# SAP LeanIX vs Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect: which do AI models recommend for EA tools, October 2026

IT AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition, Enterprise architecture tools. Eight of fourteen models named SAP LeanIX first on the direct prompt; one named Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect. Page: https://it-ai-index.com/operations/enterprise-architecture-tools/sap-leanix-vs-sparx-systems-enterprise-architect/

| | First-choice share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels | Models naming it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAP LeanIX | 25% | #1 of 10 | 15% | 33 | 12 of 14 |
| Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect | 5% | #5 of 10 | 17% | 29 | 13 of 14 |

## The direct prompt, model by model

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

## What the models said about SAP LeanIX

- "SAP LeanIX, if you need a highly bespoke metamodel... That's not a reason to avoid LeanIX if its standard model fits" (GPT-6 Luna, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "Medium-High Risk: Customization & Data Model Rigidity ... LeanIX if you need deep customization" (DeepSeek V4 Flash, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "Often targets larger enterprises; check if the licensing/price is competitive for <1k users." (Qwen 3.7 Flash, scale prompt, soft negative)
- "agile cloud-based solutions with strong integration and collaboration features are typically recommended, e.g. SAP LeanIX, Ardoq, or BlueDolphin" (Muse Glimmer 30B, scale prompt, first choice)
- "Choose LeanIX if you want to quickly understand what applications you own, how much they cost, and how they map to business goals." (Qwen 3.7 Flash, comparative prompt, first choice)
- "LeanIX is highly accessible for mid-market companies due to its out-of-the-box usability and modular pricing structure" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, paraphrase prompt, first choice)

## What the models said about Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

- "Highest Caution/Steepest Learning Curve ... Frequently cited as one of the most problematic" (Grok 4.1 Fast, negative prompt, hard negative)
- "Avoid: - Sparx Enterprise Architect if you need business-friendly EA" (DeepSeek V4 Flash, negative prompt, hard negative)
- "The learning curve is steep with nested menus and features hidden in dialogs... Users report outdated design, poor UI, difficulty understanding and finding required tools, and performance issues" (Claude Haiku 4.5, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "It maintains a dominant 18% market share in the defense and aerospace sectors and remains the most cost-effective solution for large-scale deployments" (Claude Haiku 4.5, comparative prompt, first choice)
- "Choose Sparx EA when you need deep, standards-based architecture modeling, full control of the repository, and the lowest cost at scale" (Muse Glimmer 30B, comparative prompt, first choice)
- "If you want a powerful, cost-effective, on-premise tool with deep modeling, choose Sparx Enterprise Architect." (Mistral Small, direct 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.