Firebird vs SQLite
Firebird
firebirdsql.org
SQLite
sqlite.orgSide by side
| Figure | Firebird | SQLite |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €199/mo | $12.50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 16 |
| Spec score · Embedded Databases | 8.5 (#5) | 8.7 (#3) |
| Spec score · Relational Databases | 8.4 (#8) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Spec score · Sql Databases | 8.5 (#6) | 8.7 (#4) |
| Spec score · Transaction Data Store Software | 8.4 (#11) | 8.7 (#8) |
| Spec score · Database Software | 8.3 (#35) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Deployment | Firebird offers embedded, SuperServer, SuperClassic, and Classic architectures, plus Windows installers and RPM or tar.gz distributions. | The project says SQLite is embedded in billions of applications and is the world's most widely deployed database engine. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Product | Firebird is an open source relational database management system with ANSI SQL features. | SQLite is an in-process, self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration transactional SQL database engine. |
| Security | Security features include users and roles, GRANT and REVOKE permissions, and a database owner concept. | The security guidance says SQLite is extensively fuzz-tested and recommends defensive settings and lower input limits for applications accepting untrusted SQL. |
| SQL capabilities | Features include stored procedures, triggers, common table expressions, cross-database queries, and flexible transaction management. | Its SQL implementation includes partial indexes, expression indexes, JSON, common table expressions and window functions. |
| Support | Free community support is available through Firebird support mailing lists, with commercial and special support also offered. | SQLite offers a free public forum as well as paid private email and technical support options. |
Plans
SQLite
- Public ForumFree
- SQLiteFree
- SQLite Consortium Membership$150 a year
- Technical Support$885 a year
- Annual Maintenance Subscription$1,500 a year
- Annual Maintenance Subscription$1,500 a year
- CEROD$2,000, paid once
- CEROD$2,000, paid once
- SQLite Encryption Extension (SEE)$2,000, paid once
- SQLite Encryption Extension (SEE)$2,000, paid once
In their own words
Firebird
Firebird is a free, open-source relational database management system with ANSI SQL features. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and supports self-hosted deployment. Its multi-generation architecture generally allows readers to access data without blocking writers. SQL features include stored procedures, triggers, common table expressions, cross-database queries, and flexible transaction management. A Trace API and monitoring tables support real-time monitoring, SQL debugging, and auditing. Security controls include users and roles, GRANT and REVOKE permissions, and a database owner concept; Windows Trusted Authentication can integrate with Windows domain or Active Directory security. Deployment choices include embedded, SuperServer, SuperClassic, and Classic architectures. Backup options include online backups and dumps, as well as incremental backup with partly supported point-in-time recovery. Drivers include Java JDBC,.NET, Python, ODBC, PHP, Delphi, and C++ Builder. Free community support is available through mailing lists, alongside commercial and special support. Firebird lists versions 5.0.4, 4.0.7, and 3.0.14 as latest in their series; versions 2.5 and earlier are discontinued and no longer maintained. The enterprise subscription is €199 a month, billed from €199/month/1 servers.
SQLite
SQLite is a transactional SQL database engine that runs within an application, without a separate server process or configuration. Each complete database resides in a single disk file that works across platforms. Its SQL features include partial indexes, indexes on expressions, JSON, common table expressions, and window functions. Transactions are atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable, including after system crashes and power failures. A database file can have unlimited simultaneous readers, but only one writer at a time. The project recommends SQLite for device-local storage with low writer concurrency and less than a terabyte of content. SQLite is free for commercial or private use, with source code in the public domain. Downloads include source and precompiled binaries for Android, Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows, along with WebAssembly and JavaScript bundles for web applications. A free public forum is available, alongside paid private email and technical support options. The maker is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was founded in 2000.