--- title: IBM Z Reviews meta_title: 'IBM Z Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 89 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how IBM Z works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.5 review_count: 89 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-07-12' parent_category: name: IT Hardware url: https://www.g2.com/categories/it-hardware --- # IBM Z Reviews **Vendor:** IBM **Category:** [Servers](https://www.g2.com/categories/servers) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 89 ## About IBM Z IBM Z® are modern mainframe platforms that include enterprise operating systems and IBM z/OS or Linux software. Offering multiple options, IBM Z can be configured as a single-frame, multi-frame, or rack mount to fit your workload optimization and infrastructure needs. IBM Z is designed to bring AI, security, resiliency and scalability to your hybrid cloud environment to meet the evolving demands of the world's largest enterprises. Today, the IBM z17™, powered by the IBM Telum II® processor and paired with the IBM Spyre™ Accelerator , integrates advanced AI into hybrid cloud, optimizing performance, security and decision-making where critical data resides. Combined with the IBM Telum II processor, IBM Spyre™ Accelerator, is designed to increase the AI acceleration available to handle larger, more complex AI use cases, including generative AI and multi-model. As a scalable PCIe card-based solution, Spyre enables, clients to leverage this efficient solution for next-generation AI challenges. In addition, with custom designed automations and libraries engineered to enable greater operational efficiency, IBM z17™ is built to streamline IT operations, reduce complexity and empower workforce . The IBM z17™ is designed to help protect crucial data and workloads from current and future threats with its advanced security features like quantum-safe cryptography, enterprise-grade encryption, secure key management, and tamper-resistant technology. Also, it is built to help support high availability and continuous operations amid evolving business and regulatory requirements thought cyber resiliency features. Overall, IBM z17™ helps clients drive innovation, power new workloads and enhance their productivity. ## IBM Z Reviews ### 1. Powerful, Reliable Platform for Enterprise-Scale Workloads **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sri T. | I am an IBM Z Student Ambassador and a rising senior at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University), Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 22, 2025 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** What I really liked about IBM Z is that it provides an unmatched scalability for critical applications. It's strong in processing large volumes of transactions securely, which makes sense why many enterprises rely on it. What I really like is how an old technology like mainframe is able to integrate modern capabilities like APIs, AI, Cloud, and etc. without sacrificing its strengths in performance and security. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** I think one think I find as a struggle (not something I completely dislike), would be the learning curve. New developers might find the mainframe environment intimidating compared to modern cloud platforms. Implementation can required specialized knowledge. Also, it may be costly for small organizations to setup a mainframe environment. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** IBM Z is helping consolidate large-scale data processing and transactional workloads into a secure environment. It solves challenges around handling high-volume transactions with zero downtime. I would say the benefit would be that it improves efficiency, reducing risk, and supporting modernization without disrupting critical systems. IBM Z is also addressing the need for scalability, reliability, and security in financial and enterprise-grade applications. I believe that IBM Z is also helping bridge the gap between older systems and modern digital services. ### 2. Highly Reliable and Scalable for Critical Financial Workloads **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Abhishek A. | IBM Z & LinuxONE Brand Leader **Reviewed Date:** October 12, 2025 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** I really appreciate the reliability and scalability of IBM Z, as these are top concerns for any financial institution I work with. The security standards, including the latest quantum-safe security offerings, are impressive and meet the high demands of my industry. The evolution from console mode to GUI-based interactions, along with Watson x assistance, has made life easier by simplifying tasks. The platform efficiently handles IO-intensive core banking applications with minimum downtime and impressive response times, offering strong reliability, availability, and scalability. IBM Z integrates well with Red Hat Linux, enhancing my operations with wide support for various software. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** I think the form factor of IBM Z could be improved further. While there's been some change with the introduction of rack-mounted options for business class servers, enterprise class servers still come as large units that can take up several racks. It would be beneficial if the form factor could be minimized even more. Additionally, although electricity consumption has already been reduced, making further reductions would help align with sustainability standards. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find IBM Z manages critical workloads with excellent reliability and performance, ensuring IO-intensive core banking applications run with minimal downtime and fast response times. ### 3. System z Administrator with 17 years of experience in enterprise IT infrastructure **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** GAUTAM G. | Lead Quality Automation Engineer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 25, 2025 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** IBM Z is unmatched in its reliability, scalability, and security. As an administrator, I’ve seen how its processing power effortlessly supports high-volume, mission-critical workloads while ensuring near-zero downtime. Its resilience gives both IT teams and business stakeholders strong confidence in operations. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** The main challenge is cost. Licensing, hardware, and skilled resource requirements make IBM Z a significant investment, which can be difficult for organizations exploring more cost-effective platforms. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** IBM Z ensures stable performance for massive transactional volumes, maintaining data integrity and system resilience. It has enabled the organizations I’ve worked with to handle financial transactions, batch processing, and mission-critical applications without interruptions — ensuring continuity, compliance, and customer satisfaction. ### 4. IBM Master Machine Z - Unmatched Performance and Reliability with Zero Downtime **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sandeep J. | Mainframe Db2 Consultant (Contractor), Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 12, 2025 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** Performance, Realiability, security, scalability, energy efficiency and ability to provide fault tolerant platform with zero down time. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** It is too expensive and people cant practice this through open platform. Learning Z is also expensive. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** IBM Z mainframes solve problems related to high-volume transaction processing, enterprise-scale security and compliance, and continuous availability for critical, core business applications. Critical operations across our banking clients (managing printing and communications records),run efficiently on IBM Z, ensuring that the services you rely on are fast, dependable, and accurate. ### 5. Very Satisfied **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Hilton S. | Analista de Suporte, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 12, 2025 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** The stability and security are unparalleled. The ability to process a gigantic volume of transactions consistently and with extremely high performance is the main differentiator. The robustness of the hardware and the z/OS operating system gives us the peace of mind that our most critical applications will always be available. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** The learning curve for new professionals is quite steep, and there is a certain difficulty in finding the answers in the manuals. Additionally, the integration with more modern DevOps and cloud-native tools, although improved, can still be more complex when compared to other platforms. The cost of software licensing is also a point of concern. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** The IBM Z addresses some of the most critical challenges our organization faces, especially concerning our core business. The main problems it solves are: Mass Transaction Processing: Sensitive Data Security High Availability (Zero Downtime) ### 6. Exceptionally Reliable Platform with No Drawbacks **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jose Luiz P. | IT Specialist, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 24, 2025 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** The platform proves to be very reliable and secure. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** As a user in an environment with millions of transactions, I see no disadvantages in using IBM-Z. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** To meet a high demand for inquiries and trasactions. ### 7. Old but Gold **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 23, 2025 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** I'm working on the server side as an administrator, responsible for maintaining and taking care of IBM products to keep client tools supportable. Output Job is what I like the most. As an admin, you want to know what happens to your work and review it. Learning it is the most important thing for an early tenure. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** I'm practically new to this field, and none of these skills were taught in college. Yes, there is a lack of human resources, but once you put your mind to learning, you will be able to catch up and understand your working environment. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** As an administrator, these features make your job easier by providing reliable, secure, and scalable systems that require less manual intervention and troubleshooting. The extensive documentation and community support, including Redbooks, forums and the ABCs of z/OS System Programmer, further aid in developing your technical skills and troubleshooting capabilities ### 8. Experience with IBM on z Platform **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Financial Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 16, 2025 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** It's a reliable platform with a immense power for data proccess, a huge security environment, and so on. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** The worst part of z platform is it's costs (hardware and software). **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** We don't have any kind of problem right now, but the z System sustains the core business here. ### 9. Reliable environment prepared for large volumes. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Marco M. | Coordenador de Infraestrutura Mainframe, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 12, 2024 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** Reliability is one of the characteristics that most catches my attention. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** Still needs to improve the integration with the low platform products. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** Corporate processing. ### 10. Mainframe specialist for over 20 years, dedicating a large part of my career to DB2 Database. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Leticia F. | Especialista em Arquitetura de Dados, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 20, 2024 **What do you like best about IBM Z?** It is a platform with greater transactional processing power, very secure and resilient, which generates greater satisfaction for users and customers. **What do you dislike about IBM Z?** I have no dislikes, just a few professionals in the market, due to the difficulty of training. **What problems is IBM Z solving and how is that benefiting you?** Ensuring the large transactional volume of the company I work for, without any loss of transactions, maintaining workload stability. ## IBM Z Discussions - [What is IBM Z used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-ibm-z-used-for) - 1 comment - [View IBM Z pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-z/reviews/ibm-z-review-4363179?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-20+14%3A45%3A04+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=4f050b55-9b4d-4c8c-86d3-19354c9b430c&secure%5Btoken%5D=6a1660056e26272a8b61f5cc16b1acffdb8e29bbdb923da53399e66043c3ab70&format=llm_user) ## IBM Z Integrations - [(E)JES](https://www.g2.com/products/e-jes/reviews) - [IBM Db2](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-db2/reviews) - [IBM Security zSecure](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-security-zsecure/reviews) ## Top IBM Z Alternatives - [QNAP NAS](https://www.g2.com/products/qnap-nas/reviews) - 3.9/5.0 (18 reviews) - [PowerEdge AI Servers](https://www.g2.com/products/poweredge-ai-servers/reviews) - 5.0/5.0 (2 reviews) - [HPE Servers](https://www.g2.com/products/hpe-servers/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (20 reviews)