Claris FileMaker Perpetual Site Corporate

What is included in Claris FileMaker Perpetual Site Corporate?

FileMaker Pro – Build and run custom apps on Windows and Mac.
FileMaker Server – Self-host apps for shared, multi-user access.
FileMaker Go – Run hosted apps on iPhone and iPad.
FileMaker WebDirect – Open apps in any modern web browser.
Core Capacity – Server runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Important – No native Android app; browser access only.

What are the main benefits of Claris FileMaker Perpetual Site Corporate?

Claris FileMaker is a low-code platform for building custom database apps that a whole organization can share. This perpetual site license bundles the desktop, server, mobile, and browser pieces together as a one-time purchase instead of a recurring subscription.

One-time purchase – Own the version without recurring subscription renewals.
Low-code building – Create apps with drag-and-drop tools and templates.
Self-hosted control – Keep company data on your own server.
Cross-platform access – Reach Mac, Windows, iPhone, and browser users.
Site coverage – Licenses a whole organization, not single seats.
Built-in reporting – Export records to Excel and PDF files.

What does Claris FileMaker Perpetual Site Corporate do?

Claris FileMaker is a low-code platform for building custom database apps — for tasks like inventory, CRM, job tracking, or invoicing — that you design once and share across a company. This Corporate site license bundles FileMaker Pro for building apps on Windows and Mac, FileMaker Server for self-hosting them, plus the FileMaker Go iOS app and browser-based WebDirect for access. Because it is a perpetual purchase, you buy the version outright rather than paying a recurring subscription. Apps can import existing data from Excel, CSV, tab-separated, and XML files, so teams can move scattered spreadsheets into one shared database.

Who is Claris FileMaker Perpetual Site Corporate best suited for?

It suits organizations that want custom internal apps for a larger group of users and prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription. The site license is sold for whole organizations and starts at a minimum of 25 users, counting every employee, so it fits company-wide standardization rather than buying single seats. It is a strong fit for teams that must keep data on their own infrastructure, since FileMaker Server can run on Windows Server, macOS, or Linux. A single individual or a two-person team is usually better served by one FileMaker Pro license, which costs far less.

Which platforms and clients does Claris FileMaker Perpetual Site Corporate support?

FileMaker apps run on Windows and Mac through FileMaker Pro, on iPhone and iPad through the free FileMaker Go app, and in a browser through FileMaker WebDirect. The included FileMaker Server hosts the shared apps and installs on Windows Server, macOS, or Linux (Ubuntu). There is no native Android app: Android and other non-iOS devices connect only through WebDirect in a browser, and not every FileMaker Pro feature works there. If part of your workforce uses Android phones, design those layouts specifically for browser use.

Do you need FileMaker Server to share apps, and how is data kept safe?

For shared, multi-user access you need FileMaker Server, which the Corporate site license includes; FileMaker Pro on its own only hosts files for a few peers. Server provides the central hosting that lets FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, and WebDirect clients work on the same live data at once. It also runs scheduled backups of hosted apps, and recent FileMaker Server versions add a Remote Backup option and a Standby Server for failover. Keeping those backups configured is what protects business-critical apps from data loss caused by hardware failure or accidental deletion.

Data loss is expensive: How backups help you avoid outages
For more background on backup planning, read our guide:

What limitations or missing features should you know before buying?

The main gap is mobile reach: FileMaker Go is iOS and iPadOS only, so Android users must rely on WebDirect in a browser, which does not support every feature — script steps such as Save as PDF behave differently there. A perpetual license also ties you to the version you buy; access to newer FileMaker releases and the wider Claris platform tools (Connect and Studio) requires keeping an active maintenance plan. WebDirect layouts must be designed for the browser, since complex FileMaker Pro layouts and some plug-ins do not carry over. Finally, the site license is intended for organizations and requires meeting the 25-user minimum.

What makes Claris FileMaker Perpetual Site Corporate useful in daily work?

Its practical value is replacing fragile multi-tab spreadsheets and disconnected tools with one shared app where data entry, search, and reporting follow the same rules for everyone. A field technician can log a job on an iPad through FileMaker Go while office staff see the same record instantly in a browser through WebDirect. Built-in export sends records straight to Excel and PDF, so reports come from live data instead of manual re-keying. Drag-and-drop add-ons such as charts, calendars, kanban boards, and timelines let non-developers assemble working screens quickly.

What is the difference between a single-user license and the Corporate site license?

The difference is scope: a single-user license covers one person building and using apps on their own machine, while the Corporate site license covers an organization and includes FileMaker Server for shared hosting. A single FileMaker Pro license can host a file to a few peers, but real multi-user deployment, WebDirect, and scheduled server backups come with the site license and its bundled Server. The table below summarizes the practical differences.

Frequently asked questions about Claris FileMaker Perpetual Site Corporate

Can FileMaker apps run offline without a server?

Yes — FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Go can open files stored locally on the device, so an app keeps working without a live server connection. This helps field staff collect data on an iPad in areas with no signal. Shared multi-user access, WebDirect, and scheduled backups, however, require FileMaker Server.

Can FileMaker connect to other databases or web services?

Yes. FileMaker includes the FileMaker Data API (a REST API) and supports ODBC/JDBC and external SQL sources, so apps can exchange data with other systems and websites. This lets a FileMaker app push records to or pull them from an existing SQL database or a web service instead of holding data in isolation.