Choosing the right type of database—SQL or NoSQL—depends on the mobile app’s specific needs. SQL databases like SQLite and PostgreSQL offer structured data storage with strong ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) guarantees.
They are ideal for apps that need relational data models, strict schema mobile database validation, and transactional integrity, such as financial or healthcare apps. NoSQL databases, such as Firebase Realtime Database, Couchbase Mobile, or MongoDB Realm, are more flexible with unstructured data and support hierarchical or document-based formats.
These are suited for real-time applications, social networks, or content-heavy platforms where scalability and dynamic schemas are more important. NoSQL databases often provide better performance for syncing and offline-first capabilities. Some apps even use a hybrid approach—SQL for core transactional data and NoSQL for unstructured content.
Ultimately, the decision should consider scalability, performance, data complexity, and long-term maintenance requirements.