SQLite Library Comparison

When choosing a SQLite library for Node.js, you have several excellent options. This guide compares @photostructure/sqlite with the alternatives to help you make an informed decision.

Quick Decision Guide

Choose @photostructure/sqlite when you want:

• ✅ Future-proof code that works with both this package AND node:sqlite
• ✅ Node.js API compatibility without waiting for stable release
• ✅ Broad Node.js support (v20+) without experimental flags
• ✅ Synchronous performance with a clean, official API
• ✅ Node-API stability — one build works across Node.js versions
• ✅ Zero migration path when node:sqlite becomes stable
• ✅ Session/changeset support for replication and synchronization

Choose better-sqlite3 when you want:

• ✅ The most mature and feature-rich synchronous SQLite library
• ✅ Maximum performance above all else
• ✅ A specific API design that differs from Node.js

Choose sqlite3 when you have:

• ✅ Legacy code using async/callback patterns
• ✅ Hard requirement for non-blocking operations
• ✅ Need for SQLCipher encryption

Choose node:sqlite when you're:

• ✅ Experimenting with bleeding-edge Node.js features
• ✅ Building proof-of-concepts for future migration
• ✅ Working in environments where you control the Node.js version

Detailed Comparison

🏷️ node:sqlite — Node.js Built-in Module

The official SQLite module included with Node.js 22.5.0+ (experimental)

✨ Pros:

• Zero dependencies — Built directly into Node.js
• Official support — Maintained by the Node.js core team
• Clean synchronous API — Simple, predictable blocking operations
• Full SQLite power — FTS5, JSON functions, R*Tree, sessions/changesets, and more

⚠️ Cons:

• Experimental status — Not yet stable for production use
• Requires Node.js 22.5.0+ — Won't work on older versions
• Flag required — Must use --experimental-sqlite to enable
• API may change — Breaking changes possible before stable release
• Limited real-world usage — Few production deployments to learn from

🎯 Best for: Experimental projects, early adopters, and preparing for the future when it becomes stable.

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🚀 better-sqlite3 — The Performance Champion

The most popular high-performance synchronous SQLite library

✨ Pros:

• Blazing fast — 2-15x faster than async alternatives
• Rock-solid stability — Battle-tested in thousands of production apps
• Rich feature set — User functions, aggregates, virtual tables, extensions
• Extensive community — Large ecosystem with many resources

⚠️ Cons:

• Different API — Not compatible with Node.js built-in SQLite
• V8-specific — Requires separate builds for each Node.js version
• Synchronous only — No async operations (usually a feature, not a bug)
• Migration effort — Switching from other libraries requires code changes
• No session support — Doesn't expose SQLite's session/changeset functionality

🎯 Best for: High-performance applications where you want maximum speed and control over the API.

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📦 sqlite3 — The Async Classic

The original asynchronous SQLite binding for Node.js

✨ Pros:

• Battle-tested legacy — 10+ years of production use
• Massive ecosystem — 4000+ dependent packages
• Truly asynchronous — Non-blocking operations won't freeze your app
• Extensive resources — Countless tutorials and Stack Overflow answers
• Extension support — Works with SQLCipher for encryption
• Node-API stable — One build works across Node.js versions

⚠️ Cons:

• Significantly slower — 2-15x performance penalty vs synchronous libs
• Callback complexity — Prone to callback hell without careful design
• Unnecessary overhead — SQLite is inherently synchronous anyway
• Memory management quirks — Exposes low-level C concerns to JavaScript
• Concurrency issues — Mutex contention under heavy load

🎯 Best for: Legacy codebases, apps requiring true async operations, or when you need SQLCipher encryption.

Feature Matrix

Feature	@photostructure/sqlite	node:sqlite	better-sqlite3	sqlite3
API Compatibility	node:sqlite	-	Custom	Custom
Min Node.js Version	20.0.0	22.5.0	14.0.0	10.0.0
Experimental Flag	❌ Not needed	✅ Required	❌ Not needed	❌ Not needed
Synchronous API	✅	✅	✅	❌
Asynchronous API	❌	❌	❌	✅
TypeScript Types	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in	✅ Via @types	✅ Via @types
Custom Functions	✅	✅	✅	✅
Aggregate Functions	✅	✅	✅	❌
Window Functions	✅	✅	✅	❌
Sessions/Changesets	✅	✅	❌	❌
Backup API	✅	✅	✅ Different API	✅
Extension Loading	✅	✅	✅	✅
Worker Threads	✅	✅	✅	⚠️ Limited
FTS5	✅	✅	✅	✅
JSON Functions	✅	✅	✅	✅
R*Tree	✅	✅	✅	✅
Node-API	✅	N/A	❌ V8-specific	✅
Build Size	~2MB	0 (built-in)	~2MB	~3MB

Performance Comparison

All synchronous libraries (@photostructure/sqlite, node:sqlite, better-sqlite3) offer similar performance:

• 2-15x faster than async sqlite3 for most operations
• Direct C API access with minimal JavaScript overhead
• No async/await overhead or promise creation costs
• Efficient batch operations with prepared statements

The async sqlite3 library is slower due to:

• Thread pool overhead
• Callback/promise creation costs
• Mutex contention under load
• Additional memory allocations

Migration Paths

From node:sqlite to @photostructure/sqlite

// Just change the import - everything else stays the same!
// From: import { DatabaseSync } from 'node:sqlite';
import { DatabaseSync } from "@photostructure/sqlite";
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From better-sqlite3 to @photostructure/sqlite

See our detailed migration guide. Key differences:

• Constructor syntax slightly different
• No .transaction() helper method
• Different property names (e.g., .name → .location)
• Iterator syntax changes

From sqlite3 to @photostructure/sqlite

Requires rewriting from async to sync patterns:

// sqlite3 (async)
db.get("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?", [id], (err, row) => {
  if (err) handleError(err);
  else processUser(row);
});

// @photostructure/sqlite (sync)
try {
  const row = db.prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?").get(id);
  processUser(row);
} catch (err) {
  handleError(err);
}
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Ecosystem Considerations

Package Maintenance

• @photostructure/sqlite: Actively maintained, tracks Node.js upstream
• node:sqlite: Part of Node.js core, follows Node.js release cycle
• better-sqlite3: Very actively maintained, frequent updates
• sqlite3: Maintained but less frequent updates

Community and Support

• better-sqlite3: Largest community, most Stack Overflow answers
• sqlite3: Huge legacy community, extensive resources
• node:sqlite: Growing community as adoption increases
• @photostructure/sqlite: New but benefits from node:sqlite compatibility

Conclusion

Choose based on your specific needs:

1. Need future compatibility? → @photostructure/sqlite
2. Want maximum performance and features? → better-sqlite3
3. Have async legacy code? → sqlite3
4. Can use experimental features? → node:sqlite

For new projects targeting Node.js 20+, @photostructure/sqlite offers the best balance of compatibility, performance, and future-proofing.