IDERA ER/Studio vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IDERA ER/Studio and Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Enterprise Architecture Management solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"Using this product has improved the way we maintain our models because they have a place where we can keep all of them, and they can be viewed using the web interface.""The tool is simple to use.""Straightforward setup.""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.""It's easy to model and has a user-friendly interface. I like the team portal because, once we upload, the entire team can see the model.""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.""We are able to document the data lineage and data flows of our data from one system to another.""The most valuable features are... those that enable me to represent the database to the development community and the business users."

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"The product offers very good support for all mainstream modeling notations and architectural frameworks.""It is an EA tool that is approved by Open Group. It is in the tool register of Open Group.""It's easy to search within the solution.""Some of the business processes are very easy to compare when you have the diagrams.""Ability to keep inventory of reusable blocks, and use in different diagrams with views of various templates.""Ability to model and create view under same roof.""Simplified our task at maintaining architecture information and traceability with requirements.""I have found the Meta Model tuning feature useful as it provides me with an overview of all my work needs."

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Cons
"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.""I would like to upload, a database with about 3,000 tables. It takes so much time and, finally, it freezes the whole solution so that I actually cannot work with that environment. For the data warehouse, it's fine because I have 20 or 30 tables. It works fine. But, when I reverse-engineer the database with 3,000 tables, it freezes and it's hard to upload and reverse-engineer such environments in ER/Studio.""What I would like to see improved is the reliability of the releases, releases that are a little less buggy.""One limitation I have found in ER/Studio is that when you want to make some changes to the table definitions, you have to go item by item. You cannot do it globally. Another issue concerns defining the foreign keys between the different tables. It is a little more tedious in the ER/Studio than in ERrwin. With ERwin it is direct.""The model diagram because very clumsy when you save it on the team server and the models are very big.""This solution needs more precise documentation.""We would always like to see Repository performance improve, checking in and checking out.""The screens are a bit outdated. They could use a new look and feel."

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"The window froze for five or ten seconds. You can click and click again and it takes a second to come up. It might have been specific to a version.""The fact that you can do a lot yourself is a plus point, but it also becomes a challenge because you need an understanding of the programming languages to get things to work. It becomes challenging for those who are not very good at programming. You have standard reports, but if you want to make your own reports, you have to program it. Similarly, if you want validations rules, you have to take care of them yourself.""More challenging than other tools to maintain documents and document versions for an architecture board review.""Using EA involves a steep learning curve if you want to understand its capabilities and functionality.""The documentation could be better. Where I work, we speak French and we don't speak English, so we don't have anything in French. It's perfect in English, but we need something in French.""Their technical support is not good in India. I wrote to them because I had a question, but I never got an answer. So, I just left it behind.""The integration could be improved.""The documentation needs a bit of improvement. What I find is that when I'm trying to do something specific for some part of a project, in terms of documentation, it's kind of hard to get at figuring out if you don't use it all the time."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The product is pricey."
  • "The process of licensing could be much simpler, from our experience."
  • "I'm a firm believer that all software is overpriced these days but, comparatively speaking, I think ER/Studio is worth the money."
  • "I feel the product's pricing is a good value."
  • "Pricing is on point, but do your due diligence - not every developer needs the tool."
  • "As an individual user, the renewal is a little costly."
  • "Pricing is expensive and on the higher-end."
  • "At my previous company using ER/Studio, a database compare took four hours before using the product and 15 minutes after using the product."
  • More IDERA ER/Studio Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The Corporate Edition, or one of the bundles, is the way to go."
  • "Use floating licenses strategically."
  • "The pricing for ultimate version is steeply high."
  • "Licenses are pretty low cost compared to, for example, ARIS."
  • "It’s the best deal in town, by far."
  • "Pricing and licensing is very attractive, simple, and straightforward."
  • "Pricing and licensing are suitable even for small companies."
  • "In terms of cost, Sparx EA is probably one of the cheapest tools I have ever used."
  • More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:It isn't easy to compare the thousands of tables in the model against the database. The tool should improve the synchronization within the large organization
    Top Answer:In my opinion, there is no real difference between the three tools. All three are software that help organizations model and document their business processes. However, there are some key differences… more »
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    8.5
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    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    IDERA ER Studio, ER/Studio, ER/Studio Enterprise Team Edition
    Learn More
    Sparx Systems
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    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.

    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."

    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
    OmniLink
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Government19%
    Healthcare Company14%
    Financial Services Firm14%
    Computer Software Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm20%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Government10%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    REVIEWERS
    Government16%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    Energy/Utilities Company9%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization14%
    Government11%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business11%
    Midsize Enterprise29%
    Large Enterprise60%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business16%
    Midsize Enterprise9%
    Large Enterprise75%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business33%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise50%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business15%
    Midsize Enterprise23%
    Large Enterprise62%
    Buyer's Guide
    IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    IDERA ER/Studio is ranked 10th in Enterprise Architecture Management with 33 reviews while Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is ranked 2nd in Enterprise Architecture Management with 97 reviews. IDERA ER/Studio is rated 8.4, while Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of IDERA ER/Studio writes "The solution has important reverse engineering features, but it needs a single sign-on feature". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect writes "Easy to set up and had no issues with stability, but it's not a very friendly tool, and its database modeling and entity-relationship modeling functions need improvement". IDERA ER/Studio is most compared with erwin Data Modeler by Quest, SAP PowerDesigner, erwin Evolve by Quest, Aqua Data Studio and Toad Data Modeler, whereas Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is most compared with Visual Paradigm, Visio, No Magic MagicDraw, Lucidchart and LeanIX. See our IDERA ER/Studio vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect report.

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    We monitor all Enterprise Architecture Management 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.