whichdb
vs

4D vs Microsoft Access

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. Microsoft Access: Desktop database and forms builder bundled with Microsoft 365; still everywhere in back offices.

key differences

  • Transactions: 4D offers full ACID; Microsoft Access offers limited.
  • Only 4D has full-text search, json, stored procedures, role-based access.

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 microsoft-access for

  • +Small departmental tracking apps
  • +Front ends over SQL Server tables
  • +Ad hoc data cleanup and reporting by analysts
  • +Maintaining existing business-critical .accdb apps

best at · OLTP, Embedded

4DFrench integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps.
Microsoft AccessDesktop database and forms builder bundled with Microsoft 365; still everywhere in back offices.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Object
–
Type
Backend platform
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
4D SAS
Microsoft
First release
1987
1992
Latest version
21 R4 (Oct 12, 2026)
2024 (LTSC) / Microsoft 365 (Oct 1, 2024)
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
Free tier
—
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
12.8
45.8
Rank
#261
#37
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
115
57.8K
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
Embedded, Single node
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
Access SQL (ACE/Jet SQL), VBA
Client languages
4D, PHP, JavaScript
C#, VBA, Python, Java
Best for
OLTP, Embedded
OLTP, Embedded
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

4D vs Microsoft Access: FAQ

What is the difference between 4D and Microsoft Access?

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. Microsoft Access: Desktop database and forms builder bundled with Microsoft 365; still everywhere in back offices. Transactions: 4D offers full ACID; Microsoft Access offers limited. Only 4D has full-text search, json, stored procedures, role-based access.

When should I choose 4D over Microsoft Access?

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 Microsoft Access for small departmental tracking apps; front ends over SQL Server tables; and ad hoc data cleanup and reporting by analysts.

Is 4D or Microsoft Access more popular?

Microsoft Access ranks #37 on the WhichDB Score (45.8/100) and 4D ranks #261 (12.8/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are 4D and Microsoft Access open source?

No. 4D is proprietary, closed-source software. No. Microsoft Access is proprietary, closed-source software.