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About Claris FileMaker
FileMaker is an app development solution that lets users create and deploy apps. Users can make apps across mobile, cloud and on-premise environments, and no programming skills are required.
FileMaker provides built-in templates to create apps for contact management, content management, inventory and task management. The solution can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud.
FileMaker allows users to customize their apps with their company brands, logos and colors. It provides reporting and charting tools to make summary reports, charts, graphs and dashboards. Users can export data from the dashboard in Excel and PDF format.
The solution helps users create two-way connections with Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL and IBM DB2 data sources. It provides 256-bit encryption to protect data stored in a server. Support is provided via online forum and phone.
Claris FileMaker pricing
Claris FileMaker does not have a free version but does offer a free trial. Claris FileMaker paid version starts at US$16.50/month.
Starting Price:
US$16.50/month
Free Version:
No
Free trial:
Yes
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Claris FileMaker Reviews
Feature rating
5 reviews of 202
View all reviews
Ben
- Industry: Publishing
- Company size: Self Employed
- Used Weekly for 1+ year
-
Review Source
Value for Money
2
Features
3
Ease of Use
4
Customer Support
4
5
Reviewed on 08/06/2023
So many missed opportunities
I love FileMaker as my primary CRM but the lack of integration with iCloud et al means that it cannot serve as a core part of my workflow. Right now, I'm obliged to keep my personal and business life separate which might seem fine on the surface but I would like to take advantage of Filemaker for personal projects too, which is hard right now.
Pros
Claris Filemaker is overall excellent for creating custom databases. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features that make it easy to design and manage databases. If you know how to use iTunes, you know how to use Filemaker. It's got power and simplicity.
Cons
What frustrates me about FileMaker - as a freelancer - is the lack of out-of-the-box integration with Google, CardDav and CalDav servers, and - unforgivably - iCloud (considering that Claris is owned by Apple.
Alternatives Considered
Daylite for MacReasons for Choosing Claris FileMaker
I wanted a bit more flexibility than Daylite could offer, and I dislike the subscription model. I thought that Filemaker would be most cost-effective in the long term.Switched From
Daylite for MacReasons for Switching to Claris FileMaker
Flexiblity and customizability, as well as maintaining a similar standard of ease of use.
allison
- Industry: Government Administration
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
-
Review Source
Value for Money
5
Features
5
Ease of Use
5
Customer Support
5
5
Reviewed on 10/02/2020
The only database you will EVER need
We use Filemaker for all of our database and customer relation needs. It is extremely easy to set up and teach users how to navigate. Much different software integrate very easily with Filemaker. Filemaker is a dream to work with. If you can imagine it you can create it with a FileMaker layout. You can even use it to set up your website. Users can also access your databases via a web interface with no need for a license. Another great feature is the mobile apps which run very smoothly.
Pros
Ease of Use
Features
Stability
Updates
Integrations
Cons
Licensing prices . Fees to obtain newer and better versions.
Alternatives Considered
AdvancedMD for Mental HealthReasons for Choosing Claris FileMaker
advanced MD was very expensive and you had to pay them to make any customizations. Filemaker you can customize every part of it yourself.Switched From
Microsoft ExcelReasons for Switching to Claris FileMaker
Filemaker was more flexible, affordable, and easier to use.
Paolo
- Industry: Education Management
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
-
Review Source
Value for Money
1
Features
3
Ease of Use
3
Customer Support
4
1
Reviewed on 11/01/2021
Filemaker Cloud: too little, too late, too messy
The experience started badly, with migration issues, and soon became a nightmare, when their reps stopped responding completely while we were trying to renew the software. The company was not accepting our form of payment, and we kept receiving automated mails threatening to curtail the service. Support on the phone told us to disregard these mails, and, lo and behold, the service was in fact terminated in spite of our months of trying to pay them. The day when we can migrate our databases somewhere else cannot come soon enough.
Pros
We inherited a critical database in Filemaker workstation format, we needed to move to a cloud-based solution, so Filemaker Cloud looked like the obvious choice.
Cons
In reality, our purported migration never worked well. Some features simply stopped working after Filemaker "upgraded" the cloud version. Support was completely unable to help. What it worse we found the cloud software laggy, and underperforming, slowing what was the usual workstation workflow.
Reasons for Switching to Claris FileMaker
We inherited a critical database in Filemaker workstation format, we needed to move to a cloud-based solution, so Filemaker Cloud looked like the obvious choice.Response from Claris
Hi Paolo, we appreciate your feedback on FileMaker Cloud. Our customers are extremely important to us. If you're open to discussing further, please reach out to our customer success team at [email protected].
Replied 04/02/2021
Con
- Industry: Computer Software
- Company size: Self Employed
- Used Daily for 2+ years
-
Review Source
Value for Money
0
Features
5
Ease of Use
5
Customer Support
5
5
Reviewed on 20/06/2024
FileMaker Fantastic for Professionals and Hobbyists Alike
I've known FileMaker since version 5, and I've since never stopped feeling privileged to be working in its Rapid Development Environment where database objects such as fields, records, portals, labels, icons, relationship graphs are readily available. It is one of the best put-together software ever conceived.
Pros
There is the almost universal view that FileMaker applications are for tracking invoices, inventories, employees, club members and other human and non-human resources relating to businesses and organisations.
But it is also a hobbyist's dream come true as other kinds of data processors can be created such as for note-making and planning screenplays (please visit https://notemakerdatabase.com for proof — both these data processors are offered free). In a strange way, it's these non-business applications that highlight FileMaker's incredible power as a platform for building any kind of a data processor. Only because FileMaker is incredibly customisable and highly versatile that NoteMaker and ScriptPlanner have become possible. The promotional phrase "low code" is a misnomer. The level of sophistication of NoteMaker and ScriptPlanner could never be achieved with "low code" or "no code" (ie, just click and pick). So, even though FileMaker is promoted as "low code" (to compete with internet-based database-creation software) — yes, it's true in the sense that an invoice and other business applications can be developed with little recourse to code, but — it's not a true picture of the powerful high-code capability that is FileMaker.
FileMaker is what is called an All-In-One. It has the design tools to create the front-end (or the user interface), it has a superb internal programming language (aka "middleware") to create the logic and finally it has an astonishing storage capacity for data (the "backend") — here, we're talking about millions of records.
As experience grows so too will your ability to create more sophisticated applications. Warning: the more you learn the more addictive FileMaker becomes. When you experience the magic of the simple Go to Layout script step, creating layouts becomes explosive. When you the learn the more complicated Loop script step, creative use for it explodes. And that's how it is: the more you learn, the more empowered you feel, the more you dare to be creative.
There is a large body of professional developers who work full-time to build custom solutions for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). So, with FileMaker comes a healthy community of skilled personnel. If you are an SME, speak to a FileMaker developer and as well as to other database providers and see what they can do to help you manage your valuable resources.
Cons
Versions 19, 20 and new (released June 2024) version 21 have focused on empowering professional database builders to deliver and connect their systems to the cloud, network servers and mobile devices (such as smart phones and tablets) and to build more effective e-commerce websites — all at the "cost" of providing hobbyists with more functions for building (perhaps innovative) data processors in and of themselves for delivering to local hard drives of fellow hobbyists.
But the full-on evolution of FileMaker in entering the greater digital world is understandable if it is to maintain competitiveness with MS's ubiquitous Access, MYOB, giant SAP and solely internet-based database-creation platforms such as Caspio and the like. By all accounts, FileMaker continues to be competitive in this crowded marketplace of solution-providers to small-to-medium businesses and organisations.
But, alas, some hobbyists miss powerful functions like While(). Since v18, nothing like While() has been implemented. Instead, functions that enable greater deployment options, increased connectivity and improved websites have dominated FileMaker's evolution since v18.
So headlong has FileMaker jumped into the brave new world that it has become all about empowering professional developers — rarely taking a look back to see some of the hobbyists who have been left behind.
Henrik
- Industry: Marketing & Advertising
- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
-
Review Source
Value for Money
5
Features
4
Ease of Use
5
Customer Support
5
4
Reviewed on 16/04/2023
Super easy application development
I've been using FileMaker for 25 years and it's a tool that just keeps on giving.
Pros
File Maker is super easy to set up and super easy to become proficient in. It's super reliable to use a tool that's 30 years old, and still getting powerful additions regularly.
Cons
FileMaker is an oddball in the database field, and it can be hard to find best practices and tutorials for FileMaker.
