Microsoft Access vs. SQLite

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Microsoft Access
Score 7.6 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Access is a database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools.
$139.99
per PC
SQLite
Score 9.6 out of 10
N/A
SQLite is an in-process library that implements a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, transactional SQL database engine. The code for SQLite is in the public domain and is thus free for use for any purpose, commercial or private. SQLite is one of the most widely deployed databases in the world.N/A
Pricing
Microsoft AccessSQLite
Editions & Modules
Microsoft Access
$139.99
per PC
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Microsoft AccessSQLite
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Microsoft AccessSQLite
Considered Both Products
Microsoft Access
Chose Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access is a superb software in database management system. I have been using it for many years without any hesitations. The software is making it different from other software with its awesome features. The software is cost effective for the organisation. It also …
Chose Microsoft Access
Excel is a fantastic - robust application that can do so much so easily. Its easy to train and understand. However - excel does not provide a reporting function and that is typically where we will suggest a move to [Microsoft] Access. [Microsoft] Access requires a little more …
Chose Microsoft Access

With [Microsoft] Access I am able to quickly create simple database driven solutions with built in UI and reporting in one tool. Advanced coding is not necessary and the tool guides you through building out. Opponents for a robust, end-to/end product.

Chose Microsoft Access
Having used Snowflake, I can definitely say that both of these tools are very easy to use and value for money. Although for me, the aspects where Microsoft Access stacks up are its low cost and usability. Snowflake is good with its cloud-based system but for startups where the …
Chose Microsoft Access
I haven't really used another database product other than Microsoft Access since the mid-90s. I don't even remember which program I did use, but needless to say, it did not have as much functionality nor was it as user friendly as databases today. So I really can't say how …
Chose Microsoft Access
Crystal is easier for report writing, but isn't a database solution. Salesforce is lovely, but much more expensive than an old copy of Microsoft Office. For a small budget, [Microsoft] Access was really the only viable option. I only wish it was easier to write complex reports.
Chose Microsoft Access
[Selected Microsoft Access for] employee learning simplicity, attractive graphical environment and features of Microsoft 365 with responsive Microsoft support.
Chose Microsoft Access
Visual FoxPro is a discontinued software, and no longer has support. Also, very few people still use it, or ever know how to use it. Excel is very popular, but [Microsoft] Access can do things like data joins much easier and faster
Chose Microsoft Access
Although SQL is a full-blown platform for heavy database management, Microsoft Access serves the purpose perfectly for small and mid-scale enterprises. It is also perfect for people just getting started with database management. The graphical user interface is a major plus …
Chose Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access is better for large files and backlogs than Excel because it can handle the workload. Excel is great as well, but filtering and searching is limited, and it can crash rather easily. You don't see those problems with Access.
Chose Microsoft Access
We've actually started to use both of these programs. There are pros and cons to both.
Microsoft Access is best for linking two sets of data that already have a common shared field (i.e. both sets of data include a student ID number, social security number, etc)
Airtable is best …
Chose Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Access is great for local low code, relational database applications where users are creating, reading, updating, and deleting data (CRUD)..
  • Useful mostly for locally stored database and not network or cloud-based applications
  • Easy-to-user interface makes it hard to …
Chose Microsoft Access
SharePoint is good for simple data structures, use of workflow, integration with AD, etc. But SharePoint does not support fully relational data or complex reporting, whereas Access absolutely does.
Chose Microsoft Access
Being a similar "Windows application" it's easier to start to use as part of Office. Also, the GUI capabilities are much more advanced than other high-performance databases.
Chose Microsoft Access
Tableau is not even a 'switch-out' tool, it's for visualization so it's not a fair comparison. Against other databasing tools, MySQL is still my favorite may be simply due to being a creature of comfort because that's where I first learned to manage DB. However, Microsoft …
Chose Microsoft Access
MS SQL is a more powerful tool but I love the reporting feature in MS Access. MS Excel is useful for complex calculations but to me, MS Access helps me organize that data. InfoPath is similar to MS Access in that you can create forms for data entry, but it does not include …
Chose Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access is a bit dated compared to other database tools. It is slower, not able to handle quantities of data that are as large as the other tools, and a bit more finicky. However, it is sometimes the preferred tool for some clients. It also has a lower barrier to entry …
Chose Microsoft Access
Filemaker Pro focuses more on data collection in a single, flat file while Access allows for relationships to be drawn between data tables the reduces duplication. I have not worked with FileMaker Pro for several years but found it to be very unwieldy for my needs which were …
Chose Microsoft Access
We tried Salesforce, which was expensive and not as customizable as Access. QuickBase also was pricey compared to already having an MS license with the existing package, and QuickBase was not very intuitive. The other option was an open source version which was less intuitive …
Chose Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access is much easier to understand and use than SAP. There are a lot of menus in SAP which can be very difficult to navigate. If you are familiar with Microsoft Word/Excel it is very similar and should be easy to learn. Also maintaining databases in Access is much …
Chose Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access databases are more suitable for us because we are a smaller team. It's easy for us to export the reporting. It's also easy for people to create their own databases as well! Microsoft Access is honestly a one-stop-shop for us, and we figured we were not at a …
SQLite
Chose SQLite
I also use other Database Systems, but for small apps with offline storage, SQLite is a good and easy to use Database.
Chose SQLite
SQLite is faster and also Light weight as compared to Microsoft SQL Server. Also being open source it reduces the application development cost drastically
Chose SQLite
SQLite has CRUD queries and manipulates external files. Cross-platform support includes iOS, Android, Mac OS X, and Windows. Compared to other databases, it is fast and straightforward to implement. Even if an application crashes, there is no effect on the database or the data …
Chose SQLite
We looked at other traditional RDBMS products, but found them to be cumbersome to deploy. They take up more space, and consume more computing resources than SQLite does. While the performance or direct integration to our primary applications may have been better or easier if we …
Chose SQLite
SQLite has many types of queries to do CRUD operations. and even do manipulation to external files as well. it is fast and easy to implement compared to other Databases.
SQLite support atomic behaviours, so app crash in any situation, the won't impact database or data within …
Chose SQLite
Microsoft SQLExpress: More heavyweight, not as lean in terms of disk space or processing requirements. Involves Microsoft's tentacles to be involved.
Chose SQLite
SQLite is considered better against these two depending on the needs and phase of the project. If we require a lightweight yet reliable database which should also be portable across different platforms and speed is the most important part of the query and data security is not …
Chose SQLite
I think there is no real competition between them.
In "SQLite" you can hear "light" when you don't need to store a big amount of data and when you need something easy to deploy, SQLite is a good choice, I didn't find those qualities in other database systems I knew.
Chose SQLite
When looking at the original items available, Valentina was a serious contender. What was good about SQLite was the familiar SQL interface and way it accessed data. Valentina, at the time, had issues with index corruption requiring vigilance with the database maintenance making …
Chose SQLite
SQLite stacks quite well against Microsoft SQL server management studio however we need the Microsoft security for our data MDSN documentation is poor but available.
Best Alternatives
Microsoft AccessSQLite
Small Businesses
InterSystems IRIS
InterSystems IRIS
Score 7.7 out of 10
InfluxDB
InfluxDB
Score 8.8 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
InterSystems IRIS
InterSystems IRIS
Score 7.7 out of 10
Neo4j
Neo4j
Score 9.8 out of 10
Enterprises
SAP IQ
SAP IQ
Score 10.0 out of 10
Neo4j
Neo4j
Score 9.8 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Microsoft AccessSQLite
Likelihood to Recommend
5.0
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
7.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Availability
8.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
6.4
(0 ratings)
1.0
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
8.0
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
5.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Microsoft AccessSQLite
Likelihood to Recommend
Having worked at startups, I can say Microsoft Access is most suited for their needs. Some of the reasons for that can be the ease and ability to create tables, design an entity-relationship diagram, define the relationship between different tables, feeding data into the tables, and retrieving data. All of this can be curated very easily into a process for small to medium-size enterprises. But a serious limitation can be observed where Access does not provide better features for large-scale companies. Another limitation is for companies where Mac is used as work computers.
Read full review
The portability and ease of use has us doing local development, and then shipping the database to production for implementation. This compact deliverable object is great. Until multiple developers need to access it at a time. It is a caveat, but we create a database per integration as it is easier to manage. Using a SQLite database to manage more than one integration or task is not something we would recommend.
Read full review
Pros
  • One good aspect of Microsoft Access is how the software can be customized for different applications. This is very useful because we are able to use this software for multiple applications, which makes it cost-friendly.
  • Another strong point of Microsoft Access is the skill required to customize, the amount of programming required is less than most other database programs. This is good for a beginner looking to get into database management.
  • Microsoft Access is one of the more cost-friendly database applications, and most of the time it comes with Microsoft Office. Other database programs can be expensive and not as easy to use.
Read full review
  • Our products are using SQLite in embedded Linux and in Windows software.
  • It is truly a stable cross-platform database.
  • The fact that it is a zero-configuration database engine, it is particularly a nice advantage when you work in the embedded world.
  • Being a single database file, it provides ease for those who need to quickly transfer data to someone else, or quickly browse data.
Read full review
Cons
  • Generally high learning curve for new users. Especially if they are not comfortable with technology.
  • Desktop only program; not available in web-format like other O365 products
  • Fewer experienced users, means it's a lot of self-teaching and troubleshooting when you run into an issue
Read full review
  • Although it is excellent at what it does, you should be really careful and plan accordingly if you know that your database is going to scale at a huge level because it is not suitable of databases which are of Enterprise level and demands top-notch security and protection.
  • If your project involves multiple people working on the same database simultaneously, then that becomes a big problem, because it only allows single write at one time. You really need to be forward thinking in a manner to predict if this database will cater to all the needs of your project.
  • The most common difficulty with this is the lack of some of the basic functionality which is present in the other premier databases like Joints, Stored Procedure calls, Security and permission grants. If you do require all those things then you are better off not using this software.
  • Lastly, if you are using this in an Andriod App development cycle then also your options are limited because it does not integrate with PostgreSQL and MYSQL.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
I and the rest of my team will renew our Microsoft Access in the future because we use and maintain many different applications and databases created using Microsoft Access so we will need to maintain them in the future. Additionally, it is a standard at our place of work so it is at $0 cost to us to use. Another reason for renewing Microsoft Access is that we just don' t have the resources needed to extend into a network of users so we need to remain a single-desktop application at this time.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Usability
Microsoft Access is easy to use. It is compatible with spreadsheets. It is a very good data management tool. There is scope to save a large amount of data in one place. For using this database, one does not need much training, can be shared among multiple users. This database has to sort and filtering features which seem to be very useful.
Read full review
I have had a wonderful experience with SQLite because in my every project I use SQLite in the development phase because it's really fast, doesn't crash and very easy to maintain as well. It saves a lot on physical memory and dedicated server usage. It has all the basic functionality you would need to get the job done and that too at no cost at all. What more could you ask for !!!
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
I don't think the program has ever failed me. It is one of those programs where there is always a solution if you know where to look.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
While I have never contacted Microsoft directly for product support, for some reason there's a real prejudice against MS Access among most IT support professionals. They are usually discouraging when it comes to using MS Access. Most of this is due to their lack of understanding of MS Access and how it can improve one's productivity. If Microsoft invested more resources towards enhancing and promoting the use of MS Access then maybe things would be different.
Read full review
I haven't needed support yet.
Read full review
Implementation Rating
there is no key idea, since it is easy to implement Microsoft Access
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Excel is a fantastic - robust application that can do so much so easily. Its easy to train and understand. However - excel does not provide a reporting function and that is typically where we will suggest a move to [Microsoft] Access. [Microsoft] Access requires a little more knowledge of data manipulation.
Read full review
SQLite has CRUD queries and manipulates external files. Cross-platform support includes iOS, Android, Mac OS X, and Windows. Compared to other databases, it is fast and straightforward to implement. Even if an application crashes, there is no effect on the database or the data it contains. The user interface is best for input and output. It's best for developing skills and project deliverables.
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • Microsoft Access has had a mostly positive impact on our business objectives in that most of our work is funded by grants and those grants need reports with data about our projects. Microsoft Access makes getting and organizing that data very easy.
  • Another positive is that since it is built on an Excel backbone, Excel files can be easily imported into Microsoft Access and also it is easy to export Microsoft Access reports, data sheets, etc. into Excel and some other programs as well. That might help more people who already use Excel learn how to work in a database.
  • I can't really think of a negative impact other than not many people at my workplace have ever used or understand how to use a database. Most people tend to use Excel rather than a database, like Microsoft Access.
Read full review
  • No licensing fees has a net increase on ROI
  • The active community has kept support costs low, further increasing ROI
  • The wide range of supported platforms and high level of compatibility has increased ROI by reducing time spent porting the database model to any platform specific solutions.
Read full review
ScreenShots