ARIS Architect and Designer vs erwin Data Modeler comparison

Software AG and Quest Software are both solutions in the Business Process Design category. Software AG is ranked #9 with an average rating of 9.2, while Quest Software is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.2. Software AG holds a 1.6% mindshare in BPD, compared to Quest Software’s 2.8% mindshare. Additionally, 83% of Software AG users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.

ARIS Architect and Designer

Read 11 ARIS Architect and Designer reviews

1,178 Views
1,166 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

erwin Data Modeler

Read 50 erwin Data Modeler reviews

7,115 Views
2,206 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

ARIS Architect and Designer

erwin Data Modeler

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 1, 2026

erwin Data Modeler and ARIS Architect and Designer compete in the data modeling and enterprise architecture software category. ARIS Architect and Designer seems to have the upper hand due to its strong process mapping and integration capabilities, which are essential for enterprise architecture management.

Features: erwin Data Modeler focuses on generating and synchronizing data sources, offering comprehensive visual representations of complex data models, and automating engineering processes. Its standout features include forward and reverse engineering, data lineage documentation, and template flexibility. ARIS Architect and Designer excels in process mapping, metadata definition, and cross-notational alignment, which aid in enterprise architecture management and compliance. It provides enhanced integration capabilities for detailed process analysis.

Room for Improvement: erwin Data Modeler users report difficulties with an outdated interface and cumbersome navigation, and seek better Linux integration, more dynamic reporting, and improved synchronization with big data architectures. ARIS Architect and Designer could improve its cloud reliability, as users encounter occasional data corruption issues, and they seek enhanced collaboration features and simplified licensing options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: erwin Data Modeler offers on-premises and cloud-based deployment options. Its customer service is generally considered satisfactory, though users note some inconsistency. ARIS Architect and Designer also provides on-premises solutions with similar customer service ease, praised for efficient problem resolution but with occasional delays. Both solutions receive positive ratings for overall support quality, despite variability.

Pricing and ROI: erwin Data Modeler is seen as expensive, especially for individual users or regions with lower incomes, though it offers substantial ROI via time savings and enhanced data governance. Users suggest more affordable pricing structures. ARIS Architect and Designer faces high licensing cost critiques, potentially hindering adoption, but also offers significant ROI by improving process efficiency and data management. Both tools provide benefits that can outweigh their cost for certain users.

To learn more, read our detailed ARIS Architect and Designer vs. erwin Data Modeler Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

ARIS Architect and Designer vs. erwin Data Modeler

April 2026

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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

ARIS Architect and Designer

Ranking in Business Process Design

9th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

erwin Data Modeler

Ranking in Business Process Design

5th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

5.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Architecture Management (1st), Data Governance (10th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Business Process Design category, the mindshare of ARIS Architect and Designer is 1.6%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of erwin Data Modeler is 2.8%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Process Design Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
erwin Data Modeler	2.8%
ARIS Architect and Designer	1.6%
Other	95.6%

Business Process Design

Featured Reviews

BeenishMustafa

Consultant at KAFD DMC

Has raised concerns about pricing while expressing satisfaction with its contribution to optimizing internal processes

Considering the integration capability of the product, it contributes to data-driven decision-making in our case. We see some impact of reporting tools on performance tracking or strategic planning. We do different kinds of analysis in regard to due integration controls, risk, and how we can strengthen the processes and the activities. We use it for various purposes. Regarding the process visualization framework, it helps to improve communication and collaboration in the company in a positive way. Architect is managing all the library management and with regards to the filter management. It's always a positive side that if you want to use anything further, we know that we can reach out to the Architect to add those objects and those attributes. It's really good.

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Sushree Panigrahi

Snowflake Data Engineer| Senior PLSQL Developer |Data Modeler|Assitant Vice Pre at Jp Morgan Chase & Co.

Data modeling has transformed regulatory reporting and collaboration across cloud environments

In erwin Data Modeler, areas that have room for improvement include performance improvements. I see that large models sometimes cause it to be slow when opening. Impact analysis can lag as well. Version control is another aspect. If we have developed a current version, it is not integrated with Git where we can easily compare different versions. UI modernization is also something we cannot utilize as it is primarily for development. Additionally, cloud-specific optimizations are needed when it comes to Snowflake or Databricks. When it comes to AI aspects, auto-suggestions for normalization or identifying primary, foreign, or surrogate keys are areas that can be improved.

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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

"The most important feature is ARIS's ability to turn a process design into data to analyze anything you want. For example, we have some analysis reports in ARIS that can guide us when we want to change a system. It shows us how this change will affect all of the organization's processes."

"It is suitable for banks, insurance companies, public administration, etc. The method is very adaptable and can be applied independently of the business."

"Considering the integration capability of the product, it contributes to data-driven decision-making in our case."

"One of the most valuable features is how user-friendly ARIS is, compared to other BPM tools. This tool has very diverse types of assets available. ARIS also has a lot of customizable options, different model types, object types, a number of attributes, and a lot of customization is possible. In comparison, Signavio is very limited in terms of model types and object types. So these customizations ARIS offers are really valuable to any client who wants to create a BPM repository."

"The most important feature is ARIS's ability to turn a process design into data to analyze anything you want."

"Considering the integration capability of the product, it contributes to data-driven decision-making in our case."

"One of the standout features for me is its synchronization to a publication server. It makes sharing diagrams and links with non-users easy."

"Its user interface is highly regarded, especially when compared with Visual Paradigm."

More ARIS Architect and Designer pros

"Sometimes you have an initial idea for a data model and when you try to design it in Erwin you realize that you were wrong in how you approached it."

"The best features of erwin Data Modeler include the forward engineering tool, which gives you the schema according to the data model that you generate."

"It supports a wide variety of databases, including the latest ones. We have chosen to go for a cloud-based database, and it supports that, which is very useful."

"The tool is also very intuitive and easy to use."

"The product allows us to reuse entities and attributes."

"We had some data integration projects, where we needed to integrate it for about 100 databases. Doing that manually is crazy; we can't do that. With erwin, it was much easier to identify which tables and columns could be used for the integration. That means a lot in terms of time and effort as well as my image to the customer, because they can see that we are providing value in a very short time."

"Any tool will do diagramming but I think the ability to put the stuff up in a graphical fashion, then think about it, and keep things consistent is what's valuable about it. It's too easy when you're using other methods to not have naming consistent standards and column consistent definitions, et cetera."

"erwin Data Modeler's ability to generate database code from a model for a wide array of data sources saves time in development, as utilizing the solution allows me to accomplish tasks in minutes compared to the extended time required for manual processes."

More erwin Data Modeler pros

Cons

"Currently, we don't have any metrics to measure the success of ARIS Architect and Designer. We would appreciate it if you could share anything with us that we can do to find out the impact."

"Even with a formal modeling language, users can still draw freely and make a bit of a mess in your repository. It should also improve usability."

"The licenses are very costly. I've seen many people who are hesitant or not able to use ARIS Suite just because of the license cost."

"Sometimes, it's not easy to convince customers to use this methodology because it's a bit rigid."

"Currently, we don't have any metrics to measure the success of ARIS Architect and Designer."

"Sometimes we feel that the designer needs more usability. I understand that the web module or the cloud version is much more user-friendly and easier to work on compared to the client that we download."

"I always tell people not to use the latest version of the ARIS product. They are just providing us with new changes that we don't want."

"Currently, we don't have any metrics to measure the success of ARIS Architect and Designer."

More ARIS Architect and Designer cons

"It has a very steep learning curve, limited support for NoSQL or streaming systems, and potentially a high licensing cost."

"Right now a person with erwin and Excel/VBA has the ability to make changes to models with the API if they also have rights to make changes to the model from erwin. It's a risk."

"I would like to see more support for working with the big-data world. It would be good if they were able to dynamically support big-data platforms, other than Hive and Teradata."

"I would like to have more data sources from other, different vendors. In recent years, the vendor has reduced the number of data sources, and I would like to have more data sources for every brand. For example, with Oracle, I would like to have compatibility for many versions, including old ones, not just the most recent."

"I still use Visio for conceptual modeling, and that's mainly because it is easier to change things, and you can relax some of the rules."

"In terms of new features, it would be great to have a cloud base. We should be able to put it on the cloud for better collaboration and data models sharing."

"I find the UI very clunky and very difficult to use."

"The UI in erwin Data Modeler can be improved significantly because when any new person opens the tool, all the toolbars are kept open with many tools in view, making it appear chunky."

More erwin Data Modeler cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is expensive."

"The tool is a little bit expensive."

"Many customers find the licensing configuration confusing. There are many different sub-details in the licensing, making it very difficult for us to understand what we are buying and what we are using with what."

"The licenses are very costly. I've seen many people who are hesitant or not able to use ARIS Suite just because of the license cost. Even though they like all the functionalities and understand the value of everything ARIS provides, they aren't able to implement it."

"I wish it wasn't so expensive. I would love to personally buy a copy of my own and have it at home, because the next job that I'm looking at is probably project management and I might not have access to the tool. I would like to keep my ability to use the tool. Therefore, they should probably have a pricing for people like me who want to just use the solution as an independent consultant, trying to get started. $3,000 is a big hit."

"The price should be lower in order to be on the same level as its competitors."

"It is not a very expensive solution. Only the licensing and maintenance fee needs to be paid."

"The solution is expensive."

"Price-wise, erwin Data Modeler is okay. You can purchase a single license and it is not very expensive."

"erwin is expensive compared to other solutions. We are paying almost $6,000 per seat a month."

"The tool is expensive."

"This company had bought the license for three years, and it's not an individual license. While you can buy a license for each individual, that would be very expensive. There is something called concurrent licenses where you can purchase licenses in bulk and 15 to 20 people can access the license and model. Concurrent licenses are scalable to the number of users and are proportional to the cost."

More erwin Data Modeler pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Government

10%

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

15%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Performing Arts

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	38

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with ARIS Architect and Designer?

Currently, we don't have any metrics to measure the success of ARIS Architect and Designer. We would appreciate it if you could share anything with us that we can do to find out the impact.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ARIS Architect and Designer?

We spoke with you about ARIS Architect and Designer. We already have two architect licenses, I think three architect licenses, and we have, I think, six or seven designer licenses. Architect is bas...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering ARIS Architect and Designer?

The reviewer is a consultant at KAFD. We would give ARIS Architect and Designer an overall review rating of ten out of ten.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for erwin Data Modeler by Quest?

I have no idea about the setup cost because I did not buy the license.

See all answers

What needs improvement with erwin Data Modeler by Quest?

The UI in erwin Data Modeler can be improved significantly because when any new person opens the tool, all the toolbars are kept open with many tools in view, making it appear chunky. If possible, ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for erwin Data Modeler by Quest?

I primarly use erwin Data Modeler for modeling purposes. Once we have the business requirement, we create the models in erwin Data Modeler, and then we perform forward engineering to get the query ...

See all answers

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Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ARIS Architect and Designer

May 2026

Download ARIS Architect and Designer product report

Buyer's Guide

erwin Data Modeler

May 2026

Download erwin Data Modeler product report

Also Known As

ARIS Architect & Designer, ARIS Architect, ARIS Designer

erwin DM

Overview

ARIS Architect and Designer offers customizable process visualization and collaboration tools designed for efficient enterprise architecture management, emphasizing compliance, governance, and strategic planning.

Organizations use ARIS Architect and Designer for creating central repositories, process modeling, enterprise architecture, and business process design. Its strengths include extensive customization, process visualization, and robust model libraries. Users benefit from metadata definition, cross-notational alignment, and predefined workflows that support compliance and governance. The tool facilitates integration and synchronization for informed decision-making and enhances communication. Improvements are sought in licensing costs, support response, usability, and cloud reliability. Users desire more process mining features, built-in collaborative tools, better data export options, and simplified process modeling.

What are the key features?

User-friendliness: Easy navigation and setup for efficient workflow.
Customization: Tailor processes to specific business requirements.
Robust model library: Access to a wide range of templates and models.
Collaboration capabilities: Enable teamwork with integrated tools.
Process visualization: Enhance understanding of complex processes.
Metadata definition: Define and manage metadata effectively.
Integration and synchronization: Seamless communication across systems.
Compliance and governance: Use predefined workflows to ensure adherence.
Data analysis and reporting: Tools to track performance and aid strategic planning.

What benefits should users look for?

Increased efficiency: Streamlined process design and management.
Enhanced strategic planning: Data-driven tools for informed decisions.
Improved communication: Synchronization across departments.
Compliance support: Meeting regulatory requirements with ease.

ARIS Architect and Designer is primarily deployed on-premise for greater process control and is extensively used across industries for documenting reference models and serving as a knowledge hub. Organizations highlight its role in identifying process gaps, designing architecture diagrams, and generating job descriptions, with future enhancements planned for simulation and dashboard integration.

Software AG

Erwin Data Modeler provides an effective approach to visualizing and managing data models. It assists in creating, reversing, and synchronizing data models with ease, supporting logical and physical transitions while enhancing understanding across teams.

Erwin Data Modeler is a comprehensive tool designed for professional database management. It offers capabilities to organize and enforce standards, automating script generation with robust reverse engineering and DDL output. Users can manage complex data environments, capitalize on integration with data intelligence, and maintain large-scale databases smoothly. Despite its strengths, improvements in multi-language support, database integration, and reporting features are needed. Users benefit from extensive support for conceptual, logical, and physical database modeling, enhancing architectural design and data governance for platforms like SQL Server, Oracle, and Teradata.

What are the key features of Erwin Data Modeler?

Visual Representation: Facilitates clear visualization of data models, aiding comprehension.
Versioning and Editing: Enhance usability with versioning and bulk editing capabilities.
Reverse Engineering: Offers powerful tools for reverse engineering and DDL generation.
Integration: Aligns with data intelligence to streamline database management.
Naming Standards: Enforces consistency with automated script creation.

What benefits should users consider in Erwin Data Modeler reviews?

Collaboration: Promotes team understanding and collaboration through visual tools.
Automation: Reduces manual effort through automated processes and integration.
Scalability: Handles large database management efficiently, crucial for enterprise settings.
Data Governance: Facilitates effective data governance with structured modeling.

Erwin Data Modeler finds application in industries focused on robust data management, implementing it for enterprise data warehouses, business domain models, and operational systems. It supports architectural design and governance, aligning with business applications demanding precise data representation and visualization.

Quest Software

Sample Customers

Tesco, Weifu, Airbus, Siemens, Proximus, Alicorp, Sekerbank, Bancor, Philips,Sky, Emirates NBD, Dubai Municipality, Suva, U.S. Army, Australia Post, Westfalen Weser Energie - ARIS serves customers across all industries and of every size worldwide. Companies trust ARIS as the market leader for process excellence with more than 30 years of experience in the market, 10 million users worldwide, from 1 user companies to the Fortune 500.

Premera, America Honda Motors, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Dental Dental Cali, Cigna, Staples

Buyer's Guide

ARIS Architect and Designer vs. erwin Data Modeler

April 2026

Free Report: ARIS Architect and Designer vs. erwin Data Modeler

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