# Firebird Reviews **Vendor:** Firebird Foundation **Category:** [Relational Databases](https://www.g2.com/categories/relational-databases) **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 24 ## About Firebird Firebird is a relational database offering many ANSI SQL standard features that runs on Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix platforms. ## Firebird Reviews ### 1. I hope I could help You :) **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Wojciech Z. | System Analyst at Grupa NEUCA, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 11, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Simplicity (Portability, Management) and Efficacy. I like also compliance of ASNI standards for SQL. It is easy to get a snapshot, just stop database engine, copy a file and start database service one again. Managment is as simple as it could be. There is one tool for user management, other one to backup and restore a database. It is very flexible, powerful database engine and it doesn't use much of system resources. I hope You take this into consideration. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Efficacy problem with large volume of data (above 3-4GB), poor recoverability after database corruption. I don't like the archives incompatibilities between 2.x and 3.x branches. I also dislike a lack of window function in 2.x version. I would be great if there is official database explorer like SSMS or SQL Developer. I also feel lack of server linking technology to connect multiple cross-platform database to firebird. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** It's great on premises database for all of propose if only You don't need to store more than a couple of GB per one datafile. I works with many RMBDSes but I belive that Firebird is unique and worth of using in every inch. I advise You to give a chance to Firebird becuase if You start use it, You would love it :) **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Firebird mainly as database behind selling and storage system for Pharmacies. The second possible database engine for this application is Oracle but I prefer using Firebird. I also write SQL statements for data extraction from OLTP Pharmacy's databases. ### 2. Fast, compact and feature rich DB **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jaakko S. | Staff Software Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 15, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** The database is a single file that is easy to handle DB engine is compact and easy to install SQL implementation is following SQL standard very well Good support for Unicode **What do you dislike about Firebird?** No GUI tool to view data. However there are few good 3rd party tools for that **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am storing translation memory into a Firebird DB. I need to use advanced SQL when finding data. Firebird lets me do that. ### 3. Database **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Carelis C. | Software developer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 19, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Database control in central operating system, open source for my needs to correct and adapt external applications **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Adjust database in GNU Linux system and user control **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** Install and control database **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Manage database and server control within the system ### 4. Firebird good free database for small and medium business **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Emerson B. | Software Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 09, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Multi-user database access, a lot of developer tools to help job, support to transactions, good security. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** There's no embedded version for Android in the version I've worked. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** If you looking a lightweight database but with complete tool I must recommend Firebird. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Some my customers want to use a good database but don't want pay for this. So I've tested free options like MySQL, Postgre and Firebird and in the end Firebird fit best because is easy to managed and we can moved database file easier than Postgres for example. For my kind of customers is very useful this feature. ### 5. I love Firebird sinse 2001. From version 2.1 it the best for me and my desktop apps. Easy and Fast. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Vladimir K. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 19, 2020 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Your db is terabytes? No problem. Just classic or superclassic architecture. Not use transaction blocking? - it fast, easy and troubleproof for you. If you use it - easy, but you need regular backup/restore your db. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** I use Firebird as data storage. Is excellent for this role **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** Firebird+IBExpert. And your SQL life will be wonderful **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Firebird+IExpert and your queries fast and effective. Sometimes if you have problems with hardware is possible errors in data. My client had error in 1TB db in 4 years, he not call me and all works! ### 6. Great stable and free relational database **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Retail | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 09, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** It is quite stable relational database with support of many features like stored procedures, transactions and triggers. Easy for administration and support. Big firebird’s community where you can get answers on lot of questions. It can be installed into the most of popular clouds. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** It is hard to horizontally scale this database like almost all relational databases **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** If you need free general relational database you definitely need to consider this database **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** We successfully solved problem of storing clients information with fast, secure and simple all purposes relational database ### 7. I like use firebird for now **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Siva Z. | Information Technology Officer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 20, 2020 **What do you like best about Firebird?** easy to use, easy find on internet website **What do you dislike about Firebird?** nothing, i like and use it. just that i say **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** for database my apllication ### 8. Firebird Database is one of the many state of the art relational DB helping us Engrs. work better. **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Eddie Mar S. | Technical Support Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 15, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** It's a whole lot easier to SET-UP unlike any other relational DB out in the **What do you dislike about Firebird?** For completely newbies. They may require some time to be familiar with the interface. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Common data redundancy and having a secure platform to safeguard our very own file server. ### 9. Great database engine for Delphi applications **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Raimundas P. | Software developer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 09, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Free database sufficient for large systems **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Lack of connection plugins to access database from other programming languages i.e. PHP, slow via remote access **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** All our business logic stored in database, this allows to apply hotfixes faster ### 10. Firebird is a very powerful database **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Alejandro M. | Empleado, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 26, 2018 **What do you like best about Firebird?** The best thing about Firebird is that it is very powerful, very easy to use, there are many things that can be done, simultaneous users, open source, and many versions in a short time, a lot of documentation. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Really, there are very few bad things about Firebird, some statements are complex to remember and there are things you cannot use if you are not on the latest version. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** It is free software and there is quite a bit of documentation, but most of it is in Russian. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Firebird is used to provide the program with a powerful database and very high concurrency, it is a very fast and very easy to use program. ### 11. It was firebird embedded database i used for one project, with object oriented architecture. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Health, Wellness and Fitness | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 12, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Embedded engine, mass data capacity per file **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Obligation to code auto-increment as custom for PK ID field, different language in stead of sql And the requirement to use a paid GUI as Maestro. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** use paid gui database management software like maestro **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Embedded and compact file opportunity even with mass data. ### 12. Using Firebird with forestry related database **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Government Administration | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 14, 2021 **What do you like best about Firebird?** It comes as a part of the software pack we are using. Simple view, no unnecessary features, easy to use, diverse. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** sometimes I can't import table from external source. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** It allows me to alter a large database at once with simple queries. I can check the result right away. ### 13. Reliable in the context of our ERP solution **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Aviation & Aerospace | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 22, 2020 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Reliability and availability of resources are the main points to recommend Firebird **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Performance might be an issue (when set data is large), Time management is another issue I found difficult **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Our ERP solution was based on Firebird RDBSM ### 14. We have used Firebird for quite a while and are very satisfied with the service **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Christian S. | Product Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 03, 2020 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Open source database and easy to integrate I. The former application **What do you dislike about Firebird?** When I remember correctly, than the support back then in 2005 was t that great. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Stable database ### 15. Excellent **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Renato U. | Mr, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 18, 2019 **What do you like best about Firebird?** it is very powerful and lightweight. it's multiplatform and run's on Linux, Windows, OS x. It's architecture us multigenerational, every one has a single version of record and updates are easier. It has three versions superserver (one cache for multiple users), classic (one cache per user), and super classic (one cache for multiple users and multiple threads). The backup process can be implemented in linux with a cron and bash. the backup procees can be implemented in windows with schedule and batch. The restore process is very easy compared with the complex restore process of oracle and ms sql server, or postgresql. You can backup the database file too with a cron process on linux and with schedule manager in windows. The access for users is very single and you can limit the access with firewall. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** there's no cloud storage, the replication is only master-slave but there's third replication tools. When you delete data and dropping tables, there's no restore if you don't have a backup, but it's on every RDBMS, only Oracle has a restore of data and tables in archivelog mode. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** Every database is good, it's depend on your requirements **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** You can implement a datawarehouse database and make distributed queries for ETL process. You can implement a distributed databases with stored procedures, and there's a much easy than a distribution with postgresql. The easy and powerful of sql language for triggers, stored procedures and queries is like postgresql (pgsql) or plsql. The triggers can be implemented for before or after action. ### 16. Great unattended option for database management **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Just Sevilla . | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 20, 2018 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Firebird also has a small footprint. Firebird is very valuable for the process it performs. It is a very reliable and robust database manager that makes it ideal for managing large amounts of data remotely. I often coded using Delphi, in which I had hooks in Interbase, a unique flavor of Firebird. Firebird could be very effective for the activity it performs. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** The multi-user capability is supposed to have become a weak point. The decrease in market share of this database device compared to different open-source implementations makes it difficult to find tutorials, help, and different implementations. There is no way to carry out recovery using transaction log backups. There is documentation available online, but it is not the best. There is documentation available online, but it is not the best. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** Considering that there are different databases without discarding them, you could really propose to search the options and notice if that fits your improvement needs. Document all the requirements of your task and ensure that the gains you obtain from Firebird are worth the trade-offs you must accept for using a much less famous gadget. Database management for tasks Database management for projects Database control for projects **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Firebird allowed us to easily set up copies of a database across multiple systems and meet our business needs. We were looking for a database device that was easy to distribute without restrictive licensing terms. Ease of use with improvements and deployment in a small business environment. We used this for transportation applications retaining product music. Ease of use with development and deployment in a small business environment. ### 17. Good alternative in local servers for data management. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 05, 2018 **What do you like best about Firebird?** What I like most about FireBird is its ease in speeding up query response times, which is very necessary when creating new databases and managing elements and querying elements. It is very secure and very easy to install, you only need an executable. Also noteworthy is that it does not consume many resources, which makes it perfect for use on remote servers with limited capacities. It is a very reliable and robust database manager that makes it ideal for managing large amounts of data remotely. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** The downside of Firebird is that it is somewhat complex to use; when it comes to modifying things in the manager or a database, a bit of experience is needed because otherwise it's very easy to get lost. The issue of security is also important, and with this manager, it falls short in that area, so it is not advisable to install it on remote servers that a large number of people can access, as the integrity of the data could be compromised. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** This database manager offers great performance, so if what you want is to have good performance at a reduced price by sacrificing a bit of security, Firebird could be your option. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Management of international and national customer data, Big Data issues, and local-level storage management. Data processing between virtual or physical servers remotely with SQL programming language. ### 18. Used it on one project and was a good experience overall **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sadok A. | Assistant Business Analyst, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 26, 2018 **What do you like best about Firebird?** I liked the Firebird Query builder which helped me a lot during my project **What do you dislike about Firebird?** The documentation for firebird was limited and was kinda hard to me to learn it, But finally I did it **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** I did used it while developing a software, it was a challenge for me to learn how to work with firebird ### 19. Good Database System **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consumer Goods | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 23, 2018 **What do you like best about Firebird?** It is open source and well documented. Never had problems with this. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Lack of new features and scalability. Not too much forums that can help you in case of a problem. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** If you want something cheap and free, then, this is yours. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Firebird is being used for a small business software. ### 20. Decent but better alternatives **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Education Management | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 31, 2018 **What do you like best about Firebird?** I used it while I was st my original college and it was okay but buggy and other competitors were better in my opinion. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Buggy and lacked the oomph that the other competitors had. It’s simplicity was nice though. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** I moved on from it and went a different direction. ### 21. Use of Firebird lower your TCO **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tomas D. | Vice President, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 10, 2018 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Integration of this database to other applications are easy to do, and has several good application use cases today. Especially in the transportation area **What do you dislike about Firebird?** There is no way to perform recovery using transaction log backups **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Lightweight database that has potentials for customers who has a need of relation database. We use this for transportation application keeping track of goods. ### 22. Great free option for database management **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Gregory K. | Professional Services Engineer, Information Technology and Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 13, 2016 **What do you like best about Firebird?** Cost. Firebird is very cost effective for the job it does. There are also new versions and feature enhancements coming out as needed. Firebird also has a small footprint. It's efficient with resource useage **What do you dislike about Firebird?** There is documentation available online but it is not the greatest. Its a little limited **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Database management for projects ### 23. Portable, open source database implementation **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Eric M. | Principal Software Engineer, Computer Software, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 16, 2015 **What do you like best about Firebird?** The fact that the entire database is portable as a single file made migrating content from one system to another easy and fool-proof. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** The lower marketshare of this database system (compared to other open source implementations) makes finding tutorials, support, and other implementations difficult. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** Document all of your project requirements and be sure the wins you get from Firebird are worth the tradeoffs you must accept for using a less-popular system. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** We were looking for an easy-to-distribute database system without restrictive licensing terms. Firebird allowed us to easily deploy copies of a database across multiple systems and fulfill our project requirements. ### 24. Easy to develop and deploy **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** John O. | Sr. Manager, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 26, 2013 **What do you like best about Firebird?** I used the Firebird Database platform for desktop based applications. I primarily coded using Delphi, where it had hooks into Interbase (a different flavor of Firebird). It was really easy to deploy applications without the use of the Borland Database Engine (BDE). I'm sure it's advanced since then so other IDEs can interface with the platform via API. Performance was fast and coding using Stored Procedures was similar to other database platforms. **What do you dislike about Firebird?** Multi-User capability I think was a weakness. Although it supports this feature, it tended not to work very well in my opinion. **Recommendations to others considering Firebird:** Considering that there are other free databases out there, I would actually recommend looking at the alternatives and see if that fits within your development requirements. **What problems is Firebird solving and how is that benefiting you?** Ease of use with development and deployment in a small business environment. ## Firebird Discussions - [Is Firebird free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-firebird-free) - [What is Firebird EXE?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-firebird-exe) - [Is Firebird a good database?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-firebird-a-good-database) - [What is Firebird used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-firebird-used-for) - [How to convert database (with preserving datas) from branch 2.x to 3.0 of Firebird ?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/35873-how-to-convert-database-with-preserving-datas-from-branch-2-x-to-3-0-of-firebird) - 1 upvote - [View Firebird pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/firebird/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-06-04+04%3A55%3A44+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=df39b93a-cff5-4e51-a285-f490fadcf509&secure%5Btoken%5D=5e61a99e24aff3da0261d4074114063875e24a4faca6109606237d4859decc02&format=llm_user) ## Firebird Features **Management ** - Data Schema - Query Language - ACID - Complaint - Data Replication **Support ** - Text Search - Data Types - Languages - Operating Systems **Security** - Database Locking - Access Control - Encryption - Authentication **Performance ** - Disaster Recovery - Data Concurrency - Workload Management - Advanced Indexing - Query Optimizer **Database Features** - Storage - Availability - Stability - Scalability - Security - Data Manipulation - Query Language ## Top Firebird Alternatives - [Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-sql-server/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (2,125 reviews) - [MySQL](https://www.g2.com/products/mysql/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (1,576 reviews) - [PostgreSQL](https://www.g2.com/products/postgresql/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (647 reviews)