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Adobe ColdFusion vs Oracle Application Express (APEX) comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 18, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Adobe ColdFusion
Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software
23rd
Ranking in Low-Code Development Platforms
22nd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle Application Express ...
Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software
3rd
Ranking in Low-Code Development Platforms
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
62
Ranking in other categories
Development Platforms (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Rapid Application Development Software category, the mindshare of Adobe ColdFusion is 1.6%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Application Express (APEX) is 5.9%, down from 8.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Rapid Application Development Software Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Oracle Application Express (APEX)5.9%
Adobe ColdFusion1.6%
Other92.5%
Rapid Application Development Software
 

Featured Reviews

OA
SDE at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees
Rapid development has improved enterprise workflows but still needs a more modern ecosystem
One of the best features of Adobe ColdFusion in my experience is how quickly I can develop and deploy applications. The rapid development capabilities really stand out, especially the built-in tags and functions that simplify database interaction, form handling, and API creation. It allows me to focus more on business logic rather than focusing on boilerplate code. I also find the debugging and logging tools helpful, such as being able to trace errors and monitor performance directly from the administrator. It basically speeds up troubleshooting significantly. If I had to choose one feature of Adobe ColdFusion that saves me the most time or reduces my workload the most, I would say the rapid development capabilities, especially the built-in tags and database integration features. That has saved me the most time because Adobe ColdFusion makes it very easy to connect to a database, execute queries, and handle data with minimal boilerplate code. Overall, it allows me to spend more time focusing on optimizing logic and improving user experience rather than dealing with infrastructure and repetitive setup tasks. One additional feature of Adobe ColdFusion that I can mention is the security capabilities. Adobe ColdFusion provides helpful tools for securing applications, such as role-based access control, session management, and built-in protections against vulnerabilities like CSRF and XSS. This feature basically reduces the amount of custom security code that we have to write.
Dominik Grabiński - PeerSpot reviewer
Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius
Fast low-code web development has transformed how I build complex data-driven business apps
Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a very great tool that is easy to learn but hard to master. The level of entry is very low, but the longer I work with this platform, the more I understand how it works and the great things I can create. For example, I can create report graphs and handle a lot of data across many levels. It's a great application to start with, and when I have experience in Oracle databases, I can utilize Oracle Application Express (APEX) as a front-end tool for the Oracle database. Oracle Application Express (APEX) helps me create reports and graphs by providing a plethora of out-of-the-box solutions that I can use. For example, I can upload data to and from the database, upload photos, create maps, and create various report types such as Interactive Report and Interactive Grid where I can manage, edit, and delete data. I have many solutions that are very helpful and ready to use right away from Oracle Application Express (APEX). My favorite feature of Oracle Application Express (APEX) is the Interactive Report because it's a straightforward report that I can create using a simple query or by selecting a particular table from the database. In the action button behind it, I have many great features that I can use out of the box, including graphs and download options for Excel files. There are many sorting functionalities and accounting features. The Interactive Report is a very great tool for quickly displaying interesting data to clients. Oracle Application Express (APEX) has positively impacted my organization by being very fast compared to other languages and products. For example, I don't have to build a site from the ground up, nor do I have to create tons of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript because Oracle Application Express (APEX) offers many built-in solutions. When I want to create a button, in another language, I would need to create it from scratch. In Oracle Application Express (APEX), I can simply use what's available out of the box. It's a very fast platform with many built-in components that I can utilize right away.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"My client has been able to improve productivity with the use of the tool. The solution has them develop several tools that addressed their specific needs. They have become more efficient and safe with the use of the product."
"I would like to say that its best feature is its different kinds of connectors. We have lots of in-built connectors."
"Overall, Adobe ColdFusion has been a very reliable and productive platform for us."
"The ability to write SQL queries was very helpful as we did not need to bother our DBAs in writing stored procedures for simple tasks."
"I find it to be the easiest server-side technology for website development. It easily integrates with virtually everything– from web APIs to NoSQL databases to RSS and XML services."
"This tool was very easy learn, yet powerful enough to manage many sites on a single instance."
"No need to import libraries from outside the environment."
"We save enormous amounts of time in development using this tool."
"Oracle APEX is very easy to use and comes with a lot of ready-made components that speed up the process of creating reports and dashboards."
"I like that Oracle Application Express (APEX) is powerful and attractive, allowing my organization to modernize forms within two months. I also found its PWA feature very powerful because you can produce substantial mobile applications."
"The support is great; whenever I encounter an issue and raise an SR to Oracle, I receive a fast response from their side."
"The most valuable features of Oracle Application Express (APEX) are the ease and speed of development. Instead of engaging a large team of middleware, front-end, and database engineers, we can have professional look at the front end and have the user interface up and running in a matter of days. However, if you want to go far and implement very custom features, it doesn't require a lot of knowledge of front-end development, such as HTML, JavaScript, or other aspects."
"The autonomous database is valuable and provides the main structure for code development."
"The solution's most valuable aspect is its Graphics Form Design."
"We set up the HTTP server and installed the Apex Xamarin DB using the Mark Hill SQL packages for an older version. That's the extent of our configuration."
"This is a good application for quickly creating public applications."
 

Cons

"There is not much third party authenticators in this solution"
"Need to be able to Be able to inject Python, Java, Groovy, or PHP code into a CFML page."
"Overall, Adobe ColdFusion is a good product, but one area in modernization of the ecosystem can be improved."
"ColdFusion’s third-party authentication is currently limited to just a couple of companies, like Google and Facebook, and a few third-party SAML authenticators. From my personal perspective, adding LinkedIn and Microsoft would greatly benefit me."
"Installation of the server software was formidable due the number of configurable options."
"Previously when I was trying to create some data, it was very difficult to get real-time data from Workfront."
"The solution needs to improve its adaption capability with a third-party company. I want to see more communities or open knowledge resources with the tool."
"Being able to only design with HTML and CSS can be limiting as to what can be accomplished."
"Currently, APEX doesn't have a building workflow engine. I think that's the most important improvement that could be made at this point."
"The user interface needs to be improved. It should be more user-friendly."
"Apex has effectively incorporated new market trends into its features. The platform's user-friendly nature is notable, guiding developers through the development process. While advanced customization of the user interface with HTML and CSS is possible, the out-of-the-box options often suffice, providing 80-90% of the required functionality. The IDE is commendable, yet an enhancement in the Page Designer to allow a real-time preview of layout changes would be beneficial. Currently, running the page is necessary to visualize layout adjustments, but an immediate preview during the design phase would be a valuable improvement."
"There is a problem with security because the applications store passwords in the configuration files."
"Source control could be stronger in Oracle Application Express (APEX). It needs some work."
"Some of the application interfaces of Oracle Application Express are not very attractive and could be improved."
"There is not a lot of Wiki help or in Google, but there is some."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is a very effective solution and worth the price."
"The tool's pricing is high but it's totally worth the investment."
"If you really want to save money, there is a free open source CFML engine (former Railo, now Lucee) out there."
"There is a trial version available that can be used free of charge."
"We have a full Oracle E-Business Suite license, and we use that license to develop applications. There's no license required for developing Oracle applications."
"Oracle Express comes with the Oracle license, it is a bundle."
"Apex is not priced separately; instead, it is associated with the Oracle database. A free option for Oracle database and Apex can be downloaded and installed on this complimentary database version. This aligns with our current approach."
"When you have a licensed database in an Oracle environment, APEX is free."
"The solution is free with your Oracle license or database and that is a good value."
"The tool is free with the Oracle Database license."
"APEX itslelf is a free product, but you will need to license peripheral components."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
13%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
12%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business30
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise28
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Adobe ColdFusion?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Adobe ColdFusion has been good. It is positioned more towards the enterprise market, so it's not the lowest-cost option compared to some op...
What needs improvement with Adobe ColdFusion?
Overall, Adobe ColdFusion is a good product, but one area in modernization of the ecosystem can be improved. Compared to some newer platforms, the community is smaller, and there are few modern thi...
What is your primary use case for Adobe ColdFusion?
My main use case for Adobe ColdFusion is developing and maintaining enterprise web applications. Most of my work involves building backend business logic, creating and consuming APIs, and integrati...
What needs improvement with Oracle Application Express (APEX)?
I have only tried it with an Oracle database, not with other databases. For beginners, understanding the installation process can be challenging because documentation is limited. It is hard to unde...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Oracle APEX
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Inspirus, Promisan, Webapper, Giva, Frontech Solutions Inc, Digicon, ITX Corp, Wall Street Magnate, SimulTV, ten24 Digital Solutions, Prospective Medical Data International Inc, Alcatel-Lucent
Hepart AG, pharmasol, SATLOG, Collège Bois-de-Boulogne
Find out what your peers are saying about Adobe ColdFusion vs. Oracle Application Express (APEX) and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.
883,824 professionals have used our research since 2012.