ActiveBatch by Redwood vs F5 BIG-IQ comparison

ActiveBatch by Redwood and F5 are both solutions in the Process Automation category. ActiveBatch by Redwood is ranked #28 with an average rating of 7.5, while F5 is ranked #29 with an average rating of 7.5. ActiveBatch by Redwood holds a 1.1% mindshare in PA, compared to F5’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of ActiveBatch by Redwood users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 75% of F5 users who would recommend it.

ActiveBatch by Redwood

Read 37 ActiveBatch by Redwood reviews

2,226 Views
646 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

F5 BIG-IQ

Read 15 F5 BIG-IQ reviews

564 Views
564 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

ActiveBatch by Redwood

F5 BIG-IQ

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

F5 BIG-IQ and ActiveBatch by Redwood compete in IT infrastructure management and workload automation. ActiveBatch appears to have the upper hand for organizations prioritizing process automation and integration features.

Features: F5 BIG-IQ focuses on centralized management of BIG-IP devices, advanced analytics, and strong security enhancements. ActiveBatch by Redwood offers comprehensive workload automation, cross-platform support, and seamless integration with third-party applications.

Room for Improvement: F5 BIG-IQ could improve its integration capabilities with non-network infrastructure and streamline its deployment process. ActiveBatch by Redwood could enhance its user interface for beginners and expand documentation for customization features, and reduce complexity in some advanced automation configurations.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ActiveBatch by Redwood is known for its streamlined deployment and supportive onboarding. It offers continuous customer support. F5 BIG-IQ requires a thorough understanding of network environments, which can be complex, but provides comprehensive deployment support.

Pricing and ROI: F5 BIG-IQ incurs significant initial setup costs with a focus on network management but offers substantial ROI. ActiveBatch has competitive setup costs and offers significant ROI through operational efficiency and automation, showcasing a favorable cost-benefit for automation needs.

To learn more, read our detailed ActiveBatch by Redwood vs. F5 BIG-IQ Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

ActiveBatch by Redwood vs. F5 BIG-IQ

December 2025

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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

ActiveBatch by Redwood

Ranking in Process Automation

28th

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Managed File Transfer (MFT) (14th), Workload Automation (14th)

F5 BIG-IQ

Ranking in Process Automation

29th

Average Rating

7.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Process Automation category, the mindshare of ActiveBatch by Redwood is 1.1%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of F5 BIG-IQ is 0.8%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Process Automation Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
ActiveBatch by Redwood	1.1%
F5 BIG-IQ	0.8%
Other	98.1%

Process Automation

Featured Reviews

Abdul_Samad

Application Administrator Lead at Bluestem

Manages thousands of jobs daily and reduces downtime through secondary node support

The current feedback I receive from my end users regarding ActiveBatch by Redwood highlights issues with the tabs or panes during job modification. When the next user monitors it, they need to close the pane or job and reopen it to see the changes reflected. If the end user makes an update, it will not be visible unless they start from the beginning again. Implementing a refresh button would be helpful for real-time updates when the end user needs to see changes immediately. We currently face issues with the web console of ActiveBatch by Redwood. When users operate through an RDP session, every user has their own ActiveBatch by Redwood application. However, on the web console, users encounter daily activity issues where the job instances do not appear or update correctly, and they cannot view the latest logs. This issue is only present on the web console, as the application itself works without any problems. ActiveBatch by Redwood can be improved by adding more features, as we are not currently handling cloud-based applications like S3 buckets and Azure. Connecting to these cloud platforms would be a helpful enhancement.

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Bikale Kassu

Manager for Implementation and Administration at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Has faced challenges with visibility and technical support but allows centralized management of multiple sites

The configuration part is complex for F5 BIG-IQ. The simplicity and visibility part needs improvement. The dashboard, especially the analytics part, needs to be more simple and presentable. For the security part, it is difficult to present to our management, so we have to capture it and prepare manual reporting options rather than getting them directly from the system. The automation part in F5 BIG-IQ is limited; we are still using it only for load balancing for some services. We haven't integrated it with our Accesso or implemented any automation options. The setup process for F5 BIG-IQ would rate a five out of ten.

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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

"ActiveBatch by Redwood has positively impacted my organization by efficiently managing a significant volume of data and workflow between our database and applications on the web browser."

"What ActiveBatch allows you to do is develop a more efficient process. It gave me visibility into all my jobs so I could choose which jobs to run in parallel. This is much easier than when I have to try to do it through cron for Windows XP, where you really can't do things in parallel and know what is going on."

"Error Handling is one of the best standout features of ActiveBatch."

"ActiveBatch by Redwood has positively impacted our organization because we are able to process files very effectively."

"From a scheduling point of view, it is pretty good."

"Using this tool, if there are any huge failures, we immediately get an email notification, and the proper team will be informed, at which time they can act accordingly."

"It can connect to a number of third-party/legacy systems."

"The software offers real-time monitoring and reporting features that let IT teams keep tabs on the progress of their batch operations and workflows."

More ActiveBatch by Redwood pros

"We mainly use F5 BIG-IQ to protect our web-based applications, such as our email and website, so we use it as a web-based application firewall for those services."

"The customer service is great."

"The reporting feature is quite good."

"F5 BIG-IQ has always provided us with great support."

"Scalability: To move from larger boxes to smaller boxes, along with virtualization. So, we are not locked into a particular size."

"The product is excellent."

"The backup, monitoring and logging are the best features."

"We mainly use F5 BIG-IQ to protect our web-based applications, such as our email and website, so we use it as a web-based application firewall for those services."

More F5 BIG-IQ pros

Cons

"The user interface can be improved so that it is more appealing and accessible to new users."

"The reporting needs improvement. There is a real need for the ability to generate audit reports on the fly. It needs to be a lot easier than what I can do right now. This is a major item for me."

"Some of the advanced features in the user interface are a bit confusing even after referring to the documents."

"The UI could potentially offer a more refined and user-friendly experience, fostering smoother interactions and facilitating easier navigation for users engaging with the application."

"A cloud option is not provided as a free feature, making it a costly solution for smaller organizations."

"A nice thing to have would be the ability to comfortably pass variables from one job to another. That was one of the things that I found difficult."

"The product should be improved by providing a customization option."

"The monitoring dashboard could have been more user-friendly so that in the monitoring dashboard itself we can see the total number of jobs created in the system and how many were currently active/scheduled/chained."

More ActiveBatch by Redwood cons

"There are a lot of scripts available on the internet for people who know how to use them, but with a graphical interface, it would be easier for new users."

"The solution's rSeries has been made free, and iSeries should be made free as well."

"A bug caused me to lose all the configuration."

"For stability, F5 BIG-IQ rates a two or three because currently we are integrating it with our third party as a port forwarding service. We created many VIPs, but on average, weekly, we lose three to five connections, making the troubleshooting part a headache for us."

"From a hands-on experience perspective, more resources should be available on the Internet, like labs and lab preparations."

"F5 BIG-IQ is a complex solution, and it cannot manage everything related to BIG-IPs."

"Integration with VAS is something that they need to work on."

"The solution should improve pricing. It's expensive in comparison to other American solutions."

More F5 BIG-IQ cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It allows for lower operational overhead."

"If you compare ActiveBatch licensing to Control-M, you're looking at $50,000 as opposed to millions."

"The pricing was fair. There are additional costs for the plugins. We have the standard licensing fees for different pieces, then we have the plugins which were add-ons. However, we expected that."

"Currently, we are paying approximately $7,000 yearly, which includes support."

"The price was fairly in line with other automation tools. I don't think it's exorbitantly expensive, relatively speaking."

"I don't think we've ever had a problem with the pricing or licensing. Even the maintenance fees are very much in line. They are not excessive. I think for the support that you get, you get a good value for your money. It's the best value on the market."

"ActiveBatch is currently redesigning themselves. In the past, they were a low cost solution for automation. They had a nice tool that was very inexpensive. With their five-year plan, they will be more enhancement-driven, so they're trying to improve their software, customer service, and the way that their customers get information from them. In doing that, they're raising the price of their base system. They changed from one pricing model to another, which has caused some friction between ActiveBatch and us. We're working through that right now with them. That's one of the reasons why we're why we were evaluating other software packages."

"I like ActiveBatch Workload Automation's licensing model because they're not holding you down on an agentless model or agent model, where every server needs to have an agent. That's the main selling point of the solution and I hope they stay that way."

"I would like the product to be cheaper."

"There is only one licensing fee for F5 BIG-IQ and everything is included in the price."

"F5 BIG-IQ is a cheap solution."

"Users have to pay an annual subscription fee for the solution's iSeries."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Insurance Company

Performing Arts

Manufacturing Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	13
Large Enterprise	47

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	4

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ActiveBatch Workload Automation?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for ActiveBatch by Redwood has been great; we recently renewed our license, and it was a smooth process without any issues.

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What needs improvement with ActiveBatch Workload Automation?

I believe ActiveBatch by Redwood could be improved because the UI could be modernized.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ActiveBatch Workload Automation?

My main use case for ActiveBatch by Redwood is file processing. I use ActiveBatch by Redwood for file processing for debit card transactions.

See all answers

What do you like most about F5 BIG-IQ?

F5 BIG-IQ is a central management system for the BIG-IP.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for F5 BIG-IQ?

From the pricing perspective, F5 BIG-IQ rates an eight out of ten as it's reasonably priced.

See all answers

What needs improvement with F5 BIG-IQ?

See all answers

Comparisons

Control-M vs ActiveBatch by Redwood

Compared 17% of the time

MuleSoft Anypoint Platform vs ActiveBatch by Redwood

Compared 11% of the time

Stonebranch vs ActiveBatch by Redwood

Compared 9% of the time

Redwood RunMyJobs vs ActiveBatch by Redwood

Compared 8% of the time

AutoSys Workload Automation vs ActiveBatch by Redwood

Compared 7% of the time

More ActiveBatch by Redwood Competitors

BMC TrueSight Orchestration vs F5 BIG-IQ

Compared 59% of the time

ServiceNow Orchestration vs F5 BIG-IQ

Compared 41% of the time

More F5 BIG-IQ Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ActiveBatch by Redwood

January 2026

Download ActiveBatch by Redwood product report

Buyer's Guide

F5 BIG-IQ

January 2026

Download F5 BIG-IQ product report

Also Known As

ActiveBatch

No data available

Overview

ActiveBatch by Redwood enhances efficiency with features like job scheduling, integration, and real-time monitoring. It supports diverse platforms, automates tasks, and offers a single-pane view with robust security.

ActiveBatch streamlines automation by offering drag-and-drop functionality, pre-built job steps, and native integrations. Its customizable workflows and alert system aid in managing complex workloads like data processing and server monitoring across hybrid environments. While it effectively reduces manual errors and enhances productivity, areas like navigation and support for cloud platforms need enhancement. New users may face challenges due to its complexity and steep learning curve, and further improvements in reporting, mobile access, and training could provide additional support to users.

What important features does ActiveBatch offer?

Comprehensive Job Scheduling: Manages and automates complex workloads efficiently.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connects with different platforms and applications.
Real-time Monitoring: Offers a single-pane view for quick issue identification.
Customizable Workflows: Tailors processes to specific organizational tasks.
Robust Alert System: Ensures timely notifications for critical events.
Data Protection: Incorporates strong security measures for secure operations.

What benefits should be considered when evaluating ActiveBatch?

Enhanced Efficiency: Automates repetitive tasks, reducing manual intervention.
Improved Productivity: Streamlines processes across hybrid environments.
Error Reduction: Decreases likelihood of manual errors.
Platform Support: Provides integration with diverse systems.

In finance, ActiveBatch is implemented for orchestrating batch processes and data management. The healthcare industry utilizes it for automating patient data updates and server monitoring, while the retail sector benefits from file transfers and inventory management automation.

ActiveBatch by Redwood

F5® BIG-IQ® Centralized Management provides a unified point of visibility and control for the entire F5 portfolio, ensuring administrators remain aware on the pulse of F5 devices, modules, and licenses and enabling them to deliver optimal application availability, performance, and security.

BIG-IQ manages policies,licenses, SSL certificates, BIG-IP images, and configurations for F5 appliances and for the following BIG-IP moduals across hardware and virtual editions:

BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager™ (LTM)
F5 Advanced Web Application Firewall™ (WAF)
BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager™ (AFM)
F5 SSL Orchestrator®
F5 DDoS Hybrid Defender®
BIG-IP Access Policy Manager® (APM)
F5 Secure Web Gateway Services
BIG-IP DNS

Sample Customers

Informatica, D&H, ACES, PrimeSource, Sub-Zero Group, SThree, Lamar Advertising, Subway, Xcel Energy, Ignite Technologies, Whataburger, Jyske Bank, Omaha Children's Hospital

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

ActiveBatch by Redwood vs. F5 BIG-IQ

December 2025

Free Report: ActiveBatch by Redwood vs. F5 BIG-IQ

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