Perst review
A specialized embedded database for Java and .NET apps that persist object graphs.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Perst is an embedded object-oriented database for developers building Java or .NET applications that need to persist object graphs directly. McObject offers Java, .NET, Android, and Java ME variants, with self-hosted and mobile deployment options. It is aimed at teams that want database operations close to application objects rather than a more general-purpose embedded database model.
Its feature set is centered on working with those objects: Perst supports B-tree, R-tree, Patricia Trie, KD-tree, and T-tree indexes, ACID transactions, schema evolution, and object-oriented query methods. Query-by-example and JSQL, an object-oriented subset of SQL, give developers multiple ways to retrieve data. Full-text search includes Apache Lucene integration. This breadth makes Perst worth considering when an application needs indexed object persistence and database capabilities such as replication, encryption, and online or offline backup without separating its objects into a conventional relational structure.
Licensing is a key decision point. Perst is distributed under GPL terms, while McObject offers a commercial license for projects that cannot use GPL licensing; according to the vendor's pricing approach, commercial licensing requires contacting the company rather than selecting a published price. A free plan is available. The product supports asynchronous or synchronous master-slave replication, and documented database size support reaches 1 terabyte. Choose Perst when direct Java or .NET object persistence is central and its licensing terms fit. Teams seeking a broad, general embedded database choice may prefer another model.
Perst pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Persists Java and .NET objects directly, with schema evolution
- Offers ACID transactions and several index types
- Includes replication, encryption, and online or offline backup
- Where it doesn't
- Its object-oriented model is more specialized than a general embedded database
- Commercial licensing requires contacting McObject
- GPL terms may not fit every project
Perst fact sheet, pricing and score →
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