IBM WebSphere Application Server vs JBoss Enterprise Application Platform comparison

IBM and Red Hat are both solutions in the Application Infrastructure category. IBM is ranked #3 with an average rating of 7.8, while Red Hat is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.3. IBM holds a 11.2% mindshare in AIS, compared to Red Hat’s 8.6% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Red Hat users who would recommend it.

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Read 31 IBM WebSphere Application Server reviews

3,957 Views
1,741 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

JBoss Enterprise Applicatio...

Read 8 JBoss Enterprise Application Platform reviews

1,146 Views
1,146 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

IBM WebSphere Application S...

JBoss Enterprise Applicatio...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 27, 2025

IBM WebSphere Application Server and JBoss Enterprise Application Platform are enterprise application platforms. IBM WebSphere is favored for its reliability and scalability, whereas JBoss is appreciated for its flexibility and cost-effectiveness due to its open-source nature.

Features: IBM WebSphere Application Server is known for its reliability, scalability, and strong security features, making it an excellent choice for enterprises with complex security needs. The Integrated Solutions Console offers detailed configurations and easy updating. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform offers excellent integration capabilities, intuitive configuration flexibility, and robust clustering and load balancing support.

Room for Improvement: IBM WebSphere Application Server could benefit from reduced complexity and a more streamlined configuration process. Its setup costs could be more competitive. Faster deployment options could enhance its appeal. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform might improve its out-of-the-box security features, provide more professional support options, and enhance documentation to support broader enterprise use cases.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: The deployment of IBM WebSphere Application Server is more intricate, needing specialized expertise but is supported by professional customer service. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform is easier to deploy with its intuitive tools, and community-driven support offers accessibility to those favoring open-source solutions.

Pricing and ROI: IBM WebSphere Application Server has higher initial costs but provides a strong ROI thanks to its stability and feature richness, making it suitable for complex enterprise needs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform offers a cost-effective alternative with lower upfront expenses, providing an appealing ROI for businesses prioritizing budget management.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

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:

Categories and Ranking

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

3rd

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Server (4th)

JBoss Enterprise Applicatio...

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

8th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Application Infrastructure category, the mindshare of IBM WebSphere Application Server is 11.2%, up from 10.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of JBoss Enterprise Application Platform is 8.6%, up from 7.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Infrastructure Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
IBM WebSphere Application Server	11.2%
JBoss Enterprise Application Platform	8.6%
Other	80.2%

Application Infrastructure

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.

Read full review

Gustavo Magni

lead architect at Sys Manager

Stable solution with an easy initial setup process

We use the solution for the deployment of Java-based applications The solution helps my organization with simple and fast deployments. The solution is easy to configure and deploy. The solution's architecture needs improvement. Also, there could be more integration with container platforms. We…

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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 VPN service is quite useful."

"The solution has good performance."

"IBM WebSphere Application Server is easy to use."

"The product offers good performance."

"Security: It is compatible with the latest Java 8 security features, supports FIPS 140-2 and NIST SP 800-53 with strong ciphers and cryptography keys, and supports TLS 1.2 completely. Also, configuring client and server certificates is relatively easy."

"IBM WAS is extremely scalable. It is easy to add additional servers and to divide the load over servers in all kinds of ways."

"IBM WebSphere Application Server is one of the best servers due to its stability and paid license."

"It has good stability of the application server in the long term compared to other solutions."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pros

"The most valuable aspect of JBoss EAP is its support for clustering and load balancing, which is essential for our applications that serve multiple users simultaneously."

"JBoss Enterprise Application Platform works very well."

"It's convenient and barebone."

"Its technical support is excellent."

"The solution is quite stable."

"The most valuable features of this solution are scalability and performance."

"Stable and easy to handle in terms of hosting applications."

Cons

"In spite of the solution's robustness, it is expensive and a bit difficult to support."

"The availability of the solution needs improvement."

"The business logic side of it is sort of missing in the sense that if I want to track and measure velocity, it is not really available. You have to buy another application and embark on a separate implementation. Instead of having different licensing, IBM DataPower should be integrated with WebSphere. It will allow us to build the business layer and rules a lot more efficiently, rather than developing rules within the application. It would be good if we can set up the business layer through parametrization rather than development. IBM DataPower has the business rule and the controls, and if it can be integrated, it would be fantastic. It will help the application in working better in terms of security features and business logic. If you're going to use it for open banking, you will be able to monitor velocity on the total pricing."

"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."

"Initial setup is very simple. Just use the IBM Installation Manager and add the packages. The install wizard takes care of the rest. The only thing that can be difficult is to find the right packages on the IBM website, because of all the changes that IBM does on its website(s)."

"What could be improved in IBM WebSphere Application Server is its interconnection with other products, for example, Kafka. What I'd like to see in the next release of the solution is a better graphical user interface."

"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."

"Some things are very difficult to do, so the interface and usage could be more intuitive for those."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server cons

"Lacks some functional requirements."

"Improvement is needed in the synchronization between cluster nodes, especially under network strain."

"It's hard to find out the root cause of errors."

"Sometimes, I observe the memory usage at 100% for the server, and this issue could be improved."

"This solution needs better management UI."

"A graphic user interface can be added."

"Its architecture needs improvement."

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The licensing cost is 1,000 of euros for a 30-year table."

"The pricing is a little expensive."

"It's expensive."

"There is an Eclipse Plugin provided by IBM, so no need to buy IBM Rational Application Developer or Rational Software Architect tools."

"If your application is just a web app that does not need to scale big, you can obtain a single core license of WAS Express edition, which has almost the same features with limited processing cores. If you manage a very big application farm (i.e. need to run 10 or more WAS servers) it is better to get IBM WAS Hypervisor Edition."

"We used to pay about $100,000-$120,000 US or somewhere around there. That was a bit cost-prohibitive for us to continue."

"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."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pricing and cost advice

"The solution is cost-effective."

"It is an open-source solution."

"While I am not directly involved with the financial aspects, JBoss is known for its reasonable subscription pricing. Potential users should consider whether the cost aligns with their budget and requirements."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

33%

Computer Software Company

11%

Government

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

31%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	23

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	5

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 Application Server edition.

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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 bit complicated without WebSphere knowledge.

See all answers

What do you like most about JBoss Enterprise Application Platform?

The solution is quite stable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with JBoss Enterprise Application Platform?

The memory usage and memory RAM could be improved. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform could improve the use of memory on a server. Sometimes, I observe the memory usage at 100% for the server, a...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for JBoss Enterprise Application Platform?

I deploy the application as .war or .ear, which is part of Java Enterprise. I use it for resources for the server, and I coordinate with the developer for deployment of the web application. In my j...

See all answers

Comparisons

Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (EAP) vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 22% of the time

Tomcat vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 16% 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

HCL Digital Experience vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM WebSphere Application Server Competitors

NGINX Plus vs JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

Compared 7% of the time

Microsoft .NET Framework vs JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

Compared 6% of the time

Microsoft System Center vs JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

Compared 6% of the time

IBM BPM vs JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

Compared 4% of the time

Apache Web Server vs JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

Compared 4% of the time

More JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server

August 2025

Download IBM WebSphere Application Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Application Infrastructure

August 2025

JBoss Enterprise Application Platform report

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Also Known As

WebSphere Application Server

JBoss EAP, Red Hat EAP

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

Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (JBoss EAP) is an open source platform for modern Java applications deployed in any environment. JBoss EAPâs architecture is modular, and cloud ready. The platform offers powerful management and automation for greater developer productivity. It is based on the open source Wildfly project (formerly known as JBoss Application Server).

Red Hat

Sample Customers

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

APD, Banco Azteca, Roche, Tata Sky, Frost Bank

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

July 2025

Free Report: IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Enterprise Application Platform

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