Apache Web Server vs IBM WebSphere Application Server comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Apache Web Server and IBM WebSphere Application Server based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Application Infrastructure solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Apache Web Server vs. IBM WebSphere Application Server Report (Updated: March 2024).
763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The open-source nature is one of its most significant advantages.""Most of the features I liked were related to the performance during peak hours.""It is scalable.""It's very stable, and it hosts one of the biggest of many biggest web applications in the world.""Apache Web Server is free of cost.""The most significant advantage is the ability to swiftly enable HTTPS services when my DNS is configured correctly.""The control panel is very easy to navigate. It's similar to most hosting platforms, so it's user-friendly. Once you get used to it, managing your hosting becomes easy, too.""The product is very cheap and stable."

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"As compared to other applications, it has tremendous support. We have built internal capability so that we use it extensively internally. It is also easier to use with the outside data. You can write in ESQL, Java, or any other technology that you want to use for development. So, it is a lot more flexible in the language that it supports.""The only reason why we're currently using WebSphere is that the integration of the authentication with Azure is very quick. WebSphere has something that can immediately connect with Azure Active Directory.""The most valuable feature of this solution is Portal Virtualization.""IBM WebSphere Application Server is one of the best servers due to its stability and paid license.""IBM WAS is extremely scalable. It is easy to add additional servers and to divide the load over servers in all kinds of ways.""WebSphere Application Server's best features include the data subscription and connection viewer.""High availability, alert management, and deployments are the most valuable features for us. We have the ND version so we can do deployments.""IBM WAS is the backbone for our enterprise content management suite which delivers the primary processes for our customers. Without a good application server, it would be hard to provide a secure layer of midddleware upon which the other applications run. IBM WAS improves the stability of the entire solution and provides a high quality platform for running web-based solutions."

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Cons
"By optimizing the infrastructure to allow the webserver to directly handle queries from memory—particularly by prioritizing the storage of queries in memory and processing them through the web server interface—I could potentially cut down the required instances from five hundred to two hundred.""A monitoring interface would be great for this product. The monitoring dashboards for Apache's models are not included in the basic installation. You can install the basic monitoring model, then connect this model to another monitoring system.""The product's initial setup process could be easier for users.""The GUI for the less experienced users needs some improvement. For some companies, it is hard to configure it if they have not had any experience.""Lacks integration with some cloud solutions.""There is a security-related problem that depends on the web server's configuration.""In future releases, I would like to see better server optimization.""The major issue occurs with ports. So, I would like to see easier port management."

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"They should make the solution more lightweight and not bundle everything into a single product.""When we run into memory or locking issues, we resort to using third-party tools. However, it would be preferable to have native tools for debugging this type of problem.""Initial setup is very simple. Just use the IBM Installation Manager and add the packages. The install wizard takes care of the rest. The only thing that can be difficult is to find the right packages on the IBM website, because of all the changes that IBM does on its website(s).""The solution consumes hardware.""I think that this is a good product but I think that the cloud environment could be improved. I think that the future is in the utilization of the product in a product as a service way which is something that is lacking at this moment.""The footprint could be reduced so that we can use a smaller virtual machine to run the application. We could also use more scripts. I would like this solution to be more script oriented, rather than GUI oriented.""The installation has room for improvement.""When compared with WebLogic, Weblogic is lighter and consumes less memory."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The apache software is free, open-source."
  • "It is a free-of-cost solution."
  • "There is no licensing cost for the product."
  • "It is an open-source solution."
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  • "IBM WAS base is part of the deal when you purchase IBM FileNet P8 Content Engine."
  • "Room for improvement would only be in the licensing. As with all IBM products the licensing can be complex and expensive. Bargain well and try to get as much discount as possible. Discounts of 85% are possible. Without the discount, I think the product is overrated."
  • "There is an Eclipse Plugin provided by IBM, so no need to buy IBM Rational Application Developer or Rational Software Architect tools."
  • "If your application is just a web app that does not need to scale big, you can obtain a single core license of WAS Express edition, which has almost the same features with limited processing cores. If you manage a very big application farm (i.e. need to run 10 or more WAS servers) it is better to get IBM WAS Hypervisor Edition."
  • "I don't remember the price, but there are no additional costs."
  • "We pay around $200,000 annually."
  • "The price of this product is higher than that of competitors."
  • "We used to pay about $100,000-$120,000 US or somewhere around there. That was a bit cost-prohibitive for us to continue."
  • More IBM WebSphere Application Server Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:Most of the features I liked were related to the performance during peak hours.
    Top Answer:Some free licenses come under that Apache license. So I don't think we need to pay anything for it.
    Top Answer:Enhanced security features would be great. In future releases, I would like to see better server optimization.
    Top Answer:The pricing is a little expensive. I would rate the pricing a four out of ten.
    Top Answer:Sometimes, I feel WebSphere runs a bit slow. It might be loading unnecessary libraries, impacting its performance compared to other application servers. So, better performance is my main request.
    Ranking
    Views
    3,813
    Comparisons
    3,203
    Reviews
    11
    Average Words per Review
    377
    Rating
    8.7
    Views
    4,386
    Comparisons
    3,060
    Reviews
    8
    Average Words per Review
    382
    Rating
    7.6
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Apache HTTP Server
    WebSphere Application Server
    Learn More
    Overview

    The Apache HTTP Server Project was founded in 1995 by a group of webmasters, known as The Apache Group, with the aim of developing robust, richly-featured, freely-available and commercial-standard Web (HTTP) server source code. The result was Apache Web Server or Apache HTTP Server, which is an open-source public-domain web server.

    This collaborative project has been enhanced ever since with contributions from the core development team and other volunteers situated all over the globe. Also, hundreds of users of this open-source web server have contributed code, ideas, and documentation. The project falls under The Apache Software Foundation, which manages many open-source projects.

    IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) is a middleware platform developed by IBM. It provides a range of services and tools to help organizations develop, deploy, and manage Java-based applications. WAS is part of IBM's WebSphere product family and provides a secure, scalable, and highly available platform for developing and running web-based applications. WAS provides a secure, scalable, and highly available platform, making it an attractive solution for organizations looking to develop and deploy enterprise-grade applications.

    IBM WebSphere Application Server Features

    IBM WebSphere Application Server has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

    • Application deployment: IBM WAS enables organizations to deploy and manage applications in a secure and scalable environment.
    • Clustering: The clustering feature can help organizations ensure high availability and improve application performance.
    • Load balancing: The solution Includes load balancing capabilities to distribute application workloads and improve performance.
    • Security: IBM WAS offers a range of security features, including authentication, authorization, and encryption, to help organizations secure their applications and data.
    • Monitoring and management: The solution’s range of tools for monitoring and managing applications, including the IBM WebSphere Administrative Console allows organizations to optimize application performance and resolve issues easily.
    • Integration: IBM WAS integrates with a range of IBM and third-party products, including IBM WebSphere MQ, IBM DB2, and more, to provide a comprehensive platform for developing and running web-based applications.

    IBM WebSphere Application Server Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing IBM WebSphere Application Server. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

    • Improved application performance: The IBM WAS platform offers a scalable and secure platform for deploying and managing applications, enabling organizations to improve application performance and reduce downtime.
    • High availability: IBM WAS provides clustering and load-balancing capabilities to help organizations ensure high availability.
    • Improved security: With a large range of security features, including authentication, authorization, and encryption, the solution helps organizations secure their applications and data.
    • Simplified management: IBM WAS is designed with a set of tools for monitoring and managing applications, enabling organizations to optimize performance and resolve issues efficiently.
    • Increased flexibility: The solution integrates with a range of IBM and third-party products, providing organizations with a flexible platform for developing and running web-based applications.
    • Improved developer productivity: It supports the latest Java EE specifications, allowing developers to use the latest technologies and development methodologies when building applications.
    • Better customer experience: Organizations can deliver faster and more reliable applications, improving the overall customer experience.
    • Scalability: IBM WAS provides a scalable and secure platform for deploying and managing applications, so organizations can quickly respond to changing business requirements.

    Reviews from Real Users

    IBM WebSphere Application Server is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it is stable, supports many languages, and is resilient.

    Princewill O., Head Banking Application Customization and Reporting at a financial services firm, states, “[The solution is] very stable, supports many languages, and helpful for faster time to market.”

    "What's most valuable in IBM WebSphere Application Server is its resilience. When you use the solution, you know that after the communication has been done, there will be no doubt that the data has reached its destination,” says Nicolae C., System and Solutions Architect at Seidor.


    Another PeerSpot reviewer, an Enterprise Technical Leader at a tech services company mentions, “[It is an] enterprise-level product with extensive console capabilities, including the ability to control multiple JVM containers.”

    Sample Customers
    Cisco, Intuit, General Electric, Adobe, VMware, PayPal, HP, EMC, eBay, Apple, SAP, Qualcomm, SanDisk, Allstate, FedEx
    TalkTalk, Property management group, E.SUN Bank, Ohio National Financial Services, Aviarc, Cincom Systems, FJA-US, D+H, Staples, Michigan Municipal League
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company29%
    Financial Services Firm21%
    University7%
    Government7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm15%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Government8%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm30%
    Computer Software Company26%
    Government13%
    Insurance Company9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm29%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Insurance Company7%
    Government7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise36%
    Large Enterprise36%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise62%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise9%
    Large Enterprise69%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business15%
    Midsize Enterprise11%
    Large Enterprise74%
    Buyer's Guide
    Apache Web Server vs. IBM WebSphere Application Server
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Apache Web Server vs. IBM WebSphere Application Server and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    763,955 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Apache Web Server is ranked 3rd in Application Infrastructure with 11 reviews while IBM WebSphere Application Server is ranked 5th in Application Infrastructure with 8 reviews. Apache Web Server is rated 8.6, while IBM WebSphere Application Server is rated 7.8. The top reviewer of Apache Web Server writes "Useful in deploying servers to host websites with good modularity". On the other hand, the top reviewer of IBM WebSphere Application Server writes "Stable, resilient, has good availability, and offers excellent technical support". Apache Web Server is most compared with IIS, NGINX Plus, Microsoft .NET Framework, Zend PHP Engine and IBM DataPower Gateway, whereas IBM WebSphere Application Server is most compared with JBoss Enterprise Application Platform, JBoss, Tomcat, Oracle WebLogic Server and HCL Digital Experience. See our Apache Web Server vs. IBM WebSphere Application Server report.

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    We monitor all Application Infrastructure reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.