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IBM MobileFirst vs Microsoft Azure App Service comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

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 MobileFirst
Ranking in Mobile Development Platforms
13th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
Mobile App Platforms (8th)
Microsoft Azure App Service
Ranking in Mobile Development Platforms
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
46
Ranking in other categories
Rapid Application Development Software (7th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Mobile Development Platforms category, the mindshare of IBM MobileFirst is 2.0%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Azure App Service is 4.3%, up from 3.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Mobile Development Platforms
 

Featured Reviews

MT
Streamlines development of hybrid applications, and has ability to integrate device-native code
It was a cakewalk for us to develop mobile apps for three different platforms using IBM MobileFirst. Since it was a consumer application built for large-scale events, it was very crucial for us to manage application compatibility with all sort of devices. With MobielFirst, we could actually achieve this with very little trouble. With help of this product, we have been able to develop mobile applications without having complete knowledge of each mobile OS's native programming. App development, delivery, and code management have been very efficient using this product.
Ajit Chandra - PeerSpot reviewer
Streamlined development and robust SDK integration with auto and vertical scaling
The main area that requires improvement is the function apps and logic apps, specifically from a VNet integration standpoint. When running in private network configurations, Logic Apps do not fulfill most of the requirements. Deploying Logic Apps in a private network environment becomes complicated due to the extensive white testing and configurations needed at the networking layer.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"With help of this product, we have been able to develop mobile applications without having complete knowledge of each mobile OS's native programming technology. App development, delivery, and code management have been very efficient using this product."
"I like Its capability for developing hybrid applications, with an ability to integrate device-native code as well"
"IBM MobileFirst has one of the most feature-rich admin panels."
"The most valuable features in the context of development and deployment are the integration with SDKs and the infrastructure standpoint."
"Azure App Service has several features that are valuable, including its scalability and seamless integration with other systems, which support flexibility."
"The solution overall is very good."
"The Logic Apps and Azure functions are very robust."
"Scalability is straightforward, and you can quickly adjust the resources to meet demand."
"We are able to do millions of things simultaneously."
"I'm a decision-maker, not a technician. From my perspective, the most significant advantage is that Azure is a one-stop shop. Everything we needed was included in the Microsoft Agreement. During COVID, it was the most convenient and most straightforward decision."
"It's very easy to use. That's one of the advantages for the business, that you don't need to struggle to configure your website and your app service. Microsoft made sure to make it stable and very easy to configure."
 

Cons

"I would like to see improved support for native device functions."
"There are issues with push notifications, especially for Windows mobile apps. JSONStore also crashes abruptly at times."
"The outbound connectivity is not great."
"There is always room for improvement price-wise."
"Customers love it when a solution is affordable, but with Microsoft Azure App Service, you can start and stop it, and when you stop it, it won't be reachable and it won't be available, yet you're still being charged for it. You'll still be charged even if the solution isn't accessible because Microsoft Azure App Service runs on a shared virtual machine that keeps on running, so if there's a way to work this out, it'll be a great improvement to only pay for what you use. The solution should have no hidden cost and no extra charge when it's stopped. This is what needs improvement in Microsoft Azure App Service."
"The main area that requires improvement is the function apps and logic apps, specifically from a VNet integration standpoint."
"Having a surplus of tutorials from Microsoft, rather than relying solely on documentation or features from other sources like YouTube, can be beneficial."
"The main area that requires improvement is the function apps and logic apps, specifically from a VNet integration standpoint."
"I would like to see some improvement in the UI/UX design, to make navigation of this solution more user friendly. For example, it could contain more explicit information on each of the features."
"Microsoft Azure App Service could be improved in various application functions, as we have a need for improvement after monitoring and diagnosing each application."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cost depends upon various factors. Size of the overall application and product usage matter a lot. For an enterprise-grade application, this certainly comes out as an economical solution. However, for small-scale applications, it can turn out to be on the higher side."
"The pricing and cost of this solution depends on the use and needs of a business."
"Less than USD $100 per month."
"I would rate the product's pricing a five out of ten and is subscription based."
"We have no complaints about the pricing."
"The product is not expensive. The tool's price is okay for all of the benefits you get from the solution."
"As you move up the license tiers it becomes expensive."
"The cost of the solution is based on usage. It is less expensive than other solutions."
"The cost depends on the App Service plan that you choose. There are a number of tiers available."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

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Would you choose Microsoft Azure App Service or PowerApps?
Microsoft Azure App Service is helpful if you need to set up temporary servers for customers to run their programs in locations that other cloud providers do not cater to. When servers are closer t...
Do you recommend Microsoft Azure App Service?
I highly recommend Microsoft Azure. We have been using it for nearly four years. We mostly use it for creating and maintaining websites, such as content management systems like WordPress sites, whi...
What do you like most about Microsoft Azure App Service?
One valuable feature of Azure App Service for us is its integration with Azure DevOps, which we heavily rely on in our development process.
 

Also Known As

MobileFirst, Worklight
Azure App Service, MS Azure App Service
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions, Gruppo Unipol, Raymond James Financial, Toshiba GCS, CST, ABK-Systeme GmbH, BNP Paribas
Real Madrid, Absolut, AccuWeather, Heineken, NBC News, Paramount
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM MobileFirst vs. Microsoft Azure App Service and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.