In the world of Flutter development, choosing the right local database can make or break your app’s performance and scalability. Hive, Isar, and ObjectBox are three top contenders when it comes to fast, efficient, and developer-friendly NoSQL solutions. This article helps you decide which one to choose for your next Flutter project.
Overview of Each Database
Hive
- Type: Lightweight key-value database
- Written in: Pure Dart
- Speed: Very fast for basic reads/writes
- Best for: Simple offline data, caching, quick prototyping
Isar
- Type: Fully-featured NoSQL object database
- Written in: Rust (with Dart bindings)
- Speed: Blazing fast with indexes and queries
- Best for: Apps with large datasets, advanced queries, and real-time needs
ObjectBox
- Type: Object-oriented database
- Written in: C++ (with Dart bindings)
- Speed: Among the fastest local databases
- Best for: IoT, large apps, reactive sync, and high-performance scenarios
Detailed Comparison
| Feature | Hive | Isar | ObjectBox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Support | Dart only | Dart, Flutter, JS (planned) | Dart, Flutter, C++, Kotlin |
| Querying | Basic filtering | Advanced query builder | Rich query syntax |
| Relationships | Manual | Native support | Native support |
| Encryption Support | AES-256 | Built-in | Built-in |
| Performance | High for small data | Very High | Extremely High |
| Type Safety | Medium (with adapters) | Strong (zero boilerplate) | Strong (with codegen) |
| Web Support | Yes | Yes | No |
| Learning Curve | Very Easy | Moderate | Moderate |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes | Partially (license-based) |
When Should You Use Each?
Choose Hive if:
- You need quick and simple data storage
- You want Dart-only integration with no native dependencies
- Your app is lightweight (e.g., to-do list, caching, theme preferences)
Read Articles : Hive Database in Flutter: The Ultimate Guide with Examples
Choose Isar if:
- You require powerful queries and indexing
- You want to handle object relationships natively
- You need reactive data, high performance, and scalability
- Your app runs offline-first with structured data (e.g., note apps, finance)
Choose ObjectBox if:
- You’re building performance-critical apps
- You want multi-platform support (IoT, mobile)
- You need sync-ready databases (ObjectBox Sync)
- You work in a team that values data modeling and schema migration
Real-World Use Cases
| App Type | Recommended DB |
|---|---|
| Todo App / Theme Storage | Hive |
| Notes App with Search | Isar |
| Industrial IoT App | ObjectBox |
| Budget Management Tool | Isar |
| Product Catalog (Large List) | ObjectBox / Isar |
| Chat App (offline sync) | ObjectBox |
Developer Tips
- Always encrypt sensitive data, regardless of the database
- Prefer typed adapters for better performance and cleaner code
- Use batch operations for large inserts to avoid UI jank
- Consider query indexes in Isar or ObjectBox to speed up searches
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FAQ: Flutter Local Database Selection
Hive. It’s purely Dart-based and doesn’t require native setup or complex code generation.
Yes, both support Flutter Web. ObjectBox currently does not support web.
Use Isar or ObjectBox — they support this natively, while Hive requires manual key mapping.