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IBM Rational ClearCase vs IBM Rational Synergy 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

IBM Rational ClearCase
Ranking in Software Configuration Management
5th
Average Rating
6.4
Number of Reviews
6
Ranking in other categories
Version Control (9th)
IBM Rational Synergy
Ranking in Software Configuration Management
10th
Average Rating
3.0
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Software Configuration Management category, the mindshare of IBM Rational ClearCase is 7.5%, up from 7.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Rational Synergy is 2.3%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Software Configuration Management
 

Featured Reviews

Daniel Antonio Jimenez Quintana - PeerSpot reviewer
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…
OA
Users must go through a lot of steps to properly manipulate this solution, which can interrupt workflows and cause unnecessary downtime
We are required to use this tool by DO-178 guidance. We have to use a configuration management tool and this is the one we have been using. People see this tool more like a constraint than a benefit. Users really have to know how to use this tool and how to set the baseline functionalities for their case. The user must go through a lot of steps to properly manipulate this solution, which can interrupt workflows and cause unnecessary downtime. Synergy requires user training and development. It's not user-friendly. You have to perform a lot of manipulations; it's a bit archaic. Some people are reluctant to use this tool because they are familiar with and proficient in using Windows Explorer to navigate through directories and use WinZip to archive data. It is not a very good tool for document management. I would rate this solution a three out of ten because it's an old tool. It was a good tool 15 years ago. To get a ten out of ten I would need to see a more integrated user-friendly tool and it should be competitively priced as it is it's too expensive. I don't recommend using it because it's obsolete.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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."
"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."
"Managing source code, tracking modifications, and being able to analyze evolutions of source code are the most valuable features."
 

Cons

"The protection needs to be improved."
"The solution's UI is slow compared to other tools. It is an old tool."
"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'd like to see more integration with respect to requirement management, though this is not possible with this Synergy solution. I know that PTC enables this feature as well as Polarion. We need to have full trustworthiness and accountability in knowing that the tool will track every modification from specification through to the source code, with Synergy this isn't possible. The solution requires additional tools like rectify, desktop system solutions, to enable trustability between requirements, from one specification to another."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"IBM Rational ClearCase, like any other IBM tool, is expensive."
"This is a very expensive product."
Information not available
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
28%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Computer Software Company
13%
Government
9%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

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...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Rational ClearCase?
IBM Rational ClearCase, like any other IBM tool, is expensive.
What needs improvement with IBM Rational ClearCase?
The solution's UI is slow compared to other tools. It is an old tool.
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Also Known As

Rational ClearCase
IBM Synergy, Rational Synergy
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Atos SE, FEI, STM
Information Not Available
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