August 18, 2020 Blog FileMaker AWSClarisFilemakerHoneycodelow-codeno code FileMaker & Honeycode Comparison Low-code and no-code platforms allow citizen developers to create applications with minimal knowledge of computer science and coding. According to Forbes, low-code apps are projected to experience high growth in coming years, largely because low-code development is significantly faster and cheaper than traditional code development. We were curious about new platforms in the space, so we decided to conduct a FileMaker & Honeycode comparison. AWS Honeycode On June 24, 2020, AWS launched it’s no-code platform Honeycode, which is designed to enable application authoring by non-developers. Engineered to combine the feel of a spreadsheet with the power of a software platform, Honeycode is positioned in a similar space as Claris’ FileMaker. Task tracking template in AWS Honeycode Claris’ FileMaker FileMaker was named as one of several low-code industry leaders in a 2019 Forrester report, and has been around for over 30 years. Launch screen in Claris’ FileMaker AppWorks primarily develops in Claris’ FileMaker platform, and also has extensive hosting experience using AWS. Because we frequently utilize both platforms, we were curious about how the two would compare and contrast in the low-code space. AppWorks would like to note that Honeycode is brand-new, and these findings are as of our August 2020 platform testing. Honeycode & FileMaker Comparison Here are our findings: AWS HoneycodeClaris FileMakerPricingFree: up to 20 users with limit of 2500 rows/workbook, unlimited workbooksNo free option beyond 45-day free trialPlus: $20/month up to 20 users with limit of 10,000 rows/workbook, unlimited workbooks$99 developer subscription optionPro: $29.99/month up to users with limit of 100,000 rows/workbook, unlimited workbooksClaris FileMaker Cloud Essentials: $19.99/user/month up to 5 usersClaris FileMaker Cloud Standard: $39.99/user/month for 5+ usersOn-premise Licenses: $900/year for 5 years, cloud hosting additionalPlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows, Mac, Web, iOS, Android coming soonProsHighly intuitive UI requires no coding experienceUnlimited rowsPopular starting templatesCan create public-facing appsEasy point-and-click automationsAbility to attach filesAndroid appHighly customizable UI with 3 record browsing options: single, list, spreadsheetFast & responsive web interfaceThousands of free resources available onlineAbility to use Javascript, SQL and scriptingAbility to host your own server and fully own/control your dataSSO options including Azure, Google, AWS Cognito & othersEasily export data as .CSV, Excel, HTML and XMLHighly extensible– supports API integrations, Javascript solution integration– integrates with ODBC and JDBCConsDifficult to extract data without using Honeycode APINo free usage optionInability to attach filesHarder to web publish compared to HoneycodeLow row limitsNo native high-availability or scalability featuresNo public-facing apps, must have accountSide-by-side platform comparison Optimized for Different Uses Ultimately, AppWorks feels that the two platforms are optimized for different uses. We would recommend using Honeycode if you have a simple spreadsheet that you wish to turn into an app for use within a team setting. We would recommend using Claris’ FileMaker for developing applications based on simple spreadsheets into advanced ERP solutions. FileMaker’s ability to scale with business growth and adapt to changing needs makes it the better fit for development of more complex applications. Reach out to sales@app.works if you are curious about your options for low-code app development. By Eleanor Fulton