# Forrester vs IDC Comparison

---
## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Forrester vs IDC?

IDC stands out for its higher G2 rating and reviewer-cited insights, while Forrester is noted for authenticity and a higher Quality of Support score.

| [Forrester](https://www.g2.com/products/forrester/reviews) | [IDC](https://www.g2.com/products/idc/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.3/5 (38 reviews) | 4.5/5 (24 reviews) |
| — | — |
| 8.7 | — |
| 8.8 | 8.2 |
| Authenticity (1 all-time mention) | Insights (1 all-time mention) |



### How do the pricing models of Forrester and IDC compare?

IDC is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to Forrester.

- **Forrester:** In recent reviews, several reviewers mention that the cost is high and may be a barrier for small firms, though they acknowledge the quality of insights provided.
- **IDC:** Reviewers note that IDC's pricing is also high, but they highlight the breadth of data and tools as justifying the investment for many organizations.



### What are the best alternatives to Forrester and IDC?

G2 Marketing Solutions, Gartner, and Forrester are the top alternatives to IDC in Technology Research Services.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Forrester](https://www.g2.com/products/forrester/reviews) | 4.3/5 (38 reviews) | — | High cost noted in recent reviews | Authenticity (1 all-time mention) |
| [IDC](https://www.g2.com/products/idc/reviews) | 4.5/5 (24 reviews) | — | High cost, but justified by breadth of data | Insights (1 all-time mention) |
| [G2 Marketing Solutions](https://www.g2.com/products/g2/reviews) | 4.6/5 (5716 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — |
| [Gartner](https://www.g2.com/products/gartner/reviews) | 4.0/5 (88 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — |



### Which Technology Research Services features should I prioritize when comparing Forrester and IDC?

Buyers should prioritize Ease of Use, Quality of Support, Meets Requirements, Insights, and Authenticity when comparing Forrester and IDC.

- **Ease of Use:** Forrester 8.3, IDC 9.2
- **Quality of Support:** Forrester 8.8, IDC 8.2
- **Meets Requirements:** Forrester 8.9, IDC 9.1
- **Insights:** IDC (1 all-time mention), Forrester not cited
- **Authenticity:** Forrester (1 all-time mention), IDC not cited



### What are the pros and cons of Forrester vs IDC?

IDC's headline strength is actionable insights, while Forrester is recognized for authenticity and support quality.

- **Forrester strengths:** Authenticity (1 all-time mention), user-friendly interface, detailed analysis, and high-quality support (8.8 score).
- **Forrester trade-offs:** High cost is frequently cited as a barrier, especially for small businesses; some reviewers mention a lack of depth in niche trends and absence of AI/ML features.
- **IDC strengths:** Insights (1 all-time mention), vast library of data sets and tools, actionable advisory, and high Ease of Use (9.2 score).
- **IDC trade-offs:** High cost is noted, and several reviewers mention that customer support could be better trained for technical issues.



### Is Forrester or IDC better for small businesses?

Neither Forrester nor IDC is specifically favored for small businesses, as both lack a dominant small-business segment and both are noted for high costs in recent reviews.

- **Forrester:** No dominant small-business segment; reviewers highlight high cost as a barrier for small firms.
- **IDC:** No dominant small-business segment; reviewers also mention high cost, with some recommending startups consider alternatives.



### Which Technology Research Services platform has better integrations?

Forrester and IDC are at parity for integrations, as no reviewer-cited integrations are mentioned for either product.

- **Forrester:** No integrations cited in recent reviews.
- **IDC:** No integrations cited in recent reviews.



### How do Forrester and IDC compare on customer support?

Forrester and IDC are at near-parity on Quality of Support, with Forrester scoring 8.8 and IDC 8.2, a difference below the materiality threshold.

- **Forrester:** Reviewers consistently praise the support team for being knowledgeable, proactive, and responsive, with multiple mentions of high-quality customer service.
- **IDC:** Reviewers describe support as generally good, though some note delays in response time and a need for better technical training among support staff.



### Which is easier to implement, Forrester or IDC?

Forrester and IDC are at parity on Ease of Setup, with Forrester scoring 8.7 and IDC reviewers describing setup as easy and straightforward.

- **Forrester:** Reviewers rate Ease of Setup at 8.7, noting a user-friendly interface and straightforward onboarding process.
- **IDC:** Reviewers describe setup as easy and the platform as user-friendly, with several citing quick implementation experiences.



| | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 38 | 24 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (37.1% of reviews) | Mid-Market (37.5% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Forrester

Pros:
- Authenticity (1 reviews)
- Simple (1 reviews)


### IDC

Pros:
- Insights (1 reviews)


---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.9 (22 reviews) | 9.1 (13 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.3 (23 reviews) | 9.2 (12 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.7 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.8 (21 reviews) | 8.2 (13 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.5 (12 reviews) | 8.3 (5 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.7 (27 reviews) | 7.9 (11 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Forrester

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### IDC

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Market Intelligence

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Forrester** | N/A | N/A |
| **IDC** | N/A | N/A |

#### Data collection

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Natural Language Processing (NLP)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Sources** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Research Sources** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Lead Enrichment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Advanced Data Collection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Segment Trending

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Web** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Social** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Benchmarks** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Finance ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Analysis

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom Dashboards** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Search** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, And Access Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile User Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Market Intelligence

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Strategic Sourcing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Forrester** | N/A | N/A |
| **IDC** | N/A | N/A |

#### Supplier Marketplace

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Library** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Categorization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Catalog Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Supply Chain Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Template Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Contract/License Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Bid Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Requisition Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Project Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Purchase Order Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Global Sourcing Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spend Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Auction Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Invoice Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Budget Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vendor Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Supplier Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Procurement Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Rfx Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Supplier Risk Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Contract Management

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Revenue** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Negotiations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Data Collection

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Spend** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Savings** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Project Management

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Repository** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Lifecycle** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Strategic Sourcing

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **ERP integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Approval Process Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Order Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Inventory Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Budgeting/Forecasting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spend Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Currency** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spend Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Invoice Processing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Receiving** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Quotes/Estimates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Supplier Web Portal** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Supplier Qualification** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **RFP Creation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reminders** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Self Service Portal** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Purchasing & Receiving** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Vendor Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Forrester** | N/A | N/A |
| **IDC** | N/A | N/A |

#### Agentic AI - Vendor Management

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Billing & Invoicing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Templates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Invoice Processing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Onboarding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sourcing Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vendor Master Data Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Procurement Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Project Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Transaction History** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Offboarding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Self Service Portal** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Approval Process Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vendor Payment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance Metrics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Purchase Order Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Contract/License Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Task Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Revenue Recognition

| Feature | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Usage Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Deferred Revenue** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Revenue Accrual** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Technology Research Services](https://www.g2.com/categories/technology-research-services)


**Unique to IDC (3):** [Strategic Sourcing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/strategic-sourcing), [Vendor Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/vendor-management), [Market Intelligence Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/market-intelligence)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Forrester | IDC | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 37.1% | 33.3% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 25.7% | 37.5% | 
| **Enterprise** | 37.1% | 29.2% | 

### By Industry

#### Forrester

- **Computer Software:** 13.9%
- **Financial Services:** 11.1%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 11.1%
- **Accounting:** 8.3%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 8.3%
- **Management Consulting:** 5.6%
- **Education Management:** 5.6%
- **Consumer Goods:** 5.6%
- **Market Research:** 2.8%
- **Leisure, Travel & Tourism:** 2.8%
- **Other:** 25.0%

#### IDC

- **Computer Software:** 16.7%
- **Telecommunications:** 12.5%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 12.5%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 12.5%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 8.3%
- **Manufacturing:** 4.2%
- **Utilities:** 4.2%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 4.2%
- **Management Consulting:** 4.2%
- **Logistics and Supply Chain:** 4.2%
- **Other:** 16.7%

---
## Alternatives

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---
## Top Discussions

### Forrester

- Title: [How does Forrester work?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-does-forrester-work) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Forrester is solid for vendor comparisons but I prefer Gartner for any other in-depth research .  The reports that they generate are too simplified to be..."

### IDC

No discussions available for this product.

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/forrester-vs-idc)