LeanIX vs SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer comparison

SAP LeanIX and SAP are both solutions in the Enterprise Architecture Management category. SAP LeanIX is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.8, while SAP is ranked #23. SAP LeanIX holds a 7.7% mindshare in AM, compared to SAP’s 1.5% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of SAP LeanIX users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SAP users who would recommend it.

LeanIX

Read 25 LeanIX reviews

5,872 Views
4,815 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

SAP Enterprise Architecture...

Read 1 SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer review

569 Views
563 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

LeanIX

SAP Enterprise Architecture...

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between LeanIX and SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Quest Software, SAP LeanIX, SAP and others in Enterprise Architecture Management.

To learn more, read our detailed Enterprise Architecture Management Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Enterprise Architecture Management

April 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

LeanIX

Ranking in Enterprise Architecture Management

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SAP Enterprise Architecture...

Ranking in Enterprise Architecture Management

23rd

Average Rating

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Enterprise Architecture Management category, the mindshare of LeanIX is 7.7%, down from 16.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer is 1.5%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Architecture Management Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
LeanIX	7.7%
SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer	1.5%
Other	90.8%

Enterprise Architecture Management

Featured Reviews

NormanGarnett

Managing Director at Global Information Technology Corporation

Building Strategic Enterprise Architecture Journeys with Comprehensive Process Mapping and Risk Management

They will continue to improve LeanIX. I'm actually supposed to be at the SAP Sapphire this year. There are a couple of recommendations I know some of my colleagues have made. For me, I have not looked into additional recommendations for LeanIX because I've been held in really just utilizing it for the purposes it has. One of the things that I know I've had is being able to build it into decent process flows for changes. While LeanIX does have the capability, one of the challenges that I've found, even with working with Subway, was that being able to build that out into a detailed solution for a developer or for new process design was one of the challenges, just making that leap. But there's enough information that comes out of LeanIX to be utilized, and that would be one of the areas I would suggest.

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Artur Chyziewicz

Co-Owner at Edusolution s.c.

Great training available with traceability a key feature

I use this solution to model enterprise software architecture. We are customers of SAP and an educational organization in Poland. Traceability is a fantastic feature. They should upgrade the algorithm. The solution currently has an old algorithm and there are now free tools on the market that…

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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

"LeanIX is quite mature, enabling me to load applications, IT components, and map them to business capabilities to identify gaps and manage risk."

"I can develop a report and then do a presentation, or develop a report and some other diagrams and then put them all in one presentation, and from there, I can present things directly, so there is no need to move images."

"The usability is very high. It almost looks like a Facebook for Enterprise architecture, it's pretty nice. It's HTML5 based. The repository is very easy. It has 10 different ways of sorting the objects you have in your architecture repository. Maintaining new data or to add data to your repository is very easy."

"For the reporting capabilities, LeanIX provides dashboards for different levels, including CXO dashboards. There are plenty of dashboards for reporting."

"Among the most valuable features are the easy-to-use interface and the ability to get quick results... Many tools that I have seen are great for technical people and for giving technical and business information as well, but they're not as friendly and easy as LeanIX... It works well for both technical and business users. It provides a good combination, enabling you to quickly put valuable information in for both technical and non-technical people and derive results."

"One of the product's most valuable features is its ability to configure hardware devices."

"The solution has a very useful assessment tool that automatically populates from input data to produce a detailed analysis of customer's environments."

"One of the most valuable features of LeanIX is the Enterprise Architecture Management tool."

More LeanIX pros

"Traceability is a fantastic feature."

Cons

"The solution needs to incorporate an AI/ML data intelligence tool that gets smarter with industry-wise enterprise engagements and provides suggestive data input when optimum data sources are not available for a new engagement."

"The modeling could be improved."

"From its functionality, it is extendable at a high level, but to get your full-blown majority in Enterprise Architecture is not so easy."

"I think the tool's main issue might be direct integrations."

"I find LeanIX's pricing expensive for the functionality it offers. However, with the acquisition by SAP, the pricing might become more affordable due to scale and tiered application pricing. Currently, it offers different tiers for the first 400 applications: 400 to 600 and 600 to 1,000, making it expensive from a pricing standpoint."

"The pricing is a bit painful in the sense that it depends on the number of elements you fit in the system."

"The solution uses Gartner's time-based framework for application rationalization. One more thing that you can consider is having some add-on frameworks for the same, not just Gartner."

"The whole integration architecture view of interfaces/data exchange could be improved."

More LeanIX cons

"The solution currently has an old algorithm and there are now free tools on the market that offer better options for drawing algorithms."

"The algorithm is outdated and should be upgraded."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution's pricing is based on a licensing model that is competitive and in line with other products."

"The tool needs to include more flexible licensing options. We do not use the tool all the time. So pricing should be considered only when we use the tool."

"I would rate the pricing a one out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive."

"There is a sweet spot of where they need to be on pricing right now. They could go up a little bit in pricing, but it has to do with the cost savings, and it has to do with the practitioners using it. I use it where I get cost savings and I can justify it, but they probably have the ability to flex a 10% up channel on their sales on that. So, they could increase their settle price, not their offering price, when they sell. They can probably hold that up a little bit higher than it is because there are cost savings that we can drive from it."

"LeanIX uses application-based account licensing, where the cost is multiplied by the number of applications in the software implementation."

"The pricing is very good. We definitely get good value for the money."

"It cost me $91,000 a year for 300 applications. For any enterprise, 300 applications are minimal, as many have well over 1,000 applications."

"As the tool is cloud-based, its cost is more affordable."

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

Retailer

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	13

No data available

Questions from the Community

Any experience with Strategic Project Portfolio Management Solutions?

Hi @Cheryl Joseph Looking at the crossover between Project and Portfolio management with EA, then Planview could be a good choice. If looking at Portfolio Management from an EA perspective then Le...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for LeanIX?

My experience with pricing is not directly known, as it was handled by others, but it is subscription-based. The tool was part of the RISE license in a previous project.

See all answers

What needs improvement with LeanIX?

From a pricing perspective, it is not a cheap tool. It is relatively expensive compared to some of its competitors. I can't really think off the top of my head at the moment about any features that...

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

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Compared 26% of the time

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Compared 22% of the time

erwin Data Modeler vs SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer

Compared 16% of the time

MEGA HOPEX vs SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer

Compared 10% of the time

ADOIT vs SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer

Compared 8% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

LeanIX

May 2026

Download LeanIX product report

Buyer's Guide

Enterprise Architecture Management

April 2026

SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer report

Download SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer product report

Also Known As

No data available

SAP EA Designer

Interactive Demo

SAP LeanIX

Demo not available

SAP

Overview

LeanIX offers enterprise architecture solutions to drive IT modernization and continuous business transformation. It empowers organizations to visualize, evaluate, and evolve their architecture for maximum impact.

Known globally, LeanIX provides AI-enhanced SaaS solutions for enterprises, enabling the visualization and evolution of enterprise architecture. From optimizing current IT landscapes to designing future ones, LeanIX equips organizations with necessary insights and flexibility. Its solutions include Application Portfolio Management for an overview of IT and business capabilities, Technology Risk and Compliance for addressing technology obsolescence, and Architecture and Road Map Planning for defining target architectures.

What are the key features of LeanIX?

Application Portfolio Management: Offers a real-time comprehensive overview of business and IT landscapes.
Enterprise Architecture Management: Links between applications and business components for cost optimization and upgrade planning.
Integrations with ServiceNow: Streamlines data management and synchronization.
User-Friendly Interface: Suitable for technical and non-technical users with customizable reports.

What benefits do organizations find in LeanIX reviews?

IT Modernization: Assists in optimizing existing IT landscapes.
Business Transformation: Drives continuous business change and strategic decision-making.
Cost Management: Supports cost optimization through effective technology management.
Risk Assessment: Proactively identifies and addresses technology obsolescence risks.

LeanIX is widely adopted for application portfolio management and rationalization, primarily by organizations seeking to inventory and assess applications. It facilitates the development of business capability models and aligns technology with business needs, aiding in strategic decisions. Teams use it to optimize IT landscapes, manage cloud governance, and link technology with business capabilities effectively across industries.

SAP LeanIX

SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer is a robust tool for architects to model, design, and manage their company's architecture landscapes, offering an integrated approach to strategic planning and implementation.

Providing comprehensive functionalities, SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer supports end-to-end enterprise architecture processes, from strategy modeling to execution and monitoring. It enables organizations to visualize complex architectures, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory compliance. Designed for efficiency, SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer aids in streamlining planning and execution, facilitating informed decision-making through detailed models and analytics.

What are the key features of SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer?

Architecture Modeling: Empowers users to create detailed enterprise models for effective architecture management.
Strategic Alignment: Ensures IT landscapes align with business goals using strategic views and analysis.
Collaboration Tools: Offers features that promote teamwork and sharing among stakeholders.
Comprehensive Reporting: Provides insightful reports and analytics for informed decision-making.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with other SAP and non-SAP systems.

What are the benefits and ROI of using SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer?

Cost Efficiency: Reduces unnecessary costs by designing optimized architectures.
Risk Management: Enhances risk assessment and management through comprehensive modeling.
Improved Agility: Boosts organizational agility with streamlined processes and implementation.
Enhanced Compliance: Assists with regulatory compliance by ensuring architecture transparency.

In industries like finance and manufacturing, SAP Enterprise Architecture Designer plays a crucial role in digitizing processes. It enables these sectors to maintain competitiveness by ensuring their technology keeps pace with changing regulatory standards and market demands, contributing significantly to digital transformation journeys.

SAP

Sample Customers

Bosch Rexroth, NSW Department of Education, Yamaha Motor Corporation, Tetra Pak, Deutsche Bahn, Flynn, SKF AB, NTT Group, Travis Perkins, SEEK, Haworth, Asahi Beverages, MediaMarktSaturn, KAO USA, Ørsted, The Mark Anthony Group of Companies, AmTrust, Banco Itaú Unibanco, SHL Medical,...

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Enterprise Architecture Management

April 2026

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