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InterSystems IRIS vs OpenQM

InterSystems IRIS: Multi-model data platform (SQL, objects, globals, vectors) with built-in interoperability, big in healthcare. OpenQM: Compact MultiValue (Pick) database from Ladybridge, once GPL-licensed, now Rocket's entry-level MV product.

key differences

  • InterSystems IRIS is primarily a relational database; OpenQM is multivalue (Pick).
  • InterSystems IRIS is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than OpenQM (≤ 100 GB).
  • Horizontal scaling is native in InterSystems IRIS and none in OpenQM.
  • Transactions: InterSystems IRIS offers full ACID; OpenQM offers limited.
  • Only InterSystems IRIS has joins, full-text search, vector search, json, stored procedures.

choose intersystems-iris for

  • +Electronic health records and hospital information systems
  • +Health information exchanges and FHIR servers
  • +High-throughput financial transaction processing
  • +Supply-chain and logistics platforms needing integration plus analytics

best at · OLTP, HTAP, Real-time analytics

choose openqm for

  • +Hosting small Pick-based business applications
  • +Migrating off ageing Pick systems to commodity servers
  • +Learning the MultiValue model

best at · OLTP

InterSystems IRISMulti-model data platform (SQL, objects, globals, vectors) with built-in interoperability, big in healthcare.
OpenQMCompact MultiValue (Pick) database from Ladybridge, once GPL-licensed, now Rocket's entry-level MV product.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Multivalue (Pick)
Also supports
Object, Document, Key-Value, Multivalue (Pick), Vector
–
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
InterSystems Corporation
Rocket Software (originally Ladybridge Systems)
First release
2018
1993
Latest version
2026.2 (CD) (Jul 22, 2026)
–
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryProprietary (historic GPLv2 community edition)
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
13.3
0.2
Rank
#253
#670
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
42
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
Native
None
Multi-region
Read replicas
None
ACID
Full
Limited
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Flexible
Flexible
Architecture
Client server, Primary replica, Distributed
Client server, Single node
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
✓
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
—
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
AWS, Azure, Google Cloud
–
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
SQL, ObjectScript, Python (Embedded)
QMBasic, QM query language
Client languages
Java, C#, Python, JavaScript, C++
C, Python, C#, Java
Best for
OLTP, HTAP, Real-time analytics, Vector search
OLTP
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

InterSystems IRIS vs OpenQM: FAQ

What is the difference between InterSystems IRIS and OpenQM?

InterSystems IRIS: Multi-model data platform (SQL, objects, globals, vectors) with built-in interoperability, big in healthcare. OpenQM: Compact MultiValue (Pick) database from Ladybridge, once GPL-licensed, now Rocket's entry-level MV product. InterSystems IRIS is primarily a relational database; OpenQM is multivalue (Pick). InterSystems IRIS is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than OpenQM (≤ 100 GB). Horizontal scaling is native in InterSystems IRIS and none in OpenQM.

When should I choose InterSystems IRIS over OpenQM?

Choose InterSystems IRIS for electronic health records and hospital information systems; health information exchanges and FHIR servers; and high-throughput financial transaction processing. Choose OpenQM for hosting small Pick-based business applications, migrating off ageing Pick systems to commodity servers and learning the MultiValue model.

Is InterSystems IRIS or OpenQM more popular?

InterSystems IRIS ranks #253 on the WhichDB Score (13.3/100) and OpenQM ranks #670 (0.2/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are InterSystems IRIS and OpenQM open source?

No. InterSystems IRIS is proprietary, closed-source software. No. OpenQM is proprietary, closed-source software.