IBM WebSphere Application Server vs Oracle GlassFish comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM WebSphere Application Server and Oracle GlassFish 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: September 2023).
735,432 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The licensing policy is based on the PVU base."
  • "When you purchase Maximo, you get WebSphere for free."
  • "It costs more than some of the others, but, you get what you pay for."
  • "WebSphere Application Server is expensive, so it may not be a good option for small companies."
  • "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 cost is 1,000 of euros for a 30-year table."
  • "The solution is quite expensive."
  • More IBM WebSphere Application Server Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:IBM WebSphere Application Server is the best in terms of scalability and performance, as well as the support for managing distributed transactions.
    Top Answer:The solution is quite expensive. Therefore, it is not suitable for small and medium businesses. The solution is more of an enterprise application. Large employers, such as those with a large customer… more »
    Top Answer: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. Third-party… more »
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    Ranking
    5th
    out of 20 in Application Server
    Views
    4,642
    Comparisons
    3,298
    Reviews
    8
    Average Words per Review
    408
    Rating
    7.6
    9th
    out of 20 in Application Server
    Views
    1,005
    Comparisons
    929
    Reviews
    0
    Average Words per Review
    0
    Rating
    N/A
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    WebSphere Application Server
    GlassFish
    Learn More
    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.”

    Oracle GlassFish Server is a robust open source platform that offers exhaustive and accessible documentation, intuitive administration and configuration features, interoperability with Microsoft Windows, feature-rich integration with NetBeans and Eclipse, and alignment with Oracle Solaris, OpenSolaris, and MySQL.
    Offer
    Learn more about IBM WebSphere Application Server
    Learn more about Oracle GlassFish
    Sample Customers
    TalkTalk, Property management group, E.SUN Bank, Ohio National Financial Services, Aviarc, Cincom Systems, FJA-US, D+H, Staples, Michigan Municipal League
    TravelMuse, Clarity Accounting
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm33%
    Computer Software Company24%
    Government14%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm28%
    Computer Software Company14%
    Insurance Company7%
    Government7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Government16%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Comms Service Provider12%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business24%
    Midsize Enterprise10%
    Large Enterprise66%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business15%
    Midsize Enterprise11%
    Large Enterprise74%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business21%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise68%
    Buyer's Guide
    Application Server
    September 2023
    Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle, Apache, Red Hat and others in Application Server. Updated: September 2023.
    735,432 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    IBM WebSphere Application Server is ranked 5th in Application Server with 10 reviews while Oracle GlassFish is ranked 9th in Application Server. IBM WebSphere Application Server is rated 7.6, while Oracle GlassFish is rated 0.0. The top reviewer of IBM WebSphere Application Server writes "Stable, resilient, has good availability, and offers excellent technical support". On the other hand, IBM WebSphere Application Server is most compared with JBoss Enterprise Application Platform, JBoss, Tomcat, Oracle WebLogic Server and IBM BPM, whereas Oracle GlassFish is most compared with Oracle WebLogic Server, JBoss, Tomcat and IIS.

    See our list of best Application Server vendors.

    We monitor all Application Server reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.