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IBM MQ pros and cons

Vendor: IBM
4.2 out of 5
Badge Ranked 1

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

IBM MQ is renowned for its reliability, ensuring messages are not lost and providing a robust integration platform for critical business needs.
It is highly scalable, supporting a range of messaging topologies and handling high transaction volumes efficiently.
Security is a key feature, with advanced options like SSL, TLS, and RBAC, offering compliance and data protection.
IBM MQ's guaranteed delivery feature ensures seamless message exchanges across distributed systems, including integration with mainframe applications.
It provides exceptional stability and performance, supported by a reliable vendor with strong support, making it a preferred choice in industries like finance.

CONS

Scalability and scaling with IBM MQ have limitations compared to other cloud-native products, with issues in workload balance and high availability.
Handling large volumes is challenging, with limitations in queue sizes, message lengths, and overall capacity, preventing scalability.
There is a lack of integration with newer technologies and systems like Kafka, RabbitMQ, and public cloud messaging solutions, making it less competitive.
Cost is a significant issue, with high licensing fees and expensive scaling, causing some users to seek alternatives like open-source solutions.
IBM MQ support and customer service have room for improvement, especially in responsiveness and knowledge provision during critical situations.
 

IBM MQ Pros review quotes

solution259344 - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
Mar 21, 2017
Support for JMS 2.0, because we develop solutions compatible with Java EE7.
it_user631683 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Mar 22, 2017
The thing that I like about MQ most is its reliability. It's one of those types of products that just works. You don't have to tinker around with it too much.
it_user631719 - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Architect at a transportation company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Mar 22, 2017
It's ability to scale, it's ability to do guaranteed delivery and it's ability to do point-to-point of what we subscribe are the most valuable features.
Learn what your peers think about IBM MQ. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
879,889 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user631794 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Principal Integration Architect at Sabre
Mar 22, 2017
It is very robust and very scalable.
it_user632751 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at a aerospace/defense firm with 10,001+ employees
Mar 22, 2017
There are a lot of extensible options for security, i.e., various things you can do. It's pretty easy to navigate.
it_user671943 - PeerSpot reviewer
Principal Middleware Engineer / Automation Specialist at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jun 27, 2017
Reliability is the most valuable feature. MQ is used to support critical business applications.
GB
Senior Solutions Architect at Department of Justice
Dec 6, 2017
We have implemented business to business transactions over MQ messaging. The guaranteed and once only delivery ensures business integrity.
it_user340590 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Solution Architect or Program Manager at a financial services firm
Jan 4, 2018
Has helped integrate between applications, reduce rework, and costs by reusing working components of existing applications.
BN
Architect at Franklin Templeton
Jun 5, 2018
We use queue managers/concentrators for message flow going upstream and downstream on applications with enterprise licenses.
it_user885045 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consulting BPM Architect at Ivory Software Corp
Jun 7, 2018
It runs everywhere, from the mainframe in the US to the PCs in the Gobi desert attached to an analog modem.
 

IBM MQ Cons review quotes

solution259344 - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
Mar 21, 2017
They need to add the ability to send full messages (header + payload) from the MQ Explorer program, not just the payload.
it_user631683 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Mar 22, 2017
I would just like a more user-friendly experience to do common administration tasks. I know that you can use MQ Explorer, but having something that's already built in would definitely be useful.
it_user631719 - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Architect at a transportation company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Mar 22, 2017
I would like the ability to connect with some of the more recent offerings, such as API Connect; being able to publish our MQ endpoints, the queues, the messaging infrastructure as IT assets.
Learn what your peers think about IBM MQ. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
879,889 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user631794 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Principal Integration Architect at Sabre
Mar 22, 2017
At a recent conference, I went to a presentation that had the latest version and it has amazing stuff that's coming out. So, I am excited to use those, specifically surrounding the web console and the fact that it's API integrated.
it_user632751 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at a aerospace/defense firm with 10,001+ employees
Mar 22, 2017
Presenting and maybe having some different options for different user experiences based on the administrative duties that you have to do as an app manager or configure the server or security would be an improvement.
it_user671943 - PeerSpot reviewer
Principal Middleware Engineer / Automation Specialist at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jun 27, 2017
The installation of product upgrades and patches is very difficult. It requires the use of the IBM Installation Manager (IM).
GB
Senior Solutions Architect at Department of Justice
Dec 6, 2017
It needs a User Interface which is better than the aging MQ Explorer. The existing solution MQ Explorer is outdated.
it_user340590 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Solution Architect or Program Manager at a financial services firm
Jan 4, 2018
the level of training as well as product marketing for this product are not that great. You rarely find a good training institute that provides training. Many of the architects in several organization are neither aware of the product nor interested in using it. IBM should provide good training on products like this.
BN
Architect at Franklin Templeton
Jun 5, 2018
SonicMQ CAA (continuous availability architecture) functionality on auto failover and data persistence should be made available without a shared drive, as it exists in multi-instance queue managers.
it_user885045 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consulting BPM Architect at Ivory Software Corp
Jun 7, 2018
It could get a face lift with a modern marketing campaign.