IDERA ER/Studio vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect comparison

IDERA and Sparx Systems are both solutions in the Enterprise Architecture Management category. IDERA is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.7, while Sparx Systems is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.1. IDERA holds a 4.3% mindshare in AM, compared to Sparx Systems’s 13.9% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IDERA users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of Sparx Systems users who would recommend it.

IDERA ER/Studio

Read 38 IDERA ER/Studio reviews

1,338 Views
917 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Sparx Systems Enterprise Ar...

Read 99 Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect reviews

4,742 Views
3,568 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

IDERA ER/Studio

Sparx Systems Enterprise Ar...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect and IDERA ER/Studio are in the competitive space of enterprise modeling and database design tools. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect stands out for its cost-effectiveness and extensive feature set, making it ideal for organizations looking to manage enterprise architecture economically. In contrast, IDERA ER/Studio, while expensive, is highly acclaimed for its advanced data modeling capabilities, especially for enterprises needing comprehensive database solutions.

Features: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect offers extensive UML support, accommodates various architecture frameworks such as TOGAF and ArchiMate, and includes collaborative features with a shared repository. Its reverse engineering and automated documentation are beneficial for project efficiency. IDERA ER/Studio shines in database modeling, offering features such as data lineage tracking and strong visualization of database structures, which are essential for managing complex data landscapes.

Room for Improvement: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect can benefit from an improved user interface to aid beginners, while real-time collaboration needs enhancement. Its platform support could also be expanded. IDERA ER/Studio's licensing and integration processes require simplification, and users often express frustration with its navigation and setup. Improving customer support responsiveness is another area IDERA can enhance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect provides flexible deployment options across on-premises and cloud environments, with a robust support community; however, support quality varies regionally. IDERA ER/Studio supports both on-premises and cloud options but has been criticized for a cumbersome setup. Its technical support receives mixed feedback, highlighting a need for more consistent service.

Pricing and ROI: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is praised for its affordability and effective licensing strategy, which supports budget-conscious organizations and yields strong ROI by boosting productivity. In contrast, IDERA ER/Studio's pricing is high with complex licensing, but it offers a significant ROI for organizations that leverage its full capabilities, justifying the cost with its powerful data modeling advantages.

To learn more, read our detailed IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

April 2025

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Helped 848,207 peers since 2012

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

IDERA ER/Studio

Ranking in Enterprise Architecture Management

8th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Database Development and Management (9th)

Sparx Systems Enterprise Ar...

Ranking in Enterprise Architecture Management

2nd

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Business Process Design (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Enterprise Architecture Management category, the mindshare of IDERA ER/Studio is 4.3%, down from 4.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is 13.9%, down from 18.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Architecture Management

Featured Reviews

Aaron Cutshall

Enterprise Data Architect & Senior Manager at Health First Inc.

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.

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Milan Sterba

Senior Enterprise Architect at Deepview S.r.o.

Efficient documentation generation through organized model structure with a good price-performance ratio

Whenever I begin a new project with Sparx, I have to spend time training people on how to use it since it is not straightforward. Although it's a powerful product with plenty of features, it's not easy for even experienced users to find their way without guidance. This is not the most user-friendly solution.

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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

"I set up this tool and found it to be very simple."

"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."

"IDERA keeps up with the versions of Oracle and SQL Server that I'm using. I mostly use SQL Server and when there are new features, a new type of index, for example, IDERA also includes them in upgrades of the data modeling tool."

"It's easy to model and has a user-friendly interface. I like the team portal because, once we upload, the entire team can see the model."

"Developing new dimensional models; for the data we're hosting, dimensional modeling is more useful."

"The most valuable features are... those that enable me to represent the database to the development community and the business users."

"It was a very good tool at the time since it was complete."

"Data lineage tracking: It allows us to identify upstream and downstream systems using data."

More IDERA ER/Studio pros

"It has led some teams to do better code reviews - to be less focussed on coding conventions (syntax) and more focussed on the semantics because of the abstraction level clear design affords."

"I have found the Meta Model tuning feature useful as it provides me with an overview of all my work needs."

"It is simple to build the first model for the solution."

"I like Sparx's BPM features and the way it lets you create the diagram."

"The installation was very easy."

"The profiles allow me to customize the tool to the corporate environment instead of the other way around saving huge amounts of time and energy on trying to turn dozens of individuals into TOGAF, ArchiMate or Zachman experts, or even Sparx EA experts."

"The Business Process Modeling or BPM part is the most valuable. Its ability to simulate scenarios is also very useful. It can also create descriptions of the workflows. It has a feature in which if you create some BPMN process, a workflow diagram, and the description inside, you can actually simulate the whole scenario, and you get the description. That's very handy."

"The profiles and ready-made templates are an extremely helpful feature. This is one of the biggest features that I find very useful in Sparx."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect pros

Cons

"when there are some links to the external databases, if this database is not structured it is not uploaded. It gives me errors and I cannot see the view that was created on this structure and I cannot change those views, even manually. It skips the views. I have to ignore those views. I cannot re-upload them because it gives me an error."

"I'd like the ability to debug the errors ourselves instead of having to call them. There are certain types of errors that, I wouldn't say they come up regularly, but when you have an error it is very often the same type of error. Knowing that it's a Type III or Type I, it would be nice to have some kind of debugging facility for us to use to find out where the problem that threw that error occurs. That would be a really cool feature."

"The visual presentation is a little too colorful and seems that it is dumbed down."

"We would always like to see Repository performance improve, checking in and checking out."

"The solution's reporting could be improved because the report writer is terrible."

"When building the relationships there should be a little more flexibility."

"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."

"I would like to upload, a database with about 3,000 tables. It takes so much time and, finally, it freezes the whole solution so that I actually cannot work with that environment. For the data warehouse, it's fine because I have 20 or 30 tables. It works fine. But, when I reverse-engineer the database with 3,000 tables, it freezes and it's hard to upload and reverse-engineer such environments in ER/Studio."

More IDERA ER/Studio cons

"No way to implement data integrity and referential integrity constraints."

"Using EA involves a steep learning curve if you want to understand its capabilities and functionality."

"The Business Process Modeling or BPM feature can be improved to make it more interactive and user friendly because it is a tool for technical people. My current use is only for business process modeling notation and putting in the icons etc. You need to take them in as a class, which makes things very complex. Because of this complexity, it is not an easy-to-handle solution. Enterprise Architect is not very good for mockups. We cannot create user screens and other similar kinds of stuff, which is bad. For these things, we prefer to use Axure RP and other similar solutions. They should either remove this feature from this product or provide some kind of connectivity with Axure RP so that people can do better mockups of screens and import them. They need to augment and strengthen the BPM feature, which is the main feature. They need to put in some elements like artificial intelligence and augmented reality. They should look into such features because these things are coming up."

"The automatic creation of reports based on the model elements could be improved."

"The solution's interface could be more straightforward."

"More challenging than other tools to maintain documents and document versions for an architecture board review."

"For data modeling, it is not very mature when comparing with other data modeling tools."

"I would like the system to more "intellectually" build a scheme, place icons, and connect lines on the schemes."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is pricey."

"It is priced fairly. It's around the same as erwin and other competitors' costs."

"As an individual user, the renewal is a little costly."

"I am currently using the trial version, but this solution is definitely worth considering for the price point."

"I use the product's trial version."

"The setup cost may have been around $1500 to $2000."

"Pricing is on point, but do your due diligence - not every developer needs the tool."

"At my previous company using ER/Studio, a database compare took four hours before using the product and 15 minutes after using the product."

More IDERA ER/Studio pricing and cost advice

"We paid 1200 euros as a once-off cost. All add ons and integrations come at an additional cost."

"The solution is quite expensive."

"They have the price on their site for the enterprise version, and we do receive a small discount."

"The Corporate Edition, or one of the bundles, is the way to go."

"The license I use is on-premise. We haven't gone to the cloud where we have to pay monthly or something like that. Sparx is cheaper than most similar tools."

"I use my own license. So, I just bought the professional version, which costs $800 or something like that. In the company where I am working, we have floating licenses. They are probably more expensive. Its licensing is affordable, but we are talking about a large organization, and there could be modelers or viewers of the models. We don't know how much that would cost us."

"Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is priced well. The price we pay is approximately $20 per month. Other solutions I have found to be much more expensive."

"In terms of cost, Sparx EA is probably one of the cheapest tools I have ever used."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

19%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Educational Organization

18%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IDERA ER/Studio?

The tool is simple to use.

See all answers

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.

See all answers

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...

See all answers

What do you like most about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

The stability has been good and satisfactory. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

One of the reasons many public sector institutions in the Czech Republic use it is that it provides a very good price-performance ratio. While it might be cumbersome to learn, it still delivers exc...

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What needs improvement with Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

See all answers

Comparisons

erwin Data Modeler by Quest vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 56% of the time

SAP PowerDesigner vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 11% of the time

Toad Data Modeler vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 6% of the time

Oracle Coherence vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 5% of the time

LeanIX vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 5% of the time

More IDERA ER/Studio Competitors

Visual Paradigm vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 16% of the time

Visio vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 12% of the time

No Magic MagicDraw vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 10% of the time

Lucidchart vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 9% of the time

LeanIX vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 8% of the time

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IDERA ER/Studio

April 2025

Download IDERA ER/Studio product report

Buyer's Guide

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

March 2025

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect report

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Also Known As

IDERA ER Studio, ER/Studio, ER/Studio Enterprise Team Edition

No data available

Overview

IDERA ER/Studio is a powerful suite for business-driven data modeling that enables companies to create an enterprise architecture foundation for data governance. With round-trip support for multiple database platforms, data architects have the power to reverse-engineer, analyze, and optimize existing databases easily from diverse platforms. Data professionals can easily capture and share models, metadata, data sources, and glossaries across the organization for improved alignment between the organization and Information Technology. Organizational stakeholders can take part in the metadata definition workflow and access information on models and metadata at the right level for their needs.

Unlike its competition, it provides the broadest range of data platform support, industry-leading enterprise-level capabilities, visual data lineage and flow modeling, full dimensional modeling for data warehousing and business intelligence, and business data objects to bridge the gap between developers and data architects. It also provides a complete solution for enterprise architecture and data governance, extensive model change management, unique incorporation of true enterprise data dictionaries, unique linking of constructs across models, integrated visual data lineage import, and integrated data and business process modeling.

IDERA

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is an enterprise solution that helps streamline, accelerate, and integrate software, system, and business development. With this intuitive modeling and design solution, enterprises can stay in control of their workplaces, enable collaboration, support their teams and colleagues, and manage complex projects. Software architects, business analysts, project managers, developers, support staff, and testers can unite under a single repository. Through numerous view points and potential sub-systems, users are offered a unified view in a complex environment.

With Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, users are also offered a shared model option which can be accessed quickly and securely by in-office and remote team members through the Enterprise Architect’s Pro Cloud Server. Building a coherent, verifiable model can be done by connecting and integrating a variety of behavioral and structural information in visual form. As a result, Enterprise Architect offers high performance, flexibility, and the ability to model, manage, and trace every stage of the business development and modeling process.

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Features

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect assists in creating a unified and accessible vision in business development by offering a flexible platform with a unique set of rich features. These features include:

Test and debug - Streamline software development and visualize software with the simulation process. Users can test and confirm correct behavior, set and oversee test points, and debug and examine software.

Track tasks - Track, prioritize, and assign individual and group tasks to assist in the model’s development. Users can visually monitor their progress through the Gantt chart.

Open standards - Users can visualize and analyze running software with integrated custom tools. They can also run advanced simulations, team-based repositories, testing tools, and version control. In addition, the solution supports enterprise architecture frameworks such as UPDM and TOGAF.

Simulation - Create and debug embedded solutions by simulating behaviors and state models. Users can specify events, triggers, constraints, and more. Users can also specify extensive and complex structural systems and create custom domain-specific solutions.

Reviews from Real Users

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect merges high-end tools, online availability, a dedication to open standards, and accessible pricing so enterprises can stay in control of their workplaces, whether remote or in-office. Users particularly like the architectural frameworks and the scalability.

Marc L., a principal architecture enterprise solution adviser at Cronomagic Canada, notes, "The product offers very good support for all mainstream modeling notations and architectural frameworks."

An enterprise architect at a manufacturing company writes, "Scalable solution for modeling, project sharing, and collaboration. Support for it is good."

Sparx Systems

Sample Customers

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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Buyer's Guide

IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

April 2025

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