# LeanIX vs Archi: which do AI models recommend for EA tools, October 2026

IT AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition, Enterprise architecture tools. Three of fourteen models named LeanIX first on the direct prompt; zero named Archi. Page: https://it-ai-index.com/operations/enterprise-architecture-tools/leanix-vs-archi/

| | First-choice share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels | Models naming it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeanIX | 16% | #3 of 10 | 25% | 20 | 10 of 14 |
| Archi | 11% | #4 of 10 | 0% | 14 | 11 of 14 |

## The direct prompt, model by model

- Claude Haiku 4.5: leanix first (first choices: Ardoq, LeanIX) (alternatives: Archi, Bizzdesign Horizzon)
- Perplexity Sonar: leanix first (first choices: LeanIX) (alternatives: Ardoq, Sparx Enterprise Architect)
- Qwen 3.7 Flash: leanix first (first choices: LeanIX) (alternatives: Ardoq, Bizzdesign Horizzon, Sparx Systems)
- GPT-5.4 mini: neither named (first choices: SAP LeanIX) (alternatives: Bizzdesign Horizzon, Orbus Software, Sparx Systems)
- Gemini 3.5 Flash: neither named (first choices: SAP LeanIX) (alternatives: Ardoq, Orbus Software, Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect)
- Grok 4.1 Fast: neither named (first choices: SAP LeanIX) (alternatives: Ardoq, Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect)
- Mistral Small: neither named (first choices: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect) (alternatives: Ardoq, iServer365)
- DeepSeek V4 Flash: neither named (first choices: SAP LeanIX) (alternatives: Ardoq, Bizzdesign Horizzon, Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect)
- Llama 4 Maverick: neither named (first choices: Sparx)
- Kimi K2: neither named (first choices: SAP LeanIX) (alternatives: Ardoq, Avolution ABACUS, Bizzdesign Enterprise Studio, Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect)
- GLM 4.7 FlashX: neither named (first choices: SAP LeanIX) (alternatives: Ardoq, Bizzdesign Horizzon, Sparx Enterprise Architect)
- MiniMax M2.5: neither named (first choices: Ardoq, SAP LeanIX) (alternatives: Essential Cloud, Sparx Enterprise Architect)
- GPT-6 Luna: neither named (first choices: SAP LeanIX) (alternatives: Ardoq, OrbusInfinity)
- Muse Glimmer 30B: neither named (first choices: Ardoq) (alternatives: Bizzdesign Horizzon, SAP LeanIX, Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect)

## What the models said about LeanIX

- "Avoid high-end tools like LeanIX, Bizzdesign, or Ardoq (enterprise pricing, often $10K+ annually)." (Grok 4.1 Fast, budget prompt, hard negative)
- "Modern SaaS platforms like LeanIX, Ardoq, and BiZZdesign frequently cost upwards of $10,000 to $50,000+ per year, placing them far out of reach" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, budget prompt, soft negative)
- "SaaS Platforms with "Asset-Based" Pricing (e.g., LeanIX, Ardoq) ... Unpredictable, ballooning licensing costs." (Gemini 3.5 Flash, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "For most mid-market B2B companies, LeanIX or Ardoq offer the best balance of cloud-native architecture, modern UX, and scalability." (Claude Haiku 4.5, direct prompt, first choice)
- "SaaS options like LeanIX, Bizzdesign, Ardoq, or Sparx Enterprise Architect, which support mid-sized orgs managing 50-500+ apps" (Grok 4.1 Fast, scale prompt, first choice)
- "Widely considered the gold standard for modern Application Portfolio Management. It is incredibly user-friendly" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, scale prompt, first choice)

## What the models said about Archi

- "For the most budget-conscious approach, Archi is an excellent starting point due to its simplicity, active community, and zero cost." (Claude Haiku 4.5, budget prompt, first choice)
- "If your budget is truly limited, Archi (the free, open‑source ArchiMate editor) is still the best starting point for most companies." (GLM 4.7 FlashX, budget prompt, first choice)
- "If you need absolutely no cost and can work desktop-based, Archi is the standard starting point." (Muse Glimmer 30B, budget prompt, first choice)

Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all fourteen models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category. Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category. Published under CC BY 4.0; the output is the models' output, and nothing here is a recommendation by the index.