IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) vs Tricentis LiveCompare comparison

IBM and Tricentis are both solutions in the Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites category. IBM is ranked #13 with an average rating of 6.5, while Tricentis is ranked #29. IBM holds a 3.9% mindshare in ALM, compared to Tricentis’s 0.9% mindshare. Additionally, 77% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Tricentis users who would recommend it.

IBM Engineering Lifecycle M...

Read 20 IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) reviews

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1,608 Comparison Views

77% willing to recommend

Tricentis LiveCompare

Read 1 Tricentis LiveCompare review

455 Views
250 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Engineering Lifecycle M...

Tricentis LiveCompare

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 9, 2025

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management and Tricentis LiveCompare are key players in the software development lifecycle space. ELM tends to have an edge in pricing and support, while LiveCompare is favored for its SAP-centric capabilities, especially by users focused on SAP testing requirements.

Features: IBM ELM supports comprehensive lifecycle management with traceability and collaboration across engineering projects to streamline processes and integrate workflows. Tricentis LiveCompare focuses on enhancing SAP testing efficiency with real-time risk analysis and impact assessment, offering significant value in changing SAP environments. The distinct focus of ELM includes a broader lifecycle management scope, while LiveCompare targets SAP functionalities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM ELM provides a customizable platform often considered complex yet suitable for large-scale implementations, supported by extensive customer service. Tricentis LiveCompare delivers a simpler deployment approach with specific SAP integration and targeted support suited for SAP-related queries, appealing to businesses needing a specialized SAP testing tool.

Pricing and ROI: IBM ELM may entail higher initial costs due to its vast features and customization potential, providing significant ROI for companies seeking full lifecycle management. Tricentis LiveCompare potentially offers lower upfront costs and delivers substantial ROI by optimizing SAP testing processes and mitigating project risks, making it ideal for SAP environments. The choice between these solutions often hinges on a preference for complete management suites or specific testing functionalities.

To learn more, read our detailed Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites

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

IBM Engineering Lifecycle M...

Ranking in Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites

13th

Average Rating

7.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Tricentis LiveCompare

Ranking in Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites

29th

Average Rating

0.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

SAP Service Providers (9th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites category, the mindshare of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is 3.9%, up from 2.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Tricentis LiveCompare is 0.9%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM)	3.9%
Tricentis LiveCompare	0.9%
Other	95.2%

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites

Featured Reviews

Juergen Albrecht

Managing Director at CCC Systems Engineering Suisse GmbH

Combining tools for effective data analysis while customization and integration need improvement

The most valuable feature is how IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) allows me to present to the customer what the actual software, even hardware, will do. It helps them gain an impression of the complexity of the functionality and find an easier way to decide whether to implement it. A picture says more than one thousand words, which is why I work with the combination of ELM and the specification of DOORS. The automation capabilities I built use column-based scripts for analysis to search, fetch, and transfer information. When I open modules, it automatically analyzes the changes since the last opening by me.

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it_user713811

Product Manager at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Accurately identifies what will be affected in production after a change or upgrade

The LiveCompare apps that my customers and I have benefitted from the most are analyses and reports on the following: * Upgrades – LiveCompare's Impact Analysis functionality accurately identifies what will be affected in production as the result of a change or an upgrade. It can also pinpoint accurately the scope of testing needed in anticipation of an upgrade. * Migration to SAP Hana – LiveCompare's unique reporting and advanced analytics streamline the entire migration process to SAP Hana, while minimizing costs, risk, and time. * SAP License management optimization. * Custom code analytics – Includes usage monitoring, quality and performance monitoring, Java analysis, and ABAP code quality. * Testing - LiveCompare optimizes the entire testing phase in upgrade projects.

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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 tools for requirement capture we have found very useful."

"The transition to a SaaS-based solution is a distinct advantage."

"The word emulation and importing is good."

"For companies in heavily regulated industries who are doing product development, IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is a good tool as it helps them create documentation that satisfies auditors."

"The most valuable feature is the reporting of the CPU usage on the dashboard."

"It's easy to use."

"The cataloging is a very valuable feature. For a lot of enterprises, they end up not knowing which applications do specific features. The cataloging helps with this. It's not that verbose, but it still gives you allowances to put in more detail."

"It helped us contain critical things, like source code and several documents, which is very important to us."

More IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) pros

"LiveCompare's unique reporting and advanced analytics streamline the entire migration process to SAP Hana, while minimizing costs, risk, and time."

"LiveCompare's Impact Analysis functionality identifies accurately what will be affected in production as the result of a change or an upgrade. It can also pinpoint accurately the scope of testing needed in anticipation of an upgrade."

Cons

"The product must be more user-friendly."

"The directory designer manager is uncivil. The design manager is clearly really unstable."

"The reporting functionality needs to be improved."

"Of course it would be related to customer experience. The solution is not user friendly at all. It needs an expert to use it, although the reporting feature was okay."

"In the next release, we expect a traceability metrics configuration where we can configure the user stories. We also expect them to improve or simplify the query process."

"The user interface requires significant improvement as it is overly complex."

"The stability of IBM Rational ALM could be improved."

"The GUI is a little bit outdated."

More IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) cons

"From my experience with the product, I would suggest adding a feature that would allow a customer who is reviewing the LiveCompare results to be able to connect remotely with one of IntelliCorp's experts (aside from their support) in order to assist the customer to better understand the results."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This product is a little expensive and we had to pay extra to have them set it up for us."

"The price of the solution could be reduced. Many of our customers are not using all the features and this could be why our clients feel the price is too high."

"The solution is not cheap."

"IBM Rational ALM has both monthly and yearly licensing options."

"We have a contract, but I am not aware of the details."

"IntelliCorp is flexible in terms of licensing and the pricing structure. They are open to discussing a customer's specific requirements."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

22%

Government

11%

Computer Software Company

11%

University

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	12

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Rational ALM?

The solution is customizable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Rational ALM?

I think usability should be improved in IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) as the top priority. If you look at the UI, it was literally designed ten years ago, and even at the time it was i...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Rational ALM?

For companies in heavily regulated industries who are doing product development, IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is a good tool. It helps them create documentation that satisfies auditors.

See all answers

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Comparisons

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Compared 19% of the time

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Compared 16% of the time

Microsoft Azure DevOps vs IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM)

Compared 11% of the time

Polarion ALM vs IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM)

Compared 9% of the time

Jama Connect vs IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM)

Compared 8% of the time

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Deloitte SAP Services vs Tricentis LiveCompare

Compared 47% of the time

SmartShift vs Tricentis LiveCompare

Compared 31% of the time

OpenText Application Quality Management vs Tricentis LiveCompare

Compared 22% of the time

More Tricentis LiveCompare Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM)

January 2026

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) report

Download IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) product report

Buyer's Guide

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites

December 2025

Download Tricentis LiveCompare product report

Also Known As

IBM Engineering Rhapsody, Rational ALM, MKS

No data available

Overview

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) offers an integrated platform with customizable workflows, Scrum planning tools, and resource management features, enhancing project execution and collaboration.

ELM supports Agile and Scrum project management through its integration with tools like Git and IBM Doors, providing cataloging, traceability, and reporting capabilities. While users benefit from requirement management and dashboard functionalities, the interface and reporting could be improved for better navigation and customization. Its cloud-based architecture facilitates compliance and auditing, making it a valuable tool for engineering teams focusing on configuration and version control.

What are the essential features of IBM ELM?

Customizable Workflows: Tailor project processes to specific needs for adaptability.
Scrum-Based Planning: Facilitate Agile project management with Scrum tools.
Resource Management: Efficiently allocate and track resource usage.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrate with Git and IBM Doors for enhanced traceability.
Global Configuration: Manage configurations across locations for consistency.

What benefits should users consider?

Compliance Support: Provides tools essential for meeting industry regulations.
Collaboration: Streamlines team communication for smooth project execution.
Stakeholder Alignment: Enhances visibility and alignment with personalized dashboards.
Traceability: Ensures complete tracking of requirements and changes for accountability.

ELM is widely used in the automotive and manufacturing sectors for managing requirements and monitoring performance. Engineering teams leverage ELM for Agile methodologies, with central teams deploying it for end-to-end development processes including requirement gathering and backlog management. Stability and improved integration support remain critical implementation areas, along with enhanced governance features for comprehensive application.

IBM

Tricentis LiveCompare is a comprehensive tool that facilitates automated impact analysis and risk assessment for SAP updates, ensuring seamless integration and minimal disruption.

Designed for SAP environments, Tricentis LiveCompare provides targeted insights for risk-based testing, allowing users to identify critical areas impacted by changes. It enhances efficiency by streamlining test efforts, ensuring updates are implemented without unforeseen issues.

What are the key features of Tricentis LiveCompare?

Impact Analysis: Identifies areas affected by changes in SAP systems.
Automated Testing: Streamlines testing processes, reducing manual effort.
Risk Assessment: Prioritizes test cases based on risk, enhancing focus.

What benefits and ROI can be anticipated?

Reduced Downtime: Minimizes business disruption during updates.
Cost Efficiency: Lowers testing costs with optimized test strategies.
Improved Agility: Enables faster adaptation to SAP updates.

Tricentis LiveCompare is implemented in industries like finance and manufacturing, where SAP systems are integral. It aids in efficiently managing system upgrades and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Tricentis

Sample Customers

Tennis Australia, WeCloud AB, Port Otago Limited, Logicalis US, Valmer, The Chevrolet Volt, Ashurst

Coca-Cola, eBay, BP, British American Tobacco, Surrey Country Council, AES, P66, MUD, Bentley Motors, Coats, Hershey, Kimberly Clark

Buyer's Guide

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites

December 2025

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