IBM MQ Reviews

Vendor: IBM

4.2 out of 5

170 reviews
94% willing to recommend

1,539 followers

What is IBM MQ?

IBM MQ is a middleware product used to send or exchange messages across multiple platforms, including applications, systems, files, and services via MQs (messaging queues). This solution helps simplify the creation of business applications, and also makes them easier to maintain. IBM MQ is security-rich, has high performance, and provides a universal messaging backbone with robust connectivity. In addition, it also integrates easily with existing IT assets by using an SOA (service oriented architecture).

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IBM MQ is the #1 ranked solution in top Business Activity Monitoring solutions, top Message Queue Software, and top Message Oriented Middleware (MOM) solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM MQ an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. IBM MQ is most commonly compared to MuleSoft Anypoint Platform: IBM MQ vs MuleSoft Anypoint Platform. IBM MQ is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 71% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 37% of all views.

Helped 857,162 peers since 2012

Featured IBM MQ reviews

Md Al-Amin

Senior System Analyst at Thakral

IBM MQ is more reliable and secure than other software. There is a saying that for the last 30 years IBM MQ has never been hacked. It is more secure and reliable. Whenever the configuration is done, I do not have to touch it again. It works fine, it is stable, and its communication is to the point and accurate. All performance-related aspects are better. Performance-wise, it is scalable, and other features such as DR, DC, replication, and active passive mode are complex to configure, but it remains scalable. The pricing model for IBM MQ could be more flexible for clients.

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SelvaKumar4

System Analyst at Walmart

We find it scalable for internal applications, but not so much for external integrations. It should support a wider range of protocols, not just a few specific ones. Many other products have broader protocol support, and IBM MQ is lagging in that area. IBM MQ needs to improve the UI for quicker logging. Users should also have a lot more control over logging, with a dashboard-like interface. That's something they should definitely work on.

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MykolaKuzmenko

SWIFT manager at Raiffeisen Bank Aval

Currently, we have some disadvantages; it's a bit difficult to use IBM ID to access support from the IBM site. To get nice support from IBM, we need to use IBM ID, and it's a bit complicated to integrate it with IBM support. Support can be better because sometimes we need explanations for some behaviors of the product, and it's not easy to reach the proper person in IBM support. They could add some new features into IBM MQ to make it better. A graphical user interface in addition to MQ Explorer could be useful, but we are satisfied with MQ Explorer as well.

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IBM MQ mindshare

Product category:

As of June 2025, the mindshare of IBM MQ in the Message Queue (MQ) Software category stands at 26.8%, up from 20.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Message Queue (MQ) Software

PeerResearch reports based on IBM MQ reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Message Queue (MQ) Software	Jun 17, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jun 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM MQ vs ActiveMQ	Jun 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM MQ vs MuleSoft Anypoint Platform	Jun 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM MQ vs Amazon SQS	Jun 17, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
MuleSoft Anypoint Platform	4.0	9.1%	92%	58 interviews Add to research
ActiveMQ	3.9	26.2%	89%	27 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM MQ's most valued features include its reliable data transfer, seamless integration across platforms, stability, guaranteed message delivery, and scalability. It supports real-time information exchange with robust security measures. Users appreciate its ease of setup, versatility, and ability to handle high transaction volumes without data loss. It's compatible with multiple technologies, offering a reliable infrastructure for diverse systems. Security features like SSL provide data protection, making IBM MQ a trusted choice in industries requiring high reliability.

"IBM MQ is a choice to create a relation between the Mainframe and distributed servers, allowing applications running on Linux or Windows to interface with Mainframe applications and enable more development of easier and open applications in a distributed environment."
"The features of IBM MQ that have proven most effective for ensuring message delivery reliability are the stability of the system, the resilience and the product, which is definitely of top quality in this segment."
"On a scale of 1-10, I rate IBM MQ a nine."

Room for Improvement

IBM MQ users express a need for enhanced internet capabilities and integration, improved monitoring, streamlined migration processes, and better high availability and clustering. Calls for user-friendly interfaces and embedded dashboards are common, alongside requests for better API support and increased cloud compatibility. Issues with pricing, security, and training are noted. Some users cite challenges with scalability, message size limitations, and the complexity of installation and updates as areas needing attention.

"The customer service or technical support from IBM is not as good as we expected; it could be better. They don't meet our standards due to the timing to get a person with knowledge."
"The areas of IBM MQ that have room for improvement are its compatibility with the public clouds, specifically its compatibility with Azure or AWS, as there is definitely a lot of scope for improvement there."
"Support can be better because sometimes we need explanations for some behaviors of the product, and it's not easy to reach the proper person in IBM support."

ROI

Organizations mention IBM MQ is reliable with good returns. While actual ROI can be hard to quantify, some see initial costs recovered in two years. It buffers transaction spikes, reduces bugs, and saves on development costs. While some users serve public services without tracking ROI, others note reduced costs and no data loss. Financial institutions report revenue generation and stability, valuing its integration capabilities and message handling for significant transaction volumes.

Pricing

IBM MQ's pricing is considered high by many enterprises but offers a flexible license model based on the Processor Value Unit (PVU). Costs can quickly add up with an annual or quarterly licensing fee, often bundled with other IBM services. While some find it reasonable compared to alternatives like RabbitMQ, many seek cheaper or open-source options. IBM MQ includes performance and scalability benefits, making it expensive for smaller companies but suitable for large enterprises.

"If one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the tool's price a seven. The product is expensive."
"The license for IBM MQ is commercial and not cheap. You get a multi-platform solution, which is important because it lets you connect systems on mainframes, personal solutions, Unix, Linux, etc."
"The pricing needs improvement."

Popular Use Cases

IBM MQ is utilized for guaranteed delivery in business transactions, message exchange between applications, financial and non-financial transactions, and enterprise integration. It facilitates asynchronous communication, data transmission, and serves as a middleware for various integrations. Companies use it across Linux, Windows, and mainframe environments in sectors like banking, retail, and insurance. Its clustering, queue management, and real-time messaging capabilities support vast distributed environments globally.

Service and Support

Many users find IBM MQ's support efficient and satisfying, with quick response times. However, some report delays and inconsistency in the expertise of support staff. Those with established partnerships or direct contacts experience better outcomes. Frequent users mention minor issues often resolve independently through available documentation. While response times for critical issues are generally expected, improvements are desired in non-critical scenarios. Some users suggest faster, more knowledgeable assistance, especially involving complex tasks or troubleshooting.

Deployment

Some found IBM MQ's initial setup straightforward, especially those with prior experience or IBM training. Others noted it could be complex, particularly when configuring advanced features or integrating with diverse environments. While basic installations were often described as easy, complications could arise with more intricate deployments, like active-active clusters or specific integrations. Experience levels varied, but many installations benefited from either internal expertise or IBM's support.

Scalability

Scalability of IBM MQ is praised for its adaptability across environments, high availability, and easy vertical and horizontal scaling. Users highlight its ability to handle significant transaction volumes, although some mention challenges with cloud integration and ease of scaling compared to newer solutions. IBM MQ is positively noted for its flexibility, clustering capabilities, and effectiveness in distributed environments, making it a strong choice for organizations requiring robust scalability options. However, some users face complexity in manual scaling processes.

Stability

Users report that IBM MQ is generally stable with minimal downtime. Many have experienced exceptional reliability, stating MQ runs continuously without significant interruptions. Challenges typically arise from external factors rather than MQ itself. Occasionally, issues related to configuration or environment complexities are mentioned, but these are rare. Despite the need for occasional troubleshooting, MQ's performance remains consistent, earning high praise for its dependability and resilience. Organizations are impressed with its ability to handle large volumes effectively.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our IBM MQ Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

37%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Insurance Company

Transportation Company

Media Company

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Construction Company

Energy/Utilities Company

University

Outsourcing Company

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Pharma/Biotech Company

Performing Arts

Consumer Goods Company

Logistics Company

Photography Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Compare IBM MQ with alternative products

Learn more about IBM MQ

IBM MQ can be deployed:

On-premises
In the cloud
Hybrid cloud

IBM MQ supports the following APIs:

MQI (Message Queue Interface)
REST
.NET
MQTT
JMS
IBM MQ Light

IBM MQ Features

Some of the most powerful IBM MQ features include:

High availability
Stability and scalability
Flexible deployment options
Uniform clusters
Automated and intelligent workload balancing
Broad language, API, and messaging protocol support
Administrative features that simplify messaging management
Open standards development tools
Simple management tools

IBM MQ Benefits

Some of the benefits of using IBM MQ include:

Multi-style messaging: IBM MQ supports simple multi-style messaging, making it easy to connect diverse systems with support for message queuing, transactions, and more.
Reduced risk: With IBM MQ you will never lose a message, and messages are never delivered more than once.
Cloud-native: Because IBM MQ has a minimal infrastructure, it is suitable to be cloud-native, and therefore has the capability to always remain on.
Available anywhere: Using IBM MQ, you have access to secure messaging anywhere, at any time.
Secure: IBM MQ makes sure to keep your data safe by using TLS secured communications, providing access identity management, message-level security, and more measures to protect your information.
Easy for application programmers: To use IBM MQ, application programmers do not need to have any knowledge of communications programming.
Technical support: IBM MQ has a large user community and also provides support 24/7 as needed.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by IBM MQ users who are currently using the solution.

PeerSpot user Sunil S., a manager at a financial services firm, explains that they never lose messages are never lost in transit, mentioning that he can store messages and forward them as required: "Whenever payments are happening, such as incoming payments to the bank, we need to notify the customer. With MQ we can actually do that asynchronously. We don't want to notify the customer for each and every payment but, rather, more like once a day. That kind of thing can be enabled with the help of MQ."

Another PeerSpot reviewer, Luis L. who is a solutions director at Thesys Technologies, says that IBM MQ is a valuable solution and is "A stable and reliable software that offers good integration between different systems."

The head of operations at a financial services firm notes that "I have found the solution to be very robust. It has a strong reputation, is easy to use, simple to configure in our enterprise software, and supports all the protocols that we use."

In addition, a Software Engineer at a financial services firm praises the security benefits of it and states that “it has the most security features I've seen in a communication solution. Security is the most important thing for our purposes."

IBM MQ was previously known as WebSphere MQ.