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IBM WebSphere Message Broker Reviews

Vendor: IBM
3.9 out of 5
705 followers
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What is IBM WebSphere Message Broker?

WebSphere Message Broker is an enterprise service bus (ESB) providing connectivity and universal data transformation for service-oriented architecture (SOA) and non-SOA environments. It allows businesses of any size to eliminate point-to-point connections and batch processing regardless of platform, protocol or data format.
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IBM WebSphere Message Broker is the #8 ranked solution in top Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) solutions and #16 ranked solution in top Application Infrastructure solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM WebSphere Message Broker an average rating of 7.8 out of 10. IBM WebSphere Message Broker is most commonly compared to webMethods.io: IBM WebSphere Message Broker vs webMethods.io. IBM WebSphere Message Broker is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 76% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 33% of all views.
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IBM WebSphere Message Broker
March 2025
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IBM WebSphere Message Broker mindshare

Product category:
Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)
As of April 2025, the mindshare of IBM WebSphere Message Broker in the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) category stands at 3.9%, down from 5.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)

PeerAnalyst reports based on IBM WebSphere Message Broker reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryEnterprise Service Bus (ESB)Apr 2, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersApr 2, 2025Download
ComparisonIBM WebSphere Message Broker vs IBM Integration BusApr 2, 2025Download
ComparisonIBM WebSphere Message Broker vs Mule ESBApr 2, 2025Download
ComparisonIBM WebSphere Message Broker vs webMethods.ioApr 2, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
webMethods.io4.010.7%94%92 interviewsAdd to research
IBM DataPower Gateway4.25.8%96%29 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

IBM WebSphere Message Broker excels in integration, offering multiple adaptors and interfaces to support diverse message formats. It reliably enables protocol transformations for legacy systems, efficient communication, and seamless integration with MQ. Users highlight its stable performance and ease of scaling, development, and deployment. The graphical interface and performance handling large data volumes are praised, as is its unmatched middleware capability compared to rivals, ensuring fast, secure data integration across systems.
  • "It's reliable for our day-to-day operations, ensuring fast and secure data integration across different systems."
  • "IBM WebSphere Message Broker is one of the best middleware solutions"
  • "It is a scalable solution...The setup is easy."

Room for Improvement

IBM WebSphere Message Broker's interface is difficult for non-experts. The container used is large, and deployment could be simplified. Costs are high, prompting organizations to consider alternatives. Technical support response times are slow, impacting large clients. Container and cloud integration pose challenges, with documentation lacking. Dependency on IBM MQ should be reduced. Scalability needs enhancement, and more flexibility in service creation is desired. Pricing and feature updates are concerns for many users.
  • "As our business requirements evolve, we require more dynamic capabilities to adapt and scale our services accordingly."
  • "The product's features are not being upgraded or enhanced by the vendor"
  • "Stability and pricing are areas with shortcomings that need improvement."

Pricing

IBM WebSphere Message Broker users find the pricing structure involves significant costs, as licensing is typically managed by the customer. Many perceive IBM products to be more stable and feature-rich, but also notably more expensive than competitors. Additional fees are common, and users seek cost-management solutions through contracts. The consensus is that this solution is particularly costly, with some ranking the expense at high levels, prompting evaluations of more affordable alternatives.
  • "IBM software can be costly, but having a contract has helped manage and potentially lower costs over time."
  • "The licensing cost of IBM WebSphere Message Broker needs to be reduced"
  • "The solution is expensive."

Popular Use Cases

IBM WebSphere Message Broker is primarily used for connecting applications and integrating disparate systems, mainly in financial, banking, and healthcare sectors. It serves as an Enterprise Service Bus facilitating communication between heterogeneous applications, routing, data transformation, and enrichment. Widely deployed on-premises and as an application server, it supports APIs, point-to-point communications, and service exposure at the application level, aiding diverse architectures and interfacing with platforms like Finacle and SaaS.

Service and Support

IBM WebSphere Message Broker customer service and support receive generally positive feedback. Users find technical support effective but note delays in resolving issues and challenges in issue replication. Support quality varies, with some users noting quicker resolutions for partners versus direct customers. A few express concerns about problem-solving knowledge. Customers rate their experiences from eight to nine, reflecting overall satisfaction, but long waiting times for direct customers suggest room for improvement.

Deployment

IBM WebSphere Message Broker's initial setup is generally easy, with users noting ease of installation and configuration, often taking just a day or less. Experienced users find the setup straightforward when documentation is available. However, integration and deployment can be complex, requiring expertise, especially in enterprise environments. Some users highlight the need for involvement from multiple engineering disciplines to ensure smooth installation, although deployment usually involves only a few administrators when managed efficiently.

Scalability

IBM WebSphere Message Broker is known for being scalable, accommodating various integration points and applications. Users find it easy to scale with proper setup, though scalability is rated between seven to ten out of ten by most. Some face challenges in handling large message volumes, suggesting room for improvement. Organizations with substantial user bases and developers acknowledge its scalability, while others note its capabilities in new versions.

Stability

IBM WebSphere Message Broker is viewed as stable, reliable, and mature, performing well for many transactions. Users note occasional bugs and glitches, suggesting proper configuration is crucial, especially during version migrations. Some report no downtime, while others mention specific set-up challenges. The capacity to handle numerous applications contributes to its stability, often rated nine or ten out of ten. Overall, many appreciate its performance in the banking domain despite minor issues.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our IBM WebSphere Message Broker Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
33%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Insurance Company
6%
Healthcare Company
5%
Retailer
5%
Government
5%
Educational Organization
4%
Comms Service Provider
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Legal Firm
2%
Transportation Company
2%
Media Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
University
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
2%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Construction Company
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Engineering Company
1%
Local Government
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Non Tech Company
1%

Compare IBM WebSphere Message Broker with alternative products

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Learn more about IBM WebSphere Message Broker

IBM WebSphere Message Broker was previously known as WebSphere Message Broker.

IBM WebSphere Message Broker customers

WestJet, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Sharp Corporation, Michelin Tire

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)
Application Infrastructure

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IBM WebSphere Message Broker reviews

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BrajendraKumar - PeerSpot user
Technical Architect at HCL Technologies
Verified user of IBM WebSphere Message Broker
Jun 11, 2024
Offers large-sized business information processing with a time-saving setup and impressive stability

Pros

"IBM WebSphere Message Broker is one of the best middleware solutions"

Cons

"The product's features are not being upgraded or enhanced by the vendor"

What is our primary use case?

The solution is used in our company for customers in the banking and healthcare industry. Our organization works with banks of varying scale and diverse locations. IBM WebSphere Message Broker is used for integrating two different systems.

Our company uses the tool for a Finacle to SaaS system and JD to WMS communication. For pick and drop shipments or log master tasks, we are using IBM WebSphere Message Broker in our company. 

What is most valuable?

IBM WebSphere Message Broker is one of the best middleware solutions in the market. If I want to process more than 25 MB of business information in one go, I never face any challenges with IBM WebSphere Message Broker, but other competitor solutions like from Cisco won't be able to manage it smoothly. IBM WebSphere Message Broker exhibits the best performance in comparison to other tools in the market. 

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Read full review (751 words)
Manjunath-V - PeerSpot user
Senior Member Of Technical Staff at Tata Consultancy Services
Verified user of IBM WebSphere Message Broker
Jun 15, 2022
For new applications that are being onboarded, we engage this tool so the data can flow as required but there's some lag in the GUI

Pros

"Message Broker is valuable because most of the applications are using MQ. Even in my current engagement, the few applications which I audit to onboard the bank are using MQ."

Cons

"There is some lag in the GUI. There have been some performance issues and maybe it's because of the application data."

What is our primary use case?

I'm using this tool for my application. We configure it according to my application. For any new applications that are being onboarded, we engage this tool so that they interconnect and the datas are flowing as required.

For the last engagement, I had the latest version. I keep updating them for the bank standards, which should be the current version minus two. We look at the IBM website and use the versions for our application. We update frequently.

For my previous engagement, the initial project, it was almost 40-plus people who were using this application. For the current engagement, more than eight people are using it.

What is most valuable?

Message Broker is valuable because most of the applications are using MQ. Even in my current engagement, the few applications which I audit to onboard the bank are using MQ.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (434 words)
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MANUEL VALDIVIA - PeerSpot user
Senior Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Verified user of IBM WebSphere Message Broker
Jul 18, 2024
Routes messages efficiently across our services, but the features for scalability need improvement

Pros

"It's reliable for our day-to-day operations, ensuring fast and secure data integration across different systems."

Cons

"As our business requirements evolve, we require more dynamic capabilities to adapt and scale our services accordingly."

What is our primary use case?

We use the product for exposing services at the application level, integrating with various architectures like WebSphere, and handling static service creation.

How has it helped my organization?

One of the key benefits has been its ability to expose services and securely integrate applications within our architecture. It's been integral in maintaining a stable infrastructure despite its limitations with dynamic service creation and flexibility compared to newer technologies like Kubernetes. The main challenge has been scalability during peak usage times.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (341 words)
Akash Dalebehera - PeerSpot user
Technical Specialist at BT - British Telecom
Verified user of IBM WebSphere Message Broker
Feb 14, 2023
Facilitates communication with legacy systems well, seamless, and highly effective

Pros

"The most valuable feature of IBM WebSphere Message Broker is the ability to facilitate communication with legacy systems, offering a multitude of great capabilities. For example, if there is a mainframe system in place with a web service serving as the front end. In that case, the solution enables efficient protocol transformations to convert all request payloads into a format that the legacy systems can accept, rendering the integration and transformation processes seamless and highly effective."

Cons

"I know that Message Broker was a very tightly copied product with another IBM product, that is, IBM MQ. I would like to have a little bit more decoupling from the IBM MQ because it should not be a prerequisite for IBM WebSphere Message Broker usage."

What is our primary use case?

We use IBM WebSphere Message Broker as an Enterprise Service Bus, integrating with different applications.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of IBM WebSphere Message Broker is the ability to facilitate communication with legacy systems, offering a multitude of great capabilities. For example, if there is a mainframe system in place with a web service serving as the front end. In that case, the solution enables efficient protocol transformations to convert all request payloads into a format that the legacy systems can accept, rendering the integration and transformation processes seamless and highly effective.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Read full review (529 words)
Ajit Pillai - PeerSpot user
Senior Manager Application Development and Integration at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Verified user of IBM WebSphere Message Broker
Jan 28, 2023
Helps our organization integrate disparate systems, but it is a weighty product

Pros

"The documentation, performance, stability and scalability of the tool are valuable."

Cons

"It is currently a weighty product."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution as an integration platform to integrate disparate systems at the bank.

How has it helped my organization?

The solution has improved our organization by centralizing all our integrations.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (371 words)
PeerSpot user
Enterprise Architect at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
Verified user of IBM WebSphere Message Broker
Aug 9, 2020
The basic features work well, but it is expensive and the technical support is slow

Pros

"We only use the basic features, but the most valuable one for us is the Publish-subscribe pattern."

Cons

"Technical support is very slow and needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We have a large number of use cases for this product. It is built into the underlying infrastructure for most of our applications.

What is most valuable?

We only use the basic features, but the most valuable one for us is the Publish-subscribe pattern.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (391 words)
PeerSpot user
Product Manager at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Verified user of IBM WebSphere Message Broker
Jun 4, 2023
A stable and scalable tool for data transformation and enrichment

Pros

"It is a scalable solution...The setup is easy."

Cons

"Stability and pricing are areas with shortcomings that need improvement."

What is our primary use case?

IBM WebSphere Message Broker can be used for routing, data transformation, and enrichment. It can be used for routing and data.

How has it helped my organization?

It's a routing solution. Irrespective of protocols, we can route the source through the destination.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (357 words)
MM
Integration Specialist at Hudson's Bay
Verified user of IBM WebSphere Message Broker
Oct 18, 2020
Product version discussed: Version 10
Easy to setup and deploy, with easy mapping, and it integrates well with MQ

Pros

"Integration and mapping are easy, which is a major advantage. "

Cons

"Technical support is good but they could have a better response time."

What is our primary use case?

We had different use cases such as point-to-point, and public subscribers. We have some APIs building business Message Broker and we have divisions such as the legacy mainframe. 

We pretty much use everything. Most of the integration is done with Message Broker.

How has it helped my organization?

Working in retail we get a lot of traffic on Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays, and during that time, whatever serves have been deployed we want to scale them vertically. 

We can create multiple nodes within the service itself and when we are not using it, we can stop all of those nodes.

Most of what we have is on MQ for communication, and it integrates well with MQ.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (822 words)