This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them

Period

–Visits

–Page views

–Clicks to vendors

–Time on page

–Reading now

Clicks to vendors, by tool

Top countries

Devices

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Mainframe Testing Tools

Rocket SmartTest vs IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390

Updated Oct 2026
Both researched from official sources
1 check side by side

Higher score Rocket SmartTest #3 in Mainframe Testing Tools 8.5/10 Pricing on request ✓ 1 of 2 features Contact Rocket

IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 #4 in Mainframe Testing Tools 7.8/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 2 features Visit IBM

Rocket SmartTest leads on 0 checks, IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

Highest scoreRocket SmartTest · 8.5/10
Most featuresRocket SmartTest · 1 of 2

Rocket SmartTest scores higher on our rubric for mainframe testing tools: 8.5 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

Rocket SmartTest is the better fit for mainframe teams testing CICS, IMS, batch and DB2. IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 is the better fit for enterprise teams simulating z/OS and OS/390 workloads.

Rocket SmartTest fits best
Mainframe teams testing CICS, IMS, batch and DB2
IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 fits best
Enterprise teams simulating z/OS and OS/390 workloads

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Show only differences

Feature	Rocket SmartTest 8.5/10 Visit ↗	IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.5	7.8
Ranking	#3 in Mainframe Testing Tools	#4 in Mainframe Testing Tools
Best for	Mainframe teams testing CICS, IMS, batch and DB2	Enterprise teams simulating z/OS and OS/390 workloads
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	Pricing on request
Free plan	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Enterprise
Features Rocket SmartTest 1/2 · IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 0/2
Test data support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
CI/CD integration	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Test types	interactive program, application and system testing; CICS transaction testing; IMS/DC testing; batch testing; test coverage analysis; DB2 stored-procedure testing	workload simulation
Mainframe platforms	IBM z/OS; MVS TSO/ISPF; CICS; IMS/DC	z/OS, OS/390
Automation level	Automated	Not checked yet
Deployment options	On-premises	On-premises
Our review
Pros	Tests CICS synchronous and asynchronous transactions, IMS/DC, batch and DB2 procedures Explores execution paths and data relationships in interactive sessions Reports test coverage at statement, paragraph and program levels	Generates mainframe test workloads for application testing. Supports workload simulation in z/OS environments. Supports workloads for OS/390.
Cons	Requires on-premises deployment in IBM z/OS environments Pricing is handled through contact with Rocket Software Its mainframe focus may not suit teams testing non-mainframe applications	Focused on workload simulation rather than broader test capabilities. Self-hosted deployment is the listed option. Pricing is handled through contact with sales.
Our verdict	For development and quality-assurance teams working on IBM z/OS applications, Rocket SmartTest brings interactive testing and debugging together with transaction and coverage testing. It supports COBOL and PL/I, with options for CICS,… Read the review →	For enterprise teams preparing applications for IBM mainframe environments, IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 generates test workloads and simulates workloads on z/OS and OS/390. Its scope is specific: evaluating application… Read the review →

R Rocket SmartTestMainframe Testing Tools 8.5Pricing on request
IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390Mainframe Testing Tools 7.8Pricing on request

Compare the top tools in

Strengths and trade-offs

Rocket SmartTest — where it wins
- Tests CICS synchronous and asynchronous transactions, IMS/DC, batch and DB2 procedures
- Explores execution paths and data relationships in interactive sessions
- Reports test coverage at statement, paragraph and program levels
Where it doesn't
- Requires on-premises deployment in IBM z/OS environments
- Pricing is handled through contact with Rocket Software
- Its mainframe focus may not suit teams testing non-mainframe applications
IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/390 — where it wins
- Generates mainframe test workloads for application testing.
- Supports workload simulation in z/OS environments.
- Supports workloads for OS/390.
Where it doesn't
- Focused on workload simulation rather than broader test capabilities.
- Self-hosted deployment is the listed option.
- Pricing is handled through contact with sales.

Rocket SmartTest8.5/10 · Pricing on request
Interactive testing, transaction checks and coverage analysis for on-premises mainframe teams.
Contact Rocket Full verdict →
IBM Workload Simulator for z/OS and OS/3907.8/10 · Pricing on request
A focused workload simulator for teams testing applications on z/OS and OS/390.
Visit IBM Full verdict →

More comparisons

All mainframe testing tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update