IDERA ER/Studio vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect comparison

IDERA and Sparx Systems are both solutions in the Enterprise Architecture Management category. IDERA is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.6, while Sparx Systems is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.2. IDERA holds a 3.7% mindshare in AM, compared to Sparx Systems’s 11.3% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IDERA users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of Sparx Systems users who would recommend it.

IDERA ER/Studio

Read 38 IDERA ER/Studio reviews

1,737 Views
1,181 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Sparx Systems Enterprise Ar...

Read 99 Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect reviews

8,412 Views
3,449 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

IDERA ER/Studio

Sparx Systems Enterprise Ar...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect and IDERA ER/Studio are in the competitive space of enterprise modeling and database design tools. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect stands out for its cost-effectiveness and extensive feature set, making it ideal for organizations looking to manage enterprise architecture economically. In contrast, IDERA ER/Studio, while expensive, is highly acclaimed for its advanced data modeling capabilities, especially for enterprises needing comprehensive database solutions.

Features: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect offers extensive UML support, accommodates various architecture frameworks such as TOGAF and ArchiMate, and includes collaborative features with a shared repository. Its reverse engineering and automated documentation are beneficial for project efficiency. IDERA ER/Studio shines in database modeling, offering features such as data lineage tracking and strong visualization of database structures, which are essential for managing complex data landscapes.

Room for Improvement: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect can benefit from an improved user interface to aid beginners, while real-time collaboration needs enhancement. Its platform support could also be expanded. IDERA ER/Studio's licensing and integration processes require simplification, and users often express frustration with its navigation and setup. Improving customer support responsiveness is another area IDERA can enhance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect provides flexible deployment options across on-premises and cloud environments, with a robust support community; however, support quality varies regionally. IDERA ER/Studio supports both on-premises and cloud options but has been criticized for a cumbersome setup. Its technical support receives mixed feedback, highlighting a need for more consistent service.

Pricing and ROI: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is praised for its affordability and effective licensing strategy, which supports budget-conscious organizations and yields strong ROI by boosting productivity. In contrast, IDERA ER/Studio's pricing is high with complex licensing, but it offers a significant ROI for organizations that leverage its full capabilities, justifying the cost with its powerful data modeling advantages.

To learn more, read our detailed IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

September 2025

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Helped 872,655 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

IDERA ER/Studio

Ranking in Enterprise Architecture Management

7th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Database Development and Management (8th)

Sparx Systems Enterprise Ar...

Ranking in Enterprise Architecture Management

2nd

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Business Process Design (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Enterprise Architecture Management category, the mindshare of IDERA ER/Studio is 3.7%, down from 4.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is 11.3%, down from 15.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Architecture Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect	11.3%
IDERA ER/Studio	3.7%
Other	85.0%

Enterprise Architecture Management

Featured Reviews

Aaron Cutshall

Enterprise Data Architect & Senior Manager at Health First Inc.

Used for data modeling and has a scripting language to write your own scripts

The solution has streamlined our data modeling processes quite a bit. It's a central focus in our data modeling and data cataloging efforts. The tool's reverse engineering capability to bring in existing database structures and create models from them has benefitted our data architecture needs. With the tool's data dictionary capability, we're able to maintain consistency in our models, name use, and actual data domains. The solution's reverse engineering helps with understanding legacy databases. In fact, I've been asked to reverse-engineer several more legacy databases so that we can have them modeled and cataloged. The solution is deployed on the cloud server, but it’s only within our network. The solution has a lot of capabilities. I like the fact that it has a scripting language that allows you to automate and write your own scripts. I think that's been a big bonus for us. I highly recommend the solution because of its capability for logical models, where you can put your business definitions and logic. While less expensive, some other tools can't do that. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

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Milan Sterba

Senior Enterprise Architect at Deepview S.r.o.

Efficient documentation generation through organized model structure with a good price-performance ratio

Whenever I begin a new project with Sparx, I have to spend time training people on how to use it since it is not straightforward. Although it's a powerful product with plenty of features, it's not easy for even experienced users to find their way without guidance. This is not the most user-friendly solution.

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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

"We found a lot of duplication, a lot of non-conformity in the way our databases were designed. By identifying these situations, we're able to go back in and try to create a more standardized solution."

"Developing new dimensional models; for the data we're hosting, dimensional modeling is more useful."

"We use the solution to create data models which describe our company's data architecture"

"Valuable features include the ability to visually represent what the database tables are going to look like and their relationships. Also, the ability to document the definitions of the tables and the columns that are in a table so that we can communicate what the data is and how it should be used."

"The reverse engineering is the most important feature."

"I like the fact that it has a scripting language that allows you to automate and write your own scripts."

"Data lineage tracking: It allows us to identify upstream and downstream systems using data."

"We have a database design group of about 15 people. The Repository enables multiple people to work on the same model at the same time. We have fully integrated models, so we have one model for the enterprise data warehouse, one model for MDM, with a lot of sub-models in these things. People work on different parts of the model at different times. So the repository enables us to share the models, and keep track of what everybody is working on."

More IDERA ER/Studio pros

"The system provides powerful tools for obtaining reports and documentation."

"The features I find most valuable is the ability to create a document and then put it into a OneCare artifact."

"Ability to maintain cross-references for all models in all levels - great tractability."

"Its traversability is most valuable. I can use ArchiMate, and I can create a UML model. ArchiMate is for logical enterprise architecture, UML is for software engineering, and BPMN is for business processes. I can build it to have multiple models, and they are also traversable, which is not something that every tool allows. If there is a huge organization, you can segment it and have separate models for business technology or internal resource management system. You don't need to keep them in one model, and you can decide to segregate them."

"Some of the business processes are very easy to compare when you have the diagrams."

"The product offers very good support for all mainstream modeling notations and architectural frameworks."

"Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is very flexible and it is simple to define the metamodel. Additionally, it is lightweight on resources."

"The Business Process Modeling or BPM part is the most valuable. Its ability to simulate scenarios is also very useful. It can also create descriptions of the workflows. It has a feature in which if you create some BPMN process, a workflow diagram, and the description inside, you can actually simulate the whole scenario, and you get the description. That's very handy."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect pros

Cons

"I would like to see better documentation/help for the Data Architect tool. Creation of tutorials would be nice, as there are some features which are not as clearly defined as they should be."

"We would always like to see Repository performance improve, checking in and checking out."

"Tech support is a sticking point with me. I am really disappointed in the tech support. We pay for the Platinum level. It takes hours to get a response."

"What needs the most improvement are semantic lineage and usability."

"The only thing I had an issue with was licensing, and the support was very good."

"when there are some links to the external databases, if this database is not structured it is not uploaded. It gives me errors and I cannot see the view that was created on this structure and I cannot change those views, even manually. It skips the views. I have to ignore those views. I cannot re-upload them because it gives me an error."

"This solution needs more precise documentation."

"There was no specific mention of areas needing improvement."

More IDERA ER/Studio cons

"The templates for documentation should be enhanced to include complex documents such as template RFP, or Non functional requirements template."

"This solution should have better ease of use for the uninitiated."

"They should make the Save button easier to find. A simplified user interface for a lighter user would probably be useful. I am not sure if such an interface is already there."

"I struggled with most of the features for this tool, as did the rest of our architecture team."

"I think that collaboration can be better."

"Even if there are web-based tools in the Enterprise Architecture tool ecosystem (like Prolaborate), the main modeling application is still a fat client application."

"The UI could be improved and made a little bit more presentable."

"The UI is a little bit outdated. It should be more fresh and clean."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is pricey."

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is bad and ten is good, I would rate the licensing cost as a seven or eight. It's not too expensive for us."

"I use the product's trial version."

"At my previous company using ER/Studio, a database compare took four hours before using the product and 15 minutes after using the product."

"I'm a firm believer that all software is overpriced these days but, comparatively speaking, I think ER/Studio is worth the money."

"Pricing is expensive and on the higher-end."

"As an individual user, the renewal is a little costly."

"It is priced fairly. It's around the same as erwin and other competitors' costs."

More IDERA ER/Studio pricing and cost advice

"There is no license required for this solution."

"The licensing is not as expensive as some of the other data modeling tools such as Erwin."

"Its price is very good for the value that you get with it."

"The licence has a costly upfront fee which gets you access. You have to pay an annual maintenance fee, which is less."

"Licenses are pretty low cost compared to, for example, ARIS."

"Pricing and licensing is very attractive, simple, and straightforward."

"It's reasonably priced for large organizations."

"Enterprise licensing is competitive. What would be helpful if they load the pricing for consultants, you know, people who are consultants for clients. So the license is fine for end-user organizations. Still, they should consider lowering the license to support this adoption, particularly for people who are consultants like myself."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Energy/Utilities Company

12%

Computer Software Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

13%

Government

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	25

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	38
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	58

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IDERA ER Studio?

In terms of pricing, ER/Studio is slightly more expensive compared to Erwin, by about five to ten percent.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IDERA ER Studio?

I have been working with data modeling tools. Personally, I have been working with Erwin for many years now. ER/Studio is something I am currently trying to evaluate for acquiring it for our organi...

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What advice do you have for others considering IDERA ER Studio?

I would strongly recommend ER/Studio for large teams. Erwin is a very stable product, but for smaller teams, it's okay. If I had to rate ER/Studio, I would give it nine out of ten because the absen...

See all answers

What do you like most about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

The stability has been good and satisfactory. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

One of the reasons many public sector institutions in the Czech Republic use it is that it provides a very good price-performance ratio. While it might be cumbersome to learn, it still delivers exc...

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What needs improvement with Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

See all answers

Comparisons

erwin Data Modeler vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 43% of the time

SAP PowerDesigner vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 9% of the time

Toad Data Modeler vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 8% of the time

Oracle Coherence vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 7% of the time

erwin Evolve vs IDERA ER/Studio

Compared 6% of the time

More IDERA ER/Studio Competitors

Visual Paradigm vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 14% of the time

No Magic MagicDraw vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 9% of the time

Visio vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 8% of the time

LeanIX vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 8% of the time

Lucidchart vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Compared 7% of the time

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IDERA ER/Studio

October 2025

Download IDERA ER/Studio product report

Buyer's Guide

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

October 2025

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect report

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Also Known As

IDERA ER Studio, ER/Studio, ER/Studio Enterprise Team Edition

No data available

Overview

IDERA ER/Studio is a powerful suite for business-driven data modeling that enables companies to create an enterprise architecture foundation for data governance. With round-trip support for multiple database platforms, data architects have the power to reverse-engineer, analyze, and optimize existing databases easily from diverse platforms. Data professionals can easily capture and share models, metadata, data sources, and glossaries across the organization for improved alignment between the organization and Information Technology. Organizational stakeholders can take part in the metadata definition workflow and access information on models and metadata at the right level for their needs.

Unlike its competition, it provides the broadest range of data platform support, industry-leading enterprise-level capabilities, visual data lineage and flow modeling, full dimensional modeling for data warehousing and business intelligence, and business data objects to bridge the gap between developers and data architects. It also provides a complete solution for enterprise architecture and data governance, extensive model change management, unique incorporation of true enterprise data dictionaries, unique linking of constructs across models, integrated visual data lineage import, and integrated data and business process modeling.

IDERA

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is an enterprise solution that helps streamline, accelerate, and integrate software, system, and business development. With this intuitive modeling and design solution, enterprises can stay in control of their workplaces, enable collaboration, support their teams and colleagues, and manage complex projects. Software architects, business analysts, project managers, developers, support staff, and testers can unite under a single repository. Through numerous view points and potential sub-systems, users are offered a unified view in a complex environment.

With Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, users are also offered a shared model option which can be accessed quickly and securely by in-office and remote team members through the Enterprise Architect’s Pro Cloud Server. Building a coherent, verifiable model can be done by connecting and integrating a variety of behavioral and structural information in visual form. As a result, Enterprise Architect offers high performance, flexibility, and the ability to model, manage, and trace every stage of the business development and modeling process.

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Features

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect assists in creating a unified and accessible vision in business development by offering a flexible platform with a unique set of rich features. These features include:

Test and debug - Streamline software development and visualize software with the simulation process. Users can test and confirm correct behavior, set and oversee test points, and debug and examine software.

Track tasks - Track, prioritize, and assign individual and group tasks to assist in the model’s development. Users can visually monitor their progress through the Gantt chart.

Open standards - Users can visualize and analyze running software with integrated custom tools. They can also run advanced simulations, team-based repositories, testing tools, and version control. In addition, the solution supports enterprise architecture frameworks such as UPDM and TOGAF.

Simulation - Create and debug embedded solutions by simulating behaviors and state models. Users can specify events, triggers, constraints, and more. Users can also specify extensive and complex structural systems and create custom domain-specific solutions.

Reviews from Real Users

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect merges high-end tools, online availability, a dedication to open standards, and accessible pricing so enterprises can stay in control of their workplaces, whether remote or in-office. Users particularly like the architectural frameworks and the scalability.

Marc L., a principal architecture enterprise solution adviser at Cronomagic Canada, notes, "The product offers very good support for all mainstream modeling notations and architectural frameworks."

An enterprise architect at a manufacturing company writes, "Scalable solution for modeling, project sharing, and collaboration. Support for it is good."

Sparx Systems

Sample Customers

Newmont Mining, Entrust, Accolade, TalkTalk, Catalina, Protective Life, NTT Data, dir systèmes, Microsoft; American Express, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Coriant, Fedex, GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Prudential, Wells Fargo

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Buyer's Guide

IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

September 2025

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