Oracle Application Express (APEX) Reviews

Our company uses the solution as a development platform for client projects that include marketplaces.  

We have five developers and 200 other users. 

The autonomous database is valuable and provides the main structure for code development. 

The solution does not include a default or custom template like other products. 

The PL/SQL format is a bit limiting so newer technologies should be added. We currently cannot write anything beyond PL/SQL. 

I have been using the solution for a few months. 

The solution is stable. 

The solution is scalable. 

Customer support is good and gives unconditional assistance. 

I rate support a ten out of ten. 

Positive

One of our customers previously used OutSystems and Mendix. 

The setup is very easy and just takes a few minutes. We can start building applications within five minutes. 

The solution cloud-based so there is no implementation. Everything is almost done already so it takes two clicks to complete setup. 

The pricing is very good and less expensive than Mendix or OutSystems. Pricing is a little bit higher than Microsoft products. 

Extra features can be purchased based on your needs. Identity access management and token authentication are a little bit costly. 

We also use SharePoint for normal application development.

I rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

It's a low-code platform where you can go for any customization or dashboard. You can use the solution to create any application, and then we can connect with the real-time API.

You can customize the solution to create a console where only business users can access and download files if they want to extract the data.

The migration process is difficult in Oracle Application Express. It would be helpful if the solution provided more video tutorials and upfront problem-solving documentation in the future.

I have been using Oracle Application Express (APEX) for one and a half years.

Oracle Application Express is a stable solution.

Our clients for Oracle Application Express are small-scale businesses.

The solution is moderately priced, where it is neither cheap nor expensive. The solution's pricing depends on how it is going to be utilized. Almost 5GB to 20GB of database would be free. Anything more than that needs to be procured, and then it'll be charged monthly. Users have to pay extra to own the license and for its maintenance.

The solution's low-code approach is very good. It improves our productivity and adds a different layer to the existing products, which gives visibility to the customer. It's easy to configure Oracle Application Express.

Maintaining the solution is not very difficult. It will be difficult if you want to change the existing framework and don't know the functionality properly. Only a technical person who has already worked with the platform can upgrade the solution.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

We use Apex for the development of publications, specifically in the context of a payroll system. Presently, we are using Apex version 20, but there is an update available to version 31.2. The migration was not a one-to-one transfer, as leveraging Apex effectively requires a shift in programming approach to create an optimal user interface. Adapting to Apex involves relinquishing old programming habits, but the platform offers extensive capabilities that, once mastered, facilitate a user-friendly experience.

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 JASPER report integration for generating reports, a practice integral to our reporting procedures.    

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.

We have been using Oracle Application Express (APEX) since 2011.

It is easy to install and I would rate the installment process 8 out of 10, a piece of cake.

The installment process for our system can be intricate, especially considering ODBC connections to the Oracle database. This involves optimizing for sharing and accommodating multiple users, ensuring efficient session management. Unlike a user-friendly click-and-install approach, our Linux-based installation demands a command-line understanding, necessitating familiarity with Linux commands. We opt for Linux over Windows Server, prioritizing cost-effectiveness with platforms like Oracle Lenovo or CentOS.Initially, we provided hosting on our cloud but encountered challenges with clients reluctant to pay for hosting services. Factors such as unreliable internet and frequent electricity outages in Venezuela further contributed to this preference for on-premise deployment.

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.

I would rate it 9 out of 10. 

I have developed a small project of business applications in APEX. This tool helps me understand the process and the speed of the application. My primary objective was to know how fast a developer can develop an application with the tool.

The solution is easy to handle. The tool has helped us develop many applications since it supports SQL and NoSQL languages. We are familiar with this language. Also, the solution’s interface design and database design are very easy. It is not so much complex. I have no experience working with other solutions.

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.

I have been working with the solution for a few months.

APEX is a stable product.

The solution is scalable and can handle huge amounts of load.

I haven’t got the time to use all of the solution’s features. After I use them I may be able to give a ten out of ten for customer support. Currently, I would rate it an eight out of ten.

Positive

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

I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Our company uses the solution for our internal processes such as project management, customer tracking, and opportunity tracking. We have a dashboard that compiles our days and information coming from different applications. 

We also provide the solution to customers. We have one instance on-premises and two or three instances on the cloud. 

We definitely have benefited from using the solution. Normally, IT solutions come into environments to increase revenue, reduce cost, and streamline operations. 

In our case, we have fully streamlined all operations including the RFP process, taking control of efforts, and following up with teams. We have heterogeneous teams for APM for Oracle and SAP for Microsoft. 

It is nice to have a dashboard that combines all efforts, work progress, and results. We get very good value from the solution. 

The solution can efficiently translate from English to another language including Arabic using the XLIFF format. It only takes five minutes to translate the whole user interface.

The workflow engine should be embedded in the solution. It currently is not included and that creates some problems for us so inclusion would very dramatically reduce our challenges. 

I have been using the solution for six years. 

The solution is stable with no issues in six years. 

Frankly speaking, the solution is not as scalable as Appian. When the number of users or requests increases, we work with the VPS provider to increase resources for the virtual machine or the containers. This affects performance tuning from the VP SSL. 

We have a lab with proof of concept for many products including the solution, Mendix, Appian, Symantec, and more recently Power BI. 

Technology changes so we try to stay up to date. This is unrelated, but the Check Point antivirus solution changed names a couple of days ago and I didn't notice. Even with something minimal, I felt that my knowledge was not up to date. 

The setup takes about one week to fulfill the NTP. 

We implement the solution for customers. 

The solution is free with your Oracle license or database and that is a good value. I am able to learn the database and have the solution on top of it with no extra fees. 

We also use Appian depending on use case. When we get a client, we decide which product is better for them based on their use case. We don't have any use cases where we are using both products at the same time. 

For basic cases, we use the solution because it takes around one week to fulfill the NTP.

For rather complicated cases, we use Appian and it takes one to three weeks to reach the first NTP. 

I recommend the solution and rate it an eight out of ten. 

I have some hands-on experience with the tool, but it is not too much. I just installed it and used it for my work. I used the tool for an inventory project, and after some research, my company decided to go somewhere else.

The solution's most valuable features stem from the fact that the tool's performance was not bad at all. We wanted to use the tool for faster development because it helps us avoid and omit boilerplate codes.

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

I have experience with Oracle Application Express (APEX).

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a five to six out of ten.

It is a scalable solution.

Around six or seven developers in our company use the product. In my company, we did some research on the tool with the help of our research and development team.

The product's initial setup phase was straightforward. Most Oracle products have a straightforward installation process.

My company doesn't get involved in the tool's deployment phase. My company's project was deployed over Oracle Application Express (APEX).

The product's integration capabilities were okay. I don't have much to say about it.

I don't feel eligible enough to comment on whether I would recommend the product to others.

If other people want the product in some of their projects, they want a solution that can help with fast development and delivery phases while not wanting a very high performance. They can go for Oracle Application Express (APEX) after PoC and MVP to find its suitability.

In my company, we don't use AI with the tool.

The measurable benefits from the use of the product can be seen in areas like SaaS development and SaaS delivery, and I think the features associated with both areas are good in the tool.

I rate the tool a six to seven out of ten.

The primary use case involves numerous applications throughout the organization, primarily developed and employed through Oracle APEX.

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

The main concern we encounter pertains to reporting. It would be highly beneficial if APEX were an all-in-one platform capable of handling all aspects of application development. There's room for improvement, particularly in terms of more prompt and responsive support.

I have been using it for eight years now.

It provides good stability capabilities.

It offers impressive integration capabilities and can handle a variety of tasks. It's worth noting that over a thousand employees in my company use APEX with ease.

My past encounters with Oracle support have sometimes been challenging. Their support system operates through a request-based approach, which can be understandable given their extensive client base. When you encounter technical roadblocks, having immediate assistance is crucial, as it can be difficult to carry on with your daily tasks without it.

Neutral

I have experience with Microsoft products. In my work environment, I often encounter a mix of tools and technologies, so it's important to be versatile and not rely solely on one product. When I compare Oracle APEX with Microsoft BI, especially SSRS, Microsoft seems to have a more advanced edge in the realm of reporting. What sets APEX apart is its seamless integration with the backend and the convenience it offers to developers, particularly when it comes to low-code or rapid application deployment.

It enables a straightforward deployment process – just import and export, and you're good to go. Development is also user-friendly, with a wealth of pre-built components readily available. Regarding forms, templates in APEX are indeed quite useful.

I believe APEX comes bundled with the database, including autonomous database and other related database products, so the pricing is quite reasonable. While the database itself can be costly, the expenses are contingent on your specific needs and requirements.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who prefers rapid application development and it surpasses many other tools in the market. The product is user-friendly, and its intuitiveness makes it a standout choice for such development tasks. I would rate it eight out of ten.

In our company, we primarily use the tool for reporting, business purposes, and to fulfill some custom application user requests.

Since I use it mostly to find the reporting processes, I simply need to plug and play the required data and create the report, which can be shared with others using the CC option in my email.

Personally, I would say that Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a powerful tool. Regarding features, the solution lacks the ability to integrate with different databases. Also, I feel that Oracle Application Express (APEX) is exclusively designed for other Oracle tools. But that does cause any issues for my team or me since we are already familiar with the tool. However, it would be good if one could use the tool on another database.

I have experience with Oracle Application Express (APEX) for around two to three years. Currently, I am using Oracle Application Express (APEX) Version 5.0.

It is a stable product. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

My company has around four or five engineers who use the solution. However, taking a user-wise count, I would say the solution has over 1,000 users.

Even though we are an enterprise-sized company using the solution, I feel that the solution is better suited for small companies.

I can't comment on the solution's technical support team since I don't work as an IT engineer in our company's administrative affairs. It is my superiors who deal with Oracle's support team.

In our company, previously, we were using a .NET solution. We moved to Oracle Application Express (APEX) since it was more useful and convenient to use compared to the previous tool we used.

I believe that the solution's pricing is high. So, the price could be why my company is moving to another solution. Also, I have heard that it is more expensive than the other solutions.

Although we are satisfied with the current solution in our company, our organization has decided to migrate to the cloud, and they have chosen Azure as the cloud platform. We are responsible for following up with the migration process as a team. Though the cloud and on-premises versions are available for Oracle Application Express (APEX), my company chose Azure.

My company's database uses Oracle products along with Oracle Apache and Palo Alto.

The product's interface is intuitive and easy to use. I would tell those planning to use the solution that it is easy to use and learn. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.