IBM i Reviews & Product Details

After 28 years working with the platform, what I value most is how much keeps working without surprises. The integration of the operating system, Db2 for i, and security in one environment means fewer moving parts and fewer points of failure, and performance stays consistent even under heavy transactional workloads. I have migrated systems from V5R3 all the way to IBM i 7.5, and backward compatibility is remarkable: applications written decades ago keep running while you adopt modern features. Db2 for i has become very strong on the SQL side, with IBM i Services that let you query system information directly with SQL. BRMS provides solid backup and recovery management, and the platform integrates very well with high-availability replication solutions, which makes planned upgrades much safer. IBM support for the platform is knowledgeable and PTF management is predictable. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest challenge is not technical but perception: many people still see IBM i as a legacy platform, which makes it harder to attract new talent. Skilled professionals are scarce, especially in Latin America, and there is very little training material in Spanish, so building local teams takes time. The traditional 5250 interface can also reinforce the legacy image with newer generations, even though tools like ACS help a lot; more modern, web-based administration options would make onboarding easier. Some documentation could be easier for newcomers to navigate. Finally, licensing and hardware costs can be a concern for smaller organizations, even if the total cost of ownership is favorable over the long term. More official learning content in Spanish would help grow the platform in our region. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really appreciate IBM i for its exceptional resilience under heavy transaction loads during peak production cycles. It keeps our order-fulfillment records intact and prevents costly disruptions. I also value the deep backward compatibility, which allows us to keep running decades-old custom business code without full rewrites. The integrated security layers are a standout feature, handling user access controls without needing third-party stacks. Additionally, the built-in database capabilities streamline our supply-chain record keeping, and how it handles batch job processing overnight, generating critical reports without draining resources from our daytime operations is impressive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Finding skilled team members familiar with native IBM i tooling remains a persistent pain point for our operation. Modern UI options feel limited, so staff often work through clunky green-screen interfaces for many routine tasks. Third-party application integrations can also require costly custom development work, adding overhead whenever we want to connect newer cloud-based tools to our core on-premises environment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

IBM i provides an exceptionally integrated, secure and reliable platform for running mission-critical business workloads. The operating system, database, security, middleware and management capabilities work together as a single environment, which simplifies operations and reduces complexity. I particularly value its stability, object-based architecture, integrated Db2 database, strong backward compatibility and excellent support for high availability and disaster recovery. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The main challenge is the perception that IBM i is a legacy platform, despite its continuous modernization and strong business value. Skilled professionals can also be difficult to find, and some organizations underinvest in modernization, automation and application development practices. In addition, certain management interfaces and product documentation could be made more consistent and easier for new users to navigate. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

IIBM i is extremely reliable and stable, which is critical for running core business applications. In our experience, downtime is very rare, and system management is straightforward compared to distributed environments.

The tight integration between the operating system, database (DB2), and security simplifies operations and reduces the need for multiple tools. The object-based architecture and built-in security features also help minimize risks, including ransomware exposure.

It’s a platform you can trust for long-term, mission-critical workloads. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One of the main challenges is the perception of IBM i as a legacy platform, which can make it harder to attract new talent with relevant skills.

The ecosystem is not as broad as more mainstream platforms, and modernization initiatives (such as UI or integration with modern DevOps pipelines) may require additional tools or expertise.

Cost can also be a consideration for smaller organizations, especially when compared to commodity-based infrastructures. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

To be honest, the thing I dig most about IBM i is just how "set it and forget it" the whole system feels. I've been messin around with servers for a minute, and most of them need babying 24/7, but this one just keeps chugging.

Why I think its solid

The integrated database (DB2) is probably the best part. Since the DB is baked right into the OS, you don't gotta spend hours configuring connections or worrying about things breaking during an update. It just works. Also, the security is lowkey insane. You hardly ever hear about IBM i getting hit by the same malware that wrecks Windows boxes because the object-based architecture makes it hard for hackers to find a way in. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Finding RPG developers is basically impossible since everyone's learning Python now. The "green screen" interface feels stuck in the 90s, and licensing costs are straight up robbery. Plus, navigating the old-school documentation is a total headache when you just need a quick fix. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like IBM i's highly integrated and reliable architecture, which combines the operating system, database, and middleware into a single system, reducing complexity and improving efficiency. Its exceptional stability is a great asset, allowing mission-critical applications to run with minimal downtime. The built-in database, Db2 for i, is another feature I really appreciate, as it offers excellent performance and simplifies data handling. IBM i's strong security model provides object-level security that makes enforcing security policies easy. The powerful job scheduling and workload management capabilities are also something I value because they allow efficient handling of batch jobs and system resources. Overall, IBM i is a dependable and efficient platform that enables me to focus more on business logic while dealing with fewer infrastructure issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While IBM i is a highly reliable and stable platform, there are a few areas where it could be improved to better align with modern development practices. One of the main challenges is the learning curve. Technologies like RPG and CL are not as widely used today, so it can be difficult to find developers who are comfortable working with them. This can slow down onboarding and knowledge transfer in teams. Another area is modernization. Although IBM i does support modern languages like Java and APIs, integrating legacy systems with newer technologies can sometimes require additional effort compared to more contemporary platforms that are built with cloud-native architectures in mind. The user interface and tooling can also feel outdated. Compared to modern IDEs and development environments, some IBM i tools are less intuitive and may impact developer productivity, especially for those coming from modern tech stacks. Scalability and flexibility, particularly in cloud environments, is another aspect that could be enhanced. While IBM i is extremely powerful on-premise, adapting it to cloud-native or microservices-based architectures is not always straightforward. Lastly, cost can be a concern. The infrastructure and licensing for IBM i systems can be relatively expensive compared to open-source or distributed alternatives. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like IBM i's Hybrid Cloud Leadership, which focuses on helping businesses run applications seamlessly across on-premise systems, private clouds, and public clouds instead of forcing everything into a single environment. It's very valuable for me as it acts as a powerful, all-in-one business engine that runs mission-critical operations reliably behind the scenes. IBM i acts like a strong, reliable core system that connects with modern tools to create a complete IT ecosystem. The initial setup of IBM i is generally considered easier than many enterprise systems. I highly recommend IBM i for reliability and business-critical systems. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

To excel in cutting edge experimentation, IBM i should evolve into a cloud-like, developer-friendly platform with an instant access, open tools, and native support for modern innovation patterns. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I use IBM i primarily for managing enterprise business applications and backend operations. I appreciate its reliability and low maintenance architecture, which reduce operational risk and minimize the time spent managing infrastructure issues. The highly stable environment is great for running critical applications with minimal downtime, essential for enterprise operations. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

For me there are areas where the platform feels outdated compared to newer cloud-native environments in terms of modern development. Maybe you can add more modern tooling, streamlined APIs, better integration with widely used languages and frameworks could help. Its not that typical, I just take help from several forums and documentations. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I appreciate IBM i for its reliability, security, and powerful enterprise technology. It provides me with reliable and secure tools that help manage complex technology and data efficiently. I also like their great customer service. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I find the user experience lacking, I believe it should be less complex, and I feel the pricing could be more transparent. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I enjoy IBM i software and appreciate the trustworthiness and value of their products. They regularly update their products and services, and I like their customer care as they always help to satisfy their customers. What I like most is the data evolution feature, as it aids in my data management and services. IBM i's diverse and reliable range of software and services, including data management, data services, and data evaluation, really stands out to me. I appreciate the business services and find the initial setup very easy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I feel like IBM i could use more AI services and products. It would be helpful if they also considered consumer opinions more. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.