No Magic MagicDraw vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect comparison

No Magic MagicDraw vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

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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

No Magic MagicDraw

Ranking in Business Process Design

14th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Sparx Systems Enterprise Ar...

Ranking in Business Process Design

8th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Architecture Management (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Business Process Design category, the mindshare of No Magic MagicDraw is 2.4%, down from 2.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is 6.8%, down from 9.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Process Design Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect	6.8%
No Magic MagicDraw	2.4%
Other	90.8%

Business Process Design

Q&A Highlights

it_user699090

Intern at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees

Jul 14, 2017

What is the difference between NIEM plugin and Sparx?

Hi, You mentioned prices and I don't really know the difference between those two products. If you can, tell me what product has the reputation to be less expensive. I'm using MagicDraw with NIEM and I pay for the maintenance. NIEM is only usable on the LTD 18.0 version which is their long term version supposed to be more stable. NIEM plugin is in version 1.00. I also use the feature rich version 18.5 which is very stable, but with no NIEM. The next LTD version 19.0 is coming last quarter this year. I don't use the plugin very much. I use it for inspiring my own data models. In this way, I don't use it in a crucial situation. However, I like it very much. The technical support from MagicDraw is fantastic. They really care. If I have a problem on Friday afternoon, they will work late to solve it in order for me to work during the week-end, as my independent status often require. I don't have any experience with the NIEM plugin of Sparx. As far as I know, those two providers are really top notch. Thanks.

Ease of use and real-time collaboration empower effective teamwork and streamlined development

Featured Reviews

reviewer2080611

System Engineer at a consultancy with 51-200 employees

For CAMEO, it's not only the ease of use, it's versatility, its communicability, but Rhapsody is the worst tool I've ever used. It is very difficult, not user-friendly, and very expensive. It works only with its IBM counterparts. SPARX Enterprise Architecture is very easy to use, but it's limited. It gives you an idea of how your model is developing, so this feature helps maintain integrity or correctness of system models. It's really a good feature to have. You've got to have the simulation toolkit installed to be able to do that, and that works really well. The MagicDraw or CAMEO system is good on its own, but it should be integrated and should come out of the box with the simulation toolkit because there are some things you can't do without it, making it very difficult to have to look for another license to be able to do that. I would prefer that it come with the simulation toolkit.

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Milan Sterba

Senior Enterprise Architect at Deepview S.r.o.

Efficient documentation generation through organized model structure with a good price-performance ratio

Whenever I begin a new project with Sparx, I have to spend time training people on how to use it since it is not straightforward. Although it's a powerful product with plenty of features, it's not easy for even experienced users to find their way without guidance. This is not the most user-friendly solution.

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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 MBFC capability of MagicDraw is higher than the other competitors."

"It is pretty easy to use. It is pretty versatile."

"The beauty of MagicDraw is that it has a simulation part, so you can simulate your model to validate it. The simulation allows you to bring in code off of an external code that you can write to set up the simulation and execute the code."

"When you look at it, No Magic is an all-encompassing tool. You can use it for business architecture design. You can use it for deploying an ERP system across your enterprise. However, it was initially designed and developed for model-based systems engineering. That's the systems engineering required to either produce an IP system or product. It takes away the mounds of paper and puts it into a model. It enables you to generate significant savings by modeling that new product or that system before you ever start developing a prototype."

"The technical support is very good."

"I would rate MagicDraw a nine out of ten because of the price. Enterprise Architect has a lot of bugs and MagicDraw is a lot more accurate and flexible. It's a level better."

"I like the traceability feature. Whoever is working with the product would be sure of the things that could be affected if they decided to affect one of the other companies. For example, let's say that an engineer starts a new project optimization problem by adjusting the thickness of metal sheets. However, the engineers only see a reduced number of affections, but when we use the requirement traceability, they can see the whole picture. That's the main aspect that we were promoting with this tool."

"Magic Draw has capabilities that I'm sure I haven't even touched on, but at least for what I'm attempting to achieve, it provides the most capability to meet my needs at this point in time."

More No Magic MagicDraw pros

"It's like a repository. So far, we use it only for Information Modelling."

"The TOGAF ADM model is most valuable, and it is also very cheap as compared to other options in the market."

"Our clients have used EA to document the architecture for enterprise architecture as well as for software architecture, with the architectural blueprints in Sparx EA acting as a key reference repository for the transformation projects."

"SPARX EA is well suited for a client that does not have an Enterprise Architecture or Business Process and that needs to get started, so you can leverage the product right from scratch."

"We gained 10 - 20 percent improvement to productivity (measured by time to complete solution) and improved quality (measured by reviews)."

"Sparx has got a range of modeling features, and I am comfortable with all its offering. I've used a lot of tools over the phone. I found EA Spark, probably the most feature rich product all in all compared to other products. The solution is very cost-effective and that is its best feature. It's a very good delivery architecture tool, which also has enterprise architecture capabilities, and it's got full life cycle processes and software development. So for me, it's a pretty comprehensive tool"

"It is an excellent way for a company to start or an organization to start using an enterprise architecture discipline."

"There are a couple of things. Price is one thing, but we also like the scriptability of it. We got into scripting it and automating tasks with it, and it is super duper easy to do and helpful. The API has improved over the years. We automate everything, and I love the automation aspects of it."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect pros

Cons

"However, there are some technical features that you have to study and do research on to be able to understand."

"There could be a trial version for students."

"The MagicDraw or CAMEO system is good on its own, but it should be integrated and should come out of the box with the simulation toolkit because there are some things you can't do without it, making it very difficult to have to look for another license to be able to do that."

"One potential area for improvement is the recommendation feature. At times, we face challenges in locating specific features, and we have to reach out for assistance in finding the information we need."

"For the next releases, I would like to have them import requirements from other sources. They could make it very easy to do that because there are a lot requirements management tools like DOORS, D-O-O-R-S, Dynamic Object Oriented Management. A lot of folks use DOORS to create a requirement. For those requirements you allocate them to a component in the architecture and a verification method for that requirement. It would be good if we could import those into MagicDraw as components so you don't have to manually do these things."

"They don't really support code engineering, and that's why we have to move to Enterprise Architect. MagicDraw is stuck at C++03 standards, whereas most C++ programs today want to use the latest definition of the C++ standards. We were at C++11, and we wanted to do code engineering with C++11 or 17, but they didn't support it. That pushed us into a different tool, which is Sparx Enterprise Architect."

"They don't really support code engineering, and that's why we have to move to Enterprise Architect."

"The documentation for MagicDraw and the video tutorials compared to other competitors is an area for improvement."

More No Magic MagicDraw cons

"From a practical point of view, we need speed and reliability for creating a model and doing some really meaningful tasks such as application landscape, refactoring, etc. These are two primary criteria. Sometimes, when you import something, it creates the object duplicates, or it allows you to do something that you're not supposed to do. For example, validation is missing. This could be frustrating because when you work at a high speed, you need to come back and start fixing things that the tool allowed you to go with, which is not quite good. So, there should probably be some internal mechanisms to advise you about what you're doing and what is probably not the best idea."

"It really did not work for logical modeling. The look is very old-fashioned. You can't make the diagrams easy on the eye, so we ended up drawing them again in Visio anyhow."

"It could be more user-friendly. The tools could be more simple to use. It's a very complex solution. Because I am a business analyst, I use these tools to manage requirements, and I make models in UML, BPMN, and ArchiMate, and it's complex. In the next release, I would like to see more integrations."

"The stability and performance of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect could still be improved. Setup for it is also slightly complicated and could be improved."

"We miss an integration tool like ARCSeeker which is intended to register elicited elements in a common repository with all their associations (this was removed last year)."

"The presentation graphics need to be improved in future builds."

"Customer service / technical support is via email only so is constrained to 24 hour turnaround."

"I would rate technical support as OK. The forum was great. The actual support was only so-so."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I would say licensing would be anywhere from $3,500 to $6,500 per person or per seat (it's a per seat style license)."

"The price of No Magic MagicDraw could improve. The price of the solution is too expensive for smaller-sized companies. There should be a better pricing model."

"In addition to the initial cost, you have to pay annually for support in order to get the upgrades."

"The licensing is on a yearly basis, and it's expensive."

"I rate the pricing a ten out of ten. It is an expensive product compared to software for model-based system engineering."

"Pricing and licensing are suitable even for small companies."

"I think our license costs roughly $1,000 a year, but I could be wrong."

"They have the price on their site for the enterprise version, and we do receive a small discount."

"It is cheaper than other solutions. Its cost is around $686 per year. There are no costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."

"We paid 1200 euros as a once-off cost. All add ons and integrations come at an additional cost."

"The license for Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is paid yearly, but I don't handle that area. It's good for its price, so I'm rating it a five out of five, but I'm not using it much. I also don't have information regarding additional costs apart from the standard licensing fees."

"Use floating licenses strategically."

"The license I use is on-premise. We haven't gone to the cloud where we have to pay monthly or something like that. Sparx is cheaper than most similar tools."

More Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect pricing and cost advice

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Answers from the Community

it_user699090

Intern at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees

Jul 14, 2017

What is the difference between NIEM plugin and Sparx?

2 out of 5 answers

it_user502215

Enterprise Architecture Consultant with 10,001+ employees

Jul 13, 2017

I do not know about plug-in but Sparx has six NIEM tagged values (architecture meta data)

Read full answer

it_user139326

Works

Jul 13, 2017

I only worked in testing Sparx Enterprise Architect as a replacement for ERwin data modeler. I did not work with No Magic so I don’t know the differences. However, I found this pdf: http://www.uwm.edu.pl/wnt/technicalsc/tech_12/B15.pdf I searched on differences between no magic and sparx enterprise architect. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Read full answer

See all 5 answers

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

20%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Government

Financial Services Firm

15%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	39
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	58

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for No Magic MagicDraw?

Maybe the price is a little bit high for a small company to acquire this tool. However, they offer trial versions and trial licenses for members of INCOSE.

What needs improvement with No Magic MagicDraw?

What is your primary use case for No Magic MagicDraw?

I deal with DOD lifecycle acquisition sorts of things as some of the main use cases currently, and I expect to continue using it for more than 25 years.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

One of the reasons many public sector institutions in the Czech Republic use it is that it provides a very good price-performance ratio. While it might be cumbersome to learn, it still delivers exc...

What needs improvement with Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

What is your primary use case for Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect?

We are mostly using the ArchiMate language to describe enterprise or solution architecture, along with a bit of use cases. We are producing quite large models, with over 10,000 elements and relatio...

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Product Reports

No Magic MagicDraw

Download No Magic MagicDraw product report

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Download Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect product report

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect report

Also Known As

MagicDraw

No data available

Overview

No Magic MagicDraw is a powerful modeling tool recognized for its flexibility and integration capabilities, especially suited for enterprise modeling and systems engineering. Featuring a user-friendly interface, it supports diverse modeling architectures with tools for testing and simulation.

Renowned for its compliance with OMG standards, No Magic MagicDraw excels in offering comprehensive modeling options that support model-based systems engineering. Its rich feature set enables digital model creation aimed at testing and simulation, backed by a strong suite of integration tools. The tool facilitates program management integration with systems engineering, making it suitable for complex enterprise projects. However, suggestions for improvement include a redesign for a more intuitive interface and enhanced documentation. Licensing costs are higher compared to competitors, and integration requests include compatibility with SAP and modern C++ standards.

What are the most important features of No Magic MagicDraw?

Flexibility: Adapts to different modeling needs and architectures with ease.
User-friendly Interface: Simplifies access and usage for modeling tasks.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with tools like Doors.
Standard Compliance: Aligns with OMG standards.
Traceability: Maintains visibility across project changes.

What benefits and ROI should users expect from No Magic MagicDraw?

Comprehensive Support: Access to excellent technical support.
Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates model-driven documentation and teamwork.
Strategic Efficiency: Streamlines processes, reducing time in business transformation projects.

No Magic MagicDraw is widely deployed for tasks including business transformation, system architecture modeling, and supporting defense programs, proving invaluable in enterprise and system modeling. It aids in strategy integration, process design, and offers extensive features like simulations and lifecycle engineering.

Dassault Systèmes

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect supports modeling standards like UML, ArchiMate, and TOGAF. Its strengths include collaboration, scalability, and affordability, making it adaptable to enterprise architecture tasks.

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect provides a robust and versatile platform for enterprises by offering comprehensive modeling capabilities and integration with diverse tools. It supports diagram creation, automatic documentation, and reverse engineering, making tasks efficient. Though user interface improvements are needed for intuitiveness, its overall framework support and affordability remain attractive. Users typically integrate it with other solutions for enhanced functionality, benefiting from its version control and adaptability in IT landscapes.

What are the most important features?

Support for Multiple Standards: Offers UML, ArchiMate, TOGAF compatibility.
Collaboration Capabilities: Encourages effective teamwork and data sharing.
Scalable Solutions: Grows with enterprise demands.
Extensive Framework Support: Provides diverse modeling options.
Automatic Documentation: Generates essential documents efficiently.
Reverse Engineering and Code Generation: Supports software development processes.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Affordability: Cost-effective compared to competitors.
User-Friendliness: Easy to navigate for experienced users.
Integration: Works well with existing systems and tools.
User Flexibility: Adapts to specific needs without significant cost.

In specific industries, Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is often implemented for developing detailed architecture frameworks and business process models. Organizations leverage its capabilities in establishing application inventories and managing projects. Its use in data modeling and solution design is particularly valued in sectors requiring comprehensive IT landscape mapping.

Sparx Systems

Sample Customers

Northrop Grumman, Labcorp, Deposco, ClearView Training, IT Services Promotion Agency, Intelligent Chaos, Metalithic Systems Inc., Sodifrance

OmniLink

No Magic MagicDraw vs. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect