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InterSystems IRIS vs Progress OpenEdge

InterSystems IRIS: Multi-model data platform (SQL, objects, globals, vectors) with built-in interoperability, big in healthcare. Progress OpenEdge: Integrated RDBMS plus ABL 4GL application platform behind thousands of ERP and vertical business apps.

key differences

  • InterSystems IRIS is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Progress OpenEdge (≤ 10 TB).
  • Horizontal scaling is native in InterSystems IRIS and none in Progress OpenEdge.
  • Only InterSystems IRIS has vector search, json, columnar storage.
  • Only Progress OpenEdge has change data capture, online schema changes.

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 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

InterSystems IRISMulti-model data platform (SQL, objects, globals, vectors) with built-in interoperability, big in healthcare.
Progress OpenEdgeIntegrated RDBMS plus ABL 4GL application platform behind thousands of ERP and vertical business apps.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
Object, Document, Key-Value, Multivalue (Pick), Vector
–
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
InterSystems Corporation
Progress Software
First release
2018
1984
Latest version
2026.2 (CD) (Jul 22, 2026)
13.0 (Feb 10, 2026)
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
Free tier
✓
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
13.3
20.4
Rank
#253
#157
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
42
1.5K
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Horizontal scaling
Native
None
Multi-region
Read replicas
Read replicas
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Flexible
Strict
Architecture
Client server, Primary replica, Distributed
Client server, Primary replica
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)
ABL (Advanced Business Language), SQL-92
Client languages
Java, C#, Python, JavaScript, C++
ABL, Java, C#, C
Best for
OLTP, HTAP, Real-time analytics, Vector search
OLTP
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

InterSystems IRIS vs Progress OpenEdge: FAQ

What is the difference between InterSystems IRIS and Progress OpenEdge?

InterSystems IRIS: Multi-model data platform (SQL, objects, globals, vectors) with built-in interoperability, big in healthcare. Progress OpenEdge: Integrated RDBMS plus ABL 4GL application platform behind thousands of ERP and vertical business apps. InterSystems IRIS is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than Progress OpenEdge (≤ 10 TB). Horizontal scaling is native in InterSystems IRIS and none in Progress OpenEdge. Only InterSystems IRIS has vector search, json, columnar storage.

When should I choose InterSystems IRIS over Progress OpenEdge?

Choose InterSystems IRIS for electronic health records and hospital information systems; health information exchanges and FHIR servers; and high-throughput financial transaction processing. 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 InterSystems IRIS or Progress OpenEdge more popular?

Progress OpenEdge ranks #157 on the WhichDB Score (20.4/100) and InterSystems IRIS ranks #253 (13.3/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are InterSystems IRIS and Progress OpenEdge open source?

No. InterSystems IRIS is proprietary, closed-source software. No. Progress OpenEdge is proprietary, closed-source software.