IBM Rational ClearCase vs Visual Studio Team System comparison

IBM and Microsoft are both solutions in the Software Configuration Management category. IBM is ranked #5 with an average rating of 6.0, while Microsoft is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.5. IBM holds a 7.6% mindshare in SCM, compared to Microsoft’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 66% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

IBM Rational ClearCase

Read 6 IBM Rational ClearCase reviews

317 Views
101 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

Visual Studio Team System

Read 14 Visual Studio Team System reviews

154 Views
42 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Rational ClearCase

Visual Studio Team System

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM Rational ClearCase and Visual Studio Team System based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Software Configuration Management solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Rational ClearCase vs. Visual Studio Team System Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Rational ClearCase vs. Visual Studio Team System

June 2025

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Helped 859,129 peers since 2012

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 Rational ClearCase

Ranking in Software Configuration Management

5th

Average Rating

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Version Control (9th)

Visual Studio Team System

Ranking in Software Configuration Management

4th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Software Configuration Management category, the mindshare of IBM Rational ClearCase is 7.6%, up from 6.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Visual Studio Team System is 2.1%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Software Configuration Management

Featured Reviews

Daniel Antonio Jimenez Quintana

IT Systems Architect at Banco Ripley

Difficult to use, not efficient, but stable

We are using IBM Rational ClearCase in Peru at two large banks for a code repository. However, it is not meant to be used as a repository I have found it very difficult to understand many functionalities in IBM Rational ClearCase. We have had many problems and it is not user-friendly. I have…

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Mustapha Sedki Ben Romdhane

Sourcing Purchasing Manager at Nexans autoelectric GmbH

A scalable and efficient solution that can be used to perform tasks involved in developing information systems

We can use the tool to perform limited tasks in developing information systems The product is efficient. It is an accepted tool globally. The product must improve its stability. It must do more innovations. It could be made more efficient to provide the best responses. It will help us with…

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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 tool had features similar to Git for version control. It offered branching and merging capabilities, providing better control over code management. Integration was possible with other tools, including some change management tools. The overall process was normal."

"IBM Rational ClearCase is a stable solution. I have not had any difficulty with reliability."

"ClearCase integrates well with other engineering tools and frameworks such as the Eclipse environment."

"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...Every month there is an increase in the number of users. It is a scalable solution."

"Microsoft makes great products. They are quite robust."

"The product helps with version control. I can build, develop, test and deploy applications from a single platform."

"The most valuable feature is the code management, where there is sharing of code for developers and it is distributed within the organization."

"The solution is scalable, stable and has allowed us to upgrade our frameworks."

"The solution’s fast performance is its most valuable feature."

"The solution has a good framework that is user friendly and scalable."

"The solution is very stable."

More Visual Studio Team System pros

Cons

"The protection needs to be improved."

"I have found it very difficult to understand many functionalities in IBM Rational ClearCase. We have had many problems and it is not user-friendly."

"The solution's UI is slow compared to other tools. It is an old tool."

"Accessibility switches available on the desktop should also be available on mobile devices for coding or developing on the go."

"The overall customer support needs to improve."

"The stability of the product could be better."

"When you go into the front-end, the web portal, if, for example, you pick up an issue, it would be ideal if the branch was automatically created in the repository. Right now, this isn't the case."

"The technical support could be better."

"The user experience for the task assignment functionality, and more generally the software lifecycle development, needs to be improved."

"I would say compared to some more modern tools which are made to work offline, with this solution you have to be connected all of the time and with a central server. In our case, it's not a big problem because we all work on-premises, but it can be an issue if you have teams in different locations."

"I would like to see the inclusion of more programming languages, especially better support for Java."

More Visual Studio Team System cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This is a very expensive product."

"IBM Rational ClearCase, like any other IBM tool, is expensive."

"It is an open-source product from Microsoft."

"You can choose pricing from a variety of options. I would rate the product's pricing a six out of ten."

"The price could be better."

"The tool's licensing costs are yearly."

"There is no fee for the solution's community version."

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859,129 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

24%

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Government

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Rational ClearCase?

The tool had features similar to Git for version control. It offered branching and merging capabilities, providing better control over code management. Integration was possible with other tools, in...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Rational ClearCase?

IBM Rational ClearCase, like any other IBM tool, is expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Rational ClearCase?

The solution's UI is slow compared to other tools. It is an old tool.

See all answers

What do you like most about Visual Studio Team System?

The product is efficient.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Visual Studio Team System?

The product must improve its stability. It must do more innovations. It could be made more efficient to provide the best responses. It will help us with internal and external processes.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Visual Studio Team System?

We can use the tool to perform limited tasks in developing information systems.

See all answers

Comparisons

Git vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 45% of the time

IBM Rational ClearQuest vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 24% of the time

Bitbucket vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 17% of the time

GitHub vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 7% of the time

Apache Subversion vs IBM Rational ClearCase

Compared 7% of the time

More IBM Rational ClearCase Competitors

No data available

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Software Configuration Management

May 2025

Download IBM Rational ClearCase product report

Buyer's Guide

Visual Studio Team System

May 2025

Download Visual Studio Team System product report

Also Known As

Rational ClearCase

No data available

Overview

IBM Rational ClearCase is an enterprise-grade configuration management system that provides controlled access to software assets, including requirements, design documents, models, test plans and test results. It be can be integrated with other IBM solutions, including IBM Rational Team Concert, IBM Rational ClearQuest, IBM Rational Asset Manager and IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software.

IBM

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System is a platform for productive, integrated, and extensible software development life-cycle tools that helps software teams by improving communication and collaboration throughout the software development process.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Atos SE, FEI, STM

Bluegarden A/S, Tracasa, Rabobank Group, Borusan Otomotiv, Arelik, Alfa Bank

Buyer's Guide

IBM Rational ClearCase vs. Visual Studio Team System

June 2025

Free Report: IBM Rational ClearCase vs. Visual Studio Team System

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Rational ClearCase vs. Visual Studio Team System and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

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859,129 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our IBM Rational ClearCase vs. Visual Studio Team System report.

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