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IIS vs Windows Server AppFabric comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 5, 2025

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

IIS
Ranking in Application Infrastructure
1st
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
56
Ranking in other categories
Application Server (4th)
Windows Server AppFabric
Ranking in Application Infrastructure
17th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Application Infrastructure category, the mindshare of IIS is 12.5%, down from 13.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows Server AppFabric is 0.5%, down from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Application Infrastructure
 

Featured Reviews

DanielWildermuth - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides integration with Eggplant but problems with stability
We use Windows Server only for Eggplant Manager. Otherwise, I'm not using it   At the moment, we have big problems with stability, and I'm not very happy at the moment. So, the stability could be improved. I have been using it for a few years.  The initial setup is complex.  We have an…
VIJAY RAGAVAN - PeerSpot reviewer
Ensure seamless deployment and networking with a focus on critical uptime
The most important issue I've found is the blue screen errors, particularly when customers use external displays with a P-type cable. I have advised against using external displays for crucial applications and recommended using VGA or laptop adapter screens to mitigate this issue. However, the blue screen error remains a major concern because it causes data loss during reboots.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The solution is easy to use, easy to maintain and isn't too technical."
"IIS is useful for the deployment of web applications...Its stability is good."
"It is a scalable solution."
"The solution integrates well with most Microsoft products."
"The interface, simplicity, and ease of management are all good features that make this user-friendly."
"The product's most valuable features are performance and security."
"We use the solution for our customer's web applications."
"IIS is easy to configure in terms of websites and other solutions."
"The ability to seamlessly deploy, image, and patch without causing downtime is extremely helpful and user-friendly."
"The product's deployment phase was very easy."
"The most valuable feature is AppFabric's hosting solution, which is what we need for running workflows."
"It is very usable and easy to understand. Antivirus and VPN are the main features being used now. It allows my clients to access the network from home, which was very crucial because of the pandemic."
 

Cons

"The documentation isn't very good and the options are very complex."
"Finding different settings can be difficult if you don't know where to look."
"Presently, some developers do not have technical knowledge of managing IIS, so that needs to be improved in the next release."
"The level of technical support the solution offers could be improved."
"We'd like future versions to be more stable."
"Occasionally, we encounter performance issues with IIS where it becomes unresponsive and requires a solution restart."
"This solution needs to be easier for cases where you want to have an IIS cluster."
"The solution's scalability needs improvement."
"The product is unable to connect with different cloud services."
"Its price and licensing policy can be improved. It could be a little cheaper. Licensing is sometimes confusing. There are so many different options. It is difficult to find out what to buy or what to choose for my necessity."
"Microsoft will stop supporting the product next year, and we can't run unsupported programs in our systems."
"The most important issue I've found is the blue screen errors, particularly when customers use external displays with a P-type cable."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I didn't need to get an additional license for the solution since it was included in my server."
"The licensing cost is dependent on the usage."
"I give the price of the solution a five out of ten."
"The price of Windows Server IIS is expensive. They have a large user base, and they charge a little bit too much."
"IIS's pricing is not expensive."
"I think it's part of the Windows Server, so you won't have any other costs to add in order to use the IIS service."
"The yearly licensing cost is very high. The solution is very expensive."
"There is a license needed for the solution."
"The product is affordable, in my opinion."
"It is expensive, and its licensing is a bit confusing."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

Which is better - IIS or NGINX Plus?
IIS is a flexible, secure, and manageable web server to host anything on the web. IIS’s scalable and open architecture can handle the most demanding tasks. From media streaming to web applications,...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IIS?
If you have a Windows license, there is no additional cost for IIS. However, you may need to pay for SSL publishing at times.
What do you like most about Windows Server AppFabric?
The product's deployment phase was very easy.
What needs improvement with Windows Server AppFabric?
The most important issue I've found is the blue screen errors, particularly when customers use external displays with a P-type cable. I have advised against using external displays for crucial appl...
 

Comparisons

No data available
 

Also Known As

Windows Server IIS
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Erste Bank Group, NJVC, Samsung Electronics, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Tata Steel Europe, Urban Software Institute
OSIsoft
Find out what your peers are saying about IIS vs. Windows Server AppFabric and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
848,716 professionals have used our research since 2012.