IBM InfoSphere Optim vs IDERA ER/Studio comparison

IBM and IDERA are both solutions in the Database Development and Management category. IBM is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.0, while IDERA is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.6. IBM holds a 2.6% mindshare in DDM, compared to IDERA’s 3.1% mindshare. Additionally, 75% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of IDERA users who would recommend it.

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Read 4 IBM InfoSphere Optim reviews

635 Views
533 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

IDERA ER/Studio

Read 38 IDERA ER/Studio reviews

1,615 Views
388 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

IBM InfoSphere Optim

IDERA ER/Studio

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 23, 2025

IDERA ER/Studio and IBM InfoSphere Optim are competing products in data management and modeling. IBM's feature-rich suite may justify its higher cost due to its focus on data governance.

Features: IDERA ER/Studio offers strong data modeling with robust diagramming and design, seamless integration with various data sources, and high collaboration through model sharing. IBM InfoSphere Optim provides strong data lifecycle management, effective archiving, and supports data privacy and compliance, focusing on data governance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IDERA ER/Studio is straightforward to deploy with intuitive tools for rapid implementation and accessible customer service. IBM InfoSphere Optim, with its extensive capabilities and enterprise focus, requires a more complex deployment and a steeper learning curve, but offers resourceful customer support.

Pricing and ROI: IDERA ER/Studio generally provides a cost-effective setup suitable for businesses seeking quick ROI with scalable pricing. IBM InfoSphere Optim involves higher initial costs but offers long-term ROI through enhanced data governance and risk management.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. IDERA ER/Studio Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. IDERA ER/Studio

July 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

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Ranking in Database Development and Management

16th

Average Rating

6.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IDERA ER/Studio

Ranking in Database Development and Management

8th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Architecture Management (7th)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Database Development and Management category, the mindshare of IBM InfoSphere Optim is 2.6%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IDERA ER/Studio is 3.1%, up from 2.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Database Development and Management

Featured Reviews

Kenneth Estanislao

Solutions Designer at a insurance company with 10,001+ employees

Backups become efficient while cost concerns remain

I am still working with IBM and we are transitioning to other tools rather than using IBM InfoSphere Optim. We use other tools, but I cannot recall the name because I am not the one currently handling it. It has transitioned to other architects. For IBM InfoSphere Optim, we are still currently using it, but we have transitioned to the newer version, the latest one with support for AWS S3. I cannot identify a main competitor for IBM InfoSphere Optim because we have transitioned to other architects, and they are the ones looking for other tools. The last comparison I did was almost 4 years ago. I am not using any AI technology with IBM InfoSphere Optim. I rate IBM InfoSphere Optim a seven out of ten. The tool is good, but the price is not favorable as it is the most expensive part. I can recommend IBM InfoSphere Optim for enterprises.

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Aaron Cutshall

Enterprise Data Architect & Senior Manager at Health First Inc.

Used for data modeling and has a scripting language to write your own scripts

The solution has streamlined our data modeling processes quite a bit. It's a central focus in our data modeling and data cataloging efforts. The tool's reverse engineering capability to bring in existing database structures and create models from them has benefitted our data architecture needs. With the tool's data dictionary capability, we're able to maintain consistency in our models, name use, and actual data domains. The solution's reverse engineering helps with understanding legacy databases. In fact, I've been asked to reverse-engineer several more legacy databases so that we can have them modeled and cataloged. The solution is deployed on the cloud server, but it’s only within our network. The solution has a lot of capabilities. I like the fact that it has a scripting language that allows you to automate and write your own scripts. I think that's been a big bonus for us. I highly recommend the solution because of its capability for logical models, where you can put your business definitions and logic. While less expensive, some other tools can't do that. 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

"I feel the solution to be a bit faster than the traditional methods, which makes it easy to customize."

"The compression feature is valuable because it achieves around 80% compression."

"We like that we can easily restore the database with just a few clicks. The database is linked as well."

"ER/Studio is excellent for large teams; it scales well to teams of over one hundred plus people."

"The reverse engineering is the most important feature."

"It's much easier to develop the database structure and change it on the fly, rather than doing it manually in SQL Server itself. That saves time."

"Straightforward setup."

"The most valuable features are... those that enable me to represent the database to the development community and the business users."

"Modeling with Data Architect: We can quickly reverse-engineer a database from an existing database or create a model from scratch."

"The most important features are logical and physical models that we can compare and develop. Also, the Data Dictionary can be created out of your studio. Finally, database schemas help understand the logic that's behind the scene, behind the SQL tables. Especially when there are a lot of them, the schemas help everyone understand the business processes."

"When validating the model, the ability to provide sub-models to developers, and generate a physical model from the logical, makes it easier to review a logical model with stakeholders."

More IDERA ER/Studio pros

Cons

"We're looking for a solution that can be implemented on AWS. IBM InfoSphere Optim can be implemented on AWS, but it costs more than double what we're currently paying. So, it's not really of good value for us."

"While the solution is very supportive of Db2, it is not so friendly when it comes to IMS databases."

"The potential room for improvement for IBM InfoSphere Optim is usually its cost, as it is too expensive."

"It isn't easy to compare the thousands of tables in the model against the database. The tool should improve the synchronization within the large organization"

"It would be helpful if they could create a generic JSON database type, as a target database, rather than a specific one like Mongo."

"ER/Studio lacks a pure cloud option for deployment."

"The screens are a bit outdated. They could use a new look and feel."

"The solution's reporting could be improved because the report writer is terrible."

"The solution is not so strong at creating modeling views and database views."

"One limitation I have found in ER/Studio is that when you want to make some changes to the table definitions, you have to go item by item. You cannot do it globally. Another issue concerns defining the foreign keys between the different tables. It is a little more tedious in the ER/Studio than in ERrwin. With ERwin it is direct."

"Whenever there is a new version, there are a lot of release notes on the technical side of it, but I would like to be told why are we doing the upgrade... What I would like to really see is how this benefits us from the business point of view. What are the real benefits that the user gets? I want some kind of way white paper. The release notes describe the technical enhancements but, from the layman's point of view, if someone asks me what are the business benefits of this upgrade, I don't have any documentation to explain it to the business."

More IDERA ER/Studio cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"IBM InfoSphere Optim is a very expensive solution. Actually, it's the most expensive archiving solution that we have."

"Pricing is expensive and on the higher-end."

"As an individual user, the renewal is a little costly."

"It is priced fairly. It's around the same as erwin and other competitors' costs."

"I'm a firm believer that all software is overpriced these days but, comparatively speaking, I think ER/Studio is worth the money."

"The setup cost may have been around $1500 to $2000."

"The solution’s pricing is high."

"The product is pricey."

"I use the product's trial version."

More IDERA ER/Studio pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

27%

Insurance Company

Computer Software Company

Retailer

Financial Services Firm

18%

Energy/Utilities Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with IBM InfoSphere Optim?

The potential room for improvement for IBM InfoSphere Optim is usually its cost, as it is too expensive. Currently, there are no issues with IBM InfoSphere Optim; the only problem is the cost, whic...

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What is your primary use case for IBM InfoSphere Optim?

My current use case for IBM InfoSphere Optim is just for doing backups. We are using IBM InfoSphere Optim specifically for backup purposes.

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What advice do you have for others considering IBM InfoSphere Optim?

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IDERA ER Studio?

In terms of pricing, ER/Studio is slightly more expensive compared to Erwin, by about five to ten percent.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IDERA ER Studio?

I have been working with data modeling tools. Personally, I have been working with Erwin for many years now. ER/Studio is something I am currently trying to evaluate for acquiring it for our organi...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering IDERA ER Studio?

I would strongly recommend ER/Studio for large teams. Erwin is a very stable product, but for smaller teams, it's okay. If I had to rate ER/Studio, I would give it nine out of ten because the absen...

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Comparisons

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Compared 50% of the time

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Compared 25% of the time

Oracle Enterprise Manager vs IBM InfoSphere Optim

Compared 25% of the time

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erwin Data Modeler by Quest vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 54% of the time

SAP PowerDesigner vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 10% of the time

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 8% of the time

Toad Data Modeler vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 7% of the time

Oracle Coherence vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 6% of the time

More IDERA ER/Studio Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Database Development and Management

June 2025

Download IBM InfoSphere Optim product report

Buyer's Guide

IDERA ER/Studio

July 2025

Download IDERA ER/Studio product report

Also Known As

IBM Optim, Optim

IDERA ER Studio, ER/Studio, ER/Studio Enterprise Team Edition

Overview

IBM Optim solutions manage data from requirements to retirement. They boost performance, empower collaboration, and improve governance across applications, databases and platforms. By managing data properly over its lifetime, organisations are better equipped to support business goals with less risk.

IBM

IDERA ER/Studio is a powerful suite for business-driven data modeling that enables companies to create an enterprise architecture foundation for data governance. With round-trip support for multiple database platforms, data architects have the power to reverse-engineer, analyze, and optimize existing databases easily from diverse platforms. Data professionals can easily capture and share models, metadata, data sources, and glossaries across the organization for improved alignment between the organization and Information Technology. Organizational stakeholders can take part in the metadata definition workflow and access information on models and metadata at the right level for their needs.

Unlike its competition, it provides the broadest range of data platform support, industry-leading enterprise-level capabilities, visual data lineage and flow modeling, full dimensional modeling for data warehousing and business intelligence, and business data objects to bridge the gap between developers and data architects. It also provides a complete solution for enterprise architecture and data governance, extensive model change management, unique incorporation of true enterprise data dictionaries, unique linking of constructs across models, integrated visual data lineage import, and integrated data and business process modeling.

IDERA

Sample Customers

Durham Police Department, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., Continental, KCE Electronics Public Company Limited, The University of Adelaide, Migros Zurich, COPROB

Newmont Mining, Entrust, Accolade, TalkTalk, Catalina, Protective Life, NTT Data, dir systèmes, Microsoft; American Express, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Coriant, Fedex, GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Prudential, Wells Fargo

Buyer's Guide

IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. IDERA ER/Studio

July 2025

Free Report: IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. IDERA ER/Studio

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. IDERA ER/Studio and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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