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IBM OpenPages vs MetricStream vs RSA Archer comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

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

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2026, in the GRC category, the mindshare of IBM OpenPages is 2.8%, down from 5.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MetricStream is 3.1%, down from 4.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of RSA Archer is 5.6%, down from 16.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
GRC Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
RSA Archer5.6%
IBM OpenPages2.8%
MetricStream3.1%
Other88.5%
GRC
 

Featured Reviews

Gabriele  Meneguzzi - PeerSpot reviewer
GRC Practice Leader at Stratos Analytics
Have improved operational control and simplified internal workflows through a clear user interface
The most useful features in IBM OpenPages are the workflow features and front-end. The workflow feature in IBM OpenPages is very flexible, easy to configure, and can help design every kind of process, while the front-end is very useful, clear, simple, and dynamic. The benefit of a centralized platform in risk management, such as IBM OpenPages, is that it allows sharing information and guarantees a central framework of risk and control. The dashboards in IBM OpenPages help with monitoring processes for different users and profiles, and we use the dashboard extensively to show the state of different processes to control them. IBM OpenPages integrates effectively with other tools and existing infrastructure for my customers as we integrate other tools, using APIs to match different information, though some other tools may better support integration. IBM offers Connect, an add-on for integration, but we do not use it, relying solely on API. The reporting tools in IBM OpenPages have very strong potential because they are linked with Cognos IBM, a business intelligence tool, allowing for very good and complex reports, though creating these reports requires skills in business intelligence to get the most out of IBM OpenPages.
JQ
Owner at a consultancy with 1-10 employees
Centralized risk libraries have streamlined audits and now highlight clunky workflows and upgrades
MetricStream can be improved in several areas. Sometimes the overall flow of the application can seem a bit clunky, based on feedback from clients. From my understanding and what I have heard from developers within MetricStream during my deeper use of the application, the application seems to have been developed within silos, and the interaction of certain applications internally could definitely be improved in terms of the overall coding that exists between applications within the solution. The only improvement I suggest for MetricStream is to gather a collaborative think tank from several of the largest clients and compile feedback to prioritize suggested enhancements from multiple organizations.
CJ
Information Security Specialist at Dubai Health Authority
Centralized management strengthens compliance with good look and feel
From my perspective as a customer and end user, Archer has an impressive look and feel, but the most adaptive feature is its ease of configuration which helps to enhance our process according to our maturity. It's more about our organization getting centralized with an integrated approach that focuses on risk governance and compliance. When can provide a detailed dashboards to management with the details of risks from top-down or bottom-up prioritizing actions based on its criticality or necessity. This allows us to show end users and management where the issues lie and effectively demonstrate accountability and visibility in compliance.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable features are the workflow engine, calculations, and security rules."
"IBM OpenPages saves time in my work as a developer."
"Everything about IBM OpenPages is valuable, particularly when compared to other solutions in the market like MetricStream, from which we switched due to its feasibility, user-friendliness, and performance."
"Good in ORM and compliance, analytics, custom reporting, features for our board including risk management, and good support for Basel regulations."
"The ability to keep a record of internal incidents in the company, and also the monitoring of Key Indicators."
"IBM OpenPages provides time savings in recording risk management components."
"With OpenPages, the risks and controls are registered and monitored continuously."
"The most useful features in IBM OpenPages are the workflow features and front-end, as noted by Ian Francis, an IBM expert lab, with the workflow feature being very flexible, easy to configure, and able to help design every kind of process, while the front-end is very useful, clear, simple, and dynamic."
"It has good features and good functionality, and our customers feel there is a lot of merit in that."
"Since implementing MetricStream, audit teams have shaved about two weeks off of annual planning across various teams, allowing audit departments of about 140 auditors across maybe 10 teams to squeeze in 10 extra audits, one audit per each team, if not additional testing."
"Key features are usability and ease of configuration, and it allows us to have all the information in a single place and provide real-time indicators and information for our executives."
"The interface is mobile-friendly and it is getting a good response from our customers."
"Key features are usability and ease of configuration. It allows us to have all the information in a single place and provide real-time indicators and information for our executives."
"Flexible record permissions and data import features."
"It is easy to implement, it is easy to change the workflow, and it is easy to customize the processes."
"Community content in the Archer Exchange is very valuable."
"Solution is scalable."
"Integration is another great aspect of RSA Archer. From the beginning, integration has been a central focus for RSA, and Archer has always integrated well with most tools on the market today."
"RSA Archer's best features are advanced workflow, reports, dashboards, and notifications."
"From my perspective, because I've always done it as a consultant, I do like the way it is configured. They've gone into changing the application builder interface, so it is even easier. When you're working with users, it is really easy to show them how to do things quickly and how to configure, change, and design stuff quickly."
"Enables development of any application, automation of any workflow including the GRC work processes."
 

Cons

"The reporting tools in IBM OpenPages have very strong potential because they are linked with Cognos IBM, a business intelligence tool, allowing for very good and complex reports, though creating these reports requires skills in business intelligence to get the most out of IBM OpenPages."
"IBM OpenPages could improve by adding more conditions to workflows, as some existing conditions might not work and can produce errors."
"Pricing! It's very expensive just for the licenses."
"It would be useful to have more out-of-the-box functionality, especially triggers and calculations."
"Some self-relationships are not available in OpenPages' relationship model."
"IBM OpenPages needs improvement in its UI. Currently, it is difficult to see the relationships (associations/parents) between all items unless you click on the item itself."
"I believe there's room for improvement in establishing connections with external information."
"IBM OpenPages needs improvement in its UI. Currently, it is difficult to see the relationships (associations/parents) between all items unless you click on the item itself."
"MetricStream's scalability is adaptable, though the biggest issue I have encountered with clients has been around upgrades that require re-implementing customizations to the out-of-box solutions after significant upgrades."
"We would like to have more dashboards and reports, such as geographical and trend reports in the next version. Also, an improvement in the mobile version would be helpful."
"I would like to see out-of-the-box integration with more security, it would be helpful."
"I would like to see out-of-the-box integration with more security, it would be helpful."
"We would like to have more dashboards and reports, such as geographical and trend reports in the next version."
"The main improvement I would like to see in the on-premises version is the amount of data the product can hold."
"While the AI features are emerging and the cost is comparatively low, it's not yet up to the market standard."
"The solution’s customization features could be better. Its performance and scalability need improvement as well."
"Other tools, specifically designed for audit management have a better GUI than Archer."
"While the AI features are emerging, it's not yet up to the market standard."
"If I were to rate RSA technical support on a scale from one to ten, I would give it about four, as there is definitely room for improvement, but support is available."
"The user interface needs work. There are many small text boxes, like credit card size's boxes, where we need to input a lot of text. You can't see what you're typing beyond the tiny window, so you have to scroll or type elsewhere and copy-paste it. It's very inconvenient."
"There are certain restrictions on API integrations, and it is not simple or straightforward."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"They are flexible in terms of customers' needs."
"Fairly highly-priced, especially for smaller companies."
"The price of RSA Archer is good. The price isn't too high considering it is a leading tool in the market."
"The pricing is okay. The licensing costs are very reasonable; it is very affordable to us."
"As I am a developer and responsible for providing production support, I do not have personal knowledge of the pricing. However, my colleagues claim that it is very expensive in comparison with other tools."
"The solution’s pricing is moderate."
"The initial purchase is cheap. You pay a nominal price to start then renew the license annually. You also must buy a license for each module. I'm not too fond of that aspect of the licensing model. You buy the elephant and then spend more money to feed the elephant."
"The solution's price should be reduced. You only have to pay the license and there are no additional fees."
"It is not expensive. It is reasonable. We only pay for the licensing."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
22%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Construction Company
7%
Outsourcing Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
21%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Computer Software Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
19%
Insurance Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise1
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise25
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with IBM OpenPages?
There is nothing in particular that needs improvement in IBM OpenPages, although reporting could be improved to make ...
What is your primary use case for IBM OpenPages?
My customers' main use cases for IBM OpenPages include ICT risk, operational risk management, and regulatory and comp...
What advice do you have for others considering IBM OpenPages?
For those planning to use IBM OpenPages, I recommend defining exactly what you want and understanding how IBM OpenPag...
What are the main differences between RSA Archer, MetricStream and IBM OpenPages?
RSA Archer, IBM OpenPages and MetricStream are the top GRC software solutions in the market today. Out of the 3, IBM ...
What needs improvement with RSA Archer?
While it provides benefits in terms of security, the pricing is a bit higher than customers typically expect. It woul...
What is your primary use case for RSA Archer?
Regarding the compliance, risk, and governance tools, I am comfortable discussing the tools in the GRC category. The ...
What advice do you have for others considering RSA Archer?
I have been in touch with about three companies who use RSA Archer actively in the compliance area. These companies u...
 

Also Known As

OpenPages
No data available
Archer
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Nationwide, Process Innovation AG, OSRAM Licht AG, Dep‹sito Central de Valores (DCV), Delta Lloyd Group, Unum
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, ACCO Brands Corporation, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, AIB International, Associated Banc-Corp, BAE Systems, Barclaycard, Dell Inc, DIRECTV, Energizer, Fresenius Kabi, Hasbro, Goodyear, HudsonCity Savings Bank, Infigen Energy, Kaydon, Leroy Merlin, Mountry Financial Corp., Nicholas Piramal, Pepco, Pfizer, Societe Generale, Whitney Bank
T-Systems, Bridge Point, Equifax, First Data, Global Imaging Company, Manulife Financial
Find out what your peers are saying about RSA, OneTrust, Diligent and others in GRC. Updated: March 2026.
885,667 professionals have used our research since 2012.