Here’s Our List of The Top 8 PowerBuilder Migration Tools and Companies

Quick summary 

This article breaks down the top 8 PowerBuilder migration tools and service providers that help teams move aging applications to modern, secure, and scalable systems. Learn what each tool and company offers, where it excels, and how it handles complex legacy logic. Visit the Kodesage blog for more insights on modernizing legacy systems efficiently.

Ready to modernize your PowerBuilder applications?

PowerBuilder is still widely used in many enterprise systems, but maintaining it has become costly and inefficient. If you are considering migrating to a modern tech stack, now is the right time to explore your options.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled the top 8 PowerBuilder migration tools and companies that reduce risk, improve maintainability, and support a smoother transition for your legacy applications.

What is PowerBuilder?

PowerBuilder is a rapid application development tool for building client-server business applications. It combines a visual UI designer, an event-driven scripting language (PowerScript), and the DataWindow object, which manages data access, validation, and reporting.

For decades, teams have relied on PowerBuilder to run core systems in banking, insurance, government, and manufacturing. Many of these applications still handle large transaction volumes and support critical daily operations.

Today, PowerBuilder is considered a legacy stack. Skilled talent is harder to find, cloud options are limited, and integration with newer frameworks can be challenging. For these reasons, many teams are planning structured PowerBuilder migrations.

Why do you need a PowerBuilder migration tool?

• Enhanced performance: PowerBuilder migration tools move applications to faster, more scalable platforms.
• Cost savings: A PowerBuilder migration tool reduces ongoing maintenance costs for outdated systems that require specialized skills and expensive support.
• Security compliance: Modern systems are equipped to meet current security standards and regulatory requirements.
• Improved integration: Legacy systems can connect with new technologies, making it easier to add features and scale.
• Reduced risk: Migration processes are automated to minimize manual errors and system downtime.

A summary of the 8 best PowerBuilder migration tools and companies

Here’s a quick comparison of the best PowerBuilder migration tools and companies featured in this review before we dive into the details:

Best 8 PowerBuilder migration tools for seamless legacy system modernization

1. Kodesage

Kodesage is an AI-powered platform that helps organizations extract, preserve, and share critical business logic from business-critical applications built on legacy technologies like PowerBuilder. It is designed for teams that have lost system knowledge due to outdated documentation, limited internal expertise, or legacy code that only a few people understand.

By connecting directly to source code, documentation, issue tickets, and databases, Kodesage builds a unified knowledge base for PowerBuilder systems. This makes system behaviour understandable not only to engineers, but also to product managers, business analysts, QA teams, and support teams. With shared system understanding, organizations can plan modernization more safely and with far less risk.

Kodesage is designed for secure on-premise and even air-gapped deployments, but it also provides VPC options. This makes it a strong fit for organizations operating under strict privacy, regulatory, or data-sovereignty requirements where cloud or SaaS tools are not an option.

Key features

• Natural-language system querying: Teams can ask questions about PowerBuilder logic, data flows, and dependencies, and receive clear, traceable answers without reading thousands of lines of code.
• Automated documentation generation: Produces comprehensive, up-to-date documentation that fills knowledge gaps and keeps system understanding current as changes occur.
• Visual dependency mapping: Reveals relationships between modules, functions, databases, and external systems, exposing hidden dependencies that can cause migration or change failures.
• Issue ticket analysis and support enablement: Integrates with tools like Jira and Redmine to link tickets to underlying code paths, helping support and engineering teams diagnose issues faster and pinpoint root causes.
• QA and test support: Provides QA teams with system insights to plan unit, regression, and integration tests, reducing risk during system changes or modernization.
• Privacy-first deployment options: Runs on-premise, in private cloud environments, or in air-gapped setups to meet strict compliance and data protection requirements.

Case study: Hold Asset Management modernizes PowerBuilder systems

Hold Asset Management, one of the largest independent asset management firms in Central and Eastern Europe, used Kodesage to address critical knowledge gaps in its legacy PowerBuilder-based core systems. With limited internal expertise and outdated documentation, understanding and maintaining the system had become time-consuming and risky.

By deploying Kodesage on-premise, Hold Asset Management automatically generated and kept technical documentation in sync with frequent code changes across both modern and legacy stacks, including PowerBuilder. This reduced engineering time previously spent explaining legacy logic and eliminated the need for additional costly developer environments that were kept solely for system interpretation.

Kodesage also empowered non-technical teams, enabling business analysts and support staff to access system knowledge without developer assistance. As a result, Hold Asset Management improved knowledge transfer, reduced operational overhead, and established a safer foundation for future modernization planning, all while meeting strict privacy and regulatory requirements.

Pricing

Kodesage pricing is based on the number of connected systems rather than usage or token counts. Each system can include multiple data sources. There are no usage limits or hidden caps on features within a deployment.

Pros

• Provides deep context by indexing entire codebases, documentation, and issue tickets. 
• Speeds onboarding of new engineers with natural-language queries.
• Supports secure deployments for regulated firms, including on-premise and air-gapped setups.
• Keeps documentation automatically up to date as systems change.
• Visual maps expose hidden dependencies within legacy stacks.
• Gives non-developer stakeholders, including product, QA, and support teams, clear access to system logic and insights.

Cons

• Initial setup, including codebase ingestion and configuration, can take more time and resources for large or complex systems.

2. Ispirer

Ispirer’s CodeWays App Conversion is an automated tool that migrates legacy source code and embedded SQL to modern platforms like Java, C#, or web-based technologies. It includes an assessment phase to evaluate code complexity and generate a tailored migration roadmap.

Key features

• Automated code conversion: Converts PowerBuilder applications and embedded SQL to target languages or platforms.  
• Assessment & metrics tool: Measures code complexity and estimates project scope before full migration. 
• Custom‑rule engine: Adjusts conversion rules for specific controls, libraries, or frameworks in PowerBuilder applications.
• Embedded SQL and API conversion: Detects and migrates inline SQL and database access in PowerBuilder applications.
• Multiple target languages: Supports migration from PowerBuilder to .NET, Java, Python, and other platforms.

Pricing

Ispirer offers several types of pricing:

Self-service pricing (two product types):

a. SQL + Data migration plans:

• Free (1 week)
• Light (1 month) – $395
• Starter (3 months) – $719
• Custom (5+ months) – Pricing via comparison

b. Data-only migration plans:

• Free (1 week)
• Light (1 month) – $45
• Starter (1 month) – $75
• Custom (5+ months) – Pricing via comparison

Full-support plans:

• Basic (5 months) – Up to 500 SQL objects.
• Standard (6 months) – Up to 1,000 objects.
• Enterprise (8 months) – Up to 2,000 objects.
• Ultimate (12 months) – 2,001+ objects, unlimited machines, and customizations.

Pros

• Reduces migration time by 50-95%.
• Maintains code structure and logic close to the original application.
• Handles thousands of lines of legacy code, supporting large enterprise systems.

Cons

• Complex conversions may still require manual intervention.
• May not fully leverage modern multi‑core CPUs, slowing down large migration runs.

3. Appeon

Appeon develops and supports modern versions of PowerBuilder, helping businesses migrate and maintain client/server and cloud applications. It enables direct migration from older versions to PowerBuilder 2025 with minimal code changes, emphasizes backward compatibility, and provides modern deployment options, including web and cloud environments.

Key features

• Migration assistant: Flags deprecated syntax and rebuilds legacy PBLs for modern environments.
• Automatic REST API creation: Converts business logic into modern web services endpoints.
• 64‑bit/Unicode support: Enables legacy apps to run on modern OS and database platforms.
• DataWindow Converter: Converts legacy DataWindow objects to newer targets such as .NET DataStore. 
• Consulting partner network: Provides migration support through authorized partners worldwide.

Pricing

Appeon licenses its software through an annual subscription. The Professional edition costs US $895 per developer per year, while the CloudPro edition is US $1,595 per developer per year.

Pros

• Enables direct upgrades from older PowerBuilder versions.  
• Supported by a global consulting partner network for large-scale migrations. 
• Strong backward compatibility preserves legacy objects in the upgraded environment. 

Cons

• Full migration to a modern stack outside PowerBuilder may still require significant refactoring.
• Migration logic may not cover all legacy constructs or edge cases.

4. Visual Expert

Visual Expert is a static code analysis tool for legacy stacks, including PowerBuilder, Oracle PL/SQL, and SQL Server T‑SQL. It identifies dependencies, unused modules, and code-quality issues in PowerBuilder projects. The platform helps teams understand the current state of their legacy stack and reduces the risk of broken logic during migration.

Key features

• Impact analysis: Detects how changes affect functions, modules, and external dependencies.
• Dead code detection: Lists unused PowerBuilder objects and methods to remove before migration. 
• Obsolete feature identification: Flags deprecated PowerBuilder functions or 32‑bit DLL calls. 
• CRUD matrix: Maps client‑server relationships and database table usage to guide architecture updates.  
• Documentation generation: Produces technical documentation of legacy code for handover and audits.

Pricing

Visual Expert uses a per-user, per-year pricing model with two license types: Subscription and Perpetual (Basic, Professional, and Enterprise AI).

Subscription prices range from approximately $625 to $1,875 per user per year, while perpetual licenses range from $1,395 to $3,470 per user.

Pros

• Strong impact analysis shows where code changes will affect the application, helping teams avoid regressions.
• Code cleanup identifies and removes dead objects before migration.
• Detailed documentation generation builds a knowledge base for legacy code that often lacks proper records. 

Cons

• Focuses on analysis and cleanup rather than full automated migration. 

Interface and architecture require setup, including client/server configuration and code parsing, and may need learning, especially for large codebases.

5. Mobilize.Net WebMAP

Mobilize.Net WebMAP is a migration tool that converts legacy desktop applications, including PowerBuilder, VB6, and .NET WinForms, into modern web applications using HTML5, JavaScript, and cloud-ready architectures. The tool preserves object names and business logic, helping developers transition quickly and deliver updates faster.

Key features

• Modern platform migration: Converts PowerBuilder apps to ASP.NET Core, Java, or containerized platforms.
• Business logic preservation: Keeps variable names, comments, and code structure intact in converted applications to maintain readability. 
• Dependency analysis: Identifies obsolete objects or UI components and maps dependencies to simplify migration planning.
• Post‑conversion extendibility: Supports front-end method overrides and custom component injection in the migrated output.
• Large‑scale enterprise support: Has been used for migrations in large organizations with legacy PowerBuilder systems.

Pricing

Quote-based and varies depending on code size, support hours, and deployment type.

Pros

• Reduces rewrite effort by automating UI and logic conversion.
• Handles large, complex enterprise applications with many windows and DataWindow objects.
• Runs converted code alongside the legacy system, allowing teams to refactor gradually.

Cons

• Some manual adjustments may still be needed after conversion, especially for custom UI controls or highly tailored business logic
• UI behavior, DataWindow logic, or embedded SQL may not map perfectly to web frameworks.

6. GAPVelocity AI

GAPVelocity AI is a hybrid AI platform for legacy application modernization, including PowerBuilder. It provides tools to migrate applications to modern web and cloud environments while preserving business logic and reducing rewrite effort. The platform supports C#, Java, and Angular targets for flexible modernization.

Key features

• Hybrid AI modernization: Automates the extraction and conversion of PowerBuilder logic to modern stacks. 
• Free code‑scanner/assessment: Analyzes existing PowerBuilder code to estimate scope and risk. 
• Platform target support: Migrates PowerBuilder applications to web frameworks (Angular, ASP.NET Core), Java, or cloud-native architectures.
• CLI and enterprise automation: Provides a command-line interface for CI/CD integration and large deployments.
• Logic preservation: Maintains variable names and code structure from the original PowerBuilder code for easier maintenance.

Pricing

Pricing is quote-based and depends on code volume, target platform, and selected services. A free assessment estimates scope, effort, and cost.

Pros

• Supports modern targets like Java 21 and .NET 10.
• Provides upfront code scanning to estimate scope and complexity.
• Enables CLI and DevOps integration for automation and large deployments.

Cons

• Smaller teams or simpler PowerBuilder applications may find the tool overly complex.
• Highly customized UI or unusual PowerBuilder controls still require oversight and validation, even with automation.

7. Novalys PB Open Program

Novalys PB Open Program is a structured modernization framework for PowerBuilder applications. It follows three phases, Assess, Evaluate, and Migrate, to help teams transition business logic and user interfaces from native PowerBuilder into multi-platform or web-based architectures.

Key features

• Assessment & pilot phase: Evaluates the codebase, selects a module to migrate, and measures scope. 
• Business‑logic transition: Converts PowerBuilder logic to Web API or C# while the development team retains control. 
• UI rewrite capability: Migrates the user interface to web, mobile, or multiple platforms while preserving core logic.
• Skill-shift support: Helps PowerBuilder developers adapt to modern architecture rather than sidelining them.
• Strengthened architecture and security: Modernizes both the user interface and application architecture to meet current standards.

Pricing

Quote-based, typically bundled with consulting services covering assessment, pilot, and full migration phases.

Pros

• Helps teams leverage existing PowerBuilder developer skills rather than replacing staff. 
• Enables stepwise migration via pilot followed by full rollout.
• Offers modern user interface options (mobile, web, multi-platform) while preserving backend logic investment.

Cons

• The program does not fully automate user interface conversion, so some manual effort is still required.
• Requires internal skill shift and developer retraining.

8. Kumaran Systems

Kumaran Systems’ PowerBuilder Migration solution combines a proprietary Converter tool with expert services to migrate legacy PowerBuilder applications to modern stacks such as JEE or .NET. It preserves business logic while automating much of the transformation, reducing risk and improving maintainability.

Key features

• Phased migration methodology: Enables pilot or module-by-module migration while keeping legacy systems operational.
• Business‑logic retention: Preserves original logic during translation to new frameworks, minimizing rewrites.
• Multi‑stack support: Supports migration to .NET, JEE, and Oracle Forms from PowerBuilder.
• Scalability for enterprise codebases: Designed for large legacy systems in industries such as banking and the public sector.
• Consulting and support included: Expert teams manage migration execution and tool usage as part of the service. 

Pricing

Pricing is quote-based and depends on the size of the codebase, target stack, and project complexity.

Pros

• Preserves legacy business logic, keeping decades of existing rules intact during migration.
• Supports major stacks such as .NET and JEE, offering flexibility in target architecture.
• Phase-by-phase migration minimizes disruption to live operations. 

Cons

• Manual fixes may still be required for highly customized PowerBuilder controls or legacy-specific architecture.
• Does not modernize backend logic or migrate the application to a different technology stack.

Modernize PowerBuilder systems safely with Kodesage

PowerBuilder systems still run critical operations for many organizations, but aging code, missing documentation, and shrinking expertise make change risky. Choosing the right migration tools is essential to reduce disruption while protecting the business logic these systems depend on.

Kodesage supports safer PowerBuilder modernization by extracting and organizing system knowledge before change begins. Through automated documentation, visual dependency mapping, natural language system access, and secure on-premise deployments, teams gain the clarity they need to plan migration paths with confidence.

If you’re preparing to migrate PowerBuilder systems without compromising stability or compliance, start with visibility. Book a demo to see how Kodesage can help you unlock legacy system knowledge with less risk.