IBM Rational Test Workbench vs SoapUI comparison

IBM and SmartBear are both solutions in the API Testing Tools category. IBM is ranked #15, while SmartBear is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.3. IBM holds a 0.6% mindshare in APIT, compared to SmartBear’s 0.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SmartBear users who would recommend it.

IBM Rational Test Workbench

Read 4 IBM Rational Test Workbench reviews

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88 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SoapUI

Read 3 SoapUI reviews

50 Views
16 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Rational Test Workbench

SoapUI

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

IBM Rational Test Workbench and SoapUI compete in the testing tools market, offering distinct advantages that attract different user preferences. IBM Rational Test Workbench tends to have the upper hand in large-scale enterprise environments due to its comprehensive testing capabilities, while SoapUI is more favored for API testing because of its ease of use and open-source advantages.

Features: IBM Rational Test Workbench is known for its extensive integration capabilities and comprehensive test management features. Users value its robust performance test components and automated functional testing. SoapUI excels with its ease of use, particularly for API testing, and supports a wide range of protocols. Its open-source version and plugin extensibility are also highly valued.

Room for Improvement: Users of IBM Rational Test Workbench suggest improvements in performance and reduction in complexity, requesting simplified interfaces for smoother usage. SoapUI users report occasional stability issues and desire more advanced reporting features. SoapUI’s performance stability needs more attention compared to the complexity reduction advocated for IBM Rational Test Workbench.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Rational Test Workbench generally receives favorable feedback regarding its professional deployment support and customer service, though the setup can be time-consuming and intricate. SoapUI offers a quicker deployment experience, especially for teams focusing on API testing, but users often encounter limitations with support unless opting for the Pro version.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Rational Test Workbench features higher setup costs, yet users acknowledge a significant return on investment due to its comprehensive capabilities fit for large-scale projects. SoapUI, with its lower initial costs and open-source availability, provides a cost-effective solution for smaller teams or projects with faster ROI realization due to easier implementation for API testing.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Rational Test Workbench vs. SoapUI Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Rational Test Workbench vs. SoapUI

April 2025

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Helped 850,028 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 Test Workbench

Ranking in API Testing Tools

15th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Performance Testing Tools (19th), Test Automation Tools (36th)

SoapUI

Ranking in API Testing Tools

12th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the API Testing Tools category, the mindshare of IBM Rational Test Workbench is 0.6%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SoapUI is 0.2%. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Testing Tools

Featured Reviews

reviewer1513668

IT Specialist, ITE at a government with 10,001+ employees

Good reporting and interface, but supports limited types of protocols and requires low-level script editing

It should have more interfaces. In terms of interfaces or protocols, what you can do with Rational is far limited as compared to other products out there. What it does, it does great, but it only gives you limited types of protocols. It supports between 8 to 15 types of protocols, whereas other test tools give you 20 to 30 types of protocols with which you can do testing and convert to script. It records Javascript-based scripts, and you got to know a little bit of Java to basically be able to edit them, but the level of editing you got to do is very low. I like that, but the ability to edit the script is not as good as Parasoft or LoadRunner, which have C-Script.

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Mahendra Andhale

Test Architect at Happiest Minds Technologies

Used for API testing and provides Groovy plugin

We use the solution mainly for API testing The solution's most valuable features are the designing of API, Property Transfer feature, and Groovy plugin. The solution should include some plug-ins to share the generated reports over email. Sometimes, Groovy can be a tricky language, and we need to…

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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

"Reporting is pretty good. Its interface is also good. I'm overall pretty happy with the functionality and use of IBM Rational Test Workbench."

"This solution provides for API testing, functional UI testing, performance testing, and service virtualization."

"SoapUI is a pretty simple tool."

"We need to test the APIs as we build them. I use the product for API testing. You can do AWS security in SoapUI. With SoapUI, we can even perform mutual SSL authentication by incorporating certificates into the SoapUI browser. This allows us to send transactions to the backend downstream."

"The solution's most valuable features are the designing of API, Property Transfer feature, and Groovy plugin."

Cons

"It should have more interfaces. In terms of interfaces or protocols, what you can do with Rational is far limited as compared to other products out there. What it does, it does great, but it only gives you limited types of protocols. It supports between 8 to 15 types of protocols, whereas other test tools give you 20 to 30 types of protocols with which you can do testing and convert to script. It records Javascript-based scripts, and you got to know a little bit of Java to basically be able to edit them, but the level of editing you got to do is very low. I like that, but the ability to edit the script is not as good as Parasoft or LoadRunner, which have C-Script."

"There are a number of things that they can do to simplify the tools, but the most important thing that they need to do is simplify the installation."

"The product needs to be available as an extension for the Chrome browser."

"The solution should include some plug-ins to share the generated reports over email."

"There are more advanced API testing tools than SoapUI, and SoapUI could be made better."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It doesn't really concern me. Licensing is on a yearly basis."

"The pricing is a little bit on the higher side, although it is really good."

"SoapUI is an open-source solution."

"SoapUI is a cheap tool that does not have an expensive license."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

32%

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What do you like most about SoapUI?

We need to test the APIs as we build them. I use the product for API testing. You can do AWS security in SoapUI. With SoapUI, we can even perform mutual SSL authentication by incorporating certific...

See all answers

What needs improvement with SoapUI?

The solution should include some plug-ins to share the generated reports over email. Sometimes, Groovy can be a tricky language, and we need to focus more on that.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SoapUI?

We use the solution mainly for API testing.

See all answers

Comparisons

ReadyAPI Test vs IBM Rational Test Workbench

Compared 100% of the time

More IBM Rational Test Workbench Competitors

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Performance Testing Tools

April 2025

Download IBM Rational Test Workbench product report

Buyer's Guide

API Testing Tools

March 2025

Download SoapUI product report

Also Known As

Rational Test Workbench, IBM Rational Performance Tester, IBM Functional Tester, IBM Rational Test Virtualization Server

No data available

Overview

IBM Rational Test Workbench provides a comprehensive test automation solution for mobile applications, regression testing, integration technologies and performance and scalability testing. It helps you build intelligent and interconnected enterprise applications that can be deployed on traditional and cloud infrastructures. With Rational Test Workbench, you can significantly reduce test cycle times, moving integration testing earlier in the development lifecycle.

IBM

SoapUI is a leading tool for testing SOAP and REST web services, known for its robust functionality and user-friendly interface. It supports functional, automated, and load testing, and offers powerful scripting and automation. Organizations appreciate its efficiency, protocol flexibility, and integration capabilities.

SmartBear

Sample Customers

Financial Insurance Management Corp.

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

IBM Rational Test Workbench vs. SoapUI

April 2025

Free Report: IBM Rational Test Workbench vs. SoapUI

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Rational Test Workbench vs. SoapUI and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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