FME vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server comparison

Safe Software and IBM are both solutions in the Data Integration category. Safe Software is ranked #26 with an average rating of 8.7, while IBM is ranked #31 with an average rating of 8.0. Safe Software holds a 1.8% mindshare in DI, compared to IBM’s 0.9% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Safe Software users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of IBM users who would recommend it.

FME

Read 5 FME reviews

2,503 Views
1,829 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM InfoSphere Information ...

Read 7 IBM InfoSphere Information Server reviews

1,082 Views
885 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

FME

IBM InfoSphere Information ...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

FME and IBM InfoSphere Information Server compete in the data integration and transformation market. FME often has an edge in pricing and support, while IBM InfoSphere typically commands the upper hand in feature richness and scalability.

Features: FME is valued for its user-friendly interface, eliminating the need for extensive coding. Its spatial data transformation is particularly strong, coupled with robust automation and integration capabilities useful for GIS professionals. FME integrates well with various systems, providing unrivaled spatial features. IBM InfoSphere Information Server offers a comprehensive suite for data integration, quality, and governance with outstanding parallel processing capabilities. It integrates with different technologies efficiently, aiming at enterprises requiring advanced data management solutions. Its administration features, like DataStage, enhance upgrade processes, further supporting comprehensive enterprise-level data management.

Room for Improvement: FME could enhance its handling of larger data volumes and improve its support for non-spatial data transformations. Its documentation could also offer more advanced use cases. IBM InfoSphere Information Server can refine its user interface to reduce complexity for new users and optimize its cost structure to be more accessible for smaller enterprises. Additionally, simplifying the setup process could enhance overall customer satisfaction.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: FME is known for its straightforward deployment, supported by reliable customer service and a user-friendly installation process. IBM InfoSphere Information Server, while offering robust documentation and dedicated support, presents a steeper learning curve due to its complexity, reflecting its enterprise-level deployment capabilities.

Pricing and ROI: FME is generally more affordable, offering a cost-effective solution with quicker ROI for organizations focusing on specific data types like spatial data. With higher setup costs, IBM InfoSphere Information Server represents a larger investment aimed at providing substantial ROI over time through advanced features and scalability, catering to complex enterprise-wide data management needs.

To learn more, read our detailed FME vs. IBM InfoSphere Information Server Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

FME vs. IBM InfoSphere Information Server

April 2025

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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

FME

Ranking in Data Integration

26th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM InfoSphere Information ...

Ranking in Data Integration

31st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Metadata Management (7th)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Data Integration category, the mindshare of FME is 1.8%, up from 1.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM InfoSphere Information Server is 0.9%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Data Integration

Featured Reviews

Alan Bloor

Geographic Information System Developer at Public Sector

Great for handling large volumes of data, but it is priced a bit high

When I do coding, I think about every single function. Some of these functions can be very elementary, like doing a substring or some capitalization. But FME removes all that coding because it's a transformer, so the time to develop an application to get to a point where you're producing results is decreased massively. It used to take weeks and months to develop software, and now I can use something like FME, and within one day, we get results. We can look at and validate data. We make minor subtle changes to the workbenches to improve it. We can share the workbenches. We don't have to use GitHub or anything else.

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UmeshKumar1

Business Analyst Team Lead at Accenture

Prompt support, reliable, but lacking scalability

IBM InfoSphere Information Server has multiple tools in that product suite. However, we mainly use it as an integration tool I have been using IBM InfoSphere Information Server for approximately five years. IBM InfoSphere Information Server is stable. IBM InfoSphere Information Server should be…

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"All spatial features are unrivaled, and the possibility to execute them based on a scheduled trigger, manual, e-mail, Websocket, tweet, file/directory change or virtually any trigger is most valuable."

"We make minor subtle changes to the workbenches to improve it. We can share the workbenches. We don't have to use GitHub or anything else."

"It has a very friendly user interface. You don't need to use a lot of code. For us that's the most important aspect about it. Also, it has a lot of connectors and few forms. It has a strong facial aspect. It can do a lot of facial analysis."

"The most valuable feature of FME is the graphical user interface. There is nothing better. It is very easy to debug because you can see all steps where there are failures. Overall the software is easy to optimize a process."

"It has standard plug-ins available for different data sources."

"The integration with different technologies is the most valuable feature."

"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

"IBM InfoSphere Information Server is stable."

"This solution is extremely flexible and scalable."

Cons

"FME can improve the geographical transformation. I've had some problems with the geographical transformations, but it's probably mostly because I'm not the most skilled geographer in-house. The solution requires some in-depth knowledge to perform some functions."

"The one thing that always appears in the community is the ability to make really easy loops to loop through data efficiently. That needs to be added at some point."

"FME's price needs improvement for the African market."

"To get a higher rating, it would have to improve the price and the associated scalability. These are the main issues."

"Improvements could be made to mapping presentations."

"Their technical support needs improvement."

"There are certain shortcomings in the cloud side of the solution, where improvements are required."

"IBM InfoSphere Information Server should be more scalable. It should have the option to change the configuration to run on a single, non-multiple node, or multi-threading processing."

"This solution would benefit from the engine being made more lightweight."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We used the standard licensing for our use of FME. The cost was approximately €15,000 annually. We always welcome less expensive solutions, if the solution could be less expensive it would be helpful."

"FME Server used to cost £10,000; now it can cost over £100,000."

"The product's price is reasonable."

"The licensing cost of IBM InfoSphere Information Server depends on how many users there are."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Government

30%

Energy/Utilities Company

13%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

22%

Government

14%

Insurance Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about FME?

We make minor subtle changes to the workbenches to improve it. We can share the workbenches. We don't have to use GitHub or anything else.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for FME?

The pricing is really bad. Last year, they rebranded the whole pricing structure. It used to be moderately priced at about £400 per user per year. Now they've changed the whole thing, and it's expe...

See all answers

What needs improvement with FME?

The one thing that always appears in the community is the ability to make really easy loops to loop through data efficiently. That needs to be added at some point. There must be a technical or comm...

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM InfoSphere Information Server?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM InfoSphere Information Server?

There are certain shortcomings in the cloud side of the solution, where improvements are required. In our company, we are presently in the process of doing a PoC phase since we have the solution cu...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM InfoSphere Information Server?

I use IBM InfoSphere Information Server in retail banking for transformation purposes.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 24% of the time

Talend Open Studio vs FME

Compared 14% of the time

Alteryx Designer vs FME

Compared 10% of the time

SSIS vs FME

Compared 7% of the time

Informatica PowerCenter vs FME

Compared 5% of the time

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IBM InfoSphere DataStage vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Compared 65% of the time

Oracle GoldenGate vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Compared 15% of the time

Qlik Replicate vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Compared 12% of the time

IBM InfoSphere Information Governance Catalog vs IBM InfoSphere Information Server

Compared 7% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

FME

April 2025

Download FME product report

Buyer's Guide

Data Integration

March 2025

IBM InfoSphere Information Server report

Download IBM InfoSphere Information Server product report

Also Known As

No data available

InfoSphere Information Server, IBM Information Server

Overview

FME is the data integration platform with the best support for spatial data. Run workflows on the desktop or deploy them in a server or cloud environment.

Safe Software

IBM InfoSphere Information Server is a market-leading data integration platform which includes a family of products that enable you to understand, cleanse, monitor, transform, and deliver data, as well as to collaborate to bridge the gap between business and IT. InfoSphere Information Server provides massively parallel processing (MPP) capabilities to deliver a highly scalable and flexible integration platform that handles a variety of data volumes (big, small, and everything in between).

IBM

Sample Customers

Shell, US Department of Commerce, PG&E, BC Hydro, City of Vancouver, Enel, Iowa DoT, San Antonio Water System

Canadian National Railway Company, Chickasaw Nation Division of Commerce, Swedish Armed Forces, BG RCI, Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd., University of Arizona, Biogrid Australia

Buyer's Guide

FME vs. IBM InfoSphere Information Server

April 2025

Free Report: FME vs. IBM InfoSphere Information Server

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