TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Claris FileMaker

    Score7 out of 10
    N/AClaris' FileMaker is presented as a Workplace Innovation Platform, and is used to create a custom app. Manual processes can be automated with Claris FileMaker Pro, and apps can be created to manage contacts, track inventory, organize projects, etc.

    $21

    per month per user

    Grist

    Score9.9 out of 10
    N/AGrist combines the capabilities of spreadsheets, databases and app builders. Using a familiar spreadsheet interface, information can be organized as a relational database, and dashboards built using drag-and-drop. Solving spreadsheet problems Ensures data is well-structured and stored in one place with no duplication, no spreadsheet-wrangling, no merging documents. Collaboration on sensitive data Data is protected…

    $8

    per month per user

    Pricing
    Claris FileMakerGrist
    Editions & Modules
    Platform Subscription
    $21
    per month per user
    Individual desktop license
    $594
    one-time fee
    Pro
    $8
    per month per user
    Enterprise
    Contact Sales
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Claris FileMakerGrist
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoYes
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Claris FileMakerGrist
    Considered Both Products
    Claris
    No answer on this topic
    Grist Labs
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    93%
    Would buy again
    13 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    83%
    Delivers good value for the price
    10 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    86%
    Happy with the feature set
    12 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    89%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    11 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    Claris FileMakerGrist
    Low-Code Development
    Comparison of Low-Code Development features of Claris FileMaker and Grist
    Feature
    Claris FileMaker
    7.9
    4 Ratings
    6% below category average
    Grist
    -
    Ratings
    Visual Modeling8.44 Ratings00 Ratings
    Drag-and-drop Interfaces3.73 Ratings00 Ratings
    Platform Security9.83 Ratings00 Ratings
    Platform User Management7.64 Ratings00 Ratings
    Reusability8.64 Ratings00 Ratings
    Platform Scalability9.64 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Claris FileMakerGrist
    Small Businesses
    Zoho Creator
    Score7.7 out of 10
    Stackby
    Score8.8 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    AppSheet
    Score8.2 out of 10
    Microsoft Excel
    Score9 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Oracle APEX
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Microsoft Excel
    Score9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Claris FileMakerGrist
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (51 ratings)
    9.9
    (2 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    5.0
    (7 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    8.8
    (8 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Availability
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Performance
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    1.0
    (6 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    5.0
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Configurability
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Claris FileMakerGrist
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Claris
    If your company is really small, I can understand the need for a product like this. However, I would go for MS Access... FileMaker Pro can not be integrated with other systems (like MS Access can at least be handled by C# for instance, and can be integrated with MS Excel or even SQL server). I'm really not sure in what scenario one would choose for FileMaker Pro. If your application or company grows bigger, you're going to have a problem to move to another environment. Also, the fact that only one person can work with the backend at any given time is a problem in a somewhat larger company.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    This is well suited to someone (or a team) who are technically minded and have a dataset that they need to be able to use in many ways. It's less appropriate for a team who isn't technically minded and/or don't have the data they need to manipulate. It would be useful for things that you could use a database or spreadsheet for such as CRM, Advertising database, Business tracking, Health tracking etc.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Claris
    • The relational database management system makes the program highly customizable to fit the needs of any product. You can add a ton of information to each record and update your inventory on a regular basis with an Excel import or manually inside of the record. It has the capability to incorporate barcoding, which can manage your available inventory with ease.
    • The scripting language allows FileMaker to automatically calculate complex algorithms automatically or generate report outs with the click of a button. This allows for greater UI, especially with active users who are not familiar with writing code. Almost all of our internal data is linked to the FileMaker database
    • The server license allows many users to update the database in real time, which is handy if your inventory is constantly changing. We have users with Macs, PCs, iPhones and handheld tablets linked to our FileMaker database and they are updating the information constantly throughout the day.
    • If you invest some time into formatting and scripting the database, there is a high ease of use for users without knowledge of any programming or FileMaker itself.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    • Provides amazing customer service, help, examples, and explains what they are having you do
    • The layout is easy
    Read full review
    Cons
    Claris
    • Developer features need to be beefed up - namely adding the ability to search code for a phrase or keyword and the ability to do the same in the "relationship graph" in the database.
    • Add ability for users to edit the same table record at the same time by version control.
    • Allow Filemaker Server to use more than 1 core; currently multi-processing is not supported and it can be tricky to find just the right server to support the application you've built to the fullest capacity.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    • Making the user permissions more obvious on how to use them - They are highly adaptable, but hard to understand how to use them
    • Small changes such as auto colouring the choices/toggles options and being able to edit them once set.
    • Being able to copy the formatting from one column to the next
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Claris
    It it not really up to me but my opinion does have some weight in the decision and the reason I would renew my use FileMaker Pro 8.5 is because I am finally getting used to it! Now that I have been working with the program, tasks have become quicker and projects are getting done faster. File Maker Pro 8.5 really is a versatile tool and I think we are just scratching the surface with it's abilities.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    Claris
    It's almost what it should be after so may years and with Apple's longevity and strength behind it. For people who earn their living based on efficiency I think there are too many developer obstacles that waste time and therefore money.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    No answers on this topic
    Reliability and Availability
    Claris
    mostly never issues and if there are they are resolved fast
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    No answers on this topic
    Performance
    Claris
    for the most part but lots of error messages if you type something h correctly
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Claris
    The forums are great with lots of helpful experts and the staff monitor them to provide help where needed. There have been a couple of unique technical issues I've had to deal with that I haven't been able to get resolved so I chose to score this a 9 instead of a 10.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    No answers on this topic
    In-Person Training
    Claris
    easy to follow along and was able to jump in right away
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation Rating
    Claris
    Suggest you use an iterative R.A.D. or AGILE development approach. (i.e. rather than writing a gigantic spec for a system, then building it). FileMaker facilitates quick prototypes. Developing an example, then allowing users to "try it out" is a snap.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Claris
    FileMaker is still the quickest way to go from zero to having a minimum viable working solution. Simple solutions can be built in as little as a afternoon of development. It is the only tool I am aware of which allows tech savy end users with domain knowledge to build bespoke apps for their businesses without undertaking professional software development training.
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    Grist is easier to use, faster, and loads quicker with heavy data.
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Claris
    it's most definitely does as we are a unique business to use this for scholarship awarding
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    Claris
    • We are a more agile company because of FileMaker. A few of us who are tech-savvy enough to manage the database (but are not professional developers) can make needed adjustments to our database without having to employ an in-house developer or contract with a 3rd party. As our business processes evolve and change, it's easy to update the database to accommodate those changes.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Grist Labs
    • It's saved a lot of time in both creating an advertising database and managing it week to week effectively. I had previously created in others that haven't worked, and this does, saving me a good 1 hour weekly, and 5 hours or more each time I had problems with the last ones
    • Being able to stay on track with this has meant I'm following up at the right time (advertisers) and keeping a professional manner and not losing business due to missed communication
    • Saving me $ from buying a program like Access (or Airtable monthly) and then the learning curve that that has. This has a much easier learning curve to say the least.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Grist Screenshots

    Screenshot of the drag and drop dashboard editor used to build layouts.Screenshot of the custom user permissions that determine who can see what, down to each column and row.Screenshot of dynamic charts and reports that update with the click of a mouse.Screenshot of Grist's formula support for Excel-like functions or Python formulas. Technical users can drill into database structure in code view.