whichdb
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SQLCipher vs SQLite

SQLCipher: SQLite with transparent 256-bit AES encryption of the whole database file. SQLite: The in-process SQL engine that ships in every phone, browser and OS: one file, zero servers.

key differences

  • Only SQLCipher has encryption at rest.
  • Only SQLite has runs in webassembly.

choose sqlcipher for

  • +Encrypting local data in healthcare, finance and enterprise mobile apps
  • +Password managers and secure note apps
  • +Desktop apps storing sensitive data offline

best at · Embedded, Mobile/offline, OLTP

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

SQLCipherSQLite with transparent 256-bit AES encryption of the whole database file.
SQLiteThe in-process SQL engine that ships in every phone, browser and OS: one file, zero servers.
overview
Primary model
Relational
Relational
Also supports
–
Document
Type
Embedded library
Embedded library
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Zetetic LLC
D. Richard Hipp / Hwaci (SQLite Consortium)
First release
2008
2000
Latest version
4.19.0 (Sep 8, 2026)
3.54.1 (Oct 16, 2026)
License
Open source (permissive)BSD 3-Clause (Community Edition); commercial editions
Open source (permissive)Public Domain
Free tier
✓
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
17.5
75.5
Rank
#190
#5
GitHub stars
7.3K
10.8K
Stack Overflow questions
594
94.9K
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
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
SQL
SQL
Client languages
C, Java, Kotlin, Swift, Objective-C, C#, Python, JavaScript
C, Python, Java, JavaScript, Go, Rust, C#, Swift
Best for
Embedded, Mobile/offline, OLTP
Embedded, Mobile/offline, Edge, Local-first
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

SQLCipher vs SQLite: FAQ

What is the difference between SQLCipher and SQLite?

SQLCipher: SQLite with transparent 256-bit AES encryption of the whole database file. SQLite: The in-process SQL engine that ships in every phone, browser and OS: one file, zero servers. Only SQLCipher has encryption at rest. Only SQLite has runs in webassembly.

When should I choose SQLCipher over SQLite?

Choose SQLCipher for encrypting local data in healthcare, finance and enterprise mobile apps; password managers and secure note apps; and desktop apps storing sensitive data offline. Choose SQLite for mobile and desktop application storage; embedded devices and IoT; and local-first apps and offline caches.

Is SQLCipher or SQLite more popular?

SQLite ranks #5 on the WhichDB Score (75.5/100) and SQLCipher ranks #190 (17.5/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are SQLCipher and SQLite open source?

Yes. SQLCipher is open source. License: BSD 3-Clause (Community Edition); commercial editions. Yes. SQLite is open source. License: Public Domain.