We use it mainly for enterprise and business architecture including application landscape and interface landscape. In some instances, we use it for business processes and roadmapping.
Innovative ICT Architect at a tech company with 201-500 employees
A good solution for modeling or automated testing but the interface is not user friendly and is outdated
Pros and Cons
- "It is a useful tool for modeling and testing automated processes."
- "When collaborating with other people, it needs to be more user-friendly."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
I am not a big fan of using Sparx. The interface is not user-friendly and is outdated. For example, it is not possible to only open a view you've created or to open one project at a time instead of the entire package.
I'm not looking into expanding the use of Enterprise Architect, but I'm looking into replacing it.
What is most valuable?
It has been a useful tool for modeling and testing automated processes.
What needs improvement?
It would be beneficial to incorporate features like document management usage of video models or PowerPoint visuals that you can import and easily use, instead of having to buy extended modules. When collaborating with other people, it needs to be more user-friendly. I cannot get businesses to use enterprise architect as it is too complicated for them.
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Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect
August 2025

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For how long have I used the solution?
Our organization has used this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of this solution depends on the availability of the license server. If this connection is set up properly, the stability is okay. It does take a long time to load model projects.
How was the initial setup?
It was straightforward. It involved connecting to the license server and deploying the solution.
It was deployed within two weeks.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We purchased it once off for 1200 euros. If we want to build integrations with other systems such as Word or SharePoint, we would need to pay approximately 300 euros for this.
What other advice do I have?
Sparx is a good tool for extended usage such as modeling or automated testing. It allows you to do good testing upfront. If the only intention is to use it for architecture modeling and visuals, it may not be the best solution.
I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

System Architect, SCRUM Product Owner at a tech company with 10,001+ employees
Usability could improve, more options needed, but simple installation
Pros and Cons
- "The installation was very easy."
- "I have found the solution is lacking options. The general usability needs improvement and more compliance to CML definitions."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect for model-based system engineering.
What needs improvement?
I have found the solution is lacking options. The general usability needs improvement and more compliance to CML definitions.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect for approximately two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability could improve.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability could improve in my experience.
We have hundreds of employees in my company that are using this solution.
How are customer service and support?
The company does not put a lot of focus on technical support. I am not sure if they are overloaded but there is improvement needed.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I was previously using PTC Windchill and we switched to Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect because it was too expensive.
How was the initial setup?
The installation was very easy.
What about the implementation team?
Our IT department did the implementation of the solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would not recommend this solution to others.
I rate Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect a five out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect
August 2025

Learn what your peers think about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.
867,445 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Digital Asset Intelligence Lead at a construction company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Good functionality and has improved efficiency; UI could be enhanced
Pros and Cons
- "The company has become more efficient and reduced its budget."
- "The UI could be improved and made a little bit more presentable."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is related to the architecture around tying the business objectives and values to their maintenance management and asset management system. I'm a digital asset intelligence lead and we are customers of Sparx.
How has it helped my organization?
The company wants to reduce its maintenance budget so the aim is to get more for less. The solution has achieved this and improved efficiency.
What is most valuable?
Sparx has good functionality to tie back the requirements coming all the way up to the balance score card. The connection is good as well being reusable so you can tweak the system and change different elements in it, which actually cascade down and see the connections with the other elements.
What needs improvement?
I think the UI could be improved and made a little bit more presentable. I've also found that sometimes finding the track of the information inside can be difficult. All their topics and help are related to each other with one link over the other and it's a bit like going down a rabbit hole and not being able to find your way back. It would be helpful to have some form of infographic showing how these concepts are related to each other. But I also understand that there is a huge amount of information available and sometimes finding the proper tool is not easy.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for almost a year.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the solution seven out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Owner at a marketing services firm with 11-50 employees
A cheap, flexible, and capable tool with good scripting and automation support
Pros and Cons
- "There are a couple of things. Price is one thing, but we also like the scriptability of it. We got into scripting it and automating tasks with it, and it is super duper easy to do and helpful. The API has improved over the years. We automate everything, and I love the automation aspects of it."
- "It took me a while to figure out how to use the report generation features effectively. So, it would be really nice if they had a way to make that a little bit more interactive and a little bit more straightforward."
What is our primary use case?
We use it for data modeling, business process modeling, and all kinds of enterprise architecture tasks such as DoDAF, ArchiMate, SysML, and UML. We do a lot of data modeling, model transformation, and GIS modeling with it.
We are using its latest version.
What is most valuable?
There are a couple of things. Price is one thing, but we also like the scriptability of it. We got into scripting it and automating tasks with it, and it is super duper easy to do and helpful. The API has improved over the years. We automate everything, and I love the automation aspects of it.
What needs improvement?
Its documentation is not 100% perfect, but it is good enough. It is powerful, but because it is so powerful, it is sort of arcane.
It took me a while to figure out how to use the report generation features effectively. So, it would be really nice if they had a way to make that a little bit more interactive and a little bit more straightforward.
Something that is a little bit annoying is that the changes that you make to models are instant and permanent. So, you have to be careful with what you do, and you should do a backup or have some kind of a version control scheme in there. I'm used to Word where you can hit Control+Z and undo what you just did. It is not quite that way in Enterprise Architect. There are cases where the model changes, so you got to be careful with what you do before you change the model.
For how long have I used the solution?
I set up our Pro Cloud Server literally last week. I've used EA for 10 years or more.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I don't think I've ever had it crash before.
How are customer service and technical support?
They're amazing. They're a great company. All my interactions with them have been outstanding. So, they're good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I've used a few other tools such as public domain RG and System Architect. EA is a good, cheap, flexible, and capable tool.
How was the initial setup?
EA is extremely easy to set up and use once you know what you're doing. You really do need to have some kind of an overview from someone to get it started. They have good online tutorials, so you can get going. It is pretty easy to get going.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is cheap.
What other advice do I have?
I am about to do testing of interoperability between EA, System Architect, and a few other things. I'll be really interested to see how the ins and outs of sharing artifacts between those two capabilities work.
I would advise others who are looking into implementing EA to get training. I learned it the hard way. I'm hardheaded, and I just went at it myself, but getting training is going to be a helpful thing on what to do and how to do it correctly. I would learn how to do what you're trying to do before buying a tool to do it. Data modeling is not just about the tool, it is about the actual data modeling itself. So, if you're going to do enterprise architecture, you have to take enterprise architecture training from The FEAC Institute or another institute. Instead of just going right in and using the tool, it is better to be trained. I train my people in what they're doing and not just the tool. They do it way better when I give them the tool.
I would rate Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect an eight out of 10. We do a lot of things with it, and it is a great tool, but no one is a 10.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
IT Project Manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Easy to use for making diagrams and metrics
Pros and Cons
- "A feature I like most about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is its ease of use."
- "What should be improved are the integration capabilities of the solution with Bizagi."
What is our primary use case?
I want a solution that can interface with Jira and Confluence, both of which my customers have, as well as with that of Bizagi.
What is most valuable?
A feature I like most about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is its ease of use.
What needs improvement?
My customers use Bizagi, although I do not. I don't want to change this. What should be improved, however, are the integration capabilities of the solution with Bizagi.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I work with IBM in enterprise architecture as the project manager. I used to use IBM Rational System Architect. I can now see as a consultant what I am able to offer the customer, not only that of IBM, of course. I am currently seeking solutions other than IBM.
I previously used other tools, such as IBM's enterprise architect, although the tool has since been sold and the company changed. The IBM tool offers certain customization features which are not found in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, although I can live with what it has at the moment.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Since all the staff is already trained in Bizagi and find it easy to use, I do not wish to change this, but only to load all the processes from it to Sparx. This is my approach.
The Bizagi model is only for process. It is not an enterprise architect tool. Only Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, but not Bizagi, allows one to make diagrams and metrics, to examine the relationship between all the elements.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System Engineer at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
Supports SysML and UML, METLAB compatible, but more toolboxes needed
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to use, supports SysML and UML, and is able to connect to MATLAB. This is very important for us."
- "There should be a MATLAB-specific toolbox added to the solution with better compatibility. The connections currently are good but in the future, it needs a huge improvement."
What is our primary use case?
We are developing EC software and I am in charge of that software system architecture for which I am using this solution.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to use, supports SysML and UML, and is able to connect to MATLAB. This is very important for us.
What needs improvement?
There should be a MATLAB-specific toolbox added to the solution with better compatibility. The connections currently are good but in the future, it needs a huge improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for approximately four months.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have not tried to scale the solution yet but there are add-ons and extensions that are available.
How was the initial setup?
The initial installation is complex. However, there are some very good tutorials online that we have been using.
What about the implementation team?
We are doing the implementation ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is a license for this solution. When comparing this solution to others it is priced well.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have evaluated IBM doors.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
IT Architect at a government with 10,001+ employees
Provides us with good integration between different notations
Pros and Cons
- "Features good reporting facilities coupled with a concrete database."
- "This solution is quite complex to use. It would be nice if the learning curve wasn't so steep."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for our enterprise architecture and all forms of data modeling using UML.
Within our company, there are roughly 25 employees using this solution.
We use this solution a lot. In fact, we plan on using it to cover all of our enterprise architecture-related tasks.
What is most valuable?
This solution provides us with good integration between different notations. It also features good reporting facilities coupled with a concrete database.
What needs improvement?
This solution is quite complex to use. It would be nice if the learning curve wasn't so steep.
I can't think of any additional features that I would like to see in the next release. There are already plenty; if there were any more, it would only become harder to use.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect for the past 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution is quite stable.
How are customer service and technical support?
I haven't had to contact technical support.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup isn't easy, but it's not hard either — it's in between.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I think our license costs roughly $1,000 a year, but I could be wrong.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others. Just make sure to hire an expert to get you started.
Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of eight.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Co-Owner at Edusolution s.c.
A visual modeling and design tool that's stable and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "It's a stable and scalable solution. I like that it's similar to Rational Rose."
- "It could be more user-friendly. The tools could be more simple to use. It's a very complex solution. Because I am a business analyst, I use these tools to manage requirements, and I make models in UML, BPMN, and ArchiMate, and it's complex. In the next release, I would like to see more integrations."
What is our primary use case?
I use Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect to model BPM, UML, model enterprise architecture, and use with ArchiMate.
What is most valuable?
It's a stable and scalable solution. I like that it's similar to Rational Rose.
What needs improvement?
It could be more user-friendly. The tools could be more simple to use. It's a very complex solution. Because I am a business analyst, I use these tools to manage requirements, and I make models in UML, BPMN, and ArchiMate, and it's complex. In the next release, I would like to see more integrations.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect for over ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is a scalable solution. The number of users we have depends on the project. In some projects, we have about 20 people, or in small projects, just one person.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
A few years ago, I used Rational Rose, and Sparx Enterprise Architect is similar. In comparison to Rational Rose, it's more stable.
How was the initial setup?
It's a very easy installation.
What about the implementation team?
I implemented this solution by myself. You need a technical team with three to five people to deploy and maintain this solution.
What other advice do I have?
In Poland, it's a very popular tool, and I recommended it. It's not ideal, but they are very good tools.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect a nine.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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Updated: August 2025
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