ArcGIS vs IMS PEI (2026): Pricing, Features & Verdict
ArcGIS is our pick, scoring 7.2/10 against 6.4/10 for IMS PEI on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria. Its biggest advantage: higher Analytics score (9/10 vs 7/10). Neither ArcGIS nor IMS PEI lists a free plan.
Last updated: November 2026
ArcGIS
7.2/10
Esri's GIS platform for mapping, spatial analysis and field data collection, used by utilities, governments and infrastructure owners to manage networks and assets.
IMS PEI
6.4/10
Cloud-based pressure equipment integrity software from Cenosco that plans inspections using risk-based inspection (RBI) and corrosion calculations, for oil, gas, chemicals and process plants.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7.2/10 | 6.4/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Analytics | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Customization | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Asset Registry | ||
| Inspection Checklists | ||
| Offline Field App | ||
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Predictive Maintenance | Not listed | |
| Safety and Compliance | Not listed | |
| SCADA and IoT Integration | Not listed | |
| Work Orders | Not listed | |
Who ArcGIS and IMS PEI suit
ArcGIS fits small business better than IMS PEI.
| Audience | ArcGIS | IMS PEI |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | 4/10Reviewers say subscription and credit costs are hard to justify for small users. | 2/10Quote-based enterprise pricing and the need for implementation services make it a poor fit for small firms. |
| Enterprise | 8/10Large organizations can choose SaaS or self-hosted ArcGIS Enterprise. | 8/10It suits large asset owners, with ERP integration to SAP and Maximo, SSO and ISO 27001-certified hosting. |
| Energy Companies | Not rated | 9/10It was built with Shell and is deployed at refineries, LNG plants and upstream operators such as NAM, Tüpraş and Thaioil. |
| Field Teams | 8/10Field Maps supports offline task work, data capture and crew dispatch. | Not rated |
| Government | 9/10Government agencies are a core market for Field Maps and ArcGIS Online. | Not rated |
| Maintenance Teams | Not rated | 7/10Inspection and integrity engineers use it to schedule inspections and record equipment condition, though maintenance work itself runs in a connected CMMS. |
| Manufacturing | Not rated | 7/10Cenosco also targets chemicals and pulp and paper plants that run pressure equipment. |
| Utilities | 9/10Esri targets utilities with utility network tracing and field crew apps. | Not rated |
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose ArcGIS
- Higher Analytics score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for small business (4/10 vs 2/10)
Why choose IMS PEI
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Pros & Cons
ArcGIS
Pros
- One platform covers desktop, cloud, self-hosted and mobile GIS, so office and field teams work from the same data.
- Field Maps works fully offline for maps, forms, tasks and utility network tracing.
- Integrates with Cityworks, Salesforce, Power Automate and offers APIs for custom systems.
- G2 reviewers praise how it handles layers and datasets and how easy cloud access makes remote work.
Cons
- No public pricing, and reviewers cite subscription and credit costs as the main complaint.
- Credits are consumed by premium services, which can limit heavy use.
- ArcGIS Online lacks some geoprocessing tools found in ArcGIS Pro and Desktop.
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve without training.
IMS PEI
Pros
- Supports both Shell's S-RBI method and API 581, from qualitative to fully quantitative, so one tool can handle risk ranking across a whole plant.
- Rests on more than 20 years of joint development with Shell, and Cenosco reports use on more than 200 assets in over 40 countries.
- Interfaces with SAP, JD Edwards and Maximo, so inspection findings can feed maintenance execution in the ERP.
- The IMS4Field app works offline by default, and NAM reports going paperless while staying auditable.
- Hosted on Microsoft Azure, with ISO 27001:2022 certification and 2FA or SSO/ADFS authentication.
Cons
- No public pricing. Buyers need a sales process and typically pay for implementation and data migration services.
- Independent reviews are almost nonexistent: Capterra shows a single rating, and other listings have none.
- It focuses on inspection and integrity, not a full CMMS, so work order execution and spare parts usually stay in a separate ERP.
- Cenosco itself advises against on-premise hosting, which may not suit operators with strict data residency rules.
- The older IMS Offline app was deprecated in 2024, so sites still on it had to move to IMS4Field.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
ArcGIS scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 7.2/10 against 6.4/10 for IMS PEI. The largest gap is in Analytics: 9/10 for ArcGIS and 7/10 for IMS PEI.
No, neither ArcGIS nor IMS PEI lists a free plan.
ArcGIS is the better fit for small business: we rate it 4/10 for them, against 2/10 for IMS PEI.
