IIS vs Magic xpa Application Platform comparison

Microsoft and Magic Software are both solutions in the Application Server category. Microsoft is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.5, while Magic Software is ranked #9 with an average rating of 7.0. Microsoft holds a 7.1% mindshare in AppS, compared to Magic Software’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Magic Software users who would recommend it.

IIS

Read 61 IIS reviews

3,651 Views
1,424 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Magic xpa Application Platform

Read 10 Magic xpa Application Platform reviews

1,142 Views
194 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IIS

Magic xpa Application Platform

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 2, 2025

Magic xpa Application Platform and IIS both operate in the realm of IT solutions, each excelling in distinct areas. Magic xpa takes the lead with its user-friendly development focus and efficiency, while IIS excels in robust server capabilities and security features.

Features: Magic xpa Application Platform offers cross-platform capabilities, an integrated development environment, and rapid application development. It supports a range of databases and emphasizes ease of integration with internet applications. IIS stands out with its scalability, security enhancements, and seamless integration with Windows-based applications. It provides robust server functionalities ideal for managing web environments effectively.

Room for Improvement: Magic xpa could enhance its server management capabilities and security features. Improving integration with mobile-centric applications could also expand its appeal. Its scalability for enterprise-level solutions can be further refined. IIS may benefit from simplified configuration processes for non-technical users. Enhancing support for diverse database environments and better cost-efficiency could make it more attractive to a broader range of businesses.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Magic xpa Application Platform offers straightforward deployment processes, supported by responsive customer service for seamless transitions. This efficiency appeals to businesses looking for a quick start. IIS provides comprehensive documentation and support for complex server setups, ensuring stable operations, which is beneficial for enterprises handling extensive server infrastructures.

Pricing and ROI: Magic xpa Application Platform presents competitive setup costs, favoring businesses prioritizing application development speed and flexibility, leading to better ROI. IIS, with a higher initial investment, offers substantial long-term ROI due to its robust security and integration capabilities, making it a favored choice for organizations focused on operational excellence.

To learn more, read our detailed IIS vs. Magic xpa Application Platform Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

IIS vs. Magic xpa Application Platform

March 2026

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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

IIS

Ranking in Application Server

4th

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

1st

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Magic xpa Application Platform

Ranking in Application Server

9th

Ranking in Application Infrastructure

16th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Mobile Development Platforms (13th)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Application Server category, the mindshare of IIS is 7.1%, up from 6.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Magic xpa Application Platform is 1.3%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Server Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
IIS	7.1%
Magic xpa Application Platform	1.3%
Other	91.6%

Application Server

Featured Reviews

Krishnakumar Natarajan

Systems Engineer at Atos

Designs and manages multiple websites while ensuring data backup and disaster recovery

I have experience with AWS, and I am most familiar with the server environment, as we just use the server environment and then use Microsoft products on an AWS environment. I have experience with Windows Server IIS, which I ran on my own on-premise data center. The website was developed and then hosted, and through IIS, we managed the servers. The manageability within the IIS environment is not very difficult. For server management, you need to ensure data backup, data restore, and you have a DR configured to keep the database intact. It was done on-premises, so I had no problem doing that. If you have to go to the cloud, then you should have the storage connected to the IIS server and also have a DR set up for that. I didn't use Microsoft Azure tools, but since it is a Microsoft product, Azure has all the portability, so you don't have to worry about compatibility on the cloud. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this solution a 10.

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Mylsamy T.

Senior Associate - IT at Himalaya Wellness Company

Enables us to develop more than 90 applications in-house, which are used across our organization

It's a bit difficult to work with purely web-based applications to get the data and display it. There have been a few times when the connection was disconnected between the server and your browser. The connectivity on browser-built applications needs to be improved. The mobile application development could be easier. They could include different external applications, like finger sensors. I'm not sure whether it's in version 3.8 or not.

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

"The solution is the easiest way to publish applications which have been designed by older development tools."

"This is definitely a stable solution."

"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten."

"It helps scan and mitigates our vulnerabilities using the best protocols to secure our environment."

"It's very easy to publish."

"My experience with the technical support by Microsoft at large is satisfactory."

"When you are working with Microsoft solutions, you will see that the integration with the operating system, and implementing some security features, are easier in IIS than when using another solution."

"All the features of Microsoft IIS are valuable."

More IIS pros

"xpa gives us a fast development speed."

"The speed of development is the quickest for any tool on the market."

"Magic’s Database Gateway allows the logic of the program to be isolated from the underlying database. This provides the flexibility not only to move existing programs to different database environments without the need to change the logic in the program but also allows the programmer access to different databases without the need to know how to "talk" to them."

"What I found most valuable in the Magic xpa Application Platform is that it has a client-server and web browser technology that's perfect for company users."

"The ability to use the same development environment for both Windows and Android applications. Magic xpa also supports iOS applications."

"Magic is rapid, it's a tool which we use to develop, change and maintain our programs. xpa has a lot more features onboard and it gives us the opportunity to do such things so that we can easily adapt and maintain our programs. It gives certain benefits to stay with our customers and the market."

"Without the need to compile code, the time spent in the development cycle is greatly reduced, allowing the programmer to test modifications to a program immediately after they have been saved."

"Speed of development and database connectivity (MS SQL, Oracle, DB2, Btrieve/Pervasive PSQL, ODBC, MySql, and SQLite)."

More Magic xpa Application Platform pros

Cons

"The visibility feature of the product is an area with certain shortcomings where improvements are required."

"The price of the solution could be less to improve."

"There is an issue with the network. The tool's price is also high."

"I see that IIS has maintained the same interface for a long time, so they could potentially use more automation or integrate Copilot into it to make it easier to use."

"The tool needs to improve its performance."

"It would be beneficial if you could automate security certificate monitoring with IIS."

"I am using an older version of Windows Server IIS and the general management and navigation to get something done is not as straightforward as I hope it to be. The interface could be improved."

"IIS could improve by Microsoft Windows improving the update services. We would like to be able to update all systems that are connected. The WSA service has to be in good order to accomplish this."

More IIS cons

"Throughout my career, I've encountered difficulties when integrating new technologies with Magic xpa Application Platform. In particular, when attempting to incorporate features from other development languages into earlier versions of the solution called uniPaaS. I struggled to integrate .NET components due to the limited options available. This made the process more challenging and complicated. I find it challenging to create a more user-friendly experience for users who may be comparing the system to other systems they have used outside or within the company on different platforms."

"I would like to see a spell checker included with optional language support. Currently, this has to be purchased from a third-party."

"Support is very bad."

"When you have several tasks, you open a screen in a task in developing mode, and you don't see the parent screens. Debugging lacks the effects to solve problems. You have to do it first in a kind of studio. Then you have to be sure that you can do it in Magic because there is almost nothing to debug it. It's practically impossible to debug. You have to be sure before you put your snippets."

"Magic has a tradition, when it adds new technologies/features to the Magic development tool, to provide either no documentation or documentation that does not provide an organized approach for bringing this new technology/feature to experienced Magic programmers."

"The ability to display page up, page down, top and bottom buttons along the scroll bar would make my mouse-reliant customers happy."

"There is room for improvement in Magic's marketing and licensing. I would like to see more integration of web functionality."

"In the next version of the Magic xpa Application Platform, I want tables or small programs where I can directly add expressions. I can do it on SQL, but it would make life much easier if that specification were added to the platform."

More Magic xpa Application Platform cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I didn't need to get an additional license for the solution since it was included in my server."

"I give the price of the solution a five out of ten."

"The price is good."

"The price of Windows Server IIS is expensive. They have a large user base, and they charge a little bit too much."

"IIS comes along with an OS license from Microsoft. Others can opt for a perpetual-based licensing model to be able to use the system."

"There is a license needed for the solution."

"We purchased a Microsoft Windows license and the license for IIS came in the package."

"I was using the trial version of IIS inside my virtual machines."

More IIS pricing and cost advice

"The licensing is too costly."

"The licensing cost varies because nowadays Magic has tailor-made offerings for clients. I think the solution is worth the money."

"There are different licenses, we have the application and the online application. There are two different licenses for two different program sites for the Magic xpa Application Platform."

"The cost for developers is high because you have to pay for licenses as well as runtime."

"It's not cheap. The licenses are not cheap. Not at all. They cost much money. There are other tools with free licenses but Magic asks for a lot of money."

"My clients have to purchase additional licenses in order to use what I built. It's not a fair approach."

"The main problem with the Magic xpa Application Platform is pricing. You have to pay a lot of money for development, and you also have to pay a lot for the deployments and runtime, while in most competitors, you have to pay a lot for one of the two and not both."

"Magic is not the cheapest IDE out there. If you are considering Magic xpa, you should do a cost-benefit analysis to feel comfortable with your decision. The Magic sales staff is very helpful in providing pricing."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Government

Manufacturing Company

14%

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	29
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	22

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	1

Questions from the Community

Which is better - IIS or NGINX Plus?

IIS is a flexible, secure, and manageable web server to host anything on the web. IIS’s scalable and open architecture can handle the most demanding tasks. From media streaming to web applications,...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IIS?

For the pricing, setup cost, and licensing for IIS, as a Microsoft product, I didn't think much about separately purchasing an IIS product as it is part of Microsoft Windows. We bought a developmen...

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What needs improvement with IIS?

I see that IIS has maintained the same interface for a long time, so they could potentially use more automation or integrate Copilot into it to make it easier to use. I have not accessed or checked...

See all answers

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Comparisons

Apache Web Server vs IIS

Compared 19% of the time

NGINX Plus vs IIS

Compared 18% of the time

Tomcat vs IIS

Compared 7% of the time

Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (EAP) vs IIS

Compared 6% of the time

Oracle Application Server vs IIS

Compared 5% of the time

More IIS Competitors

Apache Web Server vs Magic xpa Application Platform

Compared 16% of the time

Microsoft .NET Framework vs Magic xpa Application Platform

Compared 14% of the time

GigaSpaces Smart DIH vs Magic xpa Application Platform

Compared 8% of the time

Tomcat vs Magic xpa Application Platform

Compared 8% of the time

More Magic xpa Application Platform Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IIS

March 2026

Download IIS product report

Buyer's Guide

Magic xpa Application Platform

March 2026

Download Magic xpa Application Platform product report

Also Known As

Windows Server IIS

uniPaaS

Overview

Internet Information Services (IIS) provides a secure, easy-to-manage, modular and extensible platform for reliably hosting websites, services and applications. With IIS, you get choice and control without giving up reliability or security.

Microsoft

Magic xpa Application Platform is a mobile development platform that is designed to enable organizations to simplify and manage every aspect of their application development process. It enables users to construct applications while expending a minimal number of resources. Developers can leverage AI technology in a way that maximizes their ability to effectively deploy their resources toward the end of producing the best possible applications. Ultimately, Magic xpa Application Platform allows developers to rapidly develop and deploy applications across multiple platform types.

Magic xpa Application Platform Benefits

Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by deploying Magic xpa Application Platform include:

Decrease time needed for application production and refinement. Magic xpa Application Platform comes with pre-built application components that can be used to quickly create iterations of the application that can then be deployed or tested. It also makes it so that any and all changes or upgrades that are applied to the application take effect across all of the devices that run the application.

Allows developers to be far more productive than they would be otherwise. Various features, such as Magic xpa Application Platform’s drag-and-drop capability, allow developers to worry less about the more technical aspects of designing the applications and have more time to design the best possible application.

Ease of use. Magic xpa Application Platform is a low-code application development platform. This means that developers do not need to have extensive programming knowledge to create applications. Solutions of this type are far more accessible to the general employee of an organization than a program that is code-heavy. Fewer resources need to be spent training users to employ Magic xpa Application Platform than would be true of other similar platforms. Organizations increase their overall productivity when the process of application development becomes something that even those employees who are not the most technically savvy can take part.

Magic xpa Application Platform Features

Some of the many useful features Magic xpa Application Platform has to offer include:

AI-powered development capabilities. Magic xpa Application Platform has a built-in AI that users can leverage to simplify every step of the development process. Users can use this AI to automate various development steps. This increases the speed at which they can produce applications.

Mobile use capability. Magic xpa Application Platform has a mobile application that organizations can use to run their product development from anywhere in the world.

Collaboration tools. Magic xpa Application Platform provides developers with tools that enable them to work with others to create the enterprise applications that their organizations need.

Reviews from Real Users

Magic xpa Application Platform is a solution that beats out the competition in a number of areas. Two major advantages are the way that it simplifies the application management process and its scalability. It greatly eases the work that developers and administrators do by providing all of the tools that they need to meet their objectives. Additionally, users never have to worry about running out of development capacity in their digital environment. Magic xpa Application Platform can scale up and provide developers with the capacity to design and create their applications in the way that best meets their needs.

Per H., the CEO of Mass Marketing Software AB, writes, “The solution makes the managing and adapting of the software very easy. When it comes to the application's service, mistakes can easily be resolved. This shortens the time it takes to progress from an idea to a new function.”

He also writes, “The solution is highly scalable, allowing one to use very large databases and systems.”

Magic Software

Sample Customers

Erste Bank Group, NJVC, Samsung Electronics, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Tata Steel Europe, Urban Software Institute

ADD, Cape plc, Adecco, Kuno Kinzoku Industry Co., GE Capital, Dove Tree, CBS Outdoor, Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, Allstate Life Insurance Company, Titan Software Systems

Buyer's Guide

IIS vs. Magic xpa Application Platform

March 2026

Free Report: IIS vs. Magic xpa Application Platform

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