Claris FileMaker Reviews & Product Details

Claris FileMaker is a powerful and flexible tool that truly supports cross-platform development for custom database applications. Its speed and ease of implementation make it an excellent choice for managing complex data in a range of sectors, such as research, academia, and finance. Beyond simple data management, it can function as a central data hub for organizations by integrating smoothly with existing databases. Whether for daily administrative tasks or strategic data analysis, FileMaker applications can become an essential part of a user's everyday workflow. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

As long as Claris keeps investing in FileMaker Web Direct and the server, making web application development easier and staying current with performance and web technologies, I find there is nothing to dislike about FileMaker. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

If you're thinking about the ease of use your customers for your customers FileMaker is for you. It's really intuitive to use especially when doing queries / searches. It gives them the ability to easily access and process their own data.

This is on top of how easy it is to develop and implement solutions. If you need support then it's easy to train others to help you develop.

The team at FileMaker are constantly adding new features to the software. The software has been around for over 40 years and is supported by Apple so you know it will be around for a long while. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I used to not like the yearly update cycle but that has been changed to updates made throughout the year which I prefer. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I developed my first Filemaker database 1979 for my first business a recruitment company. That FM-v0 was developed on a MacPlus which had an orange screen and was ex the DevTeam.

While we now longer have a Recruitment business in our group of companies - I have developed custom FM data bases for each of our subsquent busubness - through 4 x Construction & Development companies to Business Consulting.

Those FM solutions have covered Scheduling / staff timing/task recording - and in case of Business Consulting a CRM database with 800+ fields of information ...

Best FM feature -- that you can literally add fields/features into a live FM Served database without any disruption to standard Users -- other than maybe for layout changes. What this has meant to our business - is that a new 'need' can you 'prototyped' and 'tested' live -- and either adopted or adapted --- this is a huge time-saver!! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

As long as Claris continues to offer & support FM Server that we can run internally on our own MacMini Server - with external VPN access when needed --- then there is absolutely nothing to dislike about Filemaker.

Note : historically there were changes on ownership - and emphasis on (only) cloud-based external Servers which we found unsettlingly !!

Remember : Many many users of Filemaker must have (presumedly) embraced the ease of creating and growing their own databases and related functionality ...

This feels possibly unique in the databaseApp world .. so please never loose sight of Filemaker's uniqueness !! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The product versatility is almost unmatched in the universe of business software. I've used it since 1985 as it has evolved and matured through several companies before being acquired by Apple in 1989. I am a member of a worldwide commubnity of developers which I rely on extensively. While there are newer, cheaper, low-code startups they don't offer a comparable breadth of features and historical sucess. My FileMaker toolbox is my most important business asset. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The company tends to be more focused on the introduction of new features than on the quality control of their existing in-market products. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

FileMaker is an exceptionally accessible platform that's easy to customize for those who are curious and have moderate tech skills. It has the potential to revolutionize the way an organization operates. You can begin with a simple database and, as you grow more comfortable, scale up to create complex software solutions that can meet a wide range of needs. Additionally, FileMaker offers the ability to connect with external systems and applications through APIs. Overall, it's a robust platform supported by a fantastic community of developers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The options for designing a layout could be better. Hiding and sliding objects or making layouts responsive and web-like isn't easy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Its rapid development capabilities. You can instantly build what people need, and it’s especially powerful at solving and adapting to system problems across all kinds of industries. It works well for everyone—from complete beginners to experienced developers—and it’s a great starting point for anyone learning database languages. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

1. Even though FileMaker has been around for 40 years, it’s still not widely adopted globally. I believe the single-user version of FileMaker Pro should be free, so more people can try it. Once people start using it and see its value, they’ll likely invest in FileMaker Server.

2. I wish FileMaker Go had an Android version. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

This is a product that a regular business can get started with on their own, or work with a consultant to build exactly the kind of system they want. I've yet to have to say no to any idea a client has had for the unique needs of their business. My favorite compliment is when they exclaim how much time has been saved by using Filemaker.

It is easy to get started, and really fun to work with, and the community fostered by Claris, consisting of other developers sharing and collaborating on tools & resources; makes this a family as well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Warning: Enjoying what you do for a living may impede on your time for socializing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Claris FileMaker is a great tool for no-code rapid application development. It allows you to quickly build bespoke databases/'custom apps' for web, iOS and native Mac/Windows desktops. For maximum speed RAD it has its own built-in database engine, but can also be used as a front end to 3rd party SQL database backends such as MySQL, MS SQL and Oracle.

The platform scales well for small & medium enterprises - i.e. workgroups from 10 - to a few hundred users.

It has been a work horse tool for me as consultant/developer for over 18 years now. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Licensing has changed radically over the last few versions and so can be complex to navigate if you are not already familiar with the different differ offerings.

The WebDirect feature is very technically impressive in that produces very graphically rich interfaces, but does require significant performance overhead and so does require substantial hardware. Currently this is limited to around 100 concurrent connections. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Filemaker has a lot of different short codes to use to create lists etc

I use Filemaker daily for work, and is the main product used. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I do find Filemaker fairly confusing and often need to ask for assistance Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

You can create almost anything with FileMaker; it brings your ideas to life. Its adaptability enables you to quickly iterate and deploy features that allow you to move forward. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I dislike that it gets a bad rap. People who dislike FileMaker don’t actually dislike the software; they dislike the applications built by a person using FileMaker. It’s a great modern tool that, when used properly, can achieve excellent results. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.