ObjectBox

ObjectBox builds an embedded, on-device NoSQL database together with a bi-directional data synchronization layer. The database is designed to store and query objects locally on constrained hardware — smartphones, IoT devices, gateways, routers, single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi, and automotive ECUs — so that applications continue to function without an internet connection. The company positions the product as offline-first and cloud-optional: data can be kept entirely on-device or on-premise, and synchronized to a cloud back end only when desired. ObjectBox markets itself as an edge vector database, offering on-device vector search intended to support locally running AI workloads, and also promotes its offering as a replacement for MongoDB Atlas Device Sync.

The product exposes native-language APIs across Java, Kotlin, C, C++, Go, Swift, Dart/Flutter and Python, and runs on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux and Docker environments. The core engine is written in C/C++ for performance, with language bindings distributed through package managers such as Maven Central and pub.dev; a Gradle plugin handles code generation for JVM and Android projects. Supporting tooling includes ObjectBox Admin, an ObjectBox Generator based on FlatBuffers schema files, and a documented Sync product. Only 64-bit systems are supported by default.

The company describes application focus areas including AI and mobile apps, point-of-sale terminals requiring transactionally safe offline operation, and automotive software-defined vehicles, where it cites VSS support and operation on ECUs. It claims performance roughly 10x faster than alternatives and a small footprint (under 1MB at the time of its 2018 funding), with associated reductions in CPU, memory, battery and bandwidth use.

Business model

ObjectBox distributes SDKs and language bindings for its embedded database, with core client libraries published on GitHub under open-source licenses (Apache-2.0 for several bindings; the Gradle plugin under AGPL-3.0) and a binary license governing the native database library. The commercial layer centres on ObjectBox Sync, which requires access to the Sync feature, alongside self-hosted and on-premise deployment options.

The website offers a free trial and a demo scheduling path, with the Data Sync capability gated behind feature access, indicating a commercial licensing model layered on freely available client SDKs.

Traction

Press coverage of the 2018 financing reported more than 75,000 developers and 15,000 apps in the year following launch. Public GitHub repositories show sustained community adoption, with the Java/Android binding at about 4,600 stars, the Dart/Flutter binding at about 1,200 stars, the Go binding at about 1,300 stars, and 42 repositories in the organization. The company states its database has run in millions of cars since 2023.

Latest developments

The company markets itself as an edge vector database and promotes a migration path for users of MongoDB Atlas Device Sync. Recent SDK work visible in its public repositories includes a Swift Package Manager distribution, Python bindings, and updated Android setup instructions targeting Android Gradle Plugin 9.0 with TOML version catalogs. The company is recruiting C/C++ developers.