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ARIS Architect and Designer vs erwin Data Modeler comparison

Software AG and Quest Software are both solutions in the Business Process Design category. Software AG is ranked #11 with an average rating of 9.2, while Quest Software is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.4. Software AG holds a 1.4% mindshare in BPD, compared to Quest Software’s 2.6% mindshare. Additionally, 83% of Software AG users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.
ARIS Architect and Designer
Read 11 ARIS Architect and Designer reviews
  • 919 Views
  • 910 Comparison Views
83% willing to recommend
erwin Data Modeler
Read 48 erwin Data Modeler reviews
  • 5,701 Views
  • 1,653 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 1, 2026

erwin Data Modeler and ARIS Architect and Designer compete in the data modeling and enterprise architecture software category. ARIS Architect and Designer seems to have the upper hand due to its strong process mapping and integration capabilities, which are essential for enterprise architecture management.

Features: erwin Data Modeler focuses on generating and synchronizing data sources, offering comprehensive visual representations of complex data models, and automating engineering processes. Its standout features include forward and reverse engineering, data lineage documentation, and template flexibility. ARIS Architect and Designer excels in process mapping, metadata definition, and cross-notational alignment, which aid in enterprise architecture management and compliance. It provides enhanced integration capabilities for detailed process analysis.

Room for Improvement: erwin Data Modeler users report difficulties with an outdated interface and cumbersome navigation, and seek better Linux integration, more dynamic reporting, and improved synchronization with big data architectures. ARIS Architect and Designer could improve its cloud reliability, as users encounter occasional data corruption issues, and they seek enhanced collaboration features and simplified licensing options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: erwin Data Modeler offers on-premises and cloud-based deployment options. Its customer service is generally considered satisfactory, though users note some inconsistency. ARIS Architect and Designer also provides on-premises solutions with similar customer service ease, praised for efficient problem resolution but with occasional delays. Both solutions receive positive ratings for overall support quality, despite variability.

Pricing and ROI: erwin Data Modeler is seen as expensive, especially for individual users or regions with lower incomes, though it offers substantial ROI via time savings and enhanced data governance. Users suggest more affordable pricing structures. ARIS Architect and Designer faces high licensing cost critiques, potentially hindering adoption, but also offers significant ROI by improving process efficiency and data management. Both tools provide benefits that can outweigh their cost for certain users.

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Buyer's Guide
ARIS Architect and Designer vs. erwin Data Modeler
March 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

ARIS Architect and Designer
Ranking in Business Process Design
11th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
erwin Data Modeler
Ranking in Business Process Design
6th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
5.9
Number of Reviews
48
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Architecture Management (1st), Data Governance (9th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Business Process Design category, the mindshare of ARIS Architect and Designer is 1.4%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of erwin Data Modeler is 2.6%, up from 2.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Business Process Design Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
erwin Data Modeler2.6%
ARIS Architect and Designer1.4%
Other96.0%
Business Process Design
 

Featured Reviews

BM
BeenishMustafa
Consultant at KAFD DMC
Has raised concerns about pricing while expressing satisfaction with its contribution to optimizing internal processes
Considering the integration capability of the product, it contributes to data-driven decision-making in our case. We see some impact of reporting tools on performance tracking or strategic planning. We do different kinds of analysis in regard to due integration controls, risk, and how we can strengthen the processes and the activities. We use it for various purposes. Regarding the process visualization framework, it helps to improve communication and collaboration in the company in a positive way. Architect is managing all the library management and with regards to the filter management. It's always a positive side that if you want to use anything further, we know that we can reach out to the Architect to add those objects and those attributes. It's really good.
Read full review
Sushree Panigrahi - PeerSpot reviewer
Sushree Panigrahi
Snowflake Data Engineer| Senior PLSQL Developer |Data Modeler|Assitant Vice Pre at Jp Morgan Chase & Co.
Data modeling has transformed regulatory reporting and collaboration across cloud environments
In erwin Data Modeler, areas that have room for improvement include performance improvements. I see that large models sometimes cause it to be slow when opening. Impact analysis can lag as well. Version control is another aspect. If we have developed a current version, it is not integrated with Git where we can easily compare different versions. UI modernization is also something we cannot utilize as it is primarily for development. Additionally, cloud-specific optimizations are needed when it comes to Snowflake or Databricks. When it comes to AI aspects, auto-suggestions for normalization or identifying primary, foreign, or surrogate keys are areas that can be improved.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Considering the integration capability of the product, it contributes to data-driven decision-making in our case."
"It's really fast. It's much faster compared to Enterprise Architect."
"Considering the integration capability of the product, it contributes to data-driven decision-making in our case."
"Its user interface is highly regarded, especially when compared with Visual Paradigm."
"Considering the integration capability of the product, it contributes to data-driven decision-making in our case."
"The user interface is easy to work with."
"It is suitable for banks, insurance companies, public administration, etc. The method is very adaptable and can be applied independently of the business."
"We use the product for modeling, conducting process checks, doing process flow, running, and analyzing the report."
More ARIS Architect and Designer pros
"I love the way erwin Data Modeler creates data models and presents them for our users."
"We find that its ability to generate database code from a model for a wide array of data sources cuts development time. The ability to create one model in your design phase and then have it generate DDL code for Oracle or Teradata, or whichever environment you need is really nice. It's not only nice but it also saves man-hours of time. You would have to take your design and just type in manually. It has to take days off out of the work."
"It has centralized storage so that a data model can be shared by different teams."
"I have used most of the modeling tools available, but I found that erwin Data Modeler is the most suitable data modeling tool in our current industry."
"It supports a wide variety of databases, including the latest ones. We have chosen to go for a cloud-based database, and it supports that, which is very useful."
"erwin Data Modeler's ability to generate database code from a model for a wide array of data sources saves time in development, as utilizing the solution allows me to accomplish tasks in minutes compared to the extended time required for manual processes."
"We can create mappings in erwin and possibly data dictionaries."
"The modeling portion of the tool is the most valuable. There are some notes, naming standards, and other functions that we use as well. There's a whole boatload of functionality in this thing and we use maybe 10% of it. It seems to be pretty common that not all the functionality is fully utilized. But it's just got gobs and gobs of stuff that you can implement if you so choose to."
More erwin Data Modeler pros
 

Cons

"Sometimes we feel that the designer needs more usability. I understand that the web module or the cloud version is much more user-friendly and easier to work on compared to the client that we download."
"The product is not flexible."
"Sometimes, it's not easy to convince customers to use this methodology because it's a bit rigid."
"The customer service of ARIS Architect and Designer was disappointing. It took forty days to conclude that partial data restoration was not possible, and it was suggested that the data might have been accidentally deleted, despite evidence to the contrary."
"The simulation part still has some way to go. It's a good feature, and it's something that other vendors don't have right now, but it can still be improved. Some features are needed in ARIS Architect, so advanced users can do things through drag-and-drop functionality."
"Even with a formal modeling language, users can still draw freely and make a bit of a mess in your repository. It should also improve usability."
"We face problems when the product's capacity is increased."
"Currently, we don't have any metrics to measure the success of ARIS Architect and Designer."
More ARIS Architect and Designer cons
"In erwin Data Modeler, areas that have room for improvement include performance improvements. I see that large models sometimes cause it to be slow when opening."
"We can only get licenses through partners."
"In terms of new features, it would be great to have a cloud base. We should be able to put it on the cloud for better collaboration and data models sharing."
"It would be nice to have it on the Linux platform, not just Windows. If they can support Linux, there would be a huge market for it."
"This is a very complex product."
"The price should be reduced."
"The erwin Data Modeler is quite complex to use."
"Although Quest Software has made tremendous strides in recent years, they need to evolve more in the big data arena; erwin Data Modeler could use a little more work when it comes to big database designs."
More erwin Data Modeler cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is expensive."
"The licenses are very costly. I've seen many people who are hesitant or not able to use ARIS Suite just because of the license cost. Even though they like all the functionalities and understand the value of everything ARIS provides, they aren't able to implement it."
"Many customers find the licensing configuration confusing. There are many different sub-details in the licensing, making it very difficult for us to understand what we are buying and what we are using with what."
"The tool is a little bit expensive."
"Likewise, the solution is a little pricey."
"There is either a one-year or three-year license. It is not a pay-as-you-go license like a SaaS solution. It’s more of a traditional licensing. They are a little bit on the pricier side."
"The primary reasons that erwin was selected were that it was much more affordable for us [than Embarcadero] and it was easily maintainable."
"erwin is expensive compared to other solutions. We are paying almost $6,000 per seat a month."
"The pricing of the solution is cheap. I rate the pricing a five out of ten."
"Though the solution is not cheap, it's worth the money."
"Pricing is very high compared to any other product."
"The price should be lower in order to be on the same level as its competitors."
More erwin Data Modeler pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
14%
Computer Software Company
11%
Government
10%
Outsourcing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
7%
Performing Arts
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business4
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise3
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business16
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise35
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with ARIS Architect and Designer?
Currently, we don't have any metrics to measure the success of ARIS Architect and Designer. We would appreciate it if you could share anything with us that we can do to find out the impact.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for ARIS Architect and Designer?
We spoke with you about ARIS Architect and Designer. We already have two architect licenses, I think three architect licenses, and we have, I think, six or seven designer licenses. Architect is bas...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering ARIS Architect and Designer?
The reviewer is a consultant at KAFD. We would give ARIS Architect and Designer an overall review rating of ten out of ten.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for erwin Data Modeler by Quest?
I have no idea about the setup cost because I did not buy the license.
See all answers
What needs improvement with erwin Data Modeler by Quest?
As we all know, AI is taking up a majority of things. I felt that erwin Data Modeler is a bit of an outdated tool. It needs a new look and integrating AI into it would be much better for learning. ...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for erwin Data Modeler by Quest?
For erwin Data Modeler, the use case was to create a data model for the organization. It articulates how data flows throughout the organization. For example, we have an employee table with two type...
See all answers
 

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
ARIS Architect and Designer
March 2026
ARIS Architect and Designer reportDownload ARIS Architect and Designer product report
Buyer's Guide
erwin Data Modeler
March 2026
erwin Data Modeler reportDownload erwin Data Modeler product report
 

Also Known As

ARIS Architect & Designer, ARIS Architect, ARIS Designer
erwin DM
 

Overview

ARIS is the market-leading solution for professional business process management and modeling. Whether you want to document the "as-is" state of your operations for quality or certification reasons or design the "to-be" in terms of continuous improvement in your transformation program, ARIS is the best choice for establishing a single source of truth regarding all process excellence topics in your organization. It is for any organization looking to digitally transform their business, increase operational excellence and customer experience and ensure compliance in execution. ARIS helps you to make the most out of your processes with Process Mining, Risk & Compliance Management, RPA and much more.

What makes the difference?

  • The most comprehensive platform for process excellence in the market
  • Easy to use
  • Covers business & IT architecture from all angles
  • Full flexibility and >100 diagram types
  • Customer-driven development based on best practices
  • Strong partner ecosystem

ARIS is the market-leading solution for any organization and ideally suited to digitally transform the organization, increase operational excellence and customer experience and ensure compliance in execution.

Software AG

Erwin Data Modeler provides an effective approach to visualizing and managing data models. It assists in creating, reversing, and synchronizing data models with ease, supporting logical and physical transitions while enhancing understanding across teams.

Erwin Data Modeler is a comprehensive tool designed for professional database management. It offers capabilities to organize and enforce standards, automating script generation with robust reverse engineering and DDL output. Users can manage complex data environments, capitalize on integration with data intelligence, and maintain large-scale databases smoothly. Despite its strengths, improvements in multi-language support, database integration, and reporting features are needed. Users benefit from extensive support for conceptual, logical, and physical database modeling, enhancing architectural design and data governance for platforms like SQL Server, Oracle, and Teradata.

What are the key features of Erwin Data Modeler?
  • Visual Representation: Facilitates clear visualization of data models, aiding comprehension.
  • Versioning and Editing: Enhance usability with versioning and bulk editing capabilities.
  • Reverse Engineering: Offers powerful tools for reverse engineering and DDL generation.
  • Integration: Aligns with data intelligence to streamline database management.
  • Naming Standards: Enforces consistency with automated script creation.
What benefits should users consider in Erwin Data Modeler reviews?
  • Collaboration: Promotes team understanding and collaboration through visual tools.
  • Automation: Reduces manual effort through automated processes and integration.
  • Scalability: Handles large database management efficiently, crucial for enterprise settings.
  • Data Governance: Facilitates effective data governance with structured modeling.

Erwin Data Modeler finds application in industries focused on robust data management, implementing it for enterprise data warehouses, business domain models, and operational systems. It supports architectural design and governance, aligning with business applications demanding precise data representation and visualization.

Quest Software
 

Sample Customers

Tesco, Weifu, Airbus, Siemens, Proximus, Alicorp, Sekerbank, Bancor, Philips,Sky, Emirates NBD, Dubai Municipality, Suva, U.S. Army, Australia Post, Westfalen Weser Energie - ARIS serves customers across all industries and of every size worldwide. Companies trust ARIS as the market leader for process excellence with more than 30 years of experience in the market, 10 million users worldwide, from 1 user companies to the Fortune 500.
 Premera, America Honda Motors, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Dental Dental Cali, Cigna, Staples
Buyer's Guide
ARIS Architect and Designer vs. erwin Data Modeler
March 2026
Free Report: ARIS Architect and Designer vs. erwin Data Modeler
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