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# 7 Things Most People Don't Know About Microsoft Access
- URL: https://nolongerset.com/dont-know-about-access/
- Published: 2023-11-23T16:26:29.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-08T12:37:06.000Z
- Description: Number four is the most frustrating for professional Access developers.
- Author: Mike Wolfe
- Tags: Commentary, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59

1. **It's more than just a database.** In fact, it's more powerful as a [rapid application development (RAD) tool](https://nolongerset.com/multiple-personality-disorder/#access-rapid-application-development-tool) than as a pure database.
2. **It's more than a no-code/low-code platform.** While many Access projects begin life as no-code/low-code solutions, VBA is a fully-featured programming language that allows for a professional developer to implement even the most complex business logic.
3. **It has one of the best report writers of any platform.** If web applications have a major weakness, it's in creating complex, printable reports. This is one of Access's great strengths, and it's a big reason why Access is so often used to create department-level line-of-business applications.
4. **Access applications can easily support hundreds or thousands of users.** The ability to pair an Access front-end (forms, reports, and linked tables) with a robust back-end (e.g., SQL Server, MySQL, etc.) means that the scalability of an Access application is limited only by the skill of the developer.
5. **Access applications can be run from any device.** While Access itself only runs on Windows, [hosting an Access application in a cloud VM](https://nolongerset.com/access-in-an-azure-vm/) allows end users to interact with the application from Linux, an iPad, or even a mobile phone.
6. **You can use version control with Microsoft Access.** Version control works best with text files. However, tools like [Adam Waller's msaccess-vcs-addin](https://nolongerset.com/instant-version-control/) that convert .accdb's and .mdb's to and from text files, let you take advantage of the [benefits of version control with Access development](https://nolongerset.com/top-10-reasons-to-use-version-control-with-access/).
7. **The Access runtime is free, including for commercial use.** Many people assume that everyone who runs an Access application needs a paid license for Office or Access. However, you only need a paid license to *develop* an Access application, not to *run* an Access application. *(h/t Kent Gorrell)*

##  Further Reading

[Microsoft Access’s Multiple Personality DisorderThe dual nature of Access–and the ignorance of this reality–is a major source of the shade that “real programmers” throw its way.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/06/yin-yang-99824_1280.png)](https://nolongerset.com/multiple-personality-disorder/)

[Access in an Azure VMDenver Area Access User Group president, George Young, provides a blueprint for how to move your existing Access applications to the cloud.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2023/06/Microsoft-Access-applications-in-an-Azure-VM.jpeg)](https://nolongerset.com/access-in-an-azure-vm/)

[A Quick, Free Way to Try Version Control with Microsoft AccessCurious about getting started with version control in Microsoft Access, but don’t want to commit a lot of time or money? This could be just the solution for you.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/07/Instant-Version-Control-1-.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/instant-version-control/)

[Top 10 Reasons to Use Version Control With AccessUsing version control is the most impactful change you can make to improve the quality of your Microsoft Access applications. Here is a quick list of just some of the benefits you gain using version control.![](https://nolongerset.com/favicon.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2020/09/learn-2387228_1920.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/top-10-reasons-to-use-version-control-with-access/)

*Cover image created with [Microsoft Designer](https://designer.microsoft.com/) and DALL-E-3*

***UPDATE*** *\[2023-11-27\]: Added number seven (re: Access runtime) as suggested by Kent Gorrell in the comments below. Thanks, Kent!*