ObjectBox vs SQLite
ObjectBox
objectbox.io
SQLite
sqlite.orgSide by side
| Figure | ObjectBox | SQLite |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $12.50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 16 |
| Spec score · Embedded Databases | 7.9 (#14) | 8.7 (#3) |
| Headquarters | Germany, Europe | Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
| Platforms | ObjectBox lists Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, POSIX systems, and Raspberry Pi among supported platforms or devices. | The project lists Android, BSD, iOS, Linux, Mac, Solaris, VxWorks, and Windows as supported platforms. |
| Product | ObjectBox is an embedded, object-oriented NoSQL database for mobile apps and IoT devices. | SQLite is an in-process, self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration transactional SQL database engine. |
| Security | ObjectBox Sync Server supports JWT authentication and can use TLS by supplying a certificate; its documentation describes no-authentication mode as insecure. | The security guidance says SQLite is extensively fuzz-tested and recommends defensive settings and lower input limits for applications accepting untrusted SQL. |
| Support | The FAQ directs questions to documentation and Stack Overflow, and says professional support is offered to paying customers. | 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
ObjectBox
ObjectBox is an embedded, object-oriented NoSQL database for mobile applications and IoT devices. Its database provides native object APIs, relationships, reactive observers, ACID transactions and automatic schema migration. ObjectBox Sync can move data between devices and a backend or server, including for offline-first use cases. Listed language APIs include Java, Kotlin, Swift, Flutter/Dart, Go, Python and C/C++. The product supports vector search, with no embedding-column dimension limit stated in its FAQ. ObjectBox says it supports direct synchronization to MongoDB; connectors for other backend databases may require custom development. Its Sync Server can be self-hosted on POSIX systems and cloud providers, though ObjectBox does not currently provide cloud hosting. The core database plan is free; Sync pricing is quoted per project based on needs. The company describes its focus as mobile and IoT development, particularly decentralized systems with restricted devices and offline scenarios. Mesh Sync is available for Android Java/Kotlin and Flutter/Dart starting with version 6.0.0-beta, with APIs that may change before final release.
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.