Side by side
BuildFire vs Claris FileMaker
Both stand on drag and drop app builder software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+1
BuildFire combines visual app creation, plugins, publishing, engagement tools, and analytics across mobile and web formats. Its tiered monthly plans and lack of a free plan make the listed costs important when choosing it.
Visit BuildFire
Free trial AndroidAPIiPhone+5
Choose FileMaker if you need to build tailored business apps, automate processes, and deploy across desktop, mobile, or web. Check the plan’s user and resource allowances before choosing, and do not use FileMaker Cloud or Claris Connect for protected health information.
Visit Claris FileMakerThe facts
| BuildFire | Claris FileMaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Web | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Standard: $165 a month | FileMaker Server 2026: $17.50 a month |
| Plans published | 5 | 6 |
| Maker | Not published | Claris FileMaker |
| Website | buildfire.com | claris.com |
| On drag and drop app builder software | #27 of 34 | #23 of 34 |
BuildFire: what it does well
- No-code visual builder with interactive emulator
- More than 150 marketplace plugins
- Publishing support for Apple and Google stores
- Built-in database and authentication
- 30-day trial available
What to know first
- No free plan
- Standard starts at $165 a month
- Zapier requires Growth or Scale
- Zapier needs an API key from Support
Claris FileMaker: what it does well
- Visual design tools, templates, add-ons, reporting, and data import support app building.
- Script Engine automates workflows and data processing.
- Apps run on Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, and the web.
- Integrates with Claris Connect, APIs, OData, cURL, ODBC/JDBC, and SQL sources.
- Offers a free 45-day trial with full platform access.
What to know first
- There is no free plan; the trial lasts 45 days.
- The listed FileMaker Cloud plans start at 5 users.
- FileMaker Cloud does not support OS-level configuration or customized open database connectors.
- Claris says FileMaker Cloud and Claris Connect must not handle protected health information.
Alternatives to BuildFire Alternatives to Claris FileMaker The whole list