whichdb
vs

4D vs Progress OpenEdge

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. Progress OpenEdge: Integrated RDBMS plus ABL 4GL application platform behind thousands of ERP and vertical business apps.

key differences

  • Progress OpenEdge is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than 4D (≤ 100 GB).
  • Only 4D has json.
  • Only Progress OpenEdge has change data capture, online schema changes.
  • 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 progress-openedge for

  • +Running ERP, distribution and manufacturing packages built on OpenEdge
  • +Modernising ABL apps behind REST APIs with PASOE
  • +ISV vertical applications sold to SMBs

best at · OLTP

4DFrench integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps.
Progress OpenEdgeIntegrated RDBMS plus ABL 4GL application platform behind thousands of ERP and vertical business apps.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Object
–
Type
Backend platform
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
4D SAS
Progress Software
First release
1987
1984
Latest version
21 R4 (Oct 12, 2026)
13.0 (Feb 10, 2026)
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
Free tier
—
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
12.8
20.4
Rank
#261
#157
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
115
1.5K
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
Read replicas
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Strict
Strict
Architecture
Client server, Embedded
Client server, Primary replica
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
ABL (Advanced Business Language), SQL-92
Client languages
4D, PHP, JavaScript
ABL, Java, C#, C
Best for
OLTP, Embedded
OLTP
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

4D vs Progress OpenEdge: FAQ

What is the difference between 4D and Progress OpenEdge?

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. Progress OpenEdge: Integrated RDBMS plus ABL 4GL application platform behind thousands of ERP and vertical business apps. Progress OpenEdge is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than 4D (≤ 100 GB). Only 4D has json. Only Progress OpenEdge has change data capture, online schema changes.

When should I choose 4D over Progress OpenEdge?

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 Progress OpenEdge for running ERP, distribution and manufacturing packages built on OpenEdge; modernising ABL apps behind REST APIs with PASOE; and ISV vertical applications sold to SMBs.

Is 4D or Progress OpenEdge more popular?

Progress OpenEdge ranks #157 on the WhichDB Score (20.4/100) and 4D ranks #261 (12.8/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are 4D and Progress OpenEdge open source?

No. 4D is proprietary, closed-source software. No. Progress OpenEdge is proprietary, closed-source software.