Baserow vs Claris FileMaker
We give Baserow a 3.2 GPA and Claris FileMaker a 2.8, out of 4.0. Baserow grades higher on value for money, the free plan and ease of use. Claris FileMaker grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Baserow
Open-source no-code database and application builder
Claris FileMaker
Low-code platform for custom database apps on desktop, iOS and web
How we grade them
| 3.2GPABaserowVery good | 2.8GPAClaris FileMakerGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BPremium is $10 a user a month billed yearly, or $12 monthly, which is bang on what this category typically charges. That buys 50,000 rows, all the views and the AI features. Role-based permissions, audit logs and single sign-on wait for Advanced at $18. | CFileMaker Server Starter is $17.50 a user a month billed annually, for 5 users or more, and you host it yourself. Let Claris host and it's $22, for 5 to 10 users and 3 apps only, then $45 for Cloud Max. Tools in this category typically start at $9.99, with no minimum. |
| Free plan and trial | BBaserow Cloud is free for 3,000 rows and 2 GB per workspace, with 2,000 automation credits a month and only Grid, Form and Gallery views. That's tight for anything that grows. Hosting it yourself lifts the row and storage limits, but then the server is your job. | CNo free plan. What you get is a 45-day trial with full access to the platform and no credit card, which is long enough to build something real. After that it's a paid licence or nothing. |
| Features | ALinked tables with more than 20 field types, an Application Builder for portals and internal tools, and automations with branches, conditions and loops. Kuma, the built-in assistant, sets up a database from a description. There's an open API and webhooks too. | ADrag-and-drop layouts, a Script Engine with triggers and server-side scripts, and add-ons that drop in charts, calendars and kanban boards. The Data API and OData let other services in, and live two-way connections reach MySQL, Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. |
| Ease of use | BNo App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. On the cloud it looks like a spreadsheet, and Kuma will build a first database for you. Self-hosting is a bigger job: Docker, Helm, AWS or Cloudron. | CNo App Store rating on record. And this isn't something you open and start typing into: you design the layouts and scripts first, then roll the app out to people. The cheapest plan also means running FileMaker Server on your own infrastructure. |
| Platforms and integrations | BIt runs in a browser and that's it, with no desktop or phone apps listed. It does connect well: Zapier, n8n, Make, Slack, an open API and webhooks. On Baserow Cloud the API is limited to 10 concurrent requests. | ANative on Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad, and in Safari, Chrome or Edge through FileMaker WebDirect. There's the Data API, OData, ODBC and JDBC, plus Claris Connect for linking other services. No native Android app, so it's the browser there. |
| Best for | an Airtable-style database you can host yourself | building your own business app for Mac, Windows and iPhone |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Baserow and Claris FileMaker. How we grade
Where they differ
- Baserow starts at $10 per user / month, billed yearly. Claris FileMaker starts at $17.50 per user / month, billed annually (FileMaker Server Starter, 5+ users).
- Baserow has a free plan. Claris FileMaker does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Claris FileMaker lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Baserow is open source, according to its own site.
- Baserow also covers no-code.
- Claris FileMaker also covers reports.
At a glance
| Baserow | Claris FileMaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $10 per user / month, billed yearly | $17.50 per user / month, billed annually (FileMaker Server Starter, 5+ users) |
| Free plan | Free plan on Baserow Cloud: 3,000 rows and 2 GB of storage per workspace, 2,000 automation credits a month and 3 view types. The self-hosted version has no row or storage limits. | None |
| Free trial | Free trial of the Advanced plan; the pricing page does not state its length | 45-day free trial with full access to the platform, no credit card required |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Baserow B.V. | Claris International Inc. |
| Price read from | baserow.io | claris.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Baserow
- Teams that want an Airtable-style database they can host themselves
- Building internal tools and portals on top of structured data
- Organizations with data residency or compliance requirements
Claris FileMaker
- Businesses that need custom apps shaped around their own workflows
- Teams split between Mac and Windows desktops and iPhones or iPads
- Organizations that want to host their apps on their own servers
Worth knowing
Baserow
- Cloud plans cap rows per workspace at 3,000 on Free, 50,000 on Premium and 250,000 on Advanced; after 7 days over the cap, new rows are blocked.
- The Free plan is limited to Grid, Form and Gallery views and CSV export; Kanban, Calendar and Timeline views and row comments need Premium.
- Role-based permissions, audit logs and single sign-on start at the Advanced plan, $18 per user / month billed yearly.
- Baserow Cloud limits the API to 10 concurrent requests; the self-hosted version has no rate limit.
Claris FileMaker
- There is no free plan: after the 45-day trial, team licenses start at 5 users and are billed annually.
- FileMaker Cloud Starter is limited to 5 to 10 users, 3 apps and 2 GB of data storage per user per year, with no upgrades.
- Native clients cover Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad; other devices reach apps through a web browser with FileMaker WebDirect.
- Remote Backup and Standby Server are paid add-ons for FileMaker Server; Claris says Remote Backup is not available for FileMaker Cloud.
Key features
Baserow
- Relational databases and views
- Tables link to one another and offer more than 20 field types. Grid, Form and Gallery views are free; Kanban, Calendar, Timeline and Survey views need a paid plan.
- Application Builder
- A drag-and-drop builder for internal tools, client portals and admin panels that sit on Baserow data, published on a Baserow subdomain or a custom domain.
- Automations
- No-code workflows with triggers, branches, conditions and loops, native HTTP, email and webhook actions, and third-party connectors. Runs draw on a monthly credit allowance.
- Kuma and AI fields
- Kuma, the built-in assistant, sets up databases and applications from a description, and the AI field creates, classifies and enriches data. Teams can bring their own LLM.
- Self-hosting
- Baserow can be installed with Docker, Helm, AWS or Cloudron. The self-hosted version has no limits on rows, storage or API requests, and paid features are licensed per user.
- API and data sync
- An open API with a published OpenAPI specification, plus webhooks. Data sync covers PostgreSQL tables and iCal feeds; Jira, GitLab, GitHub and HubSpot sync is part of the Advanced plan.
Claris FileMaker
- Drag-and-drop app design
- Layouts are built with design tools and built-in templates, and prebuilt add-ons drop in charts, calendars, kanban boards and activity timelines.
- Script Engine
- Predefined script steps, script triggers and calculation functions automate workflows and data processing without a traditional programming language, including scripts that run on the server.
- Cross-platform clients
- Apps open in FileMaker Pro on Mac and Windows, in FileMaker Go on iPhone and iPad, and in Safari, Chrome or Microsoft Edge through FileMaker WebDirect.
- Cloud or self-hosted
- FileMaker Cloud runs on AWS and backs up data changes every 20 minutes, keeping backups for 30 days. FileMaker Server hosts the same apps on an organization's own infrastructure.
- APIs and external data
- The FileMaker Data API and OData expose app data to other services, ODBC and JDBC are supported, and live two-way connections reach MySQL, Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.
- AI integration
- Scripts and APIs connect apps to AI services to automate tasks, analyze data and generate content. FileMaker 2026 added Google Gemini as a provider and semantic search enhancements.
Plans
Baserow
Free$0
3,000 rows and 2 GB of storage per workspace, 2,000 automation credits, 500 external app users, and Grid, Form and Gallery views.
Premium$10
per user / month, billed yearly ($12 billed monthly)
50,000 rows and 20 GB per workspace, 100,000 automation credits, all view types and AI features.
Advanced$18
per user / month, billed yearly ($22 billed monthly)
250,000 rows and 100 GB per workspace, 500,000 automation credits, role-based permissions and audit logs.
EnterpriseCustom
1,000,000 rows and 1,000 GB per workspace, unlimited external app users, implementation support and payment by invoice.
Claris FileMaker
FileMaker Server Starter$17.50
per user / month, billed annually; 5 to 99 users
Self-hosted: FileMaker Pro, Go and WebDirect for every user, up to 3 on-premise servers and 5 active Claris Connect flows.
FileMaker Cloud Starter$22
per user / month, billed annually; 5 to 10 users only
Hosted by Claris: 3 apps, 2 GB of data storage per user per year with no upgrades, and 5 active Claris Connect flows.
FileMaker Server Max$22
per user / month, billed annually; 5 to 99 users
Self-hosted and bought through sales: the same client access on up to 3 on-premise servers, with 50 active Claris Connect flows.
FileMaker Cloud Max$45
per user / month, billed annually; 5 to 99 users
Hosted by Claris: 256 apps, 6 GB of data storage per user per year with upgrades available, and 50 active Claris Connect flows.
FileMaker Pro single license$625
per license; no billing period is shown in the Claris Store
A single FileMaker Pro license for an individual who does not need to share data with others. An Upgrade option exists for owners of FileMaker Pro 2024 or later.
Ways to pay less
Baserow
- Annual discount
Lower rates with yearly billing
Premium is $10 per user a month billed yearly against $12 billed monthly, and Advanced is $18 against $22, a saving of roughly 17% to 18%.
- Nonprofit
Discounts for non-profits
Baserow's pricing FAQ says it offers discounts for non-profits. The amount is not published and is arranged through the sales team.
- Education
Discounts for education
The same FAQ says discounts are available for education. The amount is not published and is arranged through the sales team.
Claris FileMaker
No public discounts listed.
