whichdb
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CastleDB vs SQLite

CastleDB: Structured static database for game data: spreadsheet-style editor, typed sheets and diff-friendly JSON. SQLite: The in-process SQL engine that ships in every phone, browser and OS: one file, zero servers.

key differences

  • CastleDB is primarily a document database; SQLite is relational.
  • Transactions: CastleDB offers none ACID; SQLite offers full.
  • Only SQLite has transactions, joins, secondary indexes, full-text search, triggers.

choose castledb for

  • +Game design data such as items, monsters and quests
  • +Level and tile map authoring for Heaps games
  • +Version-controlled reference data edited by non-programmers

best at · Embedded, Content, Coordination

choose sqlite for

  • +Mobile and desktop application storage
  • +Embedded devices and IoT
  • +Local-first apps and offline caches
  • +Test fixtures and data interchange files

best at · Embedded, Mobile/offline, Edge

CastleDBStructured static database for game data: spreadsheet-style editor, typed sheets and diff-friendly JSON.
SQLiteThe in-process SQL engine that ships in every phone, browser and OS: one file, zero servers.
overview
Primary model
Document
Relational
Also supports
–
Document
Type
Embedded library
Embedded library
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Nicolas Cannasse
D. Richard Hipp / Hwaci (SQLite Consortium)
First release
2012
2000
Latest version
1.6.0 (Apr 9, 2018)
3.54.1 (Oct 16, 2026)
License
Open source (permissive)ISC License
Open source (permissive)Public Domain
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
2.3
75.5
Rank
#480
#5
GitHub stars
611
10.8K
Stack Overflow questions
–
94.9K
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
None
ACID
None
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Strict
Flexible
Architecture
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
Haxe API
SQL
Client languages
Haxe
C, Python, Java, JavaScript, Go, Rust, C#, Swift
Best for
Embedded, Content, Coordination
Embedded, Mobile/offline, Edge, Local-first
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

CastleDB vs SQLite: FAQ

What is the difference between CastleDB and SQLite?

CastleDB: Structured static database for game data: spreadsheet-style editor, typed sheets and diff-friendly JSON. SQLite: The in-process SQL engine that ships in every phone, browser and OS: one file, zero servers. CastleDB is primarily a document database; SQLite is relational. Transactions: CastleDB offers none ACID; SQLite offers full. Only SQLite has transactions, joins, secondary indexes, full-text search, triggers.

When should I choose CastleDB over SQLite?

Choose CastleDB for game design data such as items, monsters and quests; level and tile map authoring for Heaps games; and version-controlled reference data edited by non-programmers. Choose SQLite for mobile and desktop application storage; embedded devices and IoT; and local-first apps and offline caches.

Is CastleDB or SQLite more popular?

SQLite ranks #5 on the WhichDB Score (75.5/100) and CastleDB ranks #480 (2.3/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are CastleDB and SQLite open source?

Yes. CastleDB is open source. License: ISC License. Yes. SQLite is open source. License: Public Domain.