SAS Viya Platform vs erwin Data Modeler comparison

Quest Software and SAS are both solutions in the Data Governance category. Quest Software is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.4, while SAS is ranked #28 with an average rating of 8.0. Additionally, 95% of Quest Software users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SAS users who would recommend it.

erwin Data Modeler

Read 48 erwin Data Modeler reviews

5,701 Views
171 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

SAS Viya Platform

Read 2 SAS Viya Platform reviews

661 Views
106 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

erwin Data Modeler

SAS Viya Platform

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between SAS Viya Platform and erwin Data Modeler based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Collibra, Informatica and others in Data Governance.

To learn more, read our detailed Data Governance Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Data Governance

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

erwin Data Modeler

Ranking in Data Governance

9th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Architecture Management (1st), Business Process Design (6th)

SAS Viya Platform

Ranking in Data Governance

28th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Data Integration (46th), Data Quality (21st), Data Management Platforms (DMP) (8th)

Featured Reviews

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.

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Khushal Jdai

Assistant Manager Data Analytics (WFM) at Johari Digital Healthcare Limited

Modern analytics has transformed large data into faster insights and streamlined reporting

There are some areas of improvement I would mention regarding SAS Viya Platform. New users may find it complex initially, as its learning curve can be steep. Understanding CAS and different components is very challenging for a new user. The cost is also quite high; SAS Viya Platform via SaaS can be expensive compared to some open-source or other cloud alternatives. There are also some limitations in Visual Analytics. While it is easy to use, it could be more flexible compared to Power BI or Tableau. These are the main improvement areas where SAS Viya Platform should focus. I would add some additional pointers about needed improvements in SAS Viya Platform. Regarding customer support, it is good, but the response time for complex issues can sometimes be slower than expected. The documentation and learning resources are not very beginner-friendly, making it challenging for beginners to navigate. Regarding integration, it could be smoother with Databricks, Snowflake, and Power BI, but it is more complex than it should be. Since updates are automatic, users are sometimes not fully aware of changes or new features that are being updated, as compared to Power BI, which publishes updates on its website. SAS Viya Platform should work on these aspects.

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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

"We use the macros with naming standards patterns, domains, datatypes, and some common attributes. As far as other automations, a feature of the Bulk Editor is mass updates. When it sees something is nonstandard or inaccurate, it will export the better data out. Then, I can easily see which entities and attributes are not inline or standard. I can easily make changes to what was uploaded to the Bulk Editor. When taking on a new project, it can save you about a half a day on a big project across an entire team."

"The data lineage feature is very valuable."

"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."

"Out of all of the modeling tools, erwin is a 10 out of 10."

"In my previous company, there we had a really large return on investment from using erwin."

"It allows us to create logical data models. We can represent a database model in business terms, which is very useful for us."

"The modeling product itself is far and above anything else that I've seen on the market."

"What has been useful, I have been able to reverse engineer our existing data models to document explicitly referential integrity relationships, primary/foreign keys in the model, and create ERDs that are subject area-based which our clients can use when working with our databases. The reality is that our databases are not explicitly documented in the DDL with primary/foreign key relationships. You can't look at the DDL and explicitly understand the primary/foreign key relationships that exist between our tables, so the referential integrity is not easily understood. erwin has allowed me to explicitly document that and create ERDs. This has made it easier for our clients to consume our databases for their own purposes."

More erwin Data Modeler pros

"Using SAS Viya Platform, I saw approximately a thirty to forty percent reduction in data processing time due to CAS in-memory computing, and I also reduced manual reporting efforts by approximately forty to fifty percent through automation and self-service dashboards, which definitely saved resources for my organization."

"Eliminating the need for separate visualization tools has greatly affected my team's workflow because it is just one integrated tool, one integrated platform."

Cons

"Sometimes when I want to open the attribute editor, it stops working and the whole application freezes."

"I'd really like to see the PDF function become available. It would make my life much easier than what it is at the moment because whenever I need to collaborate with people that do not have erwin, I have to go through the wonkiness of going to Word and then save it from Word into PDF."

"erwin is not as robust as a data warehousing project I've been on in the past."

"erwin generally fails to successfully reverse engineer our Oracle Databases into erwin data models. The way that they are engineered on our side, the syntax is correct from an Oracle perspective, but it seems to be very difficult for erwin to interpret. What I end up doing is using Oracle Data Modeler to reverse engineer into the Oracle data model, then forward engineer the DDL into an Oracle syntax, and importing that DDL into erwin in order to successfully bring in most of the information from our physical data models. That is a bit of a challenge."

"The only real complaint I have is the time it takes to do a database comparison on a large model. If they could speed that up, that would be the only thing I can think of that needs improvement."

"The erwin ETL functionality has room for improvement when it comes to mapping databases with a classic entity-relationship model to a data warehouse model."

"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."

"In recent years, the vendor has reduced the number of data sources, and I would like to have more data sources for every brand."

More erwin Data Modeler cons

"The cost is also quite high; SAS Viya Platform via SaaS can be expensive compared to some open-source or other cloud alternatives."

"I would advise others looking into using SAS Viya Platform to go ahead if their budget allows."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This company had bought the license for three years, and it's not an individual license. While you can buy a license for each individual, that would be very expensive. There is something called concurrent licenses where you can purchase licenses in bulk and 15 to 20 people can access the license and model. Concurrent licenses are scalable to the number of users and are proportional to the cost."

"erwin is expensive compared to other solutions. We are paying almost $6,000 per seat a month."

"I don't specifically know what we're paying now. About three years ago, in another organization, I have this memory of 6,000 AUD a seat or something like that, but I am not sure. In the mid-2000s, it was something like 1,200 AUD a seat. I get the impression that there was a price jump when it was spun off from CA as a separate company, which is understandable, but it could sometimes be a barrier in some organizations picking it up. I haven't talked to erwin people yet, but I'm going to suggest to them that they could perhaps think of having an entry-level product that is priced a bit lower, and then, you can buy the extra suite."

"There are two license options and the pricing is reasonable."

"I wish it wasn't so expensive. I would love to personally buy a copy of my own and have it at home, because the next job that I'm looking at is probably project management and I might not have access to the tool. I would like to keep my ability to use the tool. Therefore, they should probably have a pricing for people like me who want to just use the solution as an independent consultant, trying to get started. $3,000 is a big hit."

"We've continued to use the product for many years and compared it with others on the market. The pricing is reasonable considering what the solution offers and what we pay. There are cheaper tools, but they may not be as robust and easy to use, so it's worth the money."

"The solution is expensive."

"The pricing of the solution is cheap. I rate the pricing a five out of ten."

More erwin Data Modeler pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Performing Arts

Construction Company

39%

Healthcare Company

11%

Transportation Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	35

No data available

Questions from the Community

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.

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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. ...

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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...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAS Viya Platform?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for SAS Viya Platform was smooth. I did not have any hiccups, and I do not have a say on the pricing.

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What needs improvement with SAS Viya Platform?

I cannot think of any improvements for SAS Viya Platform from the top of my head, although users might have suggestions. I would add that some users need more training in SAS and SAS Viya Platform....

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What is your primary use case for SAS Viya Platform?

My main use case for SAS Viya Platform is analytics on risk adjustment in the healthcare field. One of the specific examples of how I use SAS Viya Platform for risk adjustment analytics in healthca...

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

erwin Data Modeler

March 2026

Download erwin Data Modeler product report

Buyer's Guide

Data Management Platforms (DMP)

March 2026

Download SAS Viya Platform product report

Also Known As

erwin DM

No data available

Overview

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

SAS Viya Platform is an advanced data management and analytics tool designed to deliver powerful insights and foster collaboration across teams. It provides flexible and scalable solutions for data analysis, perfect for tech-savvy professionals seeking robust analytics capabilities.

SAS Viya Platform enhances data-driven decisions with its cloud-enabled analytics capabilities. By supporting open-source integration and visual data manipulation, it caters to a diverse range of analytical needs. Its innovative approach to machine learning and AI streamlines operations, helping companies achieve efficient data utilization strategies across departments. Offering robust technical support, it facilitates seamless implementation and rapid adoption, making it ideal for informed analytics exploration.

What are the key features of SAS Viya Platform?

Open Integration: Easily integrates with open-source tools, enhancing adaptability and flexibility.
Scalable Architecture: Designed for easy scalability to accommodate growing data needs.
Machine Learning Capabilities: Offers innovative machine learning tools for enhanced predictive analytics.
Visual Data Exploration: Provides intuitive visual interfaces for comprehensive data analysis.
Robust Security: Ensures data protection with advanced security measures.

What benefits or ROI should users look for in reviews?

Enhanced Efficiency: Increases operational efficiency with streamlined data processes and workflows.
Cost-Effective Scalability: Lowers costs by offering flexible and scalable solutions.
Comprehensive Support: Offers extensive technical support for smooth adoption and use.
Improved Decision-Making: Provides deep insights that inform strategic decisions.
Data-Driven Innovation: Encourages innovative approaches in analytics through powerful tools.

SAS Viya Platform is widely adopted across industries like banking, healthcare, and retail, offering tailored analytics solutions to address industry-specific challenges. In healthcare, for instance, it streamlines patient data insights, while in banking, it optimizes fraud detection processes. In retail, it enhances customer experience analytics, demonstrating its versatile application.

SAS

Sample Customers

Premera, America Honda Motors, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Dental Dental Cali, Cigna, Staples

Information Not Available

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