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Aqua Data Studio vs IDERA ER/Studio comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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

Aqua Data Studio
Ranking in Database Development and Management
14th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.9
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
IDERA ER/Studio
Ranking in Database Development and Management
9th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
38
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Architecture Management (8th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Database Development and Management category, the mindshare of Aqua Data Studio is 2.8%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IDERA ER/Studio is 2.8%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Database Development and Management
 

Featured Reviews

Jaime Caballero - PeerSpot reviewer
A great tool for managing multiple databases and centralizing them in one place
It's a very generic tool and could be more specific for certain types of DBMS. While it does have some specific tooling, like for Oracle, there are features for certain databases that can't be found because of its general nature. For example, tools tailored to specific databases, like Firebase, might offer features such as cache configuration directly within the tool. Other vendors, like Artisan, provide functionality that's specific to certain configurations. Improving its cloud capabilities could also be beneficial.
Aaron Cutshall - PeerSpot reviewer
Used for data modeling and has a scripting language to write your own scripts
The solution has streamlined our data modeling processes quite a bit. It's a central focus in our data modeling and data cataloging efforts. The tool's reverse engineering capability to bring in existing database structures and create models from them has benefitted our data architecture needs. With the tool's data dictionary capability, we're able to maintain consistency in our models, name use, and actual data domains. The solution's reverse engineering helps with understanding legacy databases. In fact, I've been asked to reverse-engineer several more legacy databases so that we can have them modeled and cataloged. The solution is deployed on the cloud server, but it’s only within our network. The solution has a lot of capabilities. I like the fact that it has a scripting language that allows you to automate and write your own scripts. I think that's been a big bonus for us. I highly recommend the solution because of its capability for logical models, where you can put your business definitions and logic. While less expensive, some other tools can't do that. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It can be used with many DBMSs and is very practical and user-friendly."
"This application does a lot of things, as do competitor products, but the main reason to go with this product was the ability to create many automations, where we can improve our work and our process."
"Valuable features include the ability to visually represent what the database tables are going to look like and their relationships. Also, the ability to document the definitions of the tables and the columns that are in a table so that we can communicate what the data is and how it should be used."
"One of the valuable features is inheritance when joining tables. When setting up RI and domains and rules, ER/Studio does a lot of the grunt, boilerplate code that would otherwise have to be hand-coded."
"Modeling with Data Architect: We can quickly reverse-engineer a database from an existing database or create a model from scratch."
"Data lineage tracking: It allows us to identify upstream and downstream systems using data."
"We can track changes to our data models and tie those changes back to specific tasks or efforts that we identify."
"The tool is simple to use."
"We have been able to quickly create models for our enterprise-wide databases, even when some of them are third-party databases."
 

Cons

"Improving its cloud capabilities could also be beneficial."
"The solution could be sped up, as it is a little slow (e.g., when it's doing its database compare)."
"One limitation I have found in ER/Studio is that when you want to make some changes to the table definitions, you have to go item by item. You cannot do it globally. Another issue concerns defining the foreign keys between the different tables. It is a little more tedious in the ER/Studio than in ERrwin. With ERwin it is direct."
"We did have a big issue when we upgraded to the 2016 version. The Team Server portion never did quite install correctly, and/or the database was corrupted, and we never figured it out."
"When building the relationships there should be a little more flexibility."
"There was no specific mention of areas needing improvement."
"Sometimes our version is a little unstable. But I think this problem occurs because our version is old."
"What needs the most improvement are semantic lineage and usability."
"Whenever there is a new version, there are a lot of release notes on the technical side of it, but I would like to be told why are we doing the upgrade... What I would like to really see is how this benefits us from the business point of view. What are the real benefits that the user gets? I want some kind of way white paper. The release notes describe the technical enhancements but, from the layman's point of view, if someone asks me what are the business benefits of this upgrade, I don't have any documentation to explain it to the business."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The setup cost may have been around $1500 to $2000."
"The price of this product is okay."
"I use the product's trial version."
"At my previous company using ER/Studio, a database compare took four hours before using the product and 15 minutes after using the product."
"Pricing is expensive and on the higher-end."
"As an individual user, the renewal is a little costly."
"Pricing is on point, but do your due diligence - not every developer needs the tool."
"The process of licensing could be much simpler, from our experience."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
35%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Educational Organization
5%
Financial Services Firm
18%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aqua Data Studio?
The price is okay. The license we require is for a couple of users who connect directly. There are ten customers. I rate the product’s pricing a nine out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expen...
What needs improvement with Aqua Data Studio?
It's a very generic tool and could be more specific for certain types of DBMS. While it does have some specific tooling, like for Oracle, there are features for certain databases that can't be foun...
What is your primary use case for Aqua Data Studio?
Some use the solution as a day-to-day tool for querying databases to have information.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IDERA ER/Studio?
In terms of pricing, ER/Studio is slightly more expensive compared to Erwin, by about five to ten percent.
What needs improvement with IDERA ER/Studio?
ER/Studio lacks a pure cloud option for deployment. Both Erwin and ER/Studio do not have AI or machine learning features for automation. Offering a comprehensive cloud-based version could enhance i...
 

Also Known As

IDERA Aqua Data Studio, IDERA ADS, AquaFold
IDERA ER Studio, ER/Studio, ER/Studio Enterprise Team Edition
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

RBS; HSBC; ADP; American Medical Association; Indoff Incorporated; Origami-Analytics LLC; MP2 Energy; ALI' SuperMercati S.P.A.; HRS Hotel Reservation; Continuum Media Group LLC; Tegsoft; City Chain; Unifar, S.A. de C.V. Farmacias San Pablo; Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.; Moran,Freddy; GHM-ECLATEC; SEGECO; CenturyLink; WebChronic LLC; Duke University; Mississippi College; Haney Truck Lines, Inc.; Blackleaf Solutions, LLC; LivePerson, Inc.; Croatian Post; Exceptional Innovation; XLSure Software; Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; IIUG; Agero, Inc.; CrossTrackr, Inc.; Fox Chase Cancer Center; Cervello; Dataimagenes SAC; Indoff Incorporated; ARS Altmann AG; Queiroz Galvao Exploracao E Producao; Naver; Troy University; Ara Altstoff Recycling Austria Ag; MODUS; Natixis Global Asset Management; Topdragon; 2opus GmbH; Flanker Consulting, LLC; ANAQUA; Technical Synergy; MDO - Mercury Database Object; Data Futures; Kaiser Permanente; Mophilly; Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium; Duke University; LeanDev SE; Lisa Spa; Hoteli Bernardin d.d.; UNI; Seasons Healthcare Management; Comcast Corporation; Deutsche Bank AG
Newmont Mining, Entrust, Accolade, TalkTalk, Catalina, Protective Life, NTT Data, dir systèmes, Microsoft; American Express, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Coriant, Fedex, GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Prudential, Wells Fargo
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