Factorio vs FBReader vs FileMaker: Which Is Right for You in 2026?

Factorio is a factory-building video game, FBReader is a free ebook reader app, and FileMaker (Claris FileMaker, owned by Apple) is a low-code business…

Factorio

One-time purchase · From $35

Best for: Players who want a one-time-purchase automation and factory-building simulation with no subscription required.

FBReader

Freemium · From Free

Best for: Anyone who wants a free, cross-platform reader for ePub, FB2, and Mobi ebooks, with optional paid extras.

FileMaker

Subscription · From $17.50/user/month

Best for: Businesses and IT teams that need to build custom low-code apps and databases running on desktop, web, and mobile.

At a Glance

	Factorio	FBReader	FileMaker
Primary category	Productivity	Productivity	Productivity
Rating	Not documented	Not documented	Not documented
Pricing model	One-time purchase	Freemium	Subscription
Starting price	$35	Free	$17.50/user/month
Free plan	Not documented	Yes	Not documented
Free trial	Not documented	Not documented	Yes
Platforms	Mac, Windows	iOS, Android, Mac, Windows	Web, iOS, Mac, Windows
Team collaboration	Not documented	Not documented	Not documented
AI features	Not documented	Not documented	Not documented
Public API	Not documented	Not documented	Yes

Standout Differences

Entertainment, reading, and business software, side by side

Factorio is a game, FBReader is a reading utility, and FileMaker is a business application platform. Grouping them together reflects alphabetical category listing, not any real product overlap.

Factorio, FBReader, FileMaker

Three completely different pricing shapes

Factorio is a flat one-time purchase at $35 with no subscription, FBReader is free with an optional one-time Premium unlock and cloud-sync add-ons, and FileMaker runs on an ongoing per-user subscription starting at $17.50/user/month — the kind of recurring enterprise pricing neither of the other two uses.

Factorio, FBReader, FileMaker

FileMaker's enterprise weight vs. the other two's consumer scale

FileMaker is a Claris (Apple-owned) low-code platform built for organizations to develop custom business apps and databases with cloud or on-premise hosting — a fundamentally different scale of commitment than installing a game or an ebook reader.

FileMaker

FBReader's format flexibility

FBReader stands out among the three for supporting multiple ebook formats — ePub, FB2, and Mobi — in a single free reader, a specific and narrow value proposition unrelated to either Factorio's gameplay or FileMaker's app-building tools.

FBReader

Feature-by-Feature

Category & Purpose

Feature	Factorio	FBReader	FileMaker
Factory-building / automation simulation game	Available	Unavailable	Unavailable
Ebook reader app	Unavailable	Available	Unavailable
Low-code business app / database builder	Unavailable	Unavailable	Available

Pricing & Plans

Feature	Factorio	FBReader	FileMaker
One-time purchase	Available	Limited	Unavailable
Recurring per-user subscription	Unavailable	Unavailable	Available
Free to use at no cost	Unavailable	Available	Unavailable

Platform Support

Feature	Factorio	FBReader	FileMaker
Cross-platform availability	Not documented	Available	Available
Cloud or on-premise hosting for custom apps	Unavailable	Unavailable	Available

Pricing Compared

Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.

Factorio

Factorio (base game) — $35 one-time

Space Age expansion — Separate one-time purchase one-time

FBReader

Free — $0 free

Premium — ~$6.99 one-time

FileMaker

FileMaker Server Starter — $17.50/user/month annual

FileMaker Cloud Starter — $22/user/month annual

FileMaker Cloud Max — $45/user/month annual

Pros & Cons

Factorio

Pros

One-time purchase with no subscriptions or microtransactions
Extremely deep automation and optimization gameplay
Large modding community extends replayability
Actively maintained with regular free updates to the base game
Strong multiplayer support for co-op factory building

Cons

Steep learning curve that can overwhelm new players
Long playthroughs required to reach late-game content
Space Age expansion is a separate paid purchase
Not designed for players wanting fast, casual sessions

FBReader

Pros

Free core app with wide ebook format support
Available across nearly all major desktop and mobile platforms
One-time Premium purchase instead of a recurring subscription
Supports open formats rather than a closed proprietary store

Cons

Interface feels dated compared to newer reader apps
Cloud sync depends on a Google Drive-based backend
No dedicated ebook storefront built into the app
Company information and support channels are sparse

FileMaker

Pros

Low-code approach lets non-developers build custom business apps
Apps deploy across desktop, iOS, and web from a single build
Choice between managed cloud hosting and self-hosted server deployment
Long track record and backing from Apple through the Claris subsidiary

Cons

Per-user annual billing with minimum user counts can be costly for very small teams
Pricing structure across Cloud and Server tiers can be confusing to compare
Low-code model may be limiting for highly specialized or code-intensive applications
Requires contacting sales for licenses beyond around 100 users

Use Cases

Choose Factorio: Players who want a one-time-purchase automation and factory-building simulation with no subscription required.

Choose FBReader: Anyone who wants a free, cross-platform reader for ePub, FB2, and Mobi ebooks, with optional paid extras.

Choose FileMaker: Businesses and IT teams that need to build custom low-code apps and databases running on desktop, web, and mobile.

Factorio

Automation and optimization gameplay — Players design increasingly efficient production chains to maximize output per resource.
Cooperative multiplayer building — Groups of friends build and expand a shared factory together over long play sessions.
Modding and customization — Players use the Lua API to build custom mods, overhauls, or entirely new game modes.

FBReader

Reading independently published ebooks — Readers use FBReader to open ePub and FB2 files from independent publishers or personal libraries.
Cross-device reading — Readers sync their library and reading position between a phone, tablet, and desktop.
Accessing network book catalogs — Users browse OPDS-based library catalogs directly from within the app.

FileMaker

Custom inventory tracking — Build a tailored inventory management app without commissioning bespoke software.
Internal workflow apps — Create department-specific tools for scheduling, approvals, or case tracking.
Cross-device business apps — Deploy the same custom app to desktop, iOS, and web without separate development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Factorio, FBReader, and FileMaker have anything in common?

Not functionally. Factorio is a factory-building simulation game, FBReader is an ebook reader app, and FileMaker is a low-code platform for building business apps and databases. They're listed together by directory category, not because they solve the same problem.

Is FileMaker a game like Factorio?

No. FileMaker (Claris FileMaker, owned by Apple) is a business software platform used to build custom apps and databases that run on desktop, web, and mobile with cloud or on-premise hosting. It has no relationship to Factorio's factory-building gameplay.

Which of these three is free?

FBReader is free, with an optional one-time Premium unlock and cloud-sync add-ons for extra features. Factorio is a flat one-time purchase at $35 with no free tier documented, and FileMaker is a recurring subscription starting at $17.50/user/month — neither has a documented free option.

Can FBReader open the same file formats as FileMaker databases?

No — FBReader is built for ebook formats specifically (ePub, FB2, and Mobi), while FileMaker is a database and custom-app platform for structured business data. They serve completely different file types and use cases, so one isn't a substitute for the other.

Is Factorio a good fit for a business that needs custom software, instead of FileMaker?

No. Factorio is entertainment software — a factory-building and automation simulation game — with no application-building or database capabilities. A business that needs to build custom internal tools or databases should look at a platform like FileMaker instead.

Read the full Factorio review · Read the full FBReader review · Read the full FileMaker review

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