Growing volume of data is driving the global mainframe market, are expected to drive market expansion in the near future at a CAGR of 7.14% during the forecast period 2025 to 2035

Market Research Future (MRFR) has published a cooked research report on the “Global Mainframe Market” that contains information from 2019 to 2035.

The Global Mainframe Market is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.14% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2035.

MRFR recognizes the following companies as the key players in the Global Mainframe Market— include IBM, CA, Allen Systems Group (ASG), BMC, Rocket Software, Precisely, Beta Systems, Software AG, Levi, Ray & Shoup, MacKinney Systems, CSI International, Innovation Data Processing, Compuware, UNICOM Systems, SDS, GSF Software, Relational Architects International, Software Engineering of America, ASPG, CDB Software   and among others.

Mainframe Market Highlights

The Global Mainframe Market is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.14% during the forecast period and is estimated to reach USD 6.89 Billion by 2035.

With the digital transformation of citizens' services becoming a shift in paradigm, governments and enterprises are now more than ever relying on high-performance computing solutions like mainframes. Banking, healthcare, telecom, government, and manufacturing industries are moving towards automated systems that integrate AI and IT infrastructures based on the cloud, which increases the role of mainframes. Furthermore, the increasing integration of IT systems with the need for real-time transactions, security, and scalability makes mainframes central to modern digital transformation strategies. 

Countries that spear head digital transformation like the USA, China, Germany, India, and Japan are significantly investing in AI analytics, secure blockchain transactions, and cloud technologies that are heavily predicated upon mainframe infrastructure. The ongoing evolution of Industry 4.0, e-Governance, and financial inclusion programs in various economies indicates the need for reliable high-speed, mission-critical processing applications while simultaneously supporting the increasing relevance of mainframes.

Segment Analysis

The Global Mainframe Market has been segmented based on By Systems/Platforms, By Offering, By Organization Size, By Operating System, and By Application.

By Systems/Platforms, Mainframe market was segmented into: Mainframes (IBMz, Unisys, GS21, Other Mainframes), Midrange Systems (IBM Power, Sun Solaris, HP Servers, Other Midrange System). The Mainframes segment dominated the global market in 2024, while the Midrange Systems segment is projected to be the fastest–growing segment during the forecast period.

The Mainframes segment held the largest share of the global mainframe market in 2024, driven by its critical role in handling high-volume, mission-critical workloads across industries such as banking, government, healthcare, and insurance. These systems are known for their unmatched reliability, scalability, and security, making them indispensable for enterprises that require consistent uptime and robust data processing capabilities. Key players such as IBMz and Unisys continue to innovate with enhanced processing power, AI integration, and hybrid cloud compatibility, further strengthening the relevance of mainframes in modern IT infrastructure.

By Offering, Mainframe market was segmented into: Hardware, Software(Analytics, Application Development, Database Management, IT Automation, Workload Automation, Other Software), Services(Mainframe-as-a-Service (MFaaS), Mainframe Hosting Services, Mainframe Co-Location Services).The Hardware segment dominated the global market in 2024, while the Software segment is projected to be the fastest–growing segment during the forecast period.

Modern mainframes are equipped with AI acceleration, quantum-safe encryption, and real-time transaction processing capabilities to support industries such as banking, healthcare, and government. Key features of mainframe hardware include high reliability (99.999% uptime), advanced workload partitioning, and unparalleled scalability. The primary advantage of mainframe hardware is its ability to handle vast transaction volumes with minimal latency, making it indispensable for mission-critical applications. However, the high upfront costs and the need for skilled professionals to manage and maintain these systems pose significant challenges. The key providers of mainframe hardware include IBM, Fujitsu, Unisys, and Hitachi, with IBM leading the market through its IBM Z series.

By Organization Size, Mainframe market was segmented into SMEs, Large Enterprises. The Large Enterprises segment dominated the global market in 2024, while the Large Enterprises segment is projected to be the fastest–growing segment during the forecast period.

Large enterprises represent the dominant share of the global mainframe market, accounting for USD 2,254.1 million in 2024, with an expected growth to USD 4,860.4 million by 2035 at a CAGR of 7.19%. Enterprises in banking, insurance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government sectors rely heavily on mainframes for high-volume transaction processing, cybersecurity, and business continuity. The primary reason large enterprises continue to invest in mainframes is their unmatched reliability, security, and scalability. Financial institutions, for instance, process millions of transactions daily, requiring a system that ensures zero downtime and robust fraud detection mechanisms. Similarly, government agencies use mainframes to handle massive databases, citizen records, and national security data, benefiting from real-time analytics and enhanced data encryption.

By Operating System, Mainframe market was segmented into z/OS, z/VSE, z/VM, z/TPF, Linux-based OS, Others (OS4, VOS, GCOS, OSVI). The z/OS segment dominated the global market in 2024, while the z/VM segment is projected to be the fastest–growing segment during the forecast period.

z/OS is favored by enterprises in banking, finance, insurance, healthcare, and government sectors, where high availability, security, and scalability are paramount.  z/OS is known for its fault tolerance, backward compatibility, and extensive workload management capabilities. It supports advanced security features, such as pervasive encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and workload isolation, making it ideal for mission-critical applications. The tight integration with IBM Z hardware allows seamless operation of cloud-native applications and AI-driven workloads.

By Application, Mainframe market was segmented into: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Transaction Processing, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Consumer Analytics, Census Data Collection, Mission-Critical Applications, Other Application. The Transaction Processing segment dominated the global market in 2024, while the Consumer Analytics segment is projected to be the fastest–growing segment during the forecast period.

Transaction processing is the largest and most critical application within the global mainframe market, this application supports financial transactions, credit card processing, stock trading, and real-time payment systems, making it essential for banks, e-commerce platforms, and stock exchanges. The unmatched reliability and security of mainframes make them indispensable for handling billions of transactions daily with zero downtime and high-speed processing. IBM Z mainframes, z/OS, and CICS transaction processing software are widely used in this domain. However, competition from cloud-based payment systems poses a challenge. To counter this, organizations are adopting hybrid cloud mainframe models to improve scalability and cost-efficiency. Leading providers in this segment include IBM, FIS, Fiserv, and ACI Worldwide.

Regional Analysis

Based on the Region, the global Mainframe is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific & Japan. The North America dominated the global market in 2024, while the Asia Pacific & Japan is projected to be the fastest–growing segment during the forecast period.

Major demand factors driving the North America market are The North American region retains its position as the largest and most sophisticated market for mainframe technology due to extensive usage in banking, finance, healthcare, and government services. The region is home to some of the largest technology corporations such as IBM, Broadcom, and Dell Technologies, which enable further development of mainframes through the incorporation of hybrid cloud systems, AI-automated processes, and advanced security measures.  

The U.S. holds the most significant share in the North American region due to a high concentration of mainframe usage in the financial services sector for transaction processing, fraud detection, and compliance with strict regulatory guidelines. Leading banking and insurance firms such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup still use mainframes for their day-to-day business operations due to their critical nature. Moreover, government users like the IRS, Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Department of Defense (DoD) use mainframes for secure data, census data, and large-scale administrative data processing.

Key Findings of the Study

• The Global Mainframe Market is expected to reach USD 6.89 Billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 7.14% during the forecast period.


• The Asia Pacific & Japan region accounted for the fastest growing in the global market.


• Based on Application, the Transaction Processing segment was attributed to holding the largest market in 2024.


• IBM, CA, Allen Systems Group (ASG), BMC, Rocket Software, Precisely, Beta Systems, Software AG, Levi, Ray & Shoup, MacKinney Systems, CSI International, Innovation Data Processing, Compuware, UNICOM Systems, SDS, GSF Software, Relational Architects International, Software Engineering of America, ASPG, CDB Software and among others are the key market players.