# OrbitDb vs IPFS

**URL:** <https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/orbitdb-vs-ipfs/4088>\
**Category:** js-ipfs\
**Tags:** js-ipfs\
**Created:** [October 19, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/orbitdb-vs-ipfs/4088 "2018-10-19T17:08:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gaga\_gogo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58f4c7/32.png) [@gaga\_gogo](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/u/gaga_gogo)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/orbitdb-vs-ipfs/4088/1 "2018-10-19T17:08:33Z")

</div>

Hi folks,

I’m just getting started with IPFS and keen to understand best way to get an application up and running.

Should I use a more direct Js-ipfs implementation or pursue something like OrbitDb that provides off the shelf schemas?

To be more specific I’m building a simple application that records user balances and transactions in the DB.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![postables](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.ipfs.tech/postables/32/2729_2.png) [@postables](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/u/postables)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 3:58am UTC](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/orbitdb-vs-ipfs/4088/2 "2018-10-20T03:58:38Z")

</div>

OrbitDB uses IPFS, and is a database, while IPFS is basically a “storage and content distribution engine” . In your case, I would probably just go for OrbitDB. You could in theory just store user balances and transactions straight on IPFS, but OrbitDB will probably make your life easier.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gaga\_gogo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58f4c7/32.png) [@gaga\_gogo](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/u/gaga_gogo)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/orbitdb-vs-ipfs/4088/3 "2018-10-21T17:40:19Z")

</div>

Thanks a ton - that helps!