H2 Database Engine
6.6#13 in relational databasesFree planFree planWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitH2 Database Engine vs SQLite
What both publish
| Fact | H2 Database Engine | SQLite |
|---|---|---|
| Downloads | The home page lists a Windows installer and an all platforms ZIP download. | The official download page provides source, Android AAR, Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly/JavaScript and documentation bundles. |
| Footprint | The home page describes a small footprint of around 2.5 MB for the JAR file. | A fully configured build can be smaller than 900 KiB. |
| Founded | 2004 | 2000 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| License | H2 is dual licensed under MPL 2.0 or EPL 1.0, and the license page says it can be integrated into and distributed with commercial applications. | SQLite source code is in the public domain and is free for commercial or private use without a license. |
| Security | The security page warns that H2 is not designed for adversarial environments and advises against exposing an H2 server to untrusted connections. | The security guidance says SQLite is extensively fuzz-tested and recommends defensive settings and lower input limits for applications accepting untrusted SQL. |
H2 Database Engine plans
- H2 Database EngineFree
SQLite plans
- SQLiteFree
- Public ForumFree
- Annual Maintenance Subscription$1,500 a year
- SQLite Encryption Extension (SEE)$2,000, paid once
- CEROD$2,000, paid once
- ZIPVFS$4,000, paid once
Pick H2 Database Engine if…
H2 may suit developers seeking a Java SQL database for embedded or server use, including projects that need disk-based or in-memory storage. Its security guidance is important for anyone considering network-accessible server use.
Pick SQLite if…
SQLite suits developers who need device-local database storage, have low writer concurrency, and expect less than a terabyte of content.