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ITIL-v5
Compare · ITIL 4 and ITIL (Version 5)

ITIL 4 vs ITIL 5, side by side.

Every concept that matters, compared: what stays the same, what is renamed and what is new. Each row cites its source, checked on 27 September 2026.

guiding principles, unchanged
7
practices, now in 2 groups
34
lifecycle activities, new
8
AI capabilities, new
6
01 · The explorer

Filter by topic or by type of change.

Tap a filter to focus. Every row shows ITIL 4 on the left, ITIL (Version 5) on the right, and the source.

Topic
Change
Showing 32 of 32 rows
  • Renamed

    Core model

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    ITIL service value system (SVS)

    ITIL (Version 5)

    ITIL Value System

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • Renamed

    Value system components

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    Guiding principles, governance, service value chain, practices and continual improvement

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Guiding principles, governance, value chain, management practices and continual improvement

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • Restructured

    Value chain

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    Service value chain with six activities: plan, improve, engage, design and transition, obtain/build, deliver and support

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Value chain kept and described by PeopleCert as simplified. Its activities enable the product and service lifecycle. The full list of activities is in the official book, not published online

    Source: ITIL.com: ITIL Foundation (Version 5), what's new
  • New

    Lifecycle

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    No single lifecycle model: value chain activities combine into value streams

    ITIL (Version 5)

    ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle with 8 activities: discover, design, acquire, build, transition, operate, deliver and support. Not sequential nor linear

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • Renamed

    Four dimensions

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    Four dimensions of service management

    ITIL (Version 5)

    ITIL Four Dimensions of Product and Service Management: the same four (organizations and people, information and technology, partners and suppliers, value streams and processes)

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • Same

    Guiding principles

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    7 principles: focus on value; start where you are; progress iteratively with feedback; collaborate and promote visibility; think and work holistically; keep it simple and practical; optimize and automate

    ITIL (Version 5)

    The same 7 principles, with guidance on applying each of them with AI

    Source: ITIL.com: AI-native
  • Expanded

    Governance

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    A value system component, realized through evaluate, direct and monitor

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Still a value system component. Foundation now covers its enabling nature and its activities

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • Restructured

    Management practices

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    34 practices in 3 groups: 14 general management, 17 service management and 3 technical management

    ITIL (Version 5)

    34 practices in 2 groups: general management, and product and service management. Minor terminology, structure and AI updates

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Renamed

    Continual improvement model

    Framework model
    ITIL 4

    7 steps, ending with "How do we keep the momentum going?"

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Still 7 steps, some reworded. Step 7 becomes "How do we keep the improvements relevant?"

    Source: PeopleCert Community ITIL club
  • Expanded

    Scope

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    IT service management, focused mainly on services

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Digital product and service management: products and services managed together

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • New

    Digital product and digital service

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    Not defined at Foundation level

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Service, product, digital product and digital service defined as key concepts

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • New

    Roles in value co-creation

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    Service provider, service consumer and other stakeholders; sponsor, customer and user

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Adds the digital product vendor role; sponsor, customer and user unchanged

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • New

    Service relationship types

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    Not a Foundation learning outcome

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Basic, cooperative and collaborative (partnership) service relationships

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • Expanded

    Service journey

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    Covered in the ITIL 4 Drive Stakeholder Value module

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Introduced at Foundation level

    Source: ITIL.com: ITIL Foundation (Version 5), what's new
  • Expanded

    Value concepts

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    Utility and warranty

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Utility, warranty, user experience and sustainability

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • Expanded

    Value streams

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    Value stream defined as a series of steps to create and deliver products and services

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Core and enabling value streams, value stream mapping and value stream management at Foundation level

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • New

    Complexity

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    Not a Foundation learning outcome

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Complexity thinking, and workflows optimized for complexity

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • New

    Other frameworks

    Key concepts
    ITIL 4

    DevOps discussed in the Foundation book, not a learning outcome

    ITIL (Version 5)

    ITIL with DevOps and ITIL with PRINCE2 are Foundation topics

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • New

    AI in the framework

    AI
    ITIL 4

    No AI learning outcome at Foundation; AI mentioned as a technology example

    ITIL (Version 5)

    AI-native: AI, AI maturity, GenAI and agentic AI defined, and AI applied across the lifecycle and the value chain

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • New

    ITIL AI Capability Model

    AI
    ITIL 4

    None

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Six AI capabilities: creation, curation, clarification, cognition, communication and coordination

    Source: ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) syllabus, PeopleCert, February 2026
  • New

    AI governance

    AI
    ITIL 4

    No AI governance module

    ITIL (Version 5)

    AI governance defined at Foundation, plus the ITIL AI Governance extension module

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Restructured

    Managing Professional

    Certification scheme
    ITIL 4

    Create, Deliver and Support; Drive Stakeholder Value; High-velocity IT; Direct, Plan and Improve

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Product, Service, Experience and Transformation

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Restructured

    Strategic Leader

    Certification scheme
    ITIL 4

    Direct, Plan and Improve, and Digital and IT Strategy

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Strategy and Transformation

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Restructured

    Practice Manager

    Certification scheme
    ITIL 4

    Foundation, Create, Deliver and Support, and five practice certifications or one bundle

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Foundation, one of MSF, PIC or CAI, and Transformation

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Restructured

    Shared module

    Certification scheme
    ITIL 4

    Create, Deliver and Support counts for Managing Professional and Practice Manager

    ITIL (Version 5)

    ITIL Transformation counts for all three designations and is taken once

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Same

    ITIL Master

    Certification scheme
    ITIL 4

    Practice Manager, Managing Professional and Strategic Leader

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Practice Manager, Managing Professional and Strategic Leader

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Changed

    Extension modules

    Certification scheme
    ITIL 4

    Several, including cloud services, business relationship management and sustainability in digital and IT

    ITIL (Version 5)

    One: ITIL AI Governance. The ITIL 4 extension modules are not carried over

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • New

    Transition modules

    Certification scheme
    ITIL 4

    None

    ITIL (Version 5)

    ITIL Foundation Bridge (Version 5) and ITIL Managing Professional Transition (Version 5)

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Expanded

    Renewal

    Certification scheme
    ITIL 4

    3-year renewal

    ITIL (Version 5)

    3-year renewal; passing any Version 5 exam also renews your ITIL 4 certificates

    Source: PeopleCert ITIL FAQ
  • Same

    Foundation exam

    Exams
    ITIL 4

    40 questions, 60 minutes, 65% to pass, closed book

    ITIL (Version 5)

    40 questions, 60 minutes, 65% to pass, closed book

    Source: PeopleCert certification pages
  • Changed

    Advanced exams

    Exams
    ITIL 4

    Closed book. For example Create, Deliver and Support: 40 questions, 90 minutes, 70% to pass

    ITIL (Version 5)

    Open book. Product, Service, Experience, Strategy and Transformation: 40 questions, 90 minutes, 70% to pass

    Source: PeopleCert certification pages
  • Changed

    Extension exam

    Exams
    ITIL 4

    Closed book

    ITIL (Version 5)

    ITIL AI Governance: open book, 40 questions, 90 minutes, 70% to pass, no prerequisite

    Source: PeopleCert certification pages

What we do not claim

Some details circulate online but are not yet published by PeopleCert, for example the full list of Version 5 value chain activities or specific practice renames. We leave them out until an official source confirms them.

Coexistence31 Dec 2027
···days to gountil the planned sunset

ITIL 4 and Version 5 run in parallel. PeopleCert currently plans to sunset all ITIL 4 modules, and the Foundation Bridge, on this date.

Check what it means for you
Next
Moving from ITIL 4?

Your certificates carry over. See the exact upgrade route.

What's new in detail

The five innovations, the lifecycle and the new vocabulary.

Find your path

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