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HCL Domino vs Oracle Application Express (APEX) comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 17, 2024

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
4.4
Opinions vary on HCL Domino's ROI; some see benefits in efficiency, while new users face challenges assessing its value.
Sentiment score
6.2
Oracle APEX accelerates app development, meeting ROI targets quickly, despite challenges in assessing ROI from brief usage periods.
A project that might take several months in another language can be completed in just two months using Oracle Application Express (APEX).
Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.1
HCL Domino's customer service needs improvement, with mixed technical support feedback, highlighting responsiveness but needing more user-friendliness.
Sentiment score
6.6
Oracle APEX support is robust with ample resources and a vibrant community, though some face slow resolution times and regional constraints.
My experience with the technical support of HCL is that they are responsive.
Owner at Prodej a Správa Nemovitostí s.r.o.
There are many forums where I can gather answers and a very well-prepared documentation that Oracle provides.
Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius
Whenever I encounter an issue and raise an SR to Oracle, I receive a fast response from their side.
Trainee Technical Consultant at simplelogic
There are lots of people readily available to help with any doubts or questions.
Senior Software developer at QV Systems
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
HCL Domino is scalable for all team sizes, though some users find limitations with larger databases and seek alternatives.
Sentiment score
6.7
Oracle APEX is scalable for small to medium applications, handling high user counts well with proper hardware and configuration.
Some features are simply not really possible with standard HCL client applications, which means moving all application development to web access, adding a lot of work.
Owner at Prodej a Správa Nemovitostí s.r.o.
Oracle Application Express (APEX) exhibits excellent scalability as it can handle growing workloads and user numbers very well.
Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.1
HCL Domino is praised for its stability with minimal downtime, despite occasional issues, consistently receiving positive evaluations.
Sentiment score
7.8
Oracle APEX is widely regarded as stable, with high satisfaction ratings despite minor issues during version transitions.
Once we develop an application, it basically works and does not really break.
Owner at Prodej a Správa Nemovitostí s.r.o.
Oracle Application Express (APEX) is stable in my experience.
Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius
 

Room For Improvement

HCL Domino needs performance, design, and integration improvements to enhance scalability, modernity, and compatibility with third-party tools.
Oracle APEX requires improvements in offline functionality, database integration, performance, mobile support, UI customization, and comprehensive documentation.
In-line editing of documents and a document viewer are functionalities that would be beneficial.
SME at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
I would say that there are much better low-code platforms.
Owner at Prodej a Správa Nemovitostí s.r.o.
Oracle Application Express (APEX) was designed to work with the database consistently, making it less ideal for offline applications.
Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius
The user interface needs to be improved.
Consultant at International Turnkey Systems - ITS
Using AI to analyze data without needing much code would be better.
Senior Software developer at QV Systems
 

Setup Cost

HCL Domino's pricing, about $100 per user annually, includes support and updates, yet some find it costly compared to alternatives.
Oracle APEX is free with Oracle Database but can be costly due to database licensing fees, offering trial options.
The Notes client is very expensive, costing around $105 per client.
SME at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
 

Valuable Features

HCL Domino provides secure, stable, and integrated solutions with advanced encryption, mobile integration, and efficient deployment for diverse systems.
APEX enables fast app development with low-code ease, strong integration, user-friendly interfaces, and efficient web-based solutions.
Additionally, it supports web services, enabling us to consume and expose web services.
SME at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
You can make it do many things because it is an application server.
Owner at Prodej a Správa Nemovitostí s.r.o.
It's a very fast platform with many built-in components that I can utilize right away.
Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius
Oracle APEX is very easy to use and comes with a lot of ready-made components that speed up the process of creating reports and dashboards.
Consultant at International Turnkey Systems - ITS
The ability to quickly develop applications without needing to code a lot is very valuable.
Senior Software developer at QV Systems
 

Categories and Ranking

HCL Domino
Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software
18th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle Application Express ...
Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
62
Ranking in other categories
Development Platforms (2nd), Low-Code Development Platforms (4th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Rapid Application Development Software category, the mindshare of HCL Domino is 1.0%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Application Express (APEX) is 5.9%, down from 8.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Rapid Application Development Software Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Oracle Application Express (APEX)5.9%
HCL Domino1.0%
Other93.1%
Rapid Application Development Software
 

Featured Reviews

FN
Owner at Prodej a Správa Nemovitostí s.r.o.
Long-term platform has supported secure mail, custom workflows, and reliable on-premise apps
I have noticed some weak points and downsides. HCL Domino is a Swiss army knife, which is the downside as well. It does many things, which is an advantage. The biggest downside is that it is a good product, but there are not that many applications for it. There are not that many ready-made applications. When they do exist, they tend to be somewhat pricey. I have not actually used HCL Domino's low-code tools. There are no low-code tools. HCL says there are, but frankly speaking, I have tried it and I always come back to the classic, the original HCL Domino. I do not see it as truly low-code. They call it Leap. Even when you want to do something more specific or more complex, you do need programming logic and then it stops being low-code. I would say that there are much better low-code platforms. N8N, for instance, looks nice with nice diagrams, especially for workflow and automation, which is where HCL Domino is lacking. The evaluation of the security features of HCL Domino in handling sensitive business information is that it has a peculiar security model, which I view as acceptable. Sometimes it may get in your way, but sometimes it simplifies things. It depends.
Dominik Grabiński - PeerSpot reviewer
Oracle APEX Developer at Pretius
Fast low-code web development has transformed how I build complex data-driven business apps
Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a very great tool that is easy to learn but hard to master. The level of entry is very low, but the longer I work with this platform, the more I understand how it works and the great things I can create. For example, I can create report graphs and handle a lot of data across many levels. It's a great application to start with, and when I have experience in Oracle databases, I can utilize Oracle Application Express (APEX) as a front-end tool for the Oracle database. Oracle Application Express (APEX) helps me create reports and graphs by providing a plethora of out-of-the-box solutions that I can use. For example, I can upload data to and from the database, upload photos, create maps, and create various report types such as Interactive Report and Interactive Grid where I can manage, edit, and delete data. I have many solutions that are very helpful and ready to use right away from Oracle Application Express (APEX). My favorite feature of Oracle Application Express (APEX) is the Interactive Report because it's a straightforward report that I can create using a simple query or by selecting a particular table from the database. In the action button behind it, I have many great features that I can use out of the box, including graphs and download options for Excel files. There are many sorting functionalities and accounting features. The Interactive Report is a very great tool for quickly displaying interesting data to clients. Oracle Application Express (APEX) has positively impacted my organization by being very fast compared to other languages and products. For example, I don't have to build a site from the ground up, nor do I have to create tons of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript because Oracle Application Express (APEX) offers many built-in solutions. When I want to create a button, in another language, I would need to create it from scratch. In Oracle Application Express (APEX), I can simply use what's available out of the box. It's a very fast platform with many built-in components that I can utilize right away.
report
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Computer Software Company
9%
Retailer
7%
Government
12%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business17
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise2
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business30
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise28
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HCL Domino?
The Notes client is very expensive, costing around $105 per client. Overall, HCL Domino is a costly product.
What needs improvement with HCL Domino?
I have noticed some weak points and downsides. HCL Domino is a Swiss army knife, which is the downside as well. It does many things, which is an advantage. The biggest downside is that it is a good...
What is your primary use case for HCL Domino?
The primary purposes for which HCL Domino is used are mail and applications.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Application Express (APEX)?
I don't have a straightforward answer regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing for Oracle Application Express (APEX) because the clients pay for this, not me. I'm the developer hired by one co...
What needs improvement with Oracle Application Express (APEX)?
I chose to rate it a 9 out of 10 because no application is perfect for everything. For instance, if I want to create an application for mobile or offline use, Oracle Application Express (APEX) migh...
 

Also Known As

IBM Lotus Domino, Lotus Domino
Oracle APEX
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

A1 Telekom, Acubiz, Afrisam, E. A. Juffali & Brothers, Fiducia & GAD, and Pakistan State Oil
Hepart AG, pharmasol, SATLOG, Collège Bois-de-Boulogne
Find out what your peers are saying about HCL Domino vs. Oracle Application Express (APEX) and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.
884,933 professionals have used our research since 2012.