You compare: Iron Speed, FileMaker, Microsoft Access, and Alpha Five

One of the pre-sales tools we're most proud of here at Alpha is our competitive features grid, which compares Alpha Five with other leading database development platforms, including Microsoft Access 2007, Filemaker Pro 9, Filemaker Pro 9 Advanced, Filemaker Server 9, and Filemaker Server 9 Advanced. About a year ago, we hired a neutral professional software reviewer, and our marching orders were only this: Be honest.

We recently expanded that features grid to include FileMaker Pro 10. And now, our most updated version includes Iron Speed.

We hired an actual Iron Speed developer to help us, and we're confident it's accurate. It's clear there are some features in Microsoft Access, FileMaker, and Iron Speed that are better than Alpha Five Version 9. And there are some features of Alpha Five that are better than Access, FileMaker, and Iron Speed.

The purpose of this grid is not to say we're the best. Rather, our goal is to help developers make the right choice in software for their particular project. We believe if you're looking to build database-driven Web applications in a heartbeat, this grid will show you Alpha Five is right for that requirement.

As always, if you find any inaccuracies in Alpha Five or in any of these products, please let us know in the comments section, or shoot me an e-mail. As I said, the purpose of this grid is to be as accurate and as fair as possible. And, if there are any other databases dev platforms you think we should include, we'd like to know that too. So have a look at our most updated competitive features grid, and let us know what you think.