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 5.2% 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

7,165 Views
6,449 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud...

Read 6 Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service reviews

1,711 Views
1,095 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: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

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

April 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

3rd

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

17th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2026, in the Rapid Application Development Software category, the mindshare of Oracle Application Express (APEX) is 5.2%, down from 8.2% 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)	5.2%
Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service	1.6%
Other	93.2%

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 helps us create web pages quickly."

"Oracle APEX is very easy to use and comes with a lot of ready-made components that speed up the process of creating reports and dashboards."

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

"I like how we can actively develop and customize APEX because it's on the same database."

"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."

"It is a free product; install it and start having fun, as APEX out of the box is pretty good and very easy to get started, and you can get your data out in five minutes."

"This product allows us to manage our data processing using simple screens."

"In our experience with Apex, we find that minimizing reliance on HTML and JavaScript is preferable, especially considering our background as seasoned programmers adept in PL/SQL. Incorporating HTML and JavaScript can pose challenges due to potential compatibility issues when updates are made to JavaScript. We also make use of JAPER report integration for generating reports, a practice integral to our reporting procedures."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) pros

"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."

"The initial setup is easy."

"You can avoid costly React developers that are required for building advanced UI."

"The tool is very easy to use."

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

"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

"Oracle is more of a database-oriented solution and is not very flexible in app development."

"I don't like the URL syntax."

"The solution has some stability problems that need to be resolved."

"There is a bit of a learning curve involved when first using the solution."

"During the upcoming versions, we can modify the current configuration."

"Oracle should implement vertical and horizontal data segmentation in APEX's security framework, so Dev teams don't need to do any heavy lifting in the APEX screens. This is a common issue in enterprise apps. It would be nice to seamlessly integrate Git repositories into the development process since the current solution can result in overlapping work or an eventual overwrite. The provided example apps are great, but they could benefit from some added documentation in the "explanation screens"."

"Apex has effectively incorporated new market trends into its features. The platform's user-friendly nature is notable, guiding developers through the development process. While advanced customization of the user interface with HTML and CSS is possible, the out-of-the-box options often suffice, providing 80-90% of the required functionality. The IDE is commendable, yet an enhancement in the Page Designer to allow a real-time preview of layout changes would be beneficial. Currently, running the page is necessary to visualize layout adjustments, but an immediate preview during the design phase would be a valuable improvement."

"It would be helpful if the solution was in a format recognized by Microsoft Word products."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) cons

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

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

"If you're doing some, for example, extremely responsive applications for the web, it's not as good."

"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."

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

"My honest opinion is: do not use this solution — there are plenty of free options out there that will do the trick."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Pricing is expensive, overall on an enterprise system but we consider that it gives corresponding value in the product."

"The tool is not expensive."

"The product is completely free of cost."

"I rate the product's price as ten on a scale of one to ten, where one is a high price, and ten is a low price."

"When buying the data license, APEX is included."

"It's a free solution with no additional costs."

"The solution is free if you are using on Oracle database."

"The solution is free."

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

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

12%

Healthcare Company

10%

Educational Organization

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

I don't have a straightforward answer regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing for Oracle Application Express (APEX) because the clients pay for this, not me. I'm the developer hired by one co...

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What needs improvement with Oracle Application Express (APEX)?

I chose to rate it a 9 out of 10 because no application is perfect for everything. For instance, if I want to create an application for mobile or offline use, Oracle Application Express (APEX) migh...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Oracle Application Express (APEX)?

My main use case for Oracle Application Express (APEX) is to create web applications for companies across various industries like banking, aviation, and pharmacy. A specific example of an applicati...

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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

Microsoft Power Apps vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 28% of the time

Salesforce Platform vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 8% of the time

GitHub CoPilot vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 5% of the time

Microsoft Azure App Service vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 5% of the time

Adobe ColdFusion vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 2% of the time

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) Competitors

MATS vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 7% of the time

Studio Creatio vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 7% of the time

GitHub CoPilot vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 7% of the time

Microsoft Azure App Service vs Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

Compared 5% of the time

Microsoft Power Apps 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)

March 2026

Oracle Application Express (APEX) report

Download Oracle Application Express (APEX) product report

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service

March 2026

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service report

Download Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service product report

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

April 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: April 2026.

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