IBM WebSphere Application Server vs Tomcat comparison

IBM and Apache are both solutions in the Application Server category. IBM is ranked #5 with an average rating of 7.8, while Apache is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.8. IBM holds a 12.8% mindshare in AppS, compared to Apache’s 19.9% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Apache users who would recommend it.

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Read 31 IBM WebSphere Application Server reviews

2,627 Views
1,916 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Tomcat

Read 52 Tomcat reviews

3,905 Views
3,221 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

IBM WebSphere Application S...

Tomcat

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 2, 2025

IBM WebSphere Application Server and Tomcat compete in the enterprise application server market. IBM WebSphere seems to have an edge in enterprise environments due to its comprehensive support and features, while Tomcat is preferred in smaller implementations for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Features: IBM WebSphere boasts robust security, transaction management, and high scalability, making it suitable for complex enterprise applications. Tomcat is lightweight and easily configurable, ideal for developers seeking portability and simplicity. Tomcat's integration capabilities with existing systems are also valuable.

Room for Improvement: IBM WebSphere could improve in easing the deployment process and reducing its complexity for smaller teams. Tomcat might enhance its support for enterprise-level features and client management tools. Better documentation and automation capabilities could enhance both tools.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Tomcat offers a simple deployment process ideal for smaller teams, with extensive community support. IBM WebSphere, while more complex, provides comprehensive customer service that assists larger organizations with setup and maintenance.

Pricing and ROI: IBM WebSphere involves higher setup costs but offers higher ROI for enterprise-level implementations with its extensive feature set and support. Tomcat, being open source, presents minimal setup costs, making it attractive for small to medium businesses with budget constraints and fast ROI goals.

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

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. Tomcat

April 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

5th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Infrastructure (5th)

Tomcat

Ranking in Application Server

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Application Server category, the mindshare of IBM WebSphere Application Server is 12.8%, up from 11.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Tomcat is 19.9%, down from 20.6% 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.

Read full review

Erick Karanja

Technical Lead at Cellulant Kenya

Offers high availability, straightforward deployment and easy to use

Tomcat could be a little bit more innovative. Tomcat could come up with a framework that's more lightweight and purely targeted at Java applications. Some other solutions are doing better right now, maybe because they have come up with MicroProfile, which I think is moving forward. It may actually beat Tomcat because of the lightweight nature of the framework, the MicroProfile. They're coming up with new solutions. So, for the future of Tomcat and to maintain the market share they might be looking for, they need to come up with initiatives to ensure that several of us have a lightweight framework to deploy applications on.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

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

"The product offers good performance."

"The scalability of the product is quite good."

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

"High availability, alert management, and deployments are the most valuable features for us. We have the ND version so we can do deployments."

"It has good stability of the application server in the long term compared to other solutions."

"IBM WAS is extremely scalable. It is easy to add additional servers and to divide the load over servers in all kinds of ways."

"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."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pros

"We chose to use Tomcat because it's perfect compared to other containers that we have tested."

"The most valuable feature is how simple it is to deploy the solution."

"The solution is readily available and open-source."

"Tomcat is easy to handle, its installation process does not take much time, and its server speed is also very good compared to other servers."

"I like the solution’s ease of use."

"The product is easy to use."

"It is a scalable platform."

"We can use Apache Tomcat for Java server applications."

More Tomcat pros

Cons

"WebSphere is very cumbersome and not user-friendly."

"Based on the field and based on the build that was provided, we've noticed a lot of constraints in terms of the performance now."

"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 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 current trend is to move to Liberty because of the portability of its cloud and its Kubernetes, which containerize the application."

"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."

"The solution could improve the integration."

"The footprint could be reduced so that we can use a smaller virtual machine to run the application. We could also use more scripts. I would like this solution to be more script oriented, rather than GUI oriented."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server cons

"Resource configuration like JNDI and queue configuration, similar to other servers, should be provided from the admin console for Tomcat."

"The disability and memory management is a problem with the solution and has room for improvement."

"If it could support the driver's VIN, they can run natively without the GBM. Now, we can run what we call the native cloud application that doesn't require GBM. If Tomcat can support that, it's going to improve performance and backup."

"Java functions should be built better into the solution."

"It will be useful if a direct report concerning a particular server configuration or application usage is readily available in the dashboard."

"Tomcat is not user-friendly. I would also like to be able to have multiple applications run at the same time."

"The solution's interface and backup features could be better."

"Our biggest challenge is that the Tomcat servers are not hosted locally."

More Tomcat cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We pay around $200,000 annually."

"The pricing is a little expensive."

"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."

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

"It is very expensive."

"The price of IBM WebSphere Application Server could be less expensive and there is an annual license required for this solution."

"It costs more than some of the others, but, you get what you pay for."

"We used to pay about $100,000-$120,000 US or somewhere around there. That was a bit cost-prohibitive for us to continue."

More IBM WebSphere Application Server pricing and cost advice

"It is an expensive product."

"The price of the solution is good."

"Tomcat's pricing is very cheap."

"We are currently using the open-source version."

"The solution is open source so is free."

"Tomcat is an open source solution."

"There are no additional costs apart from the standard license."

"The solution is free."

More Tomcat pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

32%

Computer Software Company

14%

Insurance Company

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

41%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

Government

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 Tomcat?

Tomcat's ease of use has positively impacted project timelines. Tomcat already has high availability – it doesn't go down so often and doesn't require a lot of maintenance. As long as your applicat...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Tomcat?

Resource configuration like JNDI and queue configuration, similar to other servers, should be provided from the admin console for Tomcat. Currently, it is done manually. The server config file must...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Tomcat?

I am using the solution at running level three. It is for running web applications.

See all answers

Comparisons

JBoss Enterprise Application Platform vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 26% of the time

JBoss vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 23% of the time

Oracle WebLogic Server vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 8% of the time

IBM DataPower Gateway vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 6% of the time

IBM BPM vs IBM WebSphere Application Server

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM WebSphere Application Server Competitors

Oracle WebLogic Server vs Tomcat

Compared 29% of the time

JBoss vs Tomcat

Compared 23% of the time

IIS vs Tomcat

Compared 11% of the time

Oracle GlassFish vs Tomcat

Compared 4% of the time

Caucho Resin vs Tomcat

Compared 4% of the time

More Tomcat Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server

May 2025

Download IBM WebSphere Application Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Tomcat

April 2025

Download Tomcat product report

Also Known As

WebSphere Application Server

No data available

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.”

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

Tomcat is a reliable and efficient web server, popular for hosting and running Java-based applications. It is praised for its scalability, compatibility with different operating systems and development frameworks, and its ability to handle heavy workloads.

Users appreciate Tomcat's ease of use, robust performance, reliable server functionality, seamless integration with various platforms, extensive documentation, and strong community support.

Apache

Sample Customers

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

1. Adobe Systems 2. Amazon 3. Apple 4. AT&T 5. Bank of America 6. Boeing 7. Cisco Systems 8. Citigroup 9. Dell 10. eBay 11. Facebook 12. General Electric 13. Google 14. Hewlett-Packard 15. IBM 16. Intel 17. JPMorgan Chase 18. Microsoft 19. Netflix 20. Oracle 21. PayPal 22. Salesforce 23. Samsung 24. Sony 25. Target 26. Twitter 27. Uber 28. Verizon 29. Visa 30. Volkswagen 31. Walmart 32. Yahoo

Buyer's Guide

IBM WebSphere Application Server vs. Tomcat

April 2025

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