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Lazer Database vs SleekDB

Lazer Database: PHP library that treats JSON files as database tables, with an ORM-style query builder and relations. SleekDB: Dependency-free PHP library that stores schemaless documents as plain JSON files on disk.

key differences

  • Only SleekDB has full-text search.

choose lazer for

  • +Small PHP sites on hosts without a database server
  • +Prototypes and admin tools needing simple structured storage
  • +Config or content stored as diff-able JSON files

best at · Embedded, Content

choose sleekdb for

  • +Small PHP websites on shared hosting
  • +Prototypes and admin tools without a database server
  • +Storing configuration or content as JSON documents

best at · Embedded, Content

Lazer DatabasePHP library that treats JSON files as database tables, with an ORM-style query builder and relations.
SleekDBDependency-free PHP library that stores schemaless documents as plain JSON files on disk.
overview
Primary model
Document
Document
Also supports
Relational
–
Type
Embedded library
Embedded library
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Grzegorz Kuźnik and the Lazer-Database contributors
SleekDB contributors (RakibTG)
First release
2013
2018
Latest version
2.0.6 (Oct 20, 2026)
2.50 (Nov 16, 2025)
License
Open source (permissive)MIT License
Open source (permissive)MIT License
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
1.4
2.7
Rank
#555
#467
GitHub stars
282
1K
Stack Overflow questions
–
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
None
None
ACID
None
None
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Strict
Schemaless
Architecture
Embedded
Embedded
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
PHP fluent query API
PHP query builder
Client languages
PHP
PHP
Best for
Embedded, Content
Embedded, Content
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Lazer Database vs SleekDB: FAQ

What is the difference between Lazer Database and SleekDB?

Lazer Database: PHP library that treats JSON files as database tables, with an ORM-style query builder and relations. SleekDB: Dependency-free PHP library that stores schemaless documents as plain JSON files on disk. Only SleekDB has full-text search.

When should I choose Lazer Database over SleekDB?

Choose Lazer Database for small PHP sites on hosts without a database server; prototypes and admin tools needing simple structured storage; and config or content stored as diff-able JSON files. Choose SleekDB for small PHP websites on shared hosting; prototypes and admin tools without a database server; and storing configuration or content as JSON documents.

Is Lazer Database or SleekDB more popular?

SleekDB ranks #467 on the WhichDB Score (2.7/100) and Lazer Database ranks #555 (1.4/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are Lazer Database and SleekDB open source?

Yes. Lazer Database is open source. License: MIT License. Yes. SleekDB is open source. License: MIT License.