IBM WebSphere Application Server vs Oracle Fusion Middleware vs Tomcat comparison

IBM and Oracle are both solutions in the Application Server category. IBM is ranked #5 with an average rating of 7.8, while Oracle is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.2. IBM holds a 12.8% mindshare in AppS, compared to Oracle’s 5.5% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Oracle users who would recommend it.

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Read 31 IBM WebSphere Application Server reviews

2,795 Views
2,022 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Read 16 Oracle Fusion Middleware reviews

1,710 Views
858 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Tomcat

Read 51 Tomcat reviews

4,306 Views
3,427 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Tomcat

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Executive Summary

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

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

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

Buyer's Guide

Application Server

March 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 May 2025, in the Application Server category, the mindshare of IBM WebSphere Application Server is 12.8%, up from 11.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Fusion Middleware is 5.5%, up from 5.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Tomcat is 19.9%, down from 20.6% 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.

Read full review

Sai Kri

Assistant Manager Business Applications at NMC Healthcare

Migration to a modern interface enhances AI integration and cloud capabilities

Presently, Oracle recommends migrating to Oracle Fusion since it's a hot product now. e-Business Suite may soon be sunsetted and has an outdated UI, with few upgrades. In contrast, Oracle Fusion offers modern features, such as AI, cloud-based applications, and customization options like Redwood features. Oracle Fusion AI chatbots are embedded, benefiting projects.

Read full review

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

"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."

"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."

"The only reason why we're currently using WebSphere is that the integration of the authentication with Azure is very quick. WebSphere has something that can immediately connect with Azure Active Directory."

"IBM WAS is the backbone for our enterprise content management suite which delivers the primary processes for our customers. Without a good application server, it would be hard to provide a secure layer of midddleware upon which the other applications run. IBM WAS improves the stability of the entire solution and provides a high quality platform for running web-based solutions."

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

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

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

"High availability, alert management, and deployments are the most valuable features for us. We have the ND version so we can do deployments."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pros

"The solution is extendable so you can start with two cores and add more at any time."

"I rate Oracle Fusion Middleware as ten out of ten."

"The most valuable features are Oracle Unified Directory and unified identity access management."

"Fusion Middleware's main feature for me is that it is quite flexible, and, as middleware, it provides us with all sorts of technology and application adapters, which makes it very handy to use."

"The solution is very easy to install."

"One good thing, which is a little bit common across all middleware products, is that you can build asynchronous as well as synchronous processes. The SOA part is where it can maintain your state for any state-full integrations. If you have failures, you can replay all that, which is a good part."

"Oracle Service Bus is the most valuable feature of the solution."

"Oracle recommends moving to Oracle Fusion as they are constantly releasing new AI, modern, web-based, and cloud-based features with updated UI. With Redwood customization and AI chatbots embedded, Oracle Fusion stands ahead of older systems."

More Oracle Fusion Middleware pros

"Tomcat has connectors like REST requests to connect the front end. Also, some parts of the inter-system communication go through REST. External connections with third parties occasionally involve both REST and SOAP protocols. Tomcat is versatile in accommodating these various communication methods."

"The solution is scalable."

"It is a scalable platform."

"The deployment process is very fast."

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

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

"Tomcat is easy to handle, its installation process does not take much time, and its server speed is also very good compared to other servers."

"Web apps are very easy to deploy."

More Tomcat pros

Cons

"The current trend is to move to Liberty because of the portability of its cloud and its Kubernetes, which containerize the application."

"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."

"WebSphere is very cumbersome and not user-friendly. It used to have its own JVM, which presented challenges such as different architecture and memory leaks."

"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."

"The licensing could be improved, and I would like it to give the longevity of the lifespan of the visions. In the next release, I would like to be able to download and extract the files so that I can just use my application server."

"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."

"IBM WebSphere Application Server hasn't changed much. It's still a heavyweight for any company compared to what you get. Unless your code base is deeply linked with it, I don't think it's a great idea to go with this solution. The current trend is toward modularity and containerization, and given the product's requirements, containerization will be difficult. There is a memory requirement as well."

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

More IBM WebSphere Application Server cons

"An improvement for Oracle's Fusion Middleware could definitely be found in the SOA component. It's a heavyweight container and, if you ask me, if a product is available as a docker image where we can easily port it in to another Kubernetes platform, that would be perfect. But as for the current situation in the market, nobody is really willing to deploy this on premises."

"The solution's technical support needs to be improved."

"Its price can be improved. We are currently looking for more cost-efficiency. It should also have a little bit more flexibility for customizations. The customizations should be quicker."

"All areas of HCM modules could use some improvement."

"The price could always be better."

"One thing that I would like to see is if this product can be containerized. We are moving away from virtual servers and moving more towards containerization to be able to quickly set up environments or have the flexibility of scaling them. It would be good if it can be containerized, and it works well in containerized platforms."

"The main improvement must be made on the user interface. You need to use another Oracle cross in this product. It must be improved and some features of the connectors must be changed."

"The product should improve BPEL features."

More Oracle Fusion Middleware cons

"I would also like to see a dashboard with some integrations in order to see the logs and trace performance easier."

"The current procedure appears complex and could benefit from a more straightforward solution."

"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."

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

"Security integration in Tomcat is complicated. We need to use another tool to solve the security issues."

"In the solution, we are using the terminal to enter command line codes for operations and management, this is difficult for me. It would be better if we had some administrator UI tools for this."

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

"If it could support the driver's VIN, they can run natively without the GBM. Now, we can run what we call the native cloud application that doesn't require GBM. If Tomcat can support that, it's going to improve performance and backup."

More Tomcat cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The price of this product is higher than that of competitors."

"It's expensive."

"It costs more than some of the others, but, you get what you pay for."

"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."

"It is very expensive."

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

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pricing and cost advice

"The licensing costs are reasonable."

"The solution is expensive so pricing is rated a six out of ten."

"It is expensive. We are looking for a cheaper solution."

"The solution is quite expensive so is only used by larger organizations."

"We pay annually for the solution."

"The tool is best suited for large companies due to high licensing costs."

"My advice is to buy the basic modules first, gain the most benefit from them, then buy the advanced modules."

"The pricing is moderate. It's fine."

"The price of the solution is good."

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

"If it is a community version of the solution, no payment is required. However, if it is a Linux version, we must buy the solution from JBoss."

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

"Tomcat is an open source solution."

"I rate the product's price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is a high price, and ten is a low price."

"We are using the open-source version."

"It is an open-source tool and is free of cost."

More Tomcat pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

32%

Computer Software Company

13%

Insurance Company

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

45%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Government

Educational Organization

42%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

Government

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...

See all answers

What do you like most about Oracle Fusion Middleware?

The most valuable features are Oracle Unified Directory and unified identity access management.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Fusion Middleware?

Pricing varies from customer to customer, however, it is reasonable compared to other products in the market.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Oracle Fusion Middleware?

Oracle rapidly releases new features, and I may not be ready to adopt them. Although Oracle provides support, I need ...

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?

Resource configuration like JNDI and queue configuration, similar to other servers, should be provided from the admin...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Tomcat?

I am using the solution at running level three. It is for running web applications.

See all answers

Comparisons

JBoss Enterprise Application Platform vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 27% of the time

JBoss vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 23% of the time

Oracle WebLogic Server vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 9% of the time

IBM DataPower Gateway vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 6% of the time

SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Portal vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 1% of the time

More IBM WebSphere Application Server Competitors

Oracle WebLogic Server vs Oracle Fusion Middleware

Compared 80% of the time

JBoss vs Oracle Fusion Middleware

Compared 8% of the time

More Oracle Fusion Middleware Competitors

Oracle WebLogic Server vs Tomcat

Compared 30% of the time

JBoss vs Tomcat

Compared 23% of the time

IIS vs Tomcat

Compared 12% of the time

Oracle GlassFish vs Tomcat

Compared 4% of the time

More Tomcat Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server

April 2025

Download IBM WebSphere Application Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Fusion Middleware

April 2025

Download Oracle Fusion Middleware product report

Buyer's Guide

Tomcat

April 2025

Download Tomcat product report

Also Known As

WebSphere Application Server

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.”

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

Oracle Fusion Middleware is the digital business platform for the enterprise and the cloud. It enables enterprises to create and run agile, intelligent business applications while maximizing IT efficiency through full utilization of modern hardware and software architectures.

Oracle

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

Police Department of Izmir City

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 Oracle, Apache, Red Hat and others in Application Server. Updated: March 2025.

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