GitHub vs IBM Rational ClearCase comparison

GitHub and IBM are both solutions in the Version Control category. GitHub is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.9, while IBM is ranked #9 with an average rating of 6.0. GitHub holds a 5.9% mindshare in VC, compared to IBM’s 3.7% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of GitHub users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 66% of IBM users who would recommend it.

GitHub

Read 93 GitHub reviews

2,060 Views
908 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Rational ClearCase

Read 6 IBM Rational ClearCase reviews

666 Views
455 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

GitHub

IBM Rational ClearCase

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

IBM Rational ClearCase and GitHub are version control systems. GitHub seems to have the upper hand due to its cloud-based deployment, extensive integrations, and widespread adoption.

Features: IBM Rational ClearCase offers comprehensive version control, management of complex project environments, and dynamic views. GitHub provides collaborative tools, social coding features, and third-party integrations.

Room for Improvement: IBM Rational ClearCase could benefit from enhanced cloud support, increased user-friendly features, and modern integrations. GitHub can improve by offering deeper enterprise-level configurations, broader DevOps tool support, and refined on-premise solutions.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: GitHub's cloud-based model reduces setup complexity and offers easy access across platforms with efficient customer support. IBM Rational ClearCase has a more complex setup, requiring dedicated infrastructure and client-server configurations.

Pricing and ROI: GitHub offers flexible pricing models with free and paid plans, ensuring better ROI with scalable growth options. IBM Rational ClearCase often entails higher initial costs due to infrastructure needs, leading to a steeper cost curve for smaller teams.

To learn more, read our detailed GitHub vs. IBM Rational ClearCase Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

GitHub vs. IBM Rational ClearCase

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

GitHub

Ranking in Version Control

3rd

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Security Tools (6th)

IBM Rational ClearCase

Ranking in Version Control

9th

Average Rating

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Software Configuration Management (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Version Control category, the mindshare of GitHub is 5.9%, down from 7.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Rational ClearCase is 3.7%, up from 3.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Version Control

Featured Reviews

Pervez Roy

Solutions Architect at Small Systems LTD

Very good for collaboration on software projects

We use GitHub for code repository alongside Bitbucket GitHub is very good for collaboration on software projects. We prefer Bitbucket for commercial use, while GitHub is used for open source. You can get the differences, history of changes, and version control for various pull requests. You can…

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Daniel Antonio Jimenez Quintana

IT Systems Architect at Banco Ripley

Difficult to use, not efficient, but stable

We are using IBM Rational ClearCase in Peru at two large banks for a code repository. However, it is not meant to be used as a repository I have found it very difficult to understand many functionalities in IBM Rational ClearCase. We have had many problems and it is not user-friendly. I have…

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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

"GitHub is a very good tool, and people should use it more than any other, even Bitbucket."

"The most valuable feature is the fact that it's cloud-based, and we don't have to manage an on-premises server to use it."

"We use GitHub instead of our regular shared drive. It offers instant access to shared folders as well as good security."

"The tool is valuable because it helps us work in a distributed environment with multiple people across different locations and time zones. We have a common repository that everyone works on, which would be tough to manage manually. GitHub helps us maintain this single source of truth. Everyone can check out their own branches, which is important for our branching strategies. We can fork, check out feature branches, work on our code, and merge back into parent branches for deployment. This is crucial when multiple people are working on the same codebase."

"The best feature is the ability to track the history of all code changes, and it's easy to use. Additionally, as it's open source, anyone can use that feature resulting in distributed development. This opens the door to collaboration with different code and developer, feature, and master branches of development."

"The control is the most valuable feature as developers can work on a single code."

"GitHub is a fundamental tool in the software industry."

"Our code is secure."

More GitHub pros

"The tool had features similar to Git for version control. It offered branching and merging capabilities, providing better control over code management. Integration was possible with other tools, including some change management tools. The overall process was normal."

"IBM Rational ClearCase is a stable solution. I have not had any difficulty with reliability."

"ClearCase integrates well with other engineering tools and frameworks such as the Eclipse environment."

Cons

"When solving merge conflicts, it would be helpful to have tooltips within the actions to know what changes could happen next when resolving a conflict."

"The GUI design is poor, so I exclusively use the CLI, which is much easier to use and understand. It would be great to see the GUI updated to be more user-friendly."

"The storage for this solution could be improved."

"The merging features can be improved."

"I would like to see integration with Slack such that all of the changes made in GitHub are reflected there."

"I would like to see some AI functionality included in GitHub, similar to the features seen in GitLab, to enhance productivity."

"There are still areas for improvement with GitHub Actions and their deployment workflows, as they have made significant progress but are not yet polished."

"GitHub uses basic configuration, but messaging is not clear."

More GitHub cons

"The protection needs to be improved."

"I have found it very difficult to understand many functionalities in IBM Rational ClearCase. We have had many problems and it is not user-friendly."

"The solution's UI is slow compared to other tools. It is an old tool."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing model for GitHub is user-based. Whenever the new developer joins we have to get a new license and register their ID. The overall price of the solution is reasonable."

"Regarding pricing, I'd rate it eight out of ten. It's decent and not too expensive, and small businesses can also afford it. With AWS taking CodeCommit out of the market, I don't see many competitors for small companies in terms of GitHub."

"I use the free version of GitHub."

"GitHub is a cost-effective solution."

"I am using the free version of the solution. However, there are some costs my organization pays."

"If there are only 10 people using a particular repository, then GitHub is free. But if we increase the number of users, we need to pay the normal charge for GitHub."

"It’s an open-source solution."

"My company purchased it. Before, we used to receive the free version, but then they purchased some of the features."

More GitHub pricing and cost advice

"This is a very expensive product."

"IBM Rational ClearCase, like any other IBM tool, is expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

13%

Computer Software Company

12%

University

Manufacturing Company

27%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about GitHub?

The control is the most valuable feature as developers can work on a single code.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for GitHub?

The pricing of GitHub depends on the choice of solutions, such as building one's own GitHub Runners to save money or using GitHub's Runners with extra costs. The pricing is considered reasonable an...

See all answers

What needs improvement with GitHub?

There are still areas for improvement with GitHub Actions and their deployment workflows, as they have made significant progress but are not yet polished. Occasionally, stability can be an issue, t...

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM Rational ClearCase?

The tool had features similar to Git for version control. It offered branching and merging capabilities, providing better control over code management. Integration was possible with other tools, in...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Rational ClearCase?

IBM Rational ClearCase, like any other IBM tool, is expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Rational ClearCase?

The solution's UI is slow compared to other tools. It is an old tool.

See all answers

Comparisons

Bitbucket vs GitHub

Compared 16% of the time

Fortify on Demand vs GitHub

Compared 15% of the time

Snyk vs GitHub

Compared 13% of the time

AWS CodeCommit vs GitHub

Compared 10% of the time

Checkmarx One vs GitHub

Compared 9% of the time

More GitHub Competitors

Git vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 47% of the time

IBM Rational ClearQuest vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 26% of the time

Bitbucket vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 18% of the time

IBM Engineering Workflow Management vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 9% of the time

More IBM Rational ClearCase Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

GitHub

April 2025

Download GitHub product report

Buyer's Guide

Software Configuration Management

April 2025

Download IBM Rational ClearCase product report

Also Known As

No data available

Rational ClearCase

Overview

GitHub is a web-based Git repository hosting service. It offers all of the distributed revision control and source code management (SCM) functionality of Git as well as adding its own features. Unlike Git, which is strictly a command-line tool, GitHub provides a Web-based graphical interface and desktop as well as mobile integration. It also provides access control and several collaboration features such as bug tracking, feature requests, task management, and wikis for every project.

GitHub

IBM Rational ClearCase is an enterprise-grade configuration management system that provides controlled access to software assets, including requirements, design documents, models, test plans and test results. It be can be integrated with other IBM solutions, including IBM Rational Team Concert, IBM Rational ClearQuest, IBM Rational Asset Manager and IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software.

IBM

Sample Customers

Dominion Enterprises, NASA, Braintree, SAP, CyberAgent

Atos SE, FEI, STM

Buyer's Guide

GitHub vs. IBM Rational ClearCase

April 2025

Free Report: GitHub vs. IBM Rational ClearCase

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