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FileMaker

Full company profile

uuid003h47k

Namestring
FileMaker
Legal namestring
Claris International Inc.
Websiteurl
filemaker.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
1980
Descriptiontext

FileMaker, operating corporate identity Claris International Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apple Inc. that delivers a low-code custom application development platform. The company, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with 501-1000 employees, traces its origins to the 1980s as Nutshell, was acquired by Apple in 1987, and was renamed FileMaker Inc. before being rebranded to Claris International in 2019 and subsequently reverting to the FileMaker brand. The platform serves more than 100,000 developers and a cumulative base of over 1 million custom-built applications across customers spanning healthcare, manufacturing, education, nonprofit, services, entertainment, and general business verticals. Named customers include ESPN Netherlands, OceanX, and Odakyu.

The core product portfolio comprises Claris FileMaker (the flagship low-code application platform), Claris Studio (a no-code workspace), Claris Connect (an integration and workflow orchestration layer for third-party APIs), FileMaker Cloud, and FileMaker Server. The platform architecture allows non-programmers to build database-driven applications with custom schemas, layouts, and scripting, while developers can extend functionality through APIs, plug-ins, and JavaScript-based web viewers. Revenue is generated via a subscription model with some perpetual licensing retained, distributed through direct sales, an Apple-affiliated channel, and a partner ecosystem including ISVs and consultants.

Recent strategic activity has focused on AI integration: Agentic Development, AI Script Steps, AI Functions, semantic image search, and LLM integration are positioned as native platform capabilities. The business is privately held under Apple, with Ryan McCann serving as CEO. No public funding rounds, revenue figures, or valuation disclosures are available, as the unit is reported within Apple's broader segment reporting rather than standalone.

Short descriptiontext

FileMaker (Claris International) is a subsidiary of Apple that operates a low-code custom application development platform. It serves over 100,000 developers across healthcare, manufacturing, education, nonprofit, and entertainment sectors, with a customer base exceeding 1 million applications built.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
501–1,000
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersSanta Clara, United States
HQ citystring
Santa Clara
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Keyword5 values
low-code app development, custom business apps, database application platform, workflow automation software, cross-platform app builder
NAICS code2 codes
  • Software Publishers513210
  • Software Publishers5132
SIC code1 code
  • Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc.7370
Product category
Low-Code Application Development Platform
GTM motion1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model2 records
1FileMaker Licenses and Subscriptions
TypeSubscription Recurring
Description

Subscription-based licensing for FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Server, and FileMaker Cloud. Perpetual licenses available for FileMaker Pro with annual maintenance fees. Cloud hosting subscriptions provide additional recurring revenue.

claris.com
2Claris Platform Subscriptions
TypeSubscription Recurring
Description

Subscription revenue from Claris FileMaker, Claris Studio, and Claris Connect products with tiered pricing based on features and deployment scale.

claris.com
Marketing channels7 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels5 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components5 values
Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Pricing details2 tiers
1FileMaker Pro license with standard features and cross-platform deployment
ModelSubscriptionBilling cadenceAnnual
Notes

Annual subscription available; free trial offered for new users

claris.com
2FileMaker Cloud hosted subscription
ModelSubscriptionBilling cadenceMonthly
Notes

Managed cloud hosting eliminating infrastructure management

claris.com
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeSoftware
Software
Brand1 of 5 records shown
1Claris FileMaker
Description

Platform for building powerful custom apps

claris.com
+4 more records
Core offering1 text field

FileMaker, operating under the Claris brand as an Apple subsidiary, provides a low-code platform for building, deploying, and integrating custom business applications across Mac, Windows, iOS, and the web. Its core offering is Claris FileMaker, complemented by Claris Studio for web-based data collection, Claris Connect for third-party integrations, and FileMaker Cloud/Server for hosting.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 value
  • 65% of all applications could be developed using Low Code/No Code tools by 2024
Product overview1 text field

Claris (formerly FileMaker, Inc.) offers a platform-plus-modules architecture built around Claris FileMaker as the core product. The platform includes Claris Studio for web-based data collection and sharing, and Claris Connect for integration with third-party applications. Infrastructure options include FileMaker Cloud for managed hosting and FileMaker Server for self-hosted deployments. The company is transitioning toward agentic development, incorporating AI capabilities into its product suite. The platform targets businesses across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, education, nonprofit, entertainment, and services, enabling custom application development without requiring extensive programming knowledge.

Product and service5 records
1Claris FileMaker
CategoryCore Platform
Description

Claris FileMaker is the core platform for building powerful custom business applications. It enables users to create apps that streamline operations, manage data, and automate workflows across organizations, deploying across Mac, Windows, iOS, and web from a single codebase.

2Claris Studio
CategoryAdd-on Module
Description

Claris Studio enables users to collect and share data and insights on the web through web-based forms, allowing effortless data aggregation and turning input into strategic action across the organization. Included with FileMaker license.

3Claris Connect
CategoryAdd-on Module
Description

Claris Connect expands the platform's capabilities by integrating the entire tech stack, including FileMaker, Claris Studio, third-party apps, software, and tools, tailored to specific business needs. Included with FileMaker license.

4FileMaker Cloud
CategoryInfrastructure Service
Description

FileMaker Cloud provides cloud-hosted deployment, eliminating hosting hassles by managing infrastructure and availability for FileMaker solutions.

5FileMaker Server
CategoryInfrastructure Service
Description

FileMaker Server enables organizations to host FileMaker solutions using their own infrastructure, providing control and customization for enterprise deployments.

Scale indicator3 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Partnership1 partner
1Apple
Strategic tierCoreTypeOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner
Description

FileMaker is a subsidiary of Apple under the Claris brand. Apple provides security backing, distribution through its ecosystem, and strategic direction. The platform is deeply integrated with Apple platforms including macOS and iOS.

Recent move6 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight5 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Market position
Competitive moat5 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights6 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Named customers6 records

Each record includes

Name, Industry, Type, Use case, Source, UUID

Segment8 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile2 records

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
Yes
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Feature5 records

Each record includes

Title, Differentiator, Description, Source

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles4 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

FileMaker

Low-Code Application Development Platformfilemaker.com

FileMaker (Claris International) is a subsidiary of Apple that operates a low-code custom application development platform. It serves over 100,000 developers across healthcare, manufacturing, education, nonprofit, and entertainment sectors, with a customer base exceeding 1 million applications built.

What FileMaker does

FileMaker, operating corporate identity Claris International Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apple Inc. that delivers a low-code custom application development platform. The company, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with 501-1000 employees, traces its origins to the 1980s as Nutshell, was acquired by Apple in 1987, and was renamed FileMaker Inc. before being rebranded to Claris International in 2019 and subsequently reverting to the FileMaker brand. The platform serves more than 100,000 developers and a cumulative base of over 1 million custom-built applications across customers spanning healthcare, manufacturing, education, nonprofit, services, entertainment, and general business verticals. Named customers include ESPN Netherlands, OceanX, and Odakyu.

The core product portfolio comprises Claris FileMaker (the flagship low-code application platform), Claris Studio (a no-code workspace), Claris Connect (an integration and workflow orchestration layer for third-party APIs), FileMaker Cloud, and FileMaker Server. The platform architecture allows non-programmers to build database-driven applications with custom schemas, layouts, and scripting, while developers can extend functionality through APIs, plug-ins, and JavaScript-based web viewers. Revenue is generated via a subscription model with some perpetual licensing retained, distributed through direct sales, an Apple-affiliated channel, and a partner ecosystem including ISVs and consultants.

Recent strategic activity has focused on AI integration: Agentic Development, AI Script Steps, AI Functions, semantic image search, and LLM integration are positioned as native platform capabilities. The business is privately held under Apple, with Ryan McCann serving as CEO. No public funding rounds, revenue figures, or valuation disclosures are available, as the unit is reported within Apple's broader segment reporting rather than standalone.

FileMaker firmographics

Firmographics
Name
FileMaker
Legal name
Claris International Inc.
Website
https://filemaker.com
Company type
Private
Founded year
1980
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
501–1,000 employees
Short description
FileMaker (Claris International) is a subsidiary of Apple that operates a low-code custom application development platform. It serves over 100,000 developers across healthcare, manufacturing, education, nonprofit, and entertainment sectors, with a customer base exceeding 1 million applications built.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Where FileMaker is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Santa Clara
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Markets served

FileMaker business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Software
Cost components
Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

  1. FileMaker Licenses and Subscriptions: Subscription-based licensing for FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Server, and FileMaker Cloud. Perpetual licenses available for FileMaker Pro with annual maintenance fees. Cloud hosting subscriptions provide additional recurring revenue.
  2. Claris Platform Subscriptions: Subscription revenue from Claris FileMaker, Claris Studio, and Claris Connect products with tiered pricing based on features and deployment scale.

Pricing tiers

ModelBillingPrice
SubscriptionAnnualFileMaker Pro license with standard features and cross-platform deployment
SubscriptionMonthlyFileMaker Cloud hosted subscription

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

FileMaker product offering

Product offering

Core offering

FileMaker, operating under the Claris brand as an Apple subsidiary, provides a low-code platform for building, deploying, and integrating custom business applications across Mac, Windows, iOS, and the web. Its core offering is Claris FileMaker, complemented by Claris Studio for web-based data collection, Claris Connect for third-party integrations, and FileMaker Cloud/Server for hosting.

Product overview

Claris (formerly FileMaker, Inc.) offers a platform-plus-modules architecture built around Claris FileMaker as the core product. The platform includes Claris Studio for web-based data collection and sharing, and Claris Connect for integration with third-party applications. Infrastructure options include FileMaker Cloud for managed hosting and FileMaker Server for self-hosted deployments. The company is transitioning toward agentic development, incorporating AI capabilities into its product suite. The platform targets businesses across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, education, nonprofit, entertainment, and services, enabling custom application development without requiring extensive programming knowledge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

  • Claris FileMaker: Platform for building powerful custom apps
  • Claris Studio
  • Claris Connect
  • FileMaker Cloud
  • FileMaker Server

Products and services

  • Claris FileMaker Claris FileMaker is the core platform for building powerful custom business applications. It enables users to create apps that streamline operations, manage data, and automate workflows across organizations, deploying across Mac, Windows, iOS, and web from a single codebase.
  • Claris Studio Claris Studio enables users to collect and share data and insights on the web through web-based forms, allowing effortless data aggregation and turning input into strategic action across the organization. Included with FileMaker license.
  • Claris Connect Claris Connect expands the platform's capabilities by integrating the entire tech stack, including FileMaker, Claris Studio, third-party apps, software, and tools, tailored to specific business needs. Included with FileMaker license.
  • FileMaker Cloud FileMaker Cloud provides cloud-hosted deployment, eliminating hosting hassles by managing infrastructure and availability for FileMaker solutions.
  • FileMaker Server FileMaker Server enables organizations to host FileMaker solutions using their own infrastructure, providing control and customization for enterprise deployments.

Quantifiable outcome

  • 65% of all applications could be developed using Low Code/No Code tools by 2024

Companies that use FileMaker

Customer profile

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

FileMaker technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

FileMaker partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

  • ApplecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFileMaker is a subsidiary of Apple under the Claris brand. Apple provides security backing, distribution through its ecosystem, and strategic direction. The platform is deeply integrated with Apple platforms including macOS and iOS.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

FileMaker competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

FileMaker social profiles

Digital presence

FileMaker financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

FileMaker leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

FileMaker funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

FileMaker M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FileMaker

What does FileMaker do?

FileMaker, operating under the Claris brand as an Apple subsidiary, provides a low-code platform for building, deploying, and integrating custom business applications across Mac, Windows, iOS, and the web. Its core offering is Claris FileMaker, complemented by Claris Studio for web-based data collection, Claris Connect for third-party integrations, and FileMaker Cloud/Server for hosting.

Is FileMaker a public or private company?

FileMaker is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.

When was FileMaker founded?

FileMaker was founded in 1980. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.

Where is FileMaker based?

FileMaker is headquartered in Santa Clara, United States, in the North America region.

How does FileMaker make money?

Two revenue lines are on record. FileMaker Licenses and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are claris Platform Subscriptions.

Does FileMaker have an API?

No public API is recorded for FileMaker.

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Live signals
AppleInsiderApple's database app, FileMaker ProThis feature article traces the history of FileMaker Pro, Apple's database application, from its origins in the 1980s when four former Wang Laboratories employees created it under the name Nutshell, through its near-acquisition by Microsoft in 1987 when Microsoft bought distribution partner Foresight, to its acquisition by Apple's subsidiary Claris later that same year. The article describes how Claris developed FileMaker into a cross-platform success, with the company renaming itself FileMaker, Inc. in 1998 before reverting to Claris in 2019, and notes that FileMaker Pro has survived for over three decades as the database component of Apple's productivity suite, predating all other current iWork applications.PR NewswireFileMaker Reborn as ClarisFileMaker, Inc. announced at its 24th annual DevCon that it is rebranding as Claris International Inc., signaling a new chapter in the company's 33-year history. The company also disclosed the acquisition of Stamplay and the launch of Claris Connect, a new workflow automation service that integrates third-party cloud services such as Box and DocuSign. CEO Brad Freitag outlined an ambitious strategy to triple the customer base within three years, noting the company has remained profitable for over 80 consecutive quarters.Solutions Review Technology News and Vendor ReviewsKey Takeaways from the Forrester Wave for Low-Code Platforms for Business Developers, Q2 2019Forrester released its Q2 2019 Wave for low-code platforms, evaluating 12 providers including Airtable, AppSheet, and FileMaker. The report highlights that leading platforms simplify database design while offering advanced tools, but development process management varies. It ranks vendors into leaders, strong performers, contenders, and challengers.PR NewswireGlobal Survey Examines Good, Bad and Ugly of Business TechnologyFileMaker, Inc. released its Workplace Innovation Report on March 20, 2019, based on a global survey finding that 95 percent of organizations struggle with technology designed to address their business problems, including scattered information, manual processes, and fragmented apps. The report also found that 85 percent of business users who adopted a Workplace Innovation Platform reported saving time and money, while 77 percent created more efficient processes for their mobile workforce. The survey identified trends affecting both small and medium-sized businesses and enterprise teams prior to adopting such platforms.PR NewswireFileMaker Go for iPad and iPhone Hits Milestone of 4 Million Downloads from iTunes App StoreFileMaker, Inc. announced that its FileMaker Go app for iPad and iPhone has reached 4 million downloads from the iTunes App Store, marking a milestone for the company's mobile platform offering. The achievement was supported by the recent release of the FileMaker 17 Platform, which introduced updates focused on mobility and development for custom app deployment. FileMaker, Inc., an Apple subsidiary, positions the milestone as evidence of the growing demand for workplace tools that address the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce.PR NewswireFileMaker, Inc. Releases Updated Platform for Quick Custom App CreationFileMaker, Inc. announced the release of the FileMaker 17 Platform on May 15, 2018, featuring updated development, mobility, administration, and integration tools to help business teams create custom apps more easily.TechCrunchFileMaker 17 launches with a renewed focus on the basicsFileMaker, Apple's wholly owned subsidiary, launched version 17 of its low-code development platform, maintaining its standard annual release cadence. The new release focuses on accessibility for novice users through redesigned starter apps for contacts, task management, and asset tracking, alongside a new master-detail layout mode. The company also consolidated its product lineup by merging FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced into a single product, and added iOS sensor data capture, local notifications, and drag-and-drop functionality across iOS apps.PR NewswireFileMaker Named a Leader in G2 Crowd Report for No-Code Development PlatformsFileMaker, Inc. has been recognized as a Leader with a 91 percent satisfaction rating in G2 Crowd's Grid for No-Code Platforms, receiving the highest customer satisfaction score among products in this category. Ninety-one percent of users gave the platform a rating of four or five stars, and the same percentage said they would recommend it. The recognition illustrates FileMaker's ongoing success in offering business teams a no-code alternative to packaged apps or programming tools.PR NewswireFileMaker Cloud Joins the FileMaker 16 Platform with New FeaturesFileMaker, Inc. announced the availability of the latest version of FileMaker Cloud, integrating it with the FileMaker 16 platform to offer new features for custom app management. The release includes trial access to REST-based Data and Admin APIs, integration with Tableau, OAuth 2.0 support, and PDF generation capabilities, running on Amazon Web Services infrastructure.PR NewswireCustom Apps: Obstacle or Answer? New Study Reveals Just How Important Citizen Developers Have Become for Digital TransformationA joint report by 451 Research and FileMaker, Inc. released on August 30, 2017 found that over 80 percent of organizations view citizen developers as increasingly important to their business, with nearly 60 percent of custom apps now being created outside the IT department. The survey of more than 500 companies in North America also found that 82 percent of businesses expect citizen developers to become even more important over the next two years. FileMaker, an Apple subsidiary, co-sponsored the research as part of efforts to promote its custom app creation platform.