Firebird SQL vs PostgreSQL comparison

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12,266 views|9,686 comparisons
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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Mar 6, 2024

We compared PostgreSQL and Firebird SQL based on our user's reviews in several parameters.

Overall, PostgreSQL is praised for its robustness, stability, efficiency, and customer service, while Firebird SQL receives appreciation for its integration capabilities and security measures. PostgreSQL users highlight its performance, scalability, and wide range of features, while Firebird SQL users value its speed, scalability, and resource management. Both have affordable pricing and efficient customer support, but PostgreSQL users note the need for better optimization and documentation, whereas Firebird SQL users want improved performance and error messaging.

Features: PostgreSQL offers robustness, scalability, and an extensive range of built-in data types. Users praise its excellent performance and advanced SQL functionality. On the other hand, Firebird SQL is valued for its seamless integration with programming languages, high-performance capabilities, and strong data security measures. Both products have their unique strengths.

Pricing and ROI: PostgreSQL offers flexible pricing options with manageable setup costs and fair licensing terms, catering to various budgets. On the other hand, Firebird SQL is known for its reasonable and affordable pricing, low setup costs, and straightforward licensing process. Both products have different approaches to cost and setup., PostgreSQL emerged as a valuable investment with impressive functionalities, scalability, security features, and seamless integration. Firebird SQL also yielded positive returns but lacks specific highlights.

Room for Improvement: PostgreSQL: Areas for improvement include enhancing overall performance and optimization, addressing difficulties during installation and configuration, improving documentation and resources for developers, and enhancing the user interface for easier navigation. Firebird SQL: Improvements needed in performance and speed, especially with larger datasets. Better documentation and detailed error messages are necessary for troubleshooting. Query optimization and compatibility with other databases should also be enhanced.

Deployment and customer support: The user reviews for PostgreSQL indicate that deployment and setup took either three months with an additional week or just one week. In contrast, the reviews for Firebird SQL are mixed, with some users stating a quick process of around a week for all phases and others reporting several months for deployment alone., PostgreSQL's customer service and support have been praised for their responsiveness, helpfulness, and effectiveness. Firebird SQL's customer service is highly regarded for their promptness, efficiency, knowledge, and friendliness.

The summary above is based on 17 interviews we conducted recently with PostgreSQL and Firebird SQL users. To access the review's full transcripts, download our report.

To learn more, read our detailed Firebird SQL vs. PostgreSQL Report (Updated: March 2024).
763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"It helps us in detecting all kinds of problems in the code, such as bad quality, unclear code, or any violation in the code or best practices.""The product was easy to use.""The documentation is very well written.""The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is reliable, offers good performance, and is easy to use.""I appreciate the fact that, once the database is embedded, it doesn't need to be administered, and removes the requirement for a specific server.""Robustness is the absolutely main feature.""I like that we don't have to pay external fees to migrate this data. So, we are looking to relocate from Postgres or EDB.""I can deploy it on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows — it's very easy."

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"PostgreSQL has complete SQL dialects and is useful for writing sophisticated and complex queries. We have experience with Oracle database. My partner is experienced in DDA and he writes sophisticated SQL queries. The solution helps to get the job done in the best possible way. In today’s age, most developers do not have strong SQL knowledge or language command. They find it difficult to write even a SQL statement. These developers write cool queries which perform badly on the database end. As DBAs, we constantly urge the developers not to write bad queries, help them learn more, and write placebo commands.""It's a standard reliable database management system.""The most valuable features are the price, stability, it is scalable and is used by our clients in small business environments, and it is a simple product to use.""We are able to create many different types of jobs and items with this solution making it one of the most valuable features.""The built-in code procedural language is the most valuable. It has a built-in layer for code procedures. Its installation is very easy and quick, and it is free. It is also stable, and its performance is also good.""It is very useful for both structured and unstructured data. You can store unstructured and structured data in PostgreSQL. It is easy to use. You can easily manage things through PostgreSQL Admin. It is cost-effective. Its on-premise version is free. It is agnostic of on-premise or cloud. You can install it on the cloud or on-premises. It is available with all clouds, and you can also install it on desktop or Windows Servers.""The solution is open-source and free to use.""This is an open-source solution, operates at a high speed, and supports more than one SQL language."

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Cons
"In the next release, it should support JSON, XML, and replication with third-party tools.""I don't think the solution is very scalable, because the scalability of the performance when using more than one process is not very good.""Technical support and performance could be better. We have some problems with this solution, but we don't know if the problem is with the database or the configuration. For example, sometimes, the users can't access the database.""The security of the users could improve in Firebird SQL.""It is not easy to integrate the tool with Visual Studio.""This solution isn't very user-friendly, or intuitive, which could be improved when it is developed.""Database sharing is a capability that Firebird SQL lacks.""The main feature I expect is to be able to work with different databases at the same time because that's a wishlist item for me."

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"PostgreSQL could improve by being more user-friendly. In SQL Server they have a studio where you can easily do management but not in this solution.""The user interface for the clients could be easier to use as they are small businesses. From a technical support perspective, the documentation could be improved.""They need to improve the user experience of the management.""If it was free to use, it would be the perfect solution.""I had some issues when I integrated with the Jupyter Notebook.""They need to have a better graphical interface. There is a tool called pgAdmin 4 that they use, which is free. It is written in Java, and it is slow. They need to have a better product that is similar to Toad for Oracle, but, of course, it is hard to get something that's really great and free. Other than that, it is great.""It is possible that in the newer version this has been addressed, but I would like the deployment in microservices architecture could be improved.""The performance of PostgreSQL could improve."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "It is a public domain system as every customer can install it on their system without paying any license fee."
  • "It is okay."
  • "There is a yearly maintenance fee for the use of the solution."
  • "There is no licensing cost for this solution, as it is open-source."
  • "I was using the free version of Firebird SQL."
  • "The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is freely available."
  • "We are using the free solution, so there is no cost involved."
  • "Firebird SQL is an open-source solution, which means it is a free product."
  • More Firebird SQL Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Affordable solution."
  • "It is free. There is no license on it."
  • "It is also open-source so it is free."
  • "PostgreSQL is a free and open-source database."
  • "It is free, but if you need support, you can go for the commercial version called EnterpriseDB. They provide paid support, and they can even do hosting for you if you want standby and support."
  • "It is open-source. If you use it on-premise, it is free. It also has enterprise or commercial versions. If you go for the cloud version, there will be a cost, but it is lower than Oracle or Microsoft."
  • "The solution requires a license."
  • "We do not pay for licensing."
  • More PostgreSQL Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:PostgreSQL was designed in a way that provides you with not only a high degree of flexibility but also offers you a cheap and easy-to-use solution. It gives you the ability to redesign and audit your… more »
    Top Answer:Robustness is the absolutely main feature.
    Top Answer:We often use PostgreSQL for operations monitoring because we are a manufacturing company.
    Top Answer:We often find the solution's datetime datatype challenging.
    Ranking
    4th
    Views
    12,266
    Comparisons
    9,686
    Reviews
    8
    Average Words per Review
    397
    Rating
    8.0
    2nd
    Views
    13,969
    Comparisons
    11,367
    Reviews
    7
    Average Words per Review
    391
    Rating
    8.6
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Firebird
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    Overview

    Firebird SQL is an open-source, cross-platform relational database management system that offers an enterprise-level database solution. The solution is designed to be highly secure, efficient, and compatible with various platforms and programming languages. Firebird can operate in both embedded and server modes.

    Firebird is an open-source project with an active community of developers and users. It is released under the Initial Developer's Public License (IDPL) and the InterBase Public License, allowing for free use, modification, and distribution. 

    The Firebird solution requires minimal configuration and its architecture allows it to efficiently handle databases ranging from a few KB to multiple terabytes. It is available for various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and several Unix-like platforms.

    What are the key features of Firebird SQL?

    1. ACID Compliance: Firebird provides full support for ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) transactions, ensuring data integrity and consistency, even in the event of system failures or concurrent access.
    2. SQL Language Support: Firebird SQL provides extensive support for ANSI SQL, which is the standard SQL language, making it compatible with a wide range of applications and tools.
    3. Multi-Generational Architecture: Firebird employs a multi-generational architecture, which allows multiple versions of the same data to coexist within the database.
    4. Concurrency and Performance: Firebird offers efficient concurrency control mechanisms, including multi-version concurrency control (MVCC), which allows multiple transactions to access and modify data simultaneously without locking or blocking each other, improving overall performance.
    5. Embedded mode: In the embedded mode, the database engine is integrated directly into the application.
    6. Security Features: Firebird provides user authentication, role-based access control, and encryption capabilities. It supports various authentication methods, such as native Firebird user accounts, external authentication sources (e.g., Windows domains), and single sign-on (SSO) mechanisms.
    7. Backup and Restore: Firebird offers built-in backup and restore utilities, allowing users to create full or incremental backups of the database, as well as restore from these backups when needed.

    As part of being a commonly used open-sourced solution, Firebird boasts a vibrant community of developers and users. The community provides extensive documentation, third-party tools, and active forums for support. Businesses can also opt for professional support services offered by third-party vendors for added assurance.

    To summarize, Firebird SQL is a robust, scalable, and cost-effective database solution suitable for a wide range of applications and business sizes. Its comprehensive SQL support, security features, and cross-platform compatibility, combined with the active community support, make it a compelling choice for businesses looking to leverage the power of open-source software without compromising on performance or security.

      PostgreSQL is a versatile and reliable database management system commonly used for web development, data analysis, and building scalable databases. 

      It offers advanced features like indexing, replication, and transaction management. Users appreciate its flexibility, performance, and ability to handle large amounts of data efficiently. Its robustness, scalability, and support for complex queries make it highly valuable. 

      Additionally, PostgreSQL's extensibility, flexibility, community support, and frequent updates contribute to its ongoing improvement and stability.

      Sample Customers
      Elekt Labs, Streamsoft, wobe-systems GmbH, DRB Systems, Moscow City Hospital #31
      1. Apple 2. Cisco 3. Fujitsu 4. Instagram 5. Netflix 6. Red Hat 7. Sony 8. Uber 9. Cisco Systems 10. Skype 11. LinkedIn 12. Etsy 13. Yelp 14. Reddit 15. Dropbox 16. Slack 17. Twitch 18. WhatsApp 19. Snapchat 20. Shazam 21. SoundCloud 22. The New York Times 23. Cisco WebEx 24. Atlassian 25. Cisco Meraki 26. Heroku 27. GitLab 28. Zalando 29. OpenTable 30. Trello 31. Square Enix 32. Bloomberg
      Top Industries
      VISITORS READING REVIEWS
      Computer Software Company15%
      Comms Service Provider15%
      Educational Organization8%
      Manufacturing Company7%
      REVIEWERS
      Computer Software Company15%
      Comms Service Provider13%
      Financial Services Firm10%
      University8%
      VISITORS READING REVIEWS
      Computer Software Company15%
      Comms Service Provider12%
      Financial Services Firm10%
      Government7%
      Company Size
      REVIEWERS
      Small Business92%
      Midsize Enterprise8%
      VISITORS READING REVIEWS
      Small Business31%
      Midsize Enterprise17%
      Large Enterprise53%
      REVIEWERS
      Small Business46%
      Midsize Enterprise20%
      Large Enterprise35%
      VISITORS READING REVIEWS
      Small Business26%
      Midsize Enterprise14%
      Large Enterprise60%
      Buyer's Guide
      Firebird SQL vs. PostgreSQL
      March 2024
      Find out what your peers are saying about Firebird SQL vs. PostgreSQL and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
      763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.

      Firebird SQL is ranked 4th in Open Source Databases with 8 reviews while PostgreSQL is ranked 2nd in Open Source Databases with 6 reviews. Firebird SQL is rated 7.8, while PostgreSQL is rated 8.6. The top reviewer of Firebird SQL writes "Strong event capabilities, allowing raising and displaying events in applications". On the other hand, the top reviewer of PostgreSQL writes "Easy to manage, good integration, powerful plugins, improves performance, and saves on storage space". Firebird SQL is most compared with MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite and Oracle MySQL Cloud Service, whereas PostgreSQL is most compared with EDB Postgres Advanced Server, MariaDB, MySQL, SQLite and YugabyteDB. See our Firebird SQL vs. PostgreSQL report.

      See our list of best Open Source Databases vendors.

      We monitor all Open Source Databases reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.