Difference between Prototype Model and Spiral Model

Difference between RAD Model and Spiral Model

Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2025

Rapid Application Development (RAD) model and Spiral Model both are software development life cycle model. The Spiral Model is best for large, complex projects with significant risks, requiring detailed planning and extensive documentation, while the RAD Model focuses on rapid development with easy changes, using smaller teams and minimal planning, suitable for small to medium projects. The Spiral Model prioritizes risk management and high assurance, whereas the RAD Model prioritizes speed and flexibility with lower costs.

RAD-Model-vs-Spiral-Model — Spiral Model vs RAD Model

What is the Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model?

RAD model refers to Rapid Application Development and it is a type of Incremental Model. The components or functions are developed in parallel and it can handle small projects as well as medium projects. In this model, any changes can be made at any stage. It has high productivity due to less number of people.

Phases of RAD Model

RAD model consists of 4 basic phases:

Requirement Gathering
Rapid Prototyping
Construction
Deployment

RAD Model

What is Spiral Model?

Spiral Model is a SDLC model which is highly used for risk-driven models. Based on the risk patterns of a given project, the spiral model helps developers to increase the efficiency of the model as most risks are already handled. It consists of a number of loops which are forming a spiral shape where each loop is called the phase of the software development cycle.

Phases of Spiral Model

There are mainly four phases of Spiral Model:

Planning
Risk Analysis
Engineering
Evaluation

spiral-1-1024x945-660 — Spiral Model

Difference between RAD Model and Spiral Model

Aspect	RAD MODEL	SPIRAL MODEL
Definition	RAD model is a software development model where by the components or functions are developed in parallel as if they were mini projects.	Spiral model is a software development model and is made with features of incremental, waterfall or evolutionary prototyping models.
Main Objective	Rapid development is its main objective.	High assurance is its main objective.
Planning	RAD model requirements and early stage planning is not necessary.	Spiral model requirements and early stage planning is required.
Documentation	It is necessary to have detailed documentation but in a limited manner.	Detailed documentation is required.
Requirements	Requirements are specified as time boxed release manner.	Requirements are specified in the beginning.
Project Size	RAD model is used between large and small project.	Spiral model is used for large project.
Risk	There is low amount risk in RAD model.	There is medium to high amount risk in spiral model.
Team Size	In RAD model small team size is required.	In spiral model large team is required.
Flexibility to Change	Flexibility to change in RAD model is Easy.	Flexibility to change in spiral model is not that difficult.
Phases Overlapping	In RAD model overlapping of phases is possible.	In spiral model overlapping of phases is not possible.
Testing	Testing is done in RAD model after completion of coding.	Testing is done in spiral model at the end of the engineering phase.
Cost	Cost of RAD model is Low.	Cost of spiral model is very expensive.
Customer Involvement	Customer involvement is only at the beginning.	Customer involvement is high as compared to RAD model.
Maintenance	RAD model is having easy maintenance.	Spiral model has typical maintenance.
Reusability	It offers reusability.	Reusability is possible to some extent.

Difference between Prototype Model and Spiral Model

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