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OutSystems vs Pega Platform vs ServiceNow comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
7.1
OutSystems typically offers high ROI through fast development and cost savings, though initial expenses and developer skills impact outcomes.
Sentiment score
7.6
Pega Platform boosts efficiency, revenue, and ROI up to 80% through improved processes, automation, and quick digital transformation.
Sentiment score
7.0
Organizations found ServiceNow enhanced efficiency and satisfaction, with cost reductions and strong internal process improvements despite pricing concerns.
Developing that same project in OutSystems can be completed in around 40 to 50% less time, requiring only six resources.
They have removed the costs associated with on-prem infrastructure, including data center costs, power costs, and physical server costs.
The return on investment is good when implementing for ourselves and for other clients.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.2
OutSystems' service is generally proactive and responsive, but advanced help varies by SLA, location, and contract tier.
Sentiment score
6.8
Pega Platform's customer support receives mixed reviews; premium service users report higher satisfaction but slower response for critical issues.
Sentiment score
7.1
ServiceNow's customer service is generally effective, though technical support is variable, with community reliance and improvement needed.
Many helpful videos and documentation are available on the OutSystems site, making it relatively easy to learn the platform.
I never needed support from the platform standpoint, but if additional features are required, we have regular meetings with the product team for feedback.
The technical support from Pega is very low, rating a one or two out of ten.
Pega's technical support team is very helpful.
The support is exemplary and deserves a perfect rating.
Obtaining support for maintenance is the current challenge because they don't have a presence in the local market.
I have contacted them four to five times over the past two years, and they have been quite helpful.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.7
OutSystems offers scalable, adaptable solutions for enterprises, with seamless cloud expansion and efficient management, despite pricing concerns.
Sentiment score
7.6
Pega Platform is scalable across industries with some performance challenges, requiring robust infrastructure and strategic capacity planning.
Sentiment score
7.5
ServiceNow is praised for scalability and flexibility, effectively handling growth despite varying performance and potential cost considerations.
They can be deployed vertically and horizontally, supporting as many deployments as needed.
There are no limitations or performance issues with ServiceNow; it is cloud-based, so it is highly scalable and performs well.
It is capable of vertical scaling with no issues.
I rate the scalability of ServiceNow as an eight on a scale of one to ten.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
OutSystems is praised for stability and reliability, handling large systems well, with minor issues on high data loads.
Sentiment score
7.7
Pega Platform is generally stable and reliable, but high task volumes or configurations can cause occasional glitches.
Sentiment score
7.7
ServiceNow offers high stability and reliability, with minimal downtime, rapid resolution, and efficient support despite minor integration issues.
It is cloud-based, so it is highly scalable and performs well.
I haven't faced any issues with stability; I've rarely seen any downtime.
ServiceNow is stable enough.
 

Room For Improvement

OutSystems faces performance and integration issues, high licensing costs, and needs improvements in support, automation, UI, and documentation.
Users report Pega Platform's complexity, UI issues, and limited customization, seeking improved AI, better support, and enhanced integration.
ServiceNow faces critiques for its outdated interface, costly licensing, complex customization, and inadequate support and documentation.
It is crucial to be aware of which module corresponds to which application in real-time projects, as there are multiple applications.
I would like to see more integration between the use of artificial intelligence to speed up the process delivery time.
Pega introduced Constellation, which allows a user to build a more engaging visual experience.
My learning curve in robotics has been challenging.
There is a need for bug or error tracking in ServiceNow.
Their customer support could make it a great solution, not just product support but also their relationship with partners and training initiatives in different regions.
From a functionality perspective, the features in ServiceNow are acceptable as, at the moment, the ITSM modules rank highly, being 13 plus Pink Elephant certified, which is a good aspect to have.
 

Setup Cost

OutSystems is costly, suited for larger enterprises, with yearly fees varying by usage, covering licenses and infrastructure.
Pega Platform is costly for small businesses, offering scalable features and negotiable pricing, ideal for large enterprises.
ServiceNow is costly yet valued by large enterprises for its functionality, though its pricing is high compared to competitors.
Subsequent users can be added at an additional cost per user; exact pricing details can be found on the OutSystems site.
Pega is priced higher than open-source options like Flowable but is suitable for large-scale industries like banking and insurance.
The pricing is expensive, and this is an issue.
ServiceNow's pricing can be justified if more functionality is required.
ServiceNow is expensive for all regions.
 

Valuable Features

OutSystems streamlines development with low-code tools, offering rapid deployment, easy integration, and enhanced productivity through reusable components.
Pega Platform offers rapid deployment, strong integration, and flexible workflows with extensive functionalities for diverse industry needs.
ServiceNow's platform offers customization, integration, and workflow automation, enhancing productivity and collaboration for IT service management.
OutSystems offers a lot of reusable components and solutions that I can simply drag and drop and use, which has a significant impact on project delivery time.
OutSystems has a very good learning curve for developers.
Management capabilities such as dashboards.
Pega Platform is excellent for enterprise-level solutions with integrations to entire systems, including case management, service orchestration, CRM, decision-making capabilities, digital process automation, and AI-driven functionalities.
ServiceNow provides a wide range of functionality, covering all the necessary modules, unlike Jira which is primarily for IT.
Automation capabilities are impressive, bolstered by a vast repository of out-of-the-box connectors and plugins that facilitate integration with various applications worldwide.
The features of ServiceNow that I find most valuable include its ability to easily access ticket details if you know the ticket number, monitor the timeline of when the ticket was created, and see the current status.
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Rapid Application Development Software category, the mindshare of OutSystems is 7.9%, up from 7.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Pega Platform is 6.3%, down from 6.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ServiceNow is 10.9%, up from 10.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Rapid Application Development Software
 

Featured Reviews

DhrubajyotiBiswas - PeerSpot reviewer
Helps us efficiently streamline repetitive tasks, but they could provide improved connectors to integrate with outside platforms
The OutSystems' most effective features for speeding up development cycles are the process orchestration and the drag-and-drop updating of business processes. I would recommend it to a friend or colleague, especially if they are looking for a solution that is easy to deploy and helps streamline internal processes. I rate it a six out of ten.
Mallik-Kesavaraju - PeerSpot reviewer
Significantly improves the overall cycle time, and offers robotic automation, and the BPM workflow
The extensive availability of ready-made gadgets in Pega BPM is a double-edged sword. While it offers convenience, it also leads to a steeper learning curve. Our developers and business analysts need to invest significant time and effort to fully understand and utilize the platform's capabilities. In essence, it's a complex product that demands a deep understanding to be used effectively. So, it cuts both ways. This complexity can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on the user's expertise. So, the learning curve is pretty high! So, it's very good if you are a professional user, but you need to be a really good professional user to use this solution effectively.
Nikhil Gohil - PeerSpot reviewer
Enables effective incident management and seamless workflow automation with valuable mobile accessibility
I haven't thought deeply about improvements for ServiceNow or what might be missing right now. There are so many modules and features in ServiceNow that I haven't explored them all, so it's hard to say what might be missing or should be improved. I suggest making the cost more affordable for smaller companies.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
25%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
28%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
6%
Educational Organization
25%
Computer Software Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which solution is better for developing non-ITSM applications: OutSystems or Service Now?
The short answer is that OutSystems is far better for 2 main reasons. Firstly, with Service Now you are locked into t...
What industries do you think OutSystems is most useful for?
I cannot really name an industry in which OutSystems cannot be beneficial. Who does not want to make top-notch applic...
How did you decide which OutSystems edition was the best one for you?
We started using OutSystems fairly recently, so we are still on the free version of it. My company is still testing ...
Is Pega BPM easy to work with and can beginners utilize this software?
You do need some preparation to be able to use all functions of Pega BPM. However, all users of this platform are in ...
Have you encountered any issues while using Pega BPM and were you assisted by the company?
My company has been using this tool for years and the only issue we have had, if you can call it that, was while sett...
When you consider the features and benefits of Pega BPM, would you say this product is fairly priced?
Pega BPM can be considered overpriced for some; it all depends on the size of your company and the requirements of y...
Would you choose ServiceNow over Microsoft PowerApps?
Hi Netanya, I will choose ServiceNow because ServiceNow is a very good tool compared to Microsoft PowerApp. Because ...
What do you like most about ServiceNow?
The solution has a user-friendly interface.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ServiceNow?
ServiceNow is expensive for all regions. The licensing cost per year per user is not precisely known but is considere...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Pega BPM, Pegasystems, SmartBPM, PegaRULES
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Randstad, Warner Brothers, HP, Intel, ING, Banco Popular, Thrivent Financial, Bacardi, Kent State University, Bacardi, FICO, ING, Vodafone, AbbVie, Estafeta, Siemens, Vopak
The State of Maine, ANZ, Coca-Cola, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), ME, New South Wales, OptumRx, Texas Department of Transportation, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement
AAA, AstraZeneca, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Broadcom, Christus Health, Epicor, Equinix, GE Capital, Intuit, KPMG, Loyola Marymount University, OshKosh, Quantas, RedHat, Royal Bank of Scotland, Swiss Re, U.S. Department of Energy, Safeway, Yale University, and Zillow    
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, ServiceNow, OutSystems and others in Rapid Application Development Software. Updated: May 2025.
853,271 professionals have used our research since 2012.