Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs ServiceNow Now Platform comparison

Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs. ServiceNow Now Platform

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Categories and Ranking

Oracle Application Express ...

Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software

2nd

Ranking in Low-Code Development Platforms

3rd

Average Rating

8.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Development Platforms (1st)

ServiceNow Now Platform

Ranking in Rapid Application Development Software

11th

Ranking in Low-Code Development Platforms

8th

Average Rating

8.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No-Code Development Platforms (3rd)

Market share comparison

As of June 2024, in the Rapid Application Development Software category, the market share of Oracle Application Express (APEX) is 10.9% and it increased by 10.4% compared to the previous year. The market share of ServiceNow Now Platform is 1.4% and it decreased by 22.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Rapid Application Development Software

Unique Categories:

Low-Code Development Platforms

14.8%

No-Code Development Platforms

28.8%

Featured Reviews

Sony Kurian

Director at GNX Solutions

Nov 25, 2022

The autonomous database provides a good main structure for code development

Our company uses the solution as a development platform for client projects that include marketplaces. We have five developers and 200 other users. The autonomous database is valuable and provides the main structure for code development. The solution does not include a default or custom…

Read full review

Mir Razvi

Solution Architecture at Accenture

Aug 17, 2022

Scalable and uniquely versatile, letting you leverage any part of it to any other application, anywhere

Concerning the new features that they're releasing, it does feel as if something is missing in terms of customization options. Something else I have noticed is that ServiceNow don't give you much support when it comes to implementing functionality that you have developed yourself. That said, I think ServiceNow has become a major contender in this market and many other solutions are simply following in ServiceNow's wake. There are a lot of improvements happening all the time, and the way in which it has grown over a decade of development really tells its own story. Nowadays, it's a constantly-evolving centralized application that provides ample solutions for both businesses and developers. One example of an area in which I have seen their improvements is in AI, which, after the past few years, is finally becoming mature and enabling better automation and intelligence at the end-users' side.

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 most valuable applications within the organization are primarily data forms and extended reports."

"The most valuable feature of Oracle APEX is its comprehensive set of features for creating user-friendly and visually appealing applications."

"It's fairly easy to make a user-friendly interface."

"The solution is easy to handle. The tool has helped us develop many applications since it supports SQL and NoSQL languages. We are familiar with this language. Also, the solution’s interface design and database design are very easy. It is not so much complex. I have no experience working with other solutions."

"I like how we can actively develop and customize APEX because it's on the same database."

"In our experience with Apex, we find that minimizing reliance on HTML and JavaScript is preferable, especially considering our background as seasoned programmers adept in PL/SQL. Incorporating HTML and JavaScript can pose challenges due to potential compatibility issues when updates are made to JavaScript. We also make use of JAPER report integration for generating reports, a practice integral to our reporting procedures."

"The virtual patching feature is valuable."

"One of the most valuable features is that we can develop everything locally and deploy it for different kinds of operators in different locations, so we can do our job in one piece. The benefit of that is that others can use these applications. They connect to the internet to do these kinds of applications based on the permissions for those users."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) pros

"The main reason that people use ServiceNow is that performance is very good."

"Scalability-wise, it is a very good solution."

"It can integrate anywhere, and you can make any kind of workflow."

"The solution is in Gartner's Magic Quadrant."

"The incident management has been the most useful feature for us."

"The most valuable feature of the ServiceNow Now Platform is the workspaces feature, which allows you to create customized workspaces."

"We have seen a big improvement in the experience that we want to create for our end users."

"The level of automation within the platform is great."

More ServiceNow Now Platform pros

Cons

"Some of the application interfaces of Oracle Application Express are not very attractive and could be improved."

"There is a bit of a learning curve involved when first using the solution."

"The solution does not support the Linux platform."

"Better connection and integration with non-Oracle databases is needed."

"Apex has effectively incorporated new market trends into its features. The platform's user-friendly nature is notable, guiding developers through the development process. While advanced customization of the user interface with HTML and CSS is possible, the out-of-the-box options often suffice, providing 80-90% of the required functionality. The IDE is commendable, yet an enhancement in the Page Designer to allow a real-time preview of layout changes would be beneficial. Currently, running the page is necessary to visualize layout adjustments, but an immediate preview during the design phase would be a valuable improvement."

"The migration process is difficult in Oracle Application Express."

"The solution’s pricing is high if you use it on the OCA platform. It’s also a little bit costly. However, if we use it on an on-premises Oracle database, the pricing is cheaper."

"When exporting, we can't export dynamic reports, only static reports. For example, when we want to export charts or tables it is only exported as a static report so we can't drop down on these reports; however, we can see this information when we are on the dashboard itself."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) cons

"The basic reporting system is rather static."

"The pricing model is complex and needs to be both lowered and simplified."

"The product should be integrated with Power BI."

"The integration towards other ERP systems could be improved."

"It's not quick or cheap."

"We would like to see AI used to automate some of the functionality in this solution."

"The UI and mobile UI need to be improved."

"The tool has a lot of limitations."

More ServiceNow Now Platform cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The tool is not expensive."

"Apex is not priced separately; instead, it is associated with the Oracle database. A free option for Oracle database and Apex can be downloaded and installed on this complimentary database version. This aligns with our current approach."

"To my understanding, my organization is using the free version of Oracle Application Express (APEX), but I'm unsure because I haven't checked the pricing or licensing cost for it."

"It is expensive, but I don't know what the licensing cost is."

"The product is completely free of cost."

"We have an Oracle basic product license, and then we can use Oracle APEX for free. We have many licenses for Oracle for approximately 20 processors."

"Pricing is expensive, overall on an enterprise system but we consider that it gives corresponding value in the product."

"Oracle Application Express (APEX) comes with Oracle. The Oracle price itself. I do not know the exact cost. Oracle is flexible on its price. If you overspend on your hardware, then I don't think you will overpay. I heard that Oracle is more expensive than other databases, but when you consider Oracle is the best traditional relational database out there. You get what you pay for."

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) pricing and cost advice

"There are extra expenses for maintaining the product apart from the licenses."

"Most of the features are included in the licensing cost. However, if we need extra plugins that are not available at the ServiceNow Hub or store, then we have to pay extra for those."

"The pricing of this solution is done annually and it is very expensive."

"From what I heard, the license for the ServiceNow Now Platform is paid monthly, and on a scale of one to five, I'm rating it a three in terms of pricing, so it's on the cheaper side. I don't know of any additional costs associated with the ServiceNow Now Platform, apart from the standard licensing fees."

"It's expensive and if you need some analytical views of your activity, there is an additional cost."

"Price-wise, I would describe the product's cost to be more than the average, but it compensates for that with the functionalities that it provides."

"The price of the product falls on the higher side of the spectrum."

"The solution is expensive."

More ServiceNow Now Platform pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Rapid Application Development Software solutions are best for your needs.

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787,061 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

27%

Government

10%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Oracle Application Express (APEX)?

The product is fast.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Application Express (APEX)?

I rate the pricing a three out of ten. The tool is not expensive.

What needs improvement with Oracle Application Express (APEX)?

There are not many triggers available. The product must provide more triggers.

What do you like most about ServiceNow Now Platform?

The integration with other tools is pretty good.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ServiceNow Now Platform?

I would rate the pricing an eight out of ten, with ten being very expensive solution. There are other solutions in the market that might be better suited for simpler use cases.

What needs improvement with ServiceNow Now Platform?

The UI is not intuitive. It was updated recently, and it has been completely flipped. Some menus are hidden within dropdowns. It was much easier to access before. The recent update has not improved...

Microsoft Power Apps vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Comparisons

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Compared 9% of the time

Microsoft Azure App Service vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 7% of the time

Oracle Visual Builder Cloud Service vs Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Compared 7% of the time

More Oracle Application Express (APEX) Competitors

ServiceNow vs ServiceNow Now Platform

Compared 27% of the time

Microsoft Power Apps vs ServiceNow Now Platform

Compared 25% of the time

OpenText AppWorks vs ServiceNow Now Platform

Compared 7% of the time

Appian vs ServiceNow Now Platform

Compared 6% of the time

More ServiceNow Now Platform Competitors

Product Reports

Oracle Application Express (APEX)

Download Oracle Application Express (APEX) product report

Oracle Application Express (APEX) report

ServiceNow Now Platform

Download ServiceNow Now Platform product report

Also Known As

Oracle APEX

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Oracle

ServiceNow

Overview

Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a low-code development platform that enables users to build enterprise apps securely and scalably. APEX, which offers world-class features, can be deployed anywhere. As part of the Oracle Database, developers can develop superior apps 20x more quickly by using all of the tools provided in a single, extensible platform.

Oracle APEX, a cloud platform that has been around for over 20 years, eliminates complexities associated with app building while delivering results faster and at a lower cost. The low-code aspect offers developers a visual approach to app development that accelerates the development process. Oracle APEX also provides a lively, global, and growing community of developers that can connect and share resources with each other.

Features of Oracle Application Express (APEX)

App building requires complexities and expert knowledge in vast web technologies. With Oracle APEX, these complexities involved with multi-faceted applications are reduced, and developers are provided with the rich features they need to fix business problems and create solutions. These features include:

Data: Oracle APEX offers revolutionary functionality to enable developers to turn data into information, no matter where that data is from. Under this functionality, you can display, chart, manipulate, and process data effortlessly and accurately.

Accessibility: Developers can build highly accessible and inclusive web apps for users with various abilities and requirements. Oracle APEX aims to provide a good user experience for everybody, with accessibility bug fixes and continuous improvements of their testing strategies.

Globalization: Oracle APEX provides the ability to create a framework to maintain well-performing applications in multiple languages and environments.

Smart Filters and Search: users can rapidly reduce searched data and remove clutter with search terms and filter suggestions for a more simplified user experience.

Security: Oracle APEX empowers web application builders to develop apps without compromising on security. Despite the constant increase of attacks and modification of web standards, developers can stay focused on their tasks without leaving applications exposed.

Monitoring: Monitoring and logging are built into Oracle APEX, which provides valuable insight into how users interact with your applications, as well as any hacking attempts, application errors, and performance issues.

User Interface: Developers can build modern web applications that are responsive, easily customizable, highly accessible, and simple to maintain with Universal Theme, a user interface for Application Express.

Reviews from Real Users

Oracle Application Express is a favorite among developers looking to create web applications quickly and securely for many reasons, which include its ease of use and the ability to quickly create public applications

A senior database developer at a tech services company notes, "This is a good application for quickly creating public applications."

Alvaro L., an intelligence coordinator at Grupo Orbis, writes, "Oracle Application Express is easy to use, people don't have to be developers to use it."

ServiceNow Now Platform is a rapid application development software solution that enables data to flow seamlessly across applications and existing systems. It delivers workflow automation at an enterprise scale, allowing you to optimize business processes for productivity, agility, and resiliency. Now Platform has out-of-the-box digital workflows that automate everyday service requests, enabling delivery teams to increase service delivery speed, and free up time for higher-value work that drives enterprise-wide innovation.

ServiceNow Now Platform Features

ServiceNow Now Platform has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Configuration Management Database (CMDB): The solution’s centralized source provides full visibility into your IT environment.

Common Services Data Model (CSDM): Now Platform includes a CMDB-based framework that enables standard and consistent service modeling.

Conversational interfaces: The conversational interfaces allow users to seamlessly connect to virtual or live agents through any popular messaging app.

Service portal: Using this feature, users can build, customize, and deploy mobile-friendly self-service experiences.

Service level management: With the solution, users can gather service requirements and monitor and manage SLAs.

Reports and dashboards: Now Platform enables users to easily create and configure customized reports and eye-catching dashboards.

Flow designer: This feature helps users build, connect, and automate cross-enterprise workflows in a single, no-code design environment.

Machine learning: Automate routine tasks and resolve issues faster with purpose-built AI capabilities.

Data certification: The solution’s data certification allows users to manage scheduled and on-demand validations of platform data.

ServiceNow Now Platform Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing ServiceNow Now Platform. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Innovation at scale and speed: Empower developers of any skill level to build and automate with low code tools. Users can also unlock ROI quickly with pre-built apps and integrations that extend digital workflows.

Optimize processes: Optimize work across the enterprise through automating tasks. The solution helps you work smarter and faster with native, purpose-built AI and analytics.

Connect siloes to create seamless experiences for employees and customers: Create and maintain a single source of truth for your enterprise and simplify user experiences with cross-enterprise workflows.

Reviews from Real Users

ServiceNow Now Platform is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it has JavaScript flexibility, and is simple, stable, and agile.

YashShah, Sr. Software Developer at a university, writes, "What I like most about the ServiceNow Now Platform is the flexibility of using JavaScript. I also like that the platform allows custom scripting, server-side scripting, and client-side scripting. Another valuable feature in the ServiceNow Now Platform is the Flow Designer which allows dragging and dropping code, and low code activities."

“The simplicity is great. Based on my experience with other solutions in the market, the most important is the simplicity of implementing all the features that we have in ServiceNow and helping customers to simplify the work process in the daily journeys that they have,” says Bruno P., Architect and delivery manager at Axians.

Another PeerSpot reviewer, Romy B., IT BRM - Business Operations and Functions at Pernod Ricard, expresses, “[The solution is] a stable, scalable, and agile solution that provides fast deployment, good workflow automation and integration capability, but is held back by the UI.”

Sample Customers

Hepart AG, pharmasol, SATLOG, Collège Bois-de-Boulogne

experian, beachbody, health partners

Oracle Application Express (APEX) vs. ServiceNow Now Platform