Gartner / Forrester
The technology analyst firms strategy teams read.
At a Glance
- Publisher
- Gartner and Forrester Research (two firms, grouped here as the analyst-research category)
- Coverage
analyst research, market forecasts, and vendor evaluations across IT and technology markets — Gartner's Magic Quadrant, Forrester's Wave, and extensive advisory reports
- Access
premium subscription and advisory retainers
- Free alternative
- vendor-published excerpts and press summaries of individual reports
- Regional
global, enterprise-technology focused.
Our Take
Gartner and Forrester shape how enterprises buy technology — their vendor evaluations (Magic Quadrant, the Forrester Wave) and market forecasts are reference points in procurement and strategy, and being placed well in one measurably moves a market. For a research analyst, the value is synthesized expert judgment and market sizing; the caveat is that this is analyst opinion and methodology, not raw data, and vendors often cite the flattering excerpt. Use them for enterprise-technology market views and vendor landscapes; read the methodology, and pair with primary evidence when the stakes are high.
Power Tips
- Treat Magic Quadrant / Wave placements as one analyst view — read the underlying methodology and criteria, not just the picture
- corroborate a Gartner/Forrester market forecast with independent data (funding, patents, adoption signals) before building a decision on it.
Alternatives & Complements
CB Insights · IDC · Bloomberg Terminal · Statista.
Figures last verified: August 16, 2026