Claris FileMaker vs Ninox
We give Claris FileMaker a 2.8 GPA and Ninox a 3.0, out of 4.0. Claris FileMaker grades higher on platforms. Ninox grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Claris FileMaker
Low-code platform for custom database apps on desktop, iOS and web
Ninox
AI-assisted low-code platform for custom business software
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAClaris FileMakerGood | 3.0GPANinoxVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | CTeam is $31 a user a month billed annually, or $36 monthly. That's about three times the $9.99 this category typically starts at. Each user does bring 50,000 records and 5 GB of storage, and Business is $49. Prices exclude VAT. |
| Free plan and trial | 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. | BFree for up to 5 users with no expiry, and all six view types are in. But it stops at 5,000 records and 100 MB of storage, with 1,000 API calls a month and 7-day history. Free workflows can't send emails either. |
| Features | 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. | ADescribe what you need and the AI helps set up the data, the interfaces and the automations. Table, form, chart, kanban, map and calendar views come on every plan. There's a script language for custom logic, documents generated from records, Gmail and Outlook mail linked to records, and a REST API. |
| Ease of use | 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. | BNo App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. It runs in the browser with nothing to install, and the AI builds from a plain-language description. You're still designing your own software, mind, which is more work than opening a ready-made app. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | BBrowser only. Ninox says native iOS and Android apps are in development, so they're not here yet. It connects through Zapier, Make and n8n, links up Gmail and Outlook mail, and has a public REST API. |
| Best for | building your own business app for Mac, Windows and iPhone | building your own business software, hosted in Germany |
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: Claris FileMaker and Ninox. How we grade
Where they differ
- Claris FileMaker starts at $17.50 per user / month, billed annually (FileMaker Server Starter, 5+ users). Ninox starts at $31 per user / month, billed annually ($36 billed monthly).
- Ninox has a free plan. Claris FileMaker does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Claris FileMaker lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Claris FileMaker is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Claris FileMaker also covers reports.
At a glance
| Claris FileMaker | Ninox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $17.50 per user / month, billed annually (FileMaker Server Starter, 5+ users) | $31 per user / month, billed annually ($36 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | Free plan for up to 5 users with no expiry: 5,000 records, 100 MB of storage, 1,000 API calls and 100 generated documents a month, limited AI prompts and 7-day history. |
| Free trial | 45-day free trial with full access to the platform, no credit card required | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Claris International Inc. | Ninox Software GmbH |
| Price read from | claris.com | ninox.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
Ninox
- Businesses building their own CRM, inventory or invoicing tools
- Teams that need their business data hosted in Germany
- Trying it with a small team: the Free plan covers up to 5 users with no expiry
Worth knowing
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.
Ninox
- The Free plan is capped at 5 users, 5,000 records and 100 MB of storage, and cannot send emails from workflows.
- Ninox runs in the browser only; the vendor says native iOS and Android apps are in development.
- Role-based access permissions, individual email support and the 99.5% uptime guarantee start at the Team plan.
- Prices exclude VAT and are also listed in euros, pounds and Swiss francs (Team is €25 per user a month, billed annually).
Key features
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.
Ninox
- AI-assisted building
- Describe a need in plain language and the built-in AI helps organize the data, define business logic, build interfaces and set up automations. Each plan has its own AI usage limit.
- Six view types on every plan
- Table, form, chart, kanban, map and calendar views are included on all plans, the Free plan too.
- Workflow automation and scripting
- Event triggers and conditions run processes automatically, and a script language covers custom logic. Sending emails from workflows starts at the Team plan.
- Email linked to records
- Gmail and Outlook mail can be linked to Ninox records and workflows: 100 linked emails on Free and 5,000 per user on Team and Business.
- Document generation
- Contracts, invoices and reports are generated from records, then shared, printed or exported: 100 a month on Free, 1,000 per user on Team and 5,000 per user on Business.
- REST API and connectors
- A public REST API plus connections through Zapier, Make and n8n. API calls are capped at 1,000 a month on Free, 10,000 per user on Team and 50,000 per user on Business.
Plans
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.
Ninox
Free$0
Up to 5 users: 5,000 records, 100 MB of storage, 1,000 API calls and 100 generated documents a month, limited AI prompts and 7-day history.
Team$31
per user / month, billed annually ($36 billed monthly)
Per user: 50,000 records, 5 GB of storage, 10,000 API calls and 1,000 sent emails a month, with role-based access and 30-day history.
Business$49
per user / month, billed annually ($56 billed monthly)
Per user: 250,000 records, 10 GB of storage, 50,000 API calls, 5,000 sent emails and 5,000 documents a month, with unlimited history.
EnterpriseCustom
Price on request: solutions built around a company's processes, with governance and compliance controls, premium support and expert assistance.
Ways to pay less
Claris FileMaker
No public discounts listed.
Ninox
- Annual discount
Lower per-user price with annual billing
Team is $31 per user a month billed annually against $36 billed monthly, and Business is $49 against $56, a saving of roughly 12% to 14%.
