IBM WebSphere Application Server vs JBoss comparison

IBM and Red Hat are both solutions in the Application Server category. IBM is ranked #4 with an average rating of 7.8, while Red Hat is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.2. IBM holds a 13.0% mindshare in AppS, compared to Red Hat’s 16.8% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Red Hat users who would recommend it.

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Read 31 IBM WebSphere Application Server reviews

2,325 Views
1,698 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

JBoss

Read 27 JBoss reviews

2,753 Views
2,463 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

IBM WebSphere Application S...

JBoss

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 2, 2025

IBM WebSphere Application Server and JBoss are competitors in the application server market. IBM WebSphere has the upper hand in terms of enterprise-level support and integration, while JBoss stands out for its cost efficiency and customization capabilities.

Features: IBM WebSphere offers robust security, middleware integration, and enterprise-level scalability. JBoss provides a lightweight, modular architecture with strong community support, making it highly adaptable and cost-effective. IBM emphasizes support and technological advancements, whereas JBoss benefits from its flexibility and open-source nature.

Room for Improvement: IBM WebSphere could improve by reducing licensing costs and enhancing ease of use and customization. JBoss might work on providing more professional support options, enhancing security features, and offering better integration with other systems out of the box.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: JBoss is noted for its straightforward deployment process, modularity, and community-driven support. IBM WebSphere requires a more controlled deployment but is recognized for its exceptional customer service and comprehensive support, appealing to companies seeking consistent service.

Pricing and ROI: IBM WebSphere involves higher upfront costs with enterprise-grade capabilities, impacting short-term ROI but offering long-term benefits through performance and support. JBoss offers a lower setup cost with its open-source model, providing quicker ROI by aligning with specific user needs. The choice often depends on whether an organization prioritizes upfront investment for comprehensive support or prefers cost efficiency and customization.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss

June 2025

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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

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Ranking in Application Server

4th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Infrastructure (3rd)

JBoss

Ranking in Application Server

3rd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Application Server category, the mindshare of IBM WebSphere Application Server is 13.0%, up from 11.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of JBoss is 16.8%, down from 17.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Server

Featured Reviews

BharathirajaSukumar

Senior Lead Analyst at Radial

Efficient load balancing and the clustering, achieved by using the deployment manager, is valuable

I believe that the system is already good. However, for improvement or enhancement, it is user-friendly, but it could offer better choices on the front end for different aspects or options. Sometimes, I have to search extensively for features, as there are no upfront tabs. There is a lack of visible, easy, user-friendly, and straightforward options for the number of features.

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Srinadh Puli

VP at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Automation aids installation while management consolidation needs improvement

We are currently using Ansible for Jira installations and all the management tasks. We perform some tasks manually, however, Ansible helps in automating some of these processes I find JBoss to be lightweight and easier to manage compared to WebSphere. It allows for simple modification of…

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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 scalability of the product is quite good."

"Ease of administration: It has an Integrated Solutions Console, what we call the administrative console, with very detailed configurations and Help pages for each configurable item."

"Network Deployment is the most useful feature for scalability. It has many features within the standard WebSphere Application Server edition."

"It does integrate well with the Tivoli Federated Identity Management system."

"The most valuable features are its user-friendliness and reliability in terms of application hosting."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is Portal Virtualization."

"IBM WAS is the backbone for our enterprise content management suite which delivers the primary processes for our customers. Without a good application server, it would be hard to provide a secure layer of midddleware upon which the other applications run. IBM WAS improves the stability of the entire solution and provides a high quality platform for running web-based solutions."

"We needed this type of integration and WebShepere is the best tool for it."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pros

"The solution has flexibility and stability."

"It is a Java-based product, so it is pretty straightforward. It is pretty easy from a developer's perspective. It is also pretty reliable and scalable."

"There's good documentation and a pretty good community surrounding the product."

"The product integrates well with Java applications."

"The solution's support is very good for repairing components."

"I find JBoss to be lightweight and easier to manage compared to WebSphere."

"The greatest benefit of JBoss is that it was procured by IBM, thereby offering exceptional support for our banking operations."

"The support is fast and reliable."

More JBoss pros

Cons

"The business logic side of it is sort of missing in the sense that if I want to track and measure velocity, it is not really available. You have to buy another application and embark on a separate implementation. Instead of having different licensing, IBM DataPower should be integrated with WebSphere. It will allow us to build the business layer and rules a lot more efficiently, rather than developing rules within the application. It would be good if we can set up the business layer through parametrization rather than development. IBM DataPower has the business rule and the controls, and if it can be integrated, it would be fantastic. It will help the application in working better in terms of security features and business logic. If you're going to use it for open banking, you will be able to monitor velocity on the total pricing."

"I think in some moments, the security was a little bit more complex to configure when it was delegated to other systems, making it an area where improvements are required."

"The main issue we faced was its limited compatibility with non-Java technologies, which can result in difficulty detecting potential bugs and requiring additional integration efforts."

"I find the server okay, however, using the Maker instance, the Moving instance, and the Change instance is a little bit complicated without WebSphere knowledge."

"The security could be better."

"WebSphere is very cumbersome and not user-friendly. It used to have its own JVM, which presented challenges such as different architecture and memory leaks."

"Some things are very difficult to do, so the interface and usage could be more intuitive for those."

"While WebSphere mostly supports IBM HTTP Server (IHS) as the web server plugin, I think it would be beneficial if it also supported Apache and NGINX web servers. That would give customers more flexibility in their choices."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server cons

"The price of the product is an area of concern where improvements are required. The product could be made cheaper."

"The product could be cheaper."

"The price could be improved. Customers don't want to buy the license easily."

"The solution could improve by providing more integration."

"Making it lighter and more modular would probably be beneficial."

"It would be great if the product came with a feature where the remarks made on the board can be saved on an individual's laptop to make it more user-friendly."

"Sometimes the console has a glitch."

"Logging-related issues in JBoss require improvement."

More JBoss cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If your application is just a web app that does not need to scale big, you can obtain a single core license of WAS Express edition, which has almost the same features with limited processing cores. If you manage a very big application farm (i.e. need to run 10 or more WAS servers) it is better to get IBM WAS Hypervisor Edition."

"Room for improvement would only be in the licensing. As with all IBM products the licensing can be complex and expensive. Bargain well and try to get as much discount as possible. Discounts of 85% are possible. Without the discount, I think the product is overrated."

"WebSphere Application Server is expensive, so it may not be a good option for small companies."

"When you purchase Maximo, you get WebSphere for free."

"The price of this product is higher than that of competitors."

"The licensing cost is 1,000 of euros for a 30-year table."

"My company is on a perpetual or permanent license agreement with IBM WebSphere Application Server. There's also a pay-per-use option, but customers rarely choose that option. Most of the customers are on the perpetual license deal that's all-inclusive. As the license cost is quite expensive, I'm rating it two out of five."

"The licensing policy is based on the PVU base."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pricing and cost advice

"Despite the price increase after being acquired by IBM, JBoss still maintains its competitiveness. The package provided is more geared towards cloud-based deployments, whereas our setup is more traditional, which makes it slightly more expensive for us. As most vendors are transitioning towards cloud-centric solutions, companies like ours need to adapt accordingly."

"There is no licensing cost. The solution is free to use."

"I rate the product price as eight on a scale, where one means it is a very cheap solution, and ten points mean that it is a very expensive tool."

"The solution is cost-efficient compared to other products. Pricing is rated an eight out of ten."

"We pay for a maintenance license, but it is not expensive."

"JBoss is an expensive solution."

"The pricing of JBoss is more reasonable than that of WebLogic."

"Since the solution is freeware, our customers don't need to pay any licensing fees."

More JBoss pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

33%

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

29%

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM WebSphere Application Server?

Network Deployment is the most useful feature for scalability. It has many features within the standard WebSphere Application Server edition.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM WebSphere Application Server?

In Korea, when you buy IBM iOS, the WebSphere base version is included with iOS. That means no additional cost.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM WebSphere Application Server?

I find the server okay, however, using the Maker instance, the Moving instance, and the Change instance is a little bit complicated without WebSphere knowledge.

See all answers

What do you like most about JBoss?

The product's initial setup phase is easy.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for JBoss?

JBoss is the cheaper option out of the three when compared to WebSphere and WebLogic. Though I haven't done a detailed price comparison, the licensing fee is cheaper, and due to its flexibility, th...

See all answers

What needs improvement with JBoss?

They are trying to make it less heavyweight since app servers often deliver a lot of functionality. Still, if we aren't leveraging them, they can be too much for certain use cases. Making it lighte...

See all answers

Comparisons

JBoss Enterprise Application Platform vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 26% of the time

Tomcat vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 17% of the time

Oracle WebLogic Server vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 7% of the time

IBM DataPower Gateway vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 6% of the time

HCL Digital Experience vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM WebSphere Application Server Competitors

Tomcat vs JBoss

Compared 28% of the time

Oracle WebLogic Server vs JBoss

Compared 26% of the time

IIS vs JBoss

Compared 5% of the time

TmaxSoft JEUS vs JBoss

Compared 3% of the time

Oracle Fusion Middleware vs JBoss

Compared 2% of the time

More JBoss Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server

June 2025

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JBoss

June 2025

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Also Known As

WebSphere Application Server

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Overview

IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) is a middleware platform developed by IBM. It provides a range of services and tools to help organizations develop, deploy, and manage Java-based applications. WAS is part of IBM's WebSphere product family and provides a secure, scalable, and highly available platform for developing and running web-based applications. WAS provides a secure, scalable, and highly available platform, making it an attractive solution for organizations looking to develop and deploy enterprise-grade applications.

IBM WebSphere Application Server Features

IBM WebSphere Application Server has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Application deployment: IBM WAS enables organizations to deploy and manage applications in a secure and scalable environment.

Clustering: The clustering feature can help organizations ensure high availability and improve application performance.

Load balancing: The solution Includes load balancing capabilities to distribute application workloads and improve performance.

Security: IBM WAS offers a range of security features, including authentication, authorization, and encryption, to help organizations secure their applications and data.

Monitoring and management: The solution’s range of tools for monitoring and managing applications, including the IBM WebSphere Administrative Console allows organizations to optimize application performance and resolve issues easily.

Integration: IBM WAS integrates with a range of IBM and third-party products, including IBM WebSphere MQ, IBM DB2, and more, to provide a comprehensive platform for developing and running web-based applications.

IBM WebSphere Application Server Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing IBM WebSphere Application Server. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Improved application performance: The IBM WAS platform offers a scalable and secure platform for deploying and managing applications, enabling organizations to improve application performance and reduce downtime.

High availability: IBM WAS provides clustering and load-balancing capabilities to help organizations ensure high availability.

Improved security: With a large range of security features, including authentication, authorization, and encryption, the solution helps organizations secure their applications and data.

Simplified management: IBM WAS is designed with a set of tools for monitoring and managing applications, enabling organizations to optimize performance and resolve issues efficiently.

Increased flexibility: The solution integrates with a range of IBM and third-party products, providing organizations with a flexible platform for developing and running web-based applications.

Improved developer productivity: It supports the latest Java EE specifications, allowing developers to use the latest technologies and development methodologies when building applications.

Better customer experience: Organizations can deliver faster and more reliable applications, improving the overall customer experience.

Scalability: IBM WAS provides a scalable and secure platform for deploying and managing applications, so organizations can quickly respond to changing business requirements.

Reviews from Real Users

IBM WebSphere Application Server is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it is stable, supports many languages, and is resilient.

Princewill O., Head Banking Application Customization and Reporting at a financial services firm, states, “[The solution is] very stable, supports many languages, and helpful for faster time to market.”

"What's most valuable in IBM WebSphere Application Server is its resilience. When you use the solution, you know that after the communication has been done, there will be no doubt that the data has reached its destination,” says Nicolae C., System and Solutions Architect at Seidor.

Another PeerSpot reviewer, an Enterprise Technical Leader at a tech services company mentions, “[It is an] enterprise-level product with extensive console capabilities, including the ability to control multiple JVM containers.”

IBM

Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (EAP), a market-leading, fully certified Java EE platform, gives you a single platform to quickly develop and deploy applications. Use traditional Red Hat JBoss EAP to gain business agility with your existing applications and reduce the costs of proprietary platforms.

Red Hat

Sample Customers

TalkTalk, Property management group, E.SUN Bank, Ohio National Financial Services, Aviarc, Cincom Systems, FJA-US, D+H, Staples, Michigan Municipal League

Tata Sky, Nissan, Swedish Board of Agriculture, Novamedia, American Product Distributors, Advanced Micro Devices, Emirates Group, E*TRADE

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss

June 2025

Free Report: IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. JBoss

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