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IBM MobileFirst vs SAP Mobile Platform comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

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

IBM MobileFirst
Ranking in Mobile App Platforms
6th
Ranking in Mobile Development Platforms
14th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
SAP Mobile Platform
Ranking in Mobile App Platforms
2nd
Ranking in Mobile Development Platforms
12th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
5.6
Number of Reviews
10
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Mobile Development Platforms category, the mindshare of IBM MobileFirst is 4.8%, up from 2.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP Mobile Platform is 3.6%, up from 3.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Mobile Development Platforms Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
SAP Mobile Platform3.6%
IBM MobileFirst4.8%
Other91.6%
Mobile Development Platforms
 

Featured Reviews

MT
Senior Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Streamlines development of hybrid applications, and has ability to integrate device-native code
It was a cakewalk for us to develop mobile apps for three different platforms using IBM MobileFirst. Since it was a consumer application built for large-scale events, it was very crucial for us to manage application compatibility with all sort of devices. With MobielFirst, we could actually achieve this with very little trouble. With help of this product, we have been able to develop mobile applications without having complete knowledge of each mobile OS's native programming. App development, delivery, and code management have been very efficient using this product.
ShahzadRafique - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of Product strategy (Mobility & Islamic Banking) at AutoSoft Dynamics Pvt Ltd
Have faced challenges continuing use due to support discontinuation despite past effectiveness
There was no reporting functionality in the version we used. It all had to be done by another BI or reporting platform, so we used to actually migrate data from SAP Mobile Platform to that platform. Inherently, that product at that time had no reporting capabilities. It had to be done through some other platform. The only issue arose when SAP actually marked it as end-of-support. Otherwise, as a platform, it was fantastic. I don't think there was any major concern we had with the product itself. But when you mark any platform as end-of-support and we, being the OEM partners, it definitely created significant challenges for us.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"One of the most valuable features is that we are using the IBM MobileFirst, which is actually providing a gateway to all the mobile resources either for the employees or for the consumers."
"With help of this product, we have been able to develop mobile applications without having complete knowledge of each mobile OS's native programming technology. App development, delivery, and code management have been very efficient using this product."
"We use it as a secure proxy server for a mobile app using public internet as well as for its mobile app support features."
"I like Its capability for developing hybrid applications, with an ability to integrate device-native code as well"
"IBM MobileFirst has one of the most feature-rich admin panels."
"With help of this product, we have been able to develop mobile applications without having complete knowledge of each mobile OS's native programming technology, and app development, delivery, and code management have been very efficient using this product."
"Technical support is helpful."
"Solid development platform that allows you to automate functions from different backend systems."
"SAP's Mobile Platform has a lot of technical features, however, the way they have written the transaction processing is really smart and we're using it very successfully in terms of scalability and in terms of stability."
"The platform independence is great; I can use it across mobile devices, it's stable, and technical support is helpful."
"With mobile services, they just carry the mobile phone with them, do it straight on the device, and it updates the SAP system, saving quite a lot of time for the end users."
"It's a wonderful solution from a design perspective and from a scalability perspective."
"If we work with the mobile extension of the ERP platform, we save time."
"Ericsson is still working in Pakistan, running one of the biggest mobile wallet platforms in the country, and if SAP hadn't marked it as end-of-life, we could have penetrated this market for at least two to three more customers."
 

Cons

"There are issues with push notifications, especially for Windows mobile apps. JSONStore also crashes abruptly at times."
"There are issues with push notifications, especially for Windows mobile apps. JSONStore also crashes abruptly at times."
"I would like to see improved support for native device functions."
"If it was low code or no code it would be ideal."
"The only thing which basically is bothering us now is that SAP has announced that they'll be ending the support on the SAP platform."
"The only issue arose when SAP actually marked it as end-of-support. Otherwise, as a platform, it was fantastic."
"The licensing model is a bit dated."
"SAP has announced that they'll be ending the support on the SAP platform."
"The toolkit to develop front end applications, especially native applications, is not that good."
"We don't have wider reporting capabilities within mobile services. There is some reporting functionality, which I would classify as very basic, just to indicate how many devices are being connected, but it's not that comprehensive in terms of reporting."
"Installation is extremely painful."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cost depends upon various factors. Size of the overall application and product usage matter a lot. For an enterprise-grade application, this certainly comes out as an economical solution. However, for small-scale applications, it can turn out to be on the higher side."
"The tool is expensive. I rate the tool's price as an eight or nine out of ten."
"The cost of SAP is extremely high, and it's not affordable for everyone."
"If you already paying for an SAP license and have SAP products that you are using, the price for SAP Mobile Platform is negligible."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Marketing Services Firm
6%
Retailer
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business6
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise2
 

Questions from the Community

Ask a question
Earn 20 points
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP Mobile Platform?
The tool is expensive. I rate the tool's price as an eight or nine out of ten.
What needs improvement with SAP Mobile Platform?
There was no reporting functionality in the version we used. It all had to be done by another BI or reporting platform, so we used to actually migrate data from SAP Mobile Platform to that platform...
What is your primary use case for SAP Mobile Platform?
It was basically for branchless banking and mobile wallet. There are multiple use cases built on top of that including agent banking, wallet transactions, fund transfers, merchant payments, and all...
 

Also Known As

MobileFirst, Worklight
SAP Syclo Agentry Mobile Platform, Sybase Mobile Development Platform, Sybase Unwired Platform
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

UniCredit Business Integrated Solutions, Gruppo Unipol, Raymond James Financial, Toshiba GCS, CST, ABK-Systeme GmbH, BNP Paribas
Swarovski, CareFusion Corp., Adarsh Credit Co-operative Society Ltd.
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM MobileFirst vs. SAP Mobile Platform and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.
893,221 professionals have used our research since 2012.