IBM WebSphere Application Server vs IIS vs Tomcat comparison

IBM and Microsoft are both solutions in the Application Server category. IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 7.8, while Microsoft is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.2. IBM holds a 13.0% mindshare in AppS, compared to Microsoft’s 6.7% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 89% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Read 31 IBM WebSphere Application Server reviews

4,227 Views
2,325 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

IIS

Read 57 IIS reviews

3,379 Views
1,318 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

Tomcat

Read 52 Tomcat reviews

3,151 Views
3,151 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

IBM WebSphere Application S...

IIS

Tomcat

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM WebSphere Application Server, IIS, and Tomcat based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Apache, Oracle, Red Hat and others in Application Server.

To learn more, read our detailed Application Server Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Application Server

July 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:

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Application Server category, the mindshare of IBM WebSphere Application Server is 13.0%, up from 11.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IIS is 6.7%, down from 6.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Tomcat is 19.6%, down from 20.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Server

Featured Reviews

BharathirajaSukumar

Senior Lead Analyst at Radial

Efficient load balancing and the clustering, achieved by using the deployment manager, is valuable

I believe that the system is already good. However, for improvement or enhancement, it is user-friendly, but it could offer better choices on the front end for different aspects or options. Sometimes, I have to search extensively for features, as there are no upfront tabs. There is a lack of visible, easy, user-friendly, and straightforward options for the number of features.

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DanielWildermuth

Testtool expert at Helvetia Versicherungen

Provides integration with Eggplant but problems with stability

We use Windows Server only for Eggplant Manager. Otherwise, I'm not using it At the moment, we have big problems with stability, and I'm not very happy at the moment. So, the stability could be improved. I have been using it for a few years. The initial setup is complex. We have an…

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Erick Karanja

Technical Lead at Cellulant Kenya

Offers high availability, straightforward deployment and easy to use

Tomcat could be a little bit more innovative. Tomcat could come up with a framework that's more lightweight and purely targeted at Java applications. Some other solutions are doing better right now, maybe because they have come up with MicroProfile, which I think is moving forward. It may actually beat Tomcat because of the lightweight nature of the framework, the MicroProfile. They're coming up with new solutions. So, for the future of Tomcat and to maintain the market share they might be looking for, they need to come up with initiatives to ensure that several of us have a lightweight framework to deploy applications on.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I find IBM support to be very nice."

"We needed this type of integration and WebShepere is the best tool for it."

"It does integrate well with the Tivoli Federated Identity Management system."

"The solution is very stable and robust."

"Ease of administration: It has an Integrated Solutions Console, what we call the administrative console, with very detailed configurations and Help pages for each configurable item."

"The integration between IBM tools and applications is very well executed, and the support from IBM is quite good, providing a solid support structure."

"This solution is easy to use with a GUI that is intuitive and very helpful."

"As compared to other applications, it has tremendous support. We have built internal capability so that we use it extensively internally. It is also easier to use with the outside data. You can write in ESQL, Java, or any other technology that you want to use for development. So, it is a lot more flexible in the language that it supports."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pros

"The most valuable feature of IIS is that it's free, and it works."

"The solution has been reliable."

"IIS is stable."

"Windows Server IIS is stable."

"The product is stable."

"It's very easy to publish."

"The solution is easy to use, easy to maintain and isn't too technical."

"What I like the most is that it is easy to use."

More IIS pros

"The solution is readily available and open-source."

"The deployment process is very fast."

"I find the quick startup valuable, particularly the static quick startup."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is that it supports Java Enterprise."

"Tomcat's best feature is the open source server. It's a flexible and lightweight solution."

"It's very stable. No problems at all. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten."

"We can use Apache Tomcat for Java server applications."

"I like the solution’s ease of use."

More Tomcat pros

Cons

"Sometimes, I feel WebSphere runs a bit slow. It might be loading unnecessary libraries, impacting its performance compared to other application servers."

"I think in some moments, the security was a little bit more complex to configure when it was delegated to other systems, making it an area where improvements are required."

"While WebSphere mostly supports IBM HTTP Server (IHS) as the web server plugin, I think it would be beneficial if it also supported Apache and NGINX web servers. That would give customers more flexibility in their choices."

"The solution could improve the integration."

"IBM needs to pay attention to market changes more quickly. We now have Java 9 and very soon Java EE8. We do not want to wait for two or three years after their release until they are supported by the new version."

"In the next release of this solution, I would like to see support for the Arabic language."

"The availability of the solution needs improvement."

"The main issue we faced was its limited compatibility with non-Java technologies, which can result in difficulty detecting potential bugs and requiring additional integration efforts."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server cons

"If Microsoft IIS could work well with AppOptics or things like PHP, Python, and other custom languages that run on the webserver, it would be ideal. I think there are cases where people need to use Apache instead of IIS when IIS doesn't work well with other web languages."

"The solution's black box is not fast."

"IIS needs to improve its security. Its support needs to be faster and clear. The tool's licensing could be cheaper as well."

"Finding different settings can be difficult if you don't know where to look."

"Sometimes if you are using IIS in large-scale scenarios, meaning that if you are deploying an application within IIS service and you are expecting a large number of users to use this application, you can sometimes find some problems, meaning that the service can shut down by itself unexpectedly if you don't configure your IIS with the correct configuration that can handle this number of users."

"I am using an older version of Windows Server IIS and the general management and navigation to get something done is not as straightforward as I hope it to be. The interface could be improved."

"IIS could improve by Microsoft Windows improving the update services. We would like to be able to update all systems that are connected. The WSA service has to be in good order to accomplish this."

"I would like to see NLB features in IIS."

More IIS cons

"I have no recommendations for improvements."

"The disability and memory management is a problem with the solution and has room for improvement."

"Tomcat is used mainly for database connections. As of now, we configure that environment for any database configuration. But if any utility can integrate where we can pass the database connection as a string of details, then it should encrypt them and keep them inside. From that security perspective, Tomcat requires improvement. They should integrate this security feature."

"Tomcat is not user-friendly. I would also like to be able to have multiple applications run at the same time."

"The solution cannot host .NET applications."

"The stability must be improved."

"The high availability is not as robust as the competition is such as WebLogic and Jboss."

"The solution's interface and backup features could be better."

More Tomcat cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is a little expensive."

"IBM WAS base is part of the deal when you purchase IBM FileNet P8 Content Engine."

"WebSphere Application Server is expensive, so it may not be a good option for small companies."

"The price of IBM WebSphere Application Server could be less expensive and there is an annual license required for this solution."

"Room for improvement would only be in the licensing. As with all IBM products the licensing can be complex and expensive. Bargain well and try to get as much discount as possible. Discounts of 85% are possible. Without the discount, I think the product is overrated."

"I don't remember the price, but there are no additional costs."

"My company is on a perpetual or permanent license agreement with IBM WebSphere Application Server. There's also a pay-per-use option, but customers rarely choose that option. Most of the customers are on the perpetual license deal that's all-inclusive. As the license cost is quite expensive, I'm rating it two out of five."

"The licensing policy is based on the PVU base."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pricing and cost advice

"There is no license required for the product as it is role-based. Whenever you go for a Windows platform server, the role has to be installed directly from the server manager. There is no additional cost that has to be paid for that. It is free to use."

"The solution provides multiple licensing options."

"The solution’s pricing is yearly. The pricing is affordable and not high."

"I think it's part of the Windows Server, so you won't have any other costs to add in order to use the IIS service."

"The tool's pricing is on a yearly basis."

"It is licensed with your Windows installation which makes it relatively cheap if you already have a Windows Server sitting around."

"There is an annual license to use this solution and the price could be better."

"There is no license needed to use the solution."

More IIS pricing and cost advice

"This is an open-source product and it's free to use."

"We are using the open-source version."

"The price of the solution is good."

"Tomcat is open-source and free to use."

"Tomcat is an open-source server."

"Tomcat's pricing is very cheap."

"We are currently using the open-source version."

"There are no additional costs apart from the standard license."

More Tomcat pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

33%

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Insurance Company

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

25%

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

12%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM WebSphere Application Server?

Network Deployment is the most useful feature for scalability. It has many features within the standard WebSphere App...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM WebSphere Application Server?

In Korea, when you buy IBM iOS, the WebSphere base version is included with iOS. That means no additional cost.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM WebSphere Application Server?

I find the server okay, however, using the Maker instance, the Moving instance, and the Change instance is a little b...

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Which is better - IIS or NGINX Plus?

IIS is a flexible, secure, and manageable web server to host anything on the web. IIS’s scalable and open architectur...

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What do you like most about IIS?

The product is flexible.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IIS?

If you have a Windows license, there is no additional cost for IIS. However, you may need to pay for SSL publishing a...

See all answers

What do you like most about Tomcat?

Tomcat's ease of use has positively impacted project timelines. Tomcat already has high availability – it doesn't go ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Tomcat?

Regarding improvements in Tomcat, I personally haven't used it very extensively, but all Apache products are very use...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Tomcat?

We use Tomcat for various purposes, and our company finds it to be perfect; we are getting all the solutions out of t...

See all answers

Comparisons

JBoss Enterprise Application Platform vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 26% of the time

JBoss vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 22% of the time

Oracle WebLogic Server vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 8% of the time

IBM DataPower Gateway vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 6% of the time

Oracle Fusion Middleware vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 2% of the time

More IBM WebSphere Application Server Competitors

Apache Web Server vs IIS

Compared 28% of the time

NGINX Plus vs IIS

Compared 27% of the time

Oracle WebLogic Server vs IIS

Compared 13% of the time

JBoss vs IIS

Compared 6% of the time

Windows Process Activation Services vs IIS

Compared 3% of the time

More IIS Competitors

Oracle WebLogic Server vs Tomcat

Compared 28% of the time

JBoss vs Tomcat

Compared 23% of the time

Oracle GlassFish vs Tomcat

Compared 5% of the time

Caucho Resin vs Tomcat

Compared 4% of the time

Fujitsu Interstage Application Server vs Tomcat

Compared 3% of the time

More Tomcat Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server

July 2025

Download IBM WebSphere Application Server product report

Buyer's Guide

IIS

July 2025

Download IIS product report

Buyer's Guide

Tomcat

June 2025

Download Tomcat product report

Also Known As

WebSphere Application Server

Windows Server IIS

No data available

Overview

IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) is a middleware platform developed by IBM. It provides a range of services and tools to help organizations develop, deploy, and manage Java-based applications. WAS is part of IBM's WebSphere product family and provides a secure, scalable, and highly available platform for developing and running web-based applications. WAS provides a secure, scalable, and highly available platform, making it an attractive solution for organizations looking to develop and deploy enterprise-grade applications.

IBM WebSphere Application Server Features

IBM WebSphere Application Server has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Application deployment: IBM WAS enables organizations to deploy and manage applications in a secure and scalable environment.

Clustering: The clustering feature can help organizations ensure high availability and improve application performance.

Load balancing: The solution Includes load balancing capabilities to distribute application workloads and improve performance.

Security: IBM WAS offers a range of security features, including authentication, authorization, and encryption, to help organizations secure their applications and data.

Monitoring and management: The solution’s range of tools for monitoring and managing applications, including the IBM WebSphere Administrative Console allows organizations to optimize application performance and resolve issues easily.

Integration: IBM WAS integrates with a range of IBM and third-party products, including IBM WebSphere MQ, IBM DB2, and more, to provide a comprehensive platform for developing and running web-based applications.

IBM WebSphere Application Server Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing IBM WebSphere Application Server. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Improved application performance: The IBM WAS platform offers a scalable and secure platform for deploying and managing applications, enabling organizations to improve application performance and reduce downtime.

High availability: IBM WAS provides clustering and load-balancing capabilities to help organizations ensure high availability.

Improved security: With a large range of security features, including authentication, authorization, and encryption, the solution helps organizations secure their applications and data.

Simplified management: IBM WAS is designed with a set of tools for monitoring and managing applications, enabling organizations to optimize performance and resolve issues efficiently.

Increased flexibility: The solution integrates with a range of IBM and third-party products, providing organizations with a flexible platform for developing and running web-based applications.

Improved developer productivity: It supports the latest Java EE specifications, allowing developers to use the latest technologies and development methodologies when building applications.

Better customer experience: Organizations can deliver faster and more reliable applications, improving the overall customer experience.

Scalability: IBM WAS provides a scalable and secure platform for deploying and managing applications, so organizations can quickly respond to changing business requirements.

Reviews from Real Users

IBM WebSphere Application Server is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it is stable, supports many languages, and is resilient.

Princewill O., Head Banking Application Customization and Reporting at a financial services firm, states, “[The solution is] very stable, supports many languages, and helpful for faster time to market.”

"What's most valuable in IBM WebSphere Application Server is its resilience. When you use the solution, you know that after the communication has been done, there will be no doubt that the data has reached its destination,” says Nicolae C., System and Solutions Architect at Seidor.

Another PeerSpot reviewer, an Enterprise Technical Leader at a tech services company mentions, “[It is an] enterprise-level product with extensive console capabilities, including the ability to control multiple JVM containers.”

IBM

Internet Information Services (IIS) provides a secure, easy-to-manage, modular and extensible platform for reliably hosting websites, services and applications. With IIS, you get choice and control without giving up reliability or security.

Microsoft

Tomcat is a reliable and efficient web server, popular for hosting and running Java-based applications. It is praised for its scalability, compatibility with different operating systems and development frameworks, and its ability to handle heavy workloads.

Users appreciate Tomcat's ease of use, robust performance, reliable server functionality, seamless integration with various platforms, extensive documentation, and strong community support.

Apache

Sample Customers

TalkTalk, Property management group, E.SUN Bank, Ohio National Financial Services, Aviarc, Cincom Systems, FJA-US, D+H, Staples, Michigan Municipal League

Erste Bank Group, NJVC, Samsung Electronics, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Tata Steel Europe, Urban Software Institute

1. Adobe Systems 2. Amazon 3. Apple 4. AT&T 5. Bank of America 6. Boeing 7. Cisco Systems 8. Citigroup 9. Dell 10. eBay 11. Facebook 12. General Electric 13. Google 14. Hewlett-Packard 15. IBM 16. Intel 17. JPMorgan Chase 18. Microsoft 19. Netflix 20. Oracle 21. PayPal 22. Salesforce 23. Samsung 24. Sony 25. Target 26. Twitter 27. Uber 28. Verizon 29. Visa 30. Volkswagen 31. Walmart 32. Yahoo

Find out what your peers are saying about Apache, Oracle, Red Hat and others in Application Server. Updated: July 2025.

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