Side by side
FMDB vs Realm
Both stand on mobile databases. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan iPhoneMac
FMDB offers a focused SQLite wrapper with database, query, transaction, and concurrency helpers. Developers should account for its blocking queue behavior and community-based support.
Visit FMDB
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3
Realm offers local object persistence and SDKs across several languages and platforms. Its announced deprecation of the SDKs and Device Sync is important for developers assessing ongoing use.
Visit RealmThe facts
| FMDB | Realm | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | iPhone, Mac | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | realm.github.io |
| On mobile databases | #11 of 26 | #15 of 26 |
FMDB: what it does well
- Free plan costs nothing
- Supports Objective-C and Swift
- Provides typed query result accessors
- Coordinates multithreaded database access
- Offers SQLCipher compilation options
What to know first
- No data synchronization is provided
- Queue operations are blocking
- Community support is voluntary
- One database instance should not serve multiple threads
Realm: what it does well
- Free and open source under Apache License 2.0
- Objects can be queried without an ORM
- Supports relationships, generics, and vectorization
- Realm Swift supports encryption at rest and in flight
- Realm Studio edits local and synced Realms
What to know first
- MongoDB announced SDK and Device Sync deprecation in September 2024
- Documentation points to forums, Stack Overflow, and GitHub issues for support