Frends vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration comparison

Frends Enterprise iPaaS and IBM are both solutions in the API Management category. Frends Enterprise iPaaS is ranked #40, while IBM is ranked #28 with an average rating of 8.0. Frends Enterprise iPaaS holds a 0.4% mindshare in APIM, compared to IBM’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Frends Enterprise iPaaS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Frends

Read 3 Frends reviews

360 Views
356 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Read 5 IBM Cloud Pak for Integration reviews

1,260 Views
617 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Frends

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration and Frends compete in the integration software space. While Frends provides a smoother customer experience, IBM leads with comprehensive integration capabilities.

Features: IBM Cloud Pak for Integration is known for its robust enterprise integration, API management, and event-driven architecture capabilities. In comparison, Frends focuses on low-code integration, simplified interface, and rapid development of integration flows.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Frends offers a cloud-native deployment model that simplifies implementation and offers responsive support for quick resolution of queries. IBM Cloud Pak for Integration requires more setup time due to its extensive features but benefits from IBM's global support infrastructure.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Cloud Pak for Integration involves higher upfront costs but offers long-term ROI with its feature set and scalability, suited for larger enterprises. Frends presents a cost-effective entry point, appealing to SMEs seeking quick ROI through manageable investment and agile deployment.

To learn more, read our detailed Frends vs. IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Frends vs. IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

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

Frends

Ranking in API Management

40th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Ranking in API Management

28th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Data Integration (16th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the API Management category, the mindshare of Frends is 0.4%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Cloud Pak for Integration is 0.8%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
IBM Cloud Pak for Integration	0.8%
Frends	0.4%
Other	98.8%

API Management

Featured Reviews

Kalle Reponen

Senior Integration Architect at Visma

Offers simplicity, ease of customization, and visibility of integrations

One thing is that Frends keep the integration, and that is something I know that it's coming, like, a later version; that is something we will be currently missing. So the end-users could take an interest in use by themselves, with the release thing some result flow. That is the most wanted and requested feature for now. Another enhancement includes the monitoring part. It would be nice to have some sort of maybe mobile app on which we can see how integrations are running if there are some problems, and getting those alerts on the mobile would be really nice.

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Igor Khalitov

Owner/Full Stack Software Engineer at Maraphonic, Inc.

Manages APIs and integrates microservices with redirection feature

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration includes monitoring capabilities to track the performance and health of your integrations. You can quickly roll back to a previous version if an issue arises. Additionally, it supports incremental deployments, allowing you to shift traffic to a new version of an API gradually. For example, you can start by directing 10% of traffic to the new version while the rest continue using the legacy version. If everything works as expected, you can gradually increase the traffic to the new version over time. IBM Cloud Pak for Integration has a client base that includes numerous organizations using AI and machine learning technologies. We leverage an open-source machine learning framework and integrate it with Kafka to help create and manage various products and data retrieval processes. For companies with private data, the framework first retrieves relevant data from a GitHub database, which is then combined with the final request before being sent to a language model like GPT. This ensures that the language model uses your specific data to generate responses. Kafka plays a key role by streaming real-time data from file systems and databases like Oracle and Microsoft SQL. This data is published to Kafka topics, then vectorized and used with artificial intelligence to enhance the overall process. It's like an old-fashioned approach. The best way is to redesign it with products such as Kafka. Overall, I rate the solution an eight 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

"The user-friendly interface for constructing integration solutions is also a notable benefit."

"One of the benefits is the speed of creating something new. Second, it's replacing the old integration quite fast. Then it is like the visibility of the integration and the possibility to see what is happening in the integration."

"The product has valuable features for version control."

"The most preferable aspect would be the elimination of the command, which was a significant improvement. In the past, it was a challenge, but now we can proceed smoothly with the implementation of our policies and everything is managed through JCP. It's still among the positive aspects, and it's a valuable feature."

"Cloud Pak for Integration is definitely scalable. That is the most important criteria."

"Redirection is a key feature. It helps in managing multiple microservices by centralizing control and access."

"The most valuable aspect of the Cloud Pak, in general, is the flexibility that you have to use the product."

"It is a stable solution."

Cons

"Another enhancement includes the monitoring part. It would be nice to have some sort of maybe mobile app on which we can see how integrations are running if there are some problems, and getting those alerts on the mobile would be really nice."

"It is a new application and lacks some essential features compared to competitors."

"One of the primary areas for improvement is a more mobile-friendly interface for the control center."

"The pricing can be improved."

"Enterprise bots are needed to balance products like Kafka and Confluent."

"Setting up Cloud Pak for Integration is relatively complex. It's not as easy because it has not yet been fully integrated. You still have some products that are still not containerized, so you still have to run them on a dedicated VM."

"Its queuing and messaging features need improvement."

"The initial setup is not easy."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Recent changes in their pricing have removed this benefit, moving towards process-specific pricing."

"The pricing is quite fair."

"It is an expensive solution."

"The solution's pricing model is very flexible."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Financial Services Firm

15%

Government

13%

Insurance Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

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What needs improvement with IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

Enterprise bots are needed to balance products like Kafka and Confluent.

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What is your primary use case for IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

It manages APIs and integrates microservices at the enterprise level. It offers a range of capabilities for handling APIs, microservices, and various integration needs. The platform supports thousa...

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What advice do you have for others considering IBM Cloud Pak for Integration?

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Comparisons

Microsoft Azure API Management vs Frends

Compared 46% of the time

Boomi AtomSphere API Management vs Frends

Compared 29% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs Frends

Compared 25% of the time

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Compared 24% of the time

MuleSoft API Manager vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 11% of the time

webMethods.io vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 9% of the time

IBM API Connect vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 8% of the time

IBM InfoSphere DataStage vs IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

Compared 8% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

API Management

January 2026

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Buyer's Guide

API Management

January 2026

Download IBM Cloud Pak for Integration product report

Overview

Frends is a versatile integration platform tailored for streamlined business operations, facilitating seamless automation and connectivity across systems. It effectively addresses integration challenges, providing a reliable foundation for efficient data flow and process enhancement.

Built to cater to complex business environments, Frends offers a comprehensive suite of integration solutions. Users appreciate its capability to simplify integration processes, leveraging robust tools and functionalities that enhance connectivity and automation. This adaptability makes it a preferred choice for enterprises aiming to boost efficiency in data management and workflow automation. Users value its easy-to-use yet powerful features that help bridge various IT systems and improve operational performance. Frends provides meaningful insights into data interactions, fostering informed decision-making and enabling strategic business growth.

What are the key features of Frends?

Intuitive Workflow Designer: Simplifies the creation and management of complex workflows through a user-friendly interface.
API Management: Offers comprehensive tools for designing, deploying, and monitoring APIs efficiently.
Scalability: Ensures the ability to grow with business needs by efficiently handling increasing data volumes.
Security: Provides robust security features to protect data and ensure compliance with industry standards.

What should users look for in terms of benefits and ROI?

Improved Efficiency: Automates processes reducing manual intervention and increasing productivity.
Reduced Costs: Streamlines operations to save resources and reduce operational expenses.
Enhanced Flexibility: Adapts to changing business environments and requirements smoothly.
Increased Data Accuracy: Ensures seamless data flow, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of business information.

In specific industries, Frends is implemented to address distinct challenges in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and logistics. In healthcare, it automates patient data management, enabling efficient record handling. Finance sectors utilize Frends for secure data exchange and compliance, while logistics firms leverage it for optimizing supply chain operations and enhancing tracking capabilities.

Frends Enterprise iPaaS

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration gives you complete, flexible integration using capabilities you need to move at today's speed of business, including the tools to help you achieve your application modernization goals as part of your journey to the cloud.

IBM

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

CVS Health Corporation

Buyer's Guide

Frends vs. IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

December 2025

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