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4D vs R:BASE

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. R:BASE: Windows desktop relational database and 4GL app builder, sold continuously since the 1980s; now at R:BASE 11.

key differences

  • Only 4D has full-text search, json, encryption at rest.
  • 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 r-base for

  • +Small-business and departmental line-of-business applications
  • +Maintaining long-running R:BASE applications
  • +Desktop data entry and reporting tools

best at · OLTP, Embedded

4DFrench integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps.
R:BASEWindows desktop relational database and 4GL app builder, sold continuously since the 1980s; now at R:BASE 11.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Object
–
Type
Backend platform
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
4D SAS
R:BASE Technologies, Inc.
First release
1987
1983
Latest version
21 R4 (Oct 12, 2026)
11 Update 3 (11.0.3.20611) (Jun 11, 2026)
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryProprietary
Free tier
—
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
12.8
4.4
Rank
#261
#409
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
Full
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
SQL, R:BASE 4GL
Client languages
4D, PHP, JavaScript
–
Best for
OLTP, Embedded
OLTP, Embedded
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

4D vs R:BASE: FAQ

What is the difference between 4D and R:BASE?

4D: French integrated database and app-development platform for desktop, client/server and web apps. R:BASE: Windows desktop relational database and 4GL app builder, sold continuously since the 1980s; now at R:BASE 11. Only 4D has full-text search, json, encryption at rest. 4D can run embedded in your application process.

When should I choose 4D over R:BASE?

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 R:BASE for small-business and departmental line-of-business applications; maintaining long-running R:BASE applications; and desktop data entry and reporting tools.

Is 4D or R:BASE more popular?

4D ranks #261 on the WhichDB Score (12.8/100) and R:BASE ranks #409 (4.4/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are 4D and R:BASE open source?

No. 4D is proprietary, closed-source software. No. R:BASE is proprietary, closed-source software.