IBM WebSphere Application Server vs JBoss Enterprise Application Platform comparison

IBM and Red Hat are both solutions in the Application Infrastructure category. IBM is ranked #5 with an average rating of 7.8, while Red Hat is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.3. IBM holds a 12.1% mindshare in AIS, compared to Red Hat’s 8.3% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of Red Hat users who would recommend it.

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Read 31 IBM WebSphere Application Server reviews

2,512 Views
1,799 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

JBoss Enterprise Applicatio...

Read 6 JBoss Enterprise Application Platform reviews

1,508 Views
1,314 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

IBM WebSphere Application S...

JBoss Enterprise Applicatio...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 12, 2025

IBM WebSphere Application Server and JBoss Enterprise Application Platform compete in the enterprise application server category, with IBM having an edge in support and security features, while JBoss is favored for its flexibility and innovation.

Features: IBM WebSphere Application Server offers scalability, security, and extensive transaction management. It supports various programming models and includes integrated tooling. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform features lightweight architecture, modularity, and effective integration with Red Hat technologies, focusing on agility and efficiency.

Room for Improvement: IBM WebSphere could enhance its pricing flexibility for smaller enterprises, improve open-source compatibility, and streamline deployment processes. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform might improve user interface intuitiveness, enhance documentation comprehensiveness, and expand dedicated customer support options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM WebSphere Application Server provides a structured deployment model with detailed documentation and robust customer support, making it reliable for large enterprises. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform, with a more adaptable deployment process, benefits from community support, ideal for agile and DevOps-centric operations.

Pricing and ROI: IBM WebSphere incurs a higher initial setup cost with strong ROI for industries needing extensive support and security. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform is more cost-effective for smaller or innovative projects, offering substantial ROI through lower operational costs and scalability.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

March 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

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

5th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Server (5th)

JBoss Enterprise Applicatio...

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

7th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Application Infrastructure category, the mindshare of IBM WebSphere Application Server is 12.1%, up from 10.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of JBoss Enterprise Application Platform is 8.3%, up from 8.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Infrastructure

Featured Reviews

BharathirajaSukumar

Senior Lead Analyst at Radial

Efficient load balancing and the clustering, achieved by using the deployment manager, is valuable

I believe that the system is already good. However, for improvement or enhancement, it is user-friendly, but it could offer better choices on the front end for different aspects or options. Sometimes, I have to search extensively for features, as there are no upfront tabs. There is a lack of visible, easy, user-friendly, and straightforward options for the number of features.

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Gustavo Magni

lead architect at Sys Manager

Stable solution with an easy initial setup process

We use the solution for the deployment of Java-based applications The solution helps my organization with simple and fast deployments. The solution is easy to configure and deploy. The solution's architecture needs improvement. Also, there could be more integration with container platforms. We…

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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

"What's most valuable in IBM WebSphere Application Server is its resilience. When you use the solution, you know that after the communication has been done, there will be no doubt that the data has reached its destination."

"We needed this type of integration and WebShepere is the best tool for it."

"Without the Admin Console it would be very hard to configure JVM settings, JDBC datasources, mail session settings, and security providers."

"As compared to other applications, it has tremendous support. We have built internal capability so that we use it extensively internally. It is also easier to use with the outside data. You can write in ESQL, Java, or any other technology that you want to use for development. So, it is a lot more flexible in the language that it supports."

"One of the most valuable features might be the stability of the IBM WebSphere Application Server."

"High availability, alert management, and deployments are the most valuable features for us. We have the ND version so we can do deployments."

"Ease of administration: It has an Integrated Solutions Console, what we call the administrative console, with very detailed configurations and Help pages for each configurable item."

"Starting with version 8, WAS provides a special folder called monitor deployment. Once you put the .war or .ear file in there, it is deployed automatically without human intervention. This greatly helps us in our continuous integration server. Once the deployment binary is ready, we write a script to copy it to that folder and then, voila! The application is up and running and accessible from its context root."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pros

"Stable and easy to handle in terms of hosting applications."

"The most valuable aspect of JBoss EAP is its support for clustering and load balancing, which is essential for our applications that serve multiple users simultaneously."

"The most valuable features of this solution are scalability and performance."

"It's convenient and barebone."

"The solution is quite stable."

"Its technical support is excellent."

Cons

"WebSphere is very cumbersome and not user-friendly. It used to have its own JVM, which presented challenges such as different architecture and memory leaks."

"In spite of the solution's robustness, it is expensive and a bit difficult to support."

"The current trend is to move to Liberty because of the portability of its cloud and its Kubernetes, which containerize the application."

"The licensing could be improved, and I would like it to give the longevity of the lifespan of the visions. In the next release, I would like to be able to download and extract the files so that I can just use my application server."

"They should make the solution more lightweight and not bundle everything into a single product."

"Based on the field and based on the build that was provided, we've noticed a lot of constraints in terms of the performance now."

"The main issue we faced was its limited compatibility with non-Java technologies, which can result in difficulty detecting potential bugs and requiring additional integration efforts."

"The solution could improve the integration."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server cons

"Improvement is needed in the synchronization between cluster nodes, especially under network strain."

"This solution needs better management UI."

"It's hard to find out the root cause of errors."

"Lacks some functional requirements."

"Its architecture needs improvement."

"A graphic user interface can be added."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It costs more than some of the others, but, you get what you pay for."

"WebSphere Application Server is expensive, so it may not be a good option for small companies."

"IBM WAS base is part of the deal when you purchase IBM FileNet P8 Content Engine."

"I don't remember the price, but there are no additional costs."

"It is very expensive."

"If your application is just a web app that does not need to scale big, you can obtain a single core license of WAS Express edition, which has almost the same features with limited processing cores. If you manage a very big application farm (i.e. need to run 10 or more WAS servers) it is better to get IBM WAS Hypervisor Edition."

"It's expensive."

"We pay around $200,000 annually."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pricing and cost advice

"It is an open-source solution."

"While I am not directly involved with the financial aspects, JBoss is known for its reasonable subscription pricing. Potential users should consider whether the cost aligns with their budget and requirements."

"The solution is cost-effective."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

31%

Computer Software Company

14%

Insurance Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

30%

Computer Software Company

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM WebSphere Application Server?

Network Deployment is the most useful feature for scalability. It has many features within the standard WebSphere Application Server edition.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM WebSphere Application Server?

In Korea, when you buy IBM iOS, the WebSphere base version is included with iOS. That means no additional cost.

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What needs improvement with IBM WebSphere Application Server?

I find the server okay, however, using the Maker instance, the Moving instance, and the Change instance is a little bit complicated without WebSphere knowledge.

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What do you like most about JBoss Enterprise Application Platform?

The solution is quite stable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with JBoss Enterprise Application Platform?

Improvement is needed in the synchronization between cluster nodes, especially under network strain. Enhanced stability in cluster management and better error handling during unexpected network cha...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for JBoss Enterprise Application Platform?

We use JBoss primarily for public institutions involved in customs. Our environment does not use cutting-edge technologies; instead, we continue to utilize JBoss due to our clients' preference for ...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 23% of the time

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Compared 10% of the time

IBM DataPower Gateway vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 6% of the time

IBM BPM vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 3% of the time

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Compared 9% of the time

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Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server

March 2025

Download IBM WebSphere Application Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Application Infrastructure

February 2025

JBoss Enterprise Application Platform report

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Also Known As

WebSphere Application Server

JBoss EAP, Red Hat EAP

Overview

IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) is a middleware platform developed by IBM. It provides a range of services and tools to help organizations develop, deploy, and manage Java-based applications. WAS is part of IBM's WebSphere product family and provides a secure, scalable, and highly available platform for developing and running web-based applications. WAS provides a secure, scalable, and highly available platform, making it an attractive solution for organizations looking to develop and deploy enterprise-grade applications.

IBM WebSphere Application Server Features

IBM WebSphere Application Server has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Application deployment: IBM WAS enables organizations to deploy and manage applications in a secure and scalable environment.

Clustering: The clustering feature can help organizations ensure high availability and improve application performance.

Load balancing: The solution Includes load balancing capabilities to distribute application workloads and improve performance.

Security: IBM WAS offers a range of security features, including authentication, authorization, and encryption, to help organizations secure their applications and data.

Monitoring and management: The solution’s range of tools for monitoring and managing applications, including the IBM WebSphere Administrative Console allows organizations to optimize application performance and resolve issues easily.

Integration: IBM WAS integrates with a range of IBM and third-party products, including IBM WebSphere MQ, IBM DB2, and more, to provide a comprehensive platform for developing and running web-based applications.

IBM WebSphere Application Server Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing IBM WebSphere Application Server. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Improved application performance: The IBM WAS platform offers a scalable and secure platform for deploying and managing applications, enabling organizations to improve application performance and reduce downtime.

High availability: IBM WAS provides clustering and load-balancing capabilities to help organizations ensure high availability.

Improved security: With a large range of security features, including authentication, authorization, and encryption, the solution helps organizations secure their applications and data.

Simplified management: IBM WAS is designed with a set of tools for monitoring and managing applications, enabling organizations to optimize performance and resolve issues efficiently.

Increased flexibility: The solution integrates with a range of IBM and third-party products, providing organizations with a flexible platform for developing and running web-based applications.

Improved developer productivity: It supports the latest Java EE specifications, allowing developers to use the latest technologies and development methodologies when building applications.

Better customer experience: Organizations can deliver faster and more reliable applications, improving the overall customer experience.

Scalability: IBM WAS provides a scalable and secure platform for deploying and managing applications, so organizations can quickly respond to changing business requirements.

Reviews from Real Users

IBM WebSphere Application Server is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it is stable, supports many languages, and is resilient.

Princewill O., Head Banking Application Customization and Reporting at a financial services firm, states, “[The solution is] very stable, supports many languages, and helpful for faster time to market.”

Another PeerSpot reviewer, an Enterprise Technical Leader at a tech services company mentions, “[It is an] enterprise-level product with extensive console capabilities, including the ability to control multiple JVM containers.”

IBM

Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (JBoss EAP) is an open source platform for modern Java applications deployed in any environment. JBoss EAPâs architecture is modular, and cloud ready. The platform offers powerful management and automation for greater developer productivity. It is based on the open source Wildfly project (formerly known as JBoss Application Server).

Red Hat

Sample Customers

TalkTalk, Property management group, E.SUN Bank, Ohio National Financial Services, Aviarc, Cincom Systems, FJA-US, D+H, Staples, Michigan Municipal League

APD, Banco Azteca, Roche, Tata Sky, Frost Bank

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

March 2025

Free Report: IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.

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