Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service comparison

Oracle Application Express (APEX) and Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service are both solutions in the Rapid Application Development Software category. Oracle Application Express (APEX) is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.2, while Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service is ranked #19 with an average rating of 8.5. Oracle Application Express (APEX) holds a 5.9% mindshare in RADS, compared to Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service’s 1.6% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Oracle Application Express (APEX) users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service users who would recommend it.

Oracle Application Express ...

Read 62 Oracle Application Express (APEX) reviews

6,566 Views
5,975 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud...

Read 6 Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service reviews

1,472 Views
942 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

Oracle Application Express ...

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 18, 2024

Oracle Application Express (APEX) and Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service (VBCS) compete in the field of rapid application development tools. Based on data comparisons, Oracle VBCS has the upper hand due to its advanced integration and customization capabilities despite its higher cost.

Features: Oracle APEX offers rapid application development, robust performance, and cost-effectiveness. Oracle VBCS provides advanced integration with Oracle Cloud services, a rich development environment, and extensive customization capabilities.

Room for Improvement: Oracle APEX needs modernization of its development environment, enhanced mobile support, and better user interface design. Oracle VBCS requires better documentation, increased stability, and improved usability for non-developers.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Oracle APEX offers quick and simple deployment with commendable customer support. Oracle VBCS has a more complex deployment process, but it is supported by very responsive customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Oracle APEX is known for its cost-effectiveness and high ROI due to lower setup costs. Oracle VBCS is more expensive but offers a strong ROI through its comprehensive feature set.

To learn more, read our detailed Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs. Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs. Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

March 2026

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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

Oracle Application Express ...

Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software

3rd

Ranking in Low-Code Development Platforms

4th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Development Platforms (2nd)

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud...

Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software

19th

Ranking in Low-Code Development Platforms

16th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Rapid Application Development Software category, the mindshare of Oracle Application Express (APEX) is 5.9%, down from 8.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service is 1.6%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rapid Application Development Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Oracle Application Express (APEX)	5.9%
Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service	1.6%
Other	92.5%

Rapid Application Development Software

Featured Reviews

Dominik Grabiński

Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius

Fast low-code web development has transformed how I build complex data-driven business apps

Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a very great tool that is easy to learn but hard to master. The level of entry is very low, but the longer I work with this platform, the more I understand how it works and the great things I can create. For example, I can create report graphs and handle a lot of data across many levels. It's a great application to start with, and when I have experience in Oracle databases, I can utilize Oracle Application Express (APEX) as a front-end tool for the Oracle database. Oracle Application Express (APEX) helps me create reports and graphs by providing a plethora of out-of-the-box solutions that I can use. For example, I can upload data to and from the database, upload photos, create maps, and create various report types such as Interactive Report and Interactive Grid where I can manage, edit, and delete data. I have many solutions that are very helpful and ready to use right away from Oracle Application Express (APEX). My favorite feature of Oracle Application Express (APEX) is the Interactive Report because it's a straightforward report that I can create using a simple query or by selecting a particular table from the database. In the action button behind it, I have many great features that I can use out of the box, including graphs and download options for Excel files. There are many sorting functionalities and accounting features. The Interactive Report is a very great tool for quickly displaying interesting data to clients. Oracle Application Express (APEX) has positively impacted my organization by being very fast compared to other languages and products. For example, I don't have to build a site from the ground up, nor do I have to create tons of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript because Oracle Application Express (APEX) offers many built-in solutions. When I want to create a button, in another language, I would need to create it from scratch. In Oracle Application Express (APEX), I can simply use what's available out of the box. It's a very fast platform with many built-in components that I can utilize right away.

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Sherif Bashar

Head of Digital Solutions at Wind Integrated Solutions

Offers low-code/no-code concept makes development much easier and faster and offers good community support as the development team actively answers questions on the community every day

There are very minor things, like the feature called "action chains," that could use a bit of enhancement. But the team is perfect; they're working on it. An action chain is a sequence of actions triggered by a button or an event. It executes code in order, from top to bottom. For example, it could call a code, call a REST service, and then insert data into a database. It needs enhancement because it can be a bit complex for fresh grads or new developers to understand. It would be better if it was made more readable. That's the main point. But if you have experience, you'll understand it easily. One more thing I want to add about Visual Builder: up until two years ago, it supported native mobile development. That's not available anymore. They replaced native mobile development with progressive web apps, and most customers are complaining about that. We need native mobile development back – the ability to put apps on stores like Google Play or the App Store. That feature is not available right now, and they deprecated it starting in 2024. It's very important. Otherwise, clients go with Flutter or other mobile development tools. It would be good for Oracle to regain that capability. We need the native mobile development feature back.

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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

"It's fairly easy to make a user-friendly interface."

"The ability to quickly develop applications without needing to code a lot is very valuable."

"What's most valuable in Oracle Application Express (APEX) is its secure coding functionality, and the solution also has good features."

"The solution can build functionalities in a very short time."

"The most valuable applications within the organization are primarily data forms and extended reports."

"The virtual patching feature is valuable."

"Quick development and the connection with the database are the most valuable and useful features. It is also very stable, scalable, and easy to set up. Its support is also good."

"The solution can efficiently translate from English to another language including Arabic using the XLIFF format."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) pros

"The tool is very easy to use."

"The most valuable feature was the visual drag and drop on the components."

"The initial setup is easy."

"You don't need a dedicated IDE to develop. You can work from any browser, which is very convenient. And, with the cloud concept, your code is stored in the cloud, so you can modify it from anywhere, at any time."

"VBS is another tool that allows users to create enterprise applications without needing to store their projects in traditional databases like SQL."

"The action chains are really helpful, and the trigger event, along with those action chains, has been very helpful."

Cons

"The workflow engine should be embedded in the solution."

"It would be beneficial to include WebSockets so that you can see real-time updates."

"The solution's layout could be improved for report generation to allow more configuration."

"The product must provide more triggers."

"You also need an APEX specialist for deployment because not many people use it."

"The solution’s pricing is high if you use it on the OCA platform. It’s also a little bit costly. However, if we use it on an on-premises Oracle database, the pricing is cheaper."

"The product's stability has certain shortcomings, making it an area where improvements are required."

"An area for improvement in Oracle Application Express (APEX) is the slow reporting because pulling the report for two months, one year, three years, etc., is very slow. It takes more than thirty minutes to download the report. There's also room for improvement in integrating Oracle Application Express (APEX) with other vendors, such as open-source solutions through API integration. I believe Oracle is working on this feature, or the issue could be because my organization is using an older version of Oracle Application Express (APEX). The Oracle database also has to be improved because it's still lacking in some packages, triggers, and indexes."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) cons

"The feature called "action chains" could use a bit of enhancement."

"I would improve the license structure as, for some companies, it may seem a little bit expensive, depending on what they're doing."

"The initial setup of Oracle VBCS can be challenging for those unfamiliar with DBS."

"There was an attempt to enable front-end development, it did what it intended to do, but the side effects were too bad."

"The tool has minor bugs."

"There are some bugs in VBCS."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The tool is free with the Oracle Database license."

"The product is completely free of cost."

"The pricing is mid-range so is neither expensive nor cheap."

"The solution is free with your Oracle license or database and that is a good value."

"Apex is not priced separately; instead, it is associated with the Oracle database. A free option for Oracle database and Apex can be downloaded and installed on this complimentary database version. This aligns with our current approach."

"Oracle Express comes with the Oracle license, it is a bundle."

"Oracle Application Express (APEX) comes with Oracle. The Oracle price itself. I do not know the exact cost. Oracle is flexible on its price. If you overspend on your hardware, then I don't think you will overpay. I heard that Oracle is more expensive than other databases, but when you consider Oracle is the best traditional relational database out there. You get what you pay for."

"The pricing is very good and less expensive than Mendix or OutSystems."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) pricing and cost advice

"It's not expensive when you consider what it provides: low-code/no-code development, faster development time, good quality, and good stability."

"Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service is much too expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Government

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	30
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	28

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Oracle Application Express (APEX)?

The product is fast.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Application Express (APEX)?

This information is acknowledged.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Oracle Application Express (APEX)?

I have only tried it with an Oracle database, not with other databases. For beginners, understanding the installation process can be challenging because documentation is limited. It is hard to unde...

See all answers

What do you like most about Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service?

The tool is very easy to use.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service?

I actually don't have much experience with pricing, so I can't comment on it right now.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service?

There was a requirement to build a custom form to raise AI invoices, using Oracle Fusion. We created a form, and another use case was that users wanted to create and update customers.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 10% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

Microsoft Azure App Service vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 5% of the time

Lovable vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 2% of the time

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) Competitors

GitHub CoPilot vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 9% of the time

Microsoft Power Apps vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 7% of the time

Studio Creatio vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 6% of the time

MATS vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 6% of the time

Appian vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 5% of the time

More Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Application Express (APEX)

February 2026

Oracle Application Express (APEX) report

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Buyer's Guide

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

February 2026

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service report

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Also Known As

Oracle APEX

No data available

Overview

Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a low-code development platform that enables users to build enterprise apps securely and scalably. APEX, which offers world-class features, can be deployed anywhere. As part of the Oracle Database, developers can develop superior apps 20x more quickly by using all of the tools provided in a single, extensible platform.

Oracle APEX, a cloud platform that has been around for over 20 years, eliminates complexities associated with app building while delivering results faster and at a lower cost. The low-code aspect offers developers a visual approach to app development that accelerates the development process. Oracle APEX also provides a lively, global, and growing community of developers that can connect and share resources with each other.

Features of Oracle Application Express (APEX)

App building requires complexities and expert knowledge in vast web technologies. With Oracle APEX, these complexities involved with multi-faceted applications are reduced, and developers are provided with the rich features they need to fix business problems and create solutions. These features include:

Data: Oracle APEX offers revolutionary functionality to enable developers to turn data into information, no matter where that data is from. Under this functionality, you can display, chart, manipulate, and process data effortlessly and accurately.

Accessibility: Developers can build highly accessible and inclusive web apps for users with various abilities and requirements. Oracle APEX aims to provide a good user experience for everybody, with accessibility bug fixes and continuous improvements of their testing strategies.

Globalization: Oracle APEX provides the ability to create a framework to maintain well-performing applications in multiple languages and environments.

Smart Filters and Search: users can rapidly reduce searched data and remove clutter with search terms and filter suggestions for a more simplified user experience.

Security: Oracle APEX empowers web application builders to develop apps without compromising on security. Despite the constant increase of attacks and modification of web standards, developers can stay focused on their tasks without leaving applications exposed.

Monitoring: Monitoring and logging are built into Oracle APEX, which provides valuable insight into how users interact with your applications, as well as any hacking attempts, application errors, and performance issues.

User Interface: Developers can build modern web applications that are responsive, easily customizable, highly accessible, and simple to maintain with Universal Theme, a user interface for Application Express.

Reviews from Real Users

Oracle Application Express is a favorite among developers looking to create web applications quickly and securely for many reasons, which include its ease of use and the ability to quickly create public applications

A senior database developer at a tech services company notes, "This is a good application for quickly creating public applications."

Alvaro L., an intelligence coordinator at Grupo Orbis, writes, "Oracle Application Express is easy to use, people don't have to be developers to use it."

Oracle

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service is a cloud-based software development Platform as a Service (PaaS) and a hosted environment for your application development infrastructure. It provides an open-source standards-based solution to develop, collaborate on, and deploy applications within Oracle Cloud.

Oracle

Sample Customers

Hepart AG, pharmasol, SATLOG, Collège Bois-de-Boulogne

Transcom Worldwide, Latham Pool Products

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs. Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

March 2026

Free Report: Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs. Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs. Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.

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