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Google Vertex AI vs IBM Watson Studio comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

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

Google Vertex AI
Ranking in AI Development Platforms
2nd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
10
Ranking in other categories
AI Infrastructure (1st)
IBM Watson Studio
Ranking in AI Development Platforms
10th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
15
Ranking in other categories
Data Science Platforms (11th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the AI Development Platforms category, the mindshare of Google Vertex AI is 13.1%, down from 20.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Watson Studio is 1.5%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
AI Development Platforms
 

Featured Reviews

Serge Dahdouh - PeerSpot reviewer
A user-friendly platform that automatizes machine learning techniques with minimal effort
We work with clients who request the implementation of a certain document into a chatbot. Because of the limited knowledge of AI, our task is to link that file to the ML and provide a platform that can work as a customer service. We previously used LangChain Phython, but now it is done through Vertex AI.
Abilio Duarte - PeerSpot reviewer
A highly robust and well-documented platform that simplifies the complex world of AI
The main challenge lies in visibility and ease of use. Providing training sessions can be immensely helpful in helping users navigate and understand the tool's potential. This approach would empower users to explore and make the most of the tools and technologies at their disposal. Another area where IBM could enhance its offering is by providing more visibility to end users regarding the vast potential that Watson offers.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"We extensively utilize Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform for our machine learning workflows. Specifically, we leverage the IO branch for EDA data in Suresh Live Virtual, employing Forte IT for training machine learning models. The AI model registry in Vertex AI is crucial for cataloging and managing various versions of the models we develop. When it comes to deploying models, we rely on Google Cloud's AI Prediction service, seamlessly integrating it into our workflow for real-time predictions or streaming. For monitoring and tracking the outcomes of model development, we employ Vertex AI Monitoring, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the model's performance and results. This integrated approach within Vertex AI provides a unified platform for managing, deploying, and monitoring machine learning models efficiently."
"Vertex comes with inbuilt integration with GCP for data storage."
"The integration of AutoML features streamlines our machine-learning workflows."
"Vertex AI possesses multiple libraries, so it eliminates the need for extensive coding."
"It provides the most valuable external analytics."
"The monitoring feature is a true life-saver for data scientists. I give it a ten out of ten."
"Google Vertex AI is an out-of-the-box and very easy-to-use solution."
"The most valuable features of the solution are that it is quite flexible, and some of the services are almost low-code, with no-code services, so it gives agents flexibility to build the use cases according to the operational needs."
"Watson Studio is the most complete tool for AI projects."
"It is a stable, reliable product."
"It is a very stable and reliable solution."
"Stability-wise, it is a great tool."
"For me, the valuable feature of the solution is the one that I used, which was Jupyter notebooks."
"In my experience, AutoML is the most valuable feature of IBM Watson Studio."
"The solution is very easy to use."
"The most important thing is that it's a multi-faceted solution. It's a kind of specialist, not a generalist. It can produce very specific information for the customer. It's totally different from Google or any search engine that produces generic information. It's specialty is that it's all on video."
 

Cons

"Google Vertex AI is good in machine learning and AI, but it lacks optimization."
"The tool's documentation is not good. It is hard."
"Both major systems, Azure and Google, are not yet stabilized, especially their customer support."
"I'm not sure if I have suggestions for improvement."
"I've noticed that using chat activity often presents a broader range of options and insights for a well-constructed question. Improving the knowledge base could be a key aspect for enhancement—expanding the information sources to enhance the generation process."
"The solution is stable, but it is quite slow. Maybe my data is too large, but I think that Google could improve Vertex AI's training time."
"I think the technical documentation is not readily available in the tool."
"It would be beneficial to have certain features included in the future, such as image generators and text-to-speech solutions."
"I want IBM's technical support team to provide more specific answers to queries."
"The solution's interface is very slow at times."
"So a better user interface could be very helpful"
"We would like to see it less as one big, massive product, but more based on smaller services that we can then roll out to consumers."
"The decision making in their decision making feature is less good than other options."
"We would like to see it more web-based with more functionality."
"IBM Watson Studio, while powerful, lacks user-friendliness. It is not easy to use, particularly for medium or small enterprises or less experienced staff."
"Watson Studio would be improved with a clearer path for the deployment of docker images."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price structure is very clear"
"The solution's pricing is moderate."
"The Versa AI offers attractive pricing. With this pricing structure, I can leverage various opportunities to bring value to my business. It's a positive aspect worth considering."
"I think almost every tool offers a decent discount. In terms of credits or other stuff, every cloud provider provides a good number of incentives to onboard new clients."
"The pricing is generally reasonable and straightforward but can vary significantly depending on the specific workloads in use."
"Watson Studio's pricing is reasonable for what you get."
"IBM Watson Studio is an expensive solution."
"IBM Watson Studio is a reasonably priced product"
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Retailer
7%
Financial Services Firm
15%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Educational Organization
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Google Vertex AI?
We extensively utilize Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform for our machine learning workflows. Specifically, we leverage the IO branch for EDA data in Suresh Live Virtual, employing Forte IT for trai...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Vertex AI?
They have different pricing models like pay-as-you-go or subscription model, and total cost of ownership. It is comparatively cheaper than Azure.
What needs improvement with Google Vertex AI?
I'm not sure if I have suggestions for improvement. Based on my comparison between the two, Vertex has various additional functionalities that Azure doesn't provide.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Watson Studio?
The pricing of Watson Studio is justified by the benefits and power it offers.
What needs improvement with IBM Watson Studio?
One area that could be improved is the backup and restoration of the database and the overall database configuration. There were also challenges with programming the network extension in the last p...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Watson Studio, IBM Data Science Experience, Data Science Experience, DSx
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
GroupM, Accenture, Fifth Third Bank
Find out what your peers are saying about Google Vertex AI vs. IBM Watson Studio and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
851,604 professionals have used our research since 2012.