ARIS BPA vs ARIS Cloud comparison

ARIS BPA and ARIS Cloud are both solutions in the Business Process Design category. ARIS BPA is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3, while ARIS Cloud is ranked #15 with an average rating of 7.2. ARIS BPA holds a 7.7% mindshare in BPD, compared to ARIS Cloud’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of ARIS BPA users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of ARIS Cloud users who would recommend it.

ARIS BPA

Read 66 ARIS BPA reviews

4,824 Views
3,926 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

ARIS Cloud

Read 14 ARIS Cloud reviews

1,101 Views
897 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

ARIS BPA

ARIS Cloud

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

ARIS BPA and ARIS Cloud compete in the business process modeling and analysis category, with each offering unique strengths. Based on feature comparisons, ARIS BPA appears to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive modeling capabilities and integration features.

Features: ARIS BPA offers robust capabilities for process documentation, simulation, and reporting. Its extensive integration features, including SAP SolMan sync, enhance its functionality. ARIS BPA is also notable for creating and maintaining detailed process blueprints. ARIS Cloud stands out with its user-friendly interface, accessibility across multiple platforms, and ease of collaboration among users and devices.

Room for Improvement: ARIS BPA could improve its user interface, reduce complexity, and enhance documentation. It also faces high costs for customization and integration. ARIS Cloud would benefit from better integration capabilities, improved security measures, and a smoother interface to support seamless collaboration and robust process execution.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ARIS BPA offers multiple deployment options, including on-premises and cloud, providing flexibility but adding complexity. Customer service reviews are mixed, with reliability concerns. ARIS Cloud excels in hybrid and public cloud deployments with scalable options. Its customer service is generally strong, though there is room for more consistent communication.

Pricing and ROI: ARIS BPA is considered expensive, with a complex licensing model that can be challenging for smaller organizations. However, its broad capabilities make it a valued investment. ARIS Cloud offers a simpler licensing model, making it more affordable and appealing to a wider range of enterprises, promising a flexible path to achieving ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed ARIS BPA vs. ARIS Cloud Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

ARIS BPA vs. ARIS Cloud

April 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 849,686 peers since 2012

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 BPA

Ranking in Business Process Design

4th

Ranking in Business Process Management (BPM)

9th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

ARIS Cloud

Ranking in Business Process Design

15th

Ranking in Business Process Management (BPM)

22nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Business Process Design category, the mindshare of ARIS BPA is 7.7%, down from 9.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ARIS Cloud is 2.1%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Process Design

Featured Reviews

Libor Černý

Process manager at a insurance company with 5,001-10,000 employees

I can usually find an answer to my issue on ARIS Community

From the start, there were some difficulties on how to create outputs since there wasn't a repository tool in version 6. However, in version 7, there has been a tool for creating standards for a company, and that tool has been very intuitive. While I have been using this tool for several years, other people just starting to use it find the learning curve steep. This tool is very robust and accommodates many roles, where people can participate from compliance, IT designers, etc. This can create problems for users who have no experience with similar tools. It took me a year before I felt comfortable with this tool, because when I came from university it was the first or second tool that I worked on. It took me a year to run every feature or use it for every possibility since this tool is very robust. We sometimes have to create the link to the server and the repository twice because it is deleted once for some unknown reason. Though, this is not a big problem. There should be a more intuitive tool when creating reports.

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BPMexp67

BPM Expert at a consultancy with 1-10 employees

The dynamic and flexible approach, akin to outsourcing, is beneficial for both small and large enterprises

Security is a consideration when migrating to the cloud. It's crucial to address potential risks and include security measures in the contract with the cloud provider. While there haven't been issues so far, acknowledging the risks is essential, especially when dealing with applications like ARIS. With the increasing capabilities and advancements in technology, many current challenges are likely to be resolved in the future. Despite security concerns, utilizing opportunities in the cloud and the internet offers significant advantages. Regarding areas for improvement, security remains a key consideration, especially when deploying ARIS in the cloud. However, this is not solely a product-specific concern but also pertains to the cloud environment. Beyond security, the strength of ARIS lies in its ability to serve as a unified repository for enterprise architecture. Having all information in one place facilitates alignment with the company's vision, strategy, and business objectives. Reducing redundancies across departments is crucial for maintaining service quality and minimizing costs. It ensures that everyone is on the same page, fostering collaboration and preventing discrepancies in information and services. While I currently use Guardis for this purpose, the concept of enterprise architecture is applicable, and ARIS stands as a valuable tool to support business processes and technology alignment within the company.

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

"The matrix model makes building relations easier."

"The most valuable features of ARIS BPA are its flexibility and reporting."

"Process Modeling or Process Mapping/Documentation. This is the most comprehensive tool for capturing the process details. Any organization who wants to embark on a BPM journey, process mapping/documentation, lays the foundation for the BPM led implementation."

"We also have relationships specified with our IT systems and our organizational chart. That makes it possible to analyze things from the systems point of view and regarding the organizational part of the company. It all comes together in one tool and that is what gives us the most value at the moment."

"From an architectural point of view, when you're looking at the business area, you can find all the information you have to use as an architect."

"Visualizes processes which helps the business see pain points."

"I am impressed with the tool's integration. It also facilitates collaboration in the organization."

"The most valuable features of ARIS BPA are the centralized repository and the automatic rendering of diagrams."

More ARIS BPA pros

"It's very easy to collaborate with. It's very user-friendly"

"In terms of UX design, somebody who has not had experience with ARIS will be able to use it very easily."

"The most valuable feature is GUI; it is very intuitive and easy to use."

"Aris Connect opens collaboration opportunities between team members within the organization where they can actually submit change requests, navigate processes, and offer comments. It opens up the potential for BPM within the organization. I didn't see such an angle of a BPM portal with any other products. So I would say that's the best selling feature."

"This solution has improved the way our organization does training."

"From a total cost of ownership perspective, running this on the cloud is more efficient than having someone in the company take care of the infrastructure."

"It has proved that it also works in complex circumstances."

"ARIS Cloud offers easy query writing for retrieving information and includes a user-friendly Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) part that aids risk managers effectively."

More ARIS Cloud pros

Cons

"The interface is a little archaic."

"There should be a more intuitive tool when creating reports."

"Its governance tool and integration with ESB and execution engine can be improved. Their partner support can also be improved."

"I use it strictly for developing the business process model. I don't use it for the actual automation. I do that with Vtenext. I have standardized on Vtenext, and I don't use ARIS BPM anymore. The Vtenext UI is just as good, and it is much more tightly coupled to the underlying object model. I can get more done in one session with Vtenext rather than first going to ARIS BPM, then importing, and having to edit it for tight coupling."

"I find it difficult to access the database as I want with direct querying."

"Regarding stability, when there are any customized settings being done at customer end - post upgrade to newer versions - it makes the customer environment unstable for a short duration."

"The pricing of the solution can be improved and the initial setup should be made easy."

"The solution's processes are huge and it is not easy to get an overview of how things work. It needs to improve the interface. I would like to see the product include a better overview of processes and improve search."

More ARIS BPA cons

"I would like to see more support for architectural diagrams."

"The price is quite high. This is one weak point of the solution."

"I encounter challenges, and I am using Yuri to establish principles, define rules, conduct training sessions, and offer coaching to application owners, SMEs, and individuals responsible for technologies. This aids in providing support during these migrations. Security is a consideration when migrating to the cloud. It's crucial to address potential risks and include security measures in the contract with the cloud provider. While there haven't been issues so far, acknowledging the risks is essential, especially when dealing with applications like ARIS. With the increasing capabilities and advancements in technology, many current challenges are likely to be resolved in the future. Despite security concerns, utilizing opportunities in the cloud and the internet offers significant advantages. Regarding areas for improvement, security remains a key consideration, especially when deploying ARIS in the cloud. However, this is not solely a product-specific concern but also pertains to the cloud environment. Beyond security, the strength of ARIS lies in its ability to serve as a unified repository for enterprise architecture. Having all information in one place facilitates alignment with the company's vision, strategy, and business objectives. Reducing redundancies across departments is crucial for maintaining service quality and minimizing costs. It ensures that everyone is on the same page, fostering collaboration and preventing discrepancies in information and services. While I currently use Guardis for this purpose, the concept of enterprise architecture is applicable, and ARIS stands as a valuable tool to support business processes and technology alignment within the company."

"The support team of ARIS Cloud has certain shortcomings where improvements are required."

"The trial version of this solution does not give you enough time to learn how to use it, so it should be extended to one year."

"Initial setup is rather complex. You have to find a way to isolate the complexity, and find common ground."

"If you have multiple tiers of approvals into that update of the policy, or the process design itself, it takes ages to prepare those internal flows within the system."

"It seems that there could be innovations in fostering spontaneous cooperation between departments and individuals. This extends to case management and finding new paradigms for enhancing such cooperation. While some approaches, like basic case management tools, have been tried in the past, they may not have met expectations entirely. However, ongoing efforts in administrative science are focused on these areas. Companies with innovative ideas can contribute to progress, possibly involving concepts related to trust, even within the context of web 3. There are intriguing developments in how economic and business organizations can be formed. When it comes to learning about these concepts, starting with simple examples and gradually moving to more complex ones is advisable. Begin with the basics, excluding unnecessary details that might hinder understanding. Over time, you can delve into more intricate aspects, such as Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, to gain a deeper understanding of these technologies."

More ARIS Cloud cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Negotiate. Price is high so make sure you’re getting the best deal."

"If you can afford it, it's the best so far."

"ARIS enables you to start small and grow the use of the solution over time, although it's quite expensive. So if you want to start small, it's quite an investment for a small company."

"From my point of view, no, it is not cheap, but it is not too expensive because you get this big organization behind it, technical support, and all those things. It's not so expensive to use. It's a Rolls Royce in this field, I know that. Even for small organizations, they can get so much effect from using this tool, in a very fast way, so the money will be back in the customer's pocket very fast."

"It is well worth the investment in the enterprise."

"The tool is expensive."

"Their license model is really difficult to understand, and licenses are quite expensive."

"ARIS is quite expensive."

More ARIS BPA pricing and cost advice

"The cloud deployment is not more expensive. In the cloud, you pay for what you use, and there's no need for maintaining infrastructure or additional personnel, making it cost-effective. On-premises deployment, on the other hand, involves infrastructure costs and maintenance expenses."

"There is a student version of this solution that can be used for free."

"The licensing model of ARIS Cloud is leaner and more beneficial to the customer. The new license model is great. With the on-premise, you needed to subscribe to many more types of licenses. Now there are licensed bundles available on the cloud."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

18%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Government

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

14%

Energy/Utilities Company

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about ARIS BPA?

The most valuable features of ARIS BPA are its flexibility and reporting.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ARIS BPA?

Pricing for ARIS BPA is average, not cheap or expensive. It's cost-effective and worth the money we pay.

See all answers

What needs improvement with ARIS BPA?

I find it difficult to access the database as I want with direct querying. I must write scripts, which requires specific knowledge. Software AG could improve this by making the database more open. ...

See all answers

What do you like most about ARIS Cloud?

The solution's most valuable feature stems from its being very easy to use, making it a very user-friendly tool.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ARIS Cloud?

The price of ARIS Cloud is relatively high and not every firm can afford it, especially if the company is not mature enough to require such extensive process modeling and optimization.

See all answers

What needs improvement with ARIS Cloud?

It would be beneficial for ARIS Cloud to add more customization options, such as having a landing page. Improving the importation script from Microsoft Visio ( /products/visio-reviews ) would also ...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 25% of the time

ADONIS vs ARIS BPA

Compared 10% of the time

Camunda vs ARIS BPA

Compared 7% of the time

Visio vs ARIS BPA

Compared 6% of the time

Bizagi vs ARIS BPA

Compared 6% of the time

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ARIS Architect and Designer vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 20% of the time

SAP Signavio Process Manager vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 19% of the time

IBM Blueworks Live vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 18% of the time

Salesforce Platform vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 8% of the time

MEGA HOPEX vs ARIS Cloud

Compared 7% of the time

More ARIS Cloud Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ARIS BPA

April 2025

Download ARIS BPA product report

Buyer's Guide

ARIS Cloud

April 2025

Download ARIS Cloud product report

Also Known As

ARIS, ARIS BPM

Process Live, ARIS Simulation, ARIS Aware, ARIS Connect

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

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

Software AG

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.

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 and 10 million users worldwide, from 1 user companies to the Fortune 500.

Buyer's Guide

ARIS BPA vs. ARIS Cloud

April 2025

Free Report: ARIS BPA vs. ARIS Cloud

Find out what your peers are saying about ARIS BPA vs. ARIS Cloud and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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