Claris FileMaker: FAQ

What is the difference between 4D and Claris FileMaker?

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. Claris FileMaker: Low-code database app builder for Mac, Windows, iPad and web, owned by Apple's Claris. Transactions: 4D offers full ACID; Claris FileMaker offers limited. Only 4D has json, stored procedures. Only Claris FileMaker has vector search.

When should I choose 4D over Claris FileMaker?

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 Claris FileMaker for small-business CRM, inventory and job tracking; departmental apps in schools, labs and nonprofits; and iPad field data collection.

Is 4D or Claris FileMaker more popular?

Claris FileMaker ranks #80 on the WhichDB Score (31.2/100) and 4D ranks #261 (12.8/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are 4D and Claris FileMaker open source?

No. 4D is proprietary, closed-source software. No. Claris FileMaker is proprietary, closed-source software.