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Compare FileMaker Cloud and FileMaker Server

Category FileMaker Server FileMaker Cloud
  Hosting You host your custom apps on
premise.
Claris hosts your custom apps in the cloud
leveraging AWS Cloud.
  Deployment Requires time to set up hardware,
install operating system, and install
and configure FileMaker Server
software.
No server software or hardware needed.
Deploy custom apps in just a few minutes.
  Hardware costs Need to invest in server-class
hardware and budget for upgrades
and maintenance.
No up-front hardware costs. Leverages
enterprise-class hardware from AWS.
  IT impact Requires someone to perform
administrative tasks.
Minimal impact to existing technical staff.
  Centralized management None Manage all team accounts, groups, and
subscriptions in one location with Claris
Customer Console.
  Maintenance Monitoring and OS updates must be scheduled. Operational and minor software updates
are applied automatically with auto-maintenance.
  Backups Need to create and manage backup
schedules. Any backup can be used
to recover data.
Data is backed up automatically every 20
minutes. Greater flexibility in restoring
backups.
  Scalability May need to buy additional hardware
and spend time with setup and
configuration.
Can quickly scale up for fast-paced
growth. Can scale down at time of
subscription renewal.
  Capacities Tested to support up to:
500 FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, or
FileMaker WebDirect clients.
Maximum allowed:
2,000 FileMaker Pro clients.

Learn more about capacities >
Tested to support up to:
250 FileMaker Pro clients.
100 FileMaker Go, FileMaker WebDirect, or
FileMaker Data API clients.
Maximum allowed:
2,000 FileMaker Pro clients.

Learn more about capacities >
  Security Supports AES 256-bit encryption for
stored data and SSL encryption for
data in transit.
Supports AES 256-bit encryption, SSL/
TLS encryption, and automatic file
encryption.
  Certificates No certificate included. Need to
purchase and install SSL certificate.
SSL certificate is built in and included with
subscription cost.
  Authentication Supports external authentication via
Active Directory, Open Directory, and
OAuth 2.0 identity providers.
Use Claris ID, a single-on system, to
authenticate users. Supports optional
multi-factor authentication and
authentication via external identity
providers.
  REST APIs FileMaker Data API and FileMaker
Admin API. Data API includes
connector for Tableau Desktop.
Includes FileMaker Data API and FileMaker
Admin API. Data API includes connector for
Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server.
  OData Support for Linux users. Supported through FileMaker Data API.
  ODBC/JDBC Supported. Drivers need to be
installed.
Only ODBC import is supported
  External SQL Data Sources Supported Supported, except for ESS Adapter.
  Automation Schedule server scripts as needed. Schedule FileMaker scripts from the Admin
Console.
  Storage Storage amount depends on your
organization’s hardware installation.
Storage for operating system is separately
allocated and is included with subscription.
Data storage is 30 GB per year for 5-user
deployment. Each additional user is
allocated 6 GB per year. Additional data
storage is available for purchase.
  Plug-ins Supported Not supported
  Custom Web Publishing
  with PHP and XML
Supported Not supported