This study investigates the performance of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) pipes compared to conventional Reinforced Concrete Pipes (RCP) through Finite Element Method (FEM). Three-dimensional nonlinear models of RCP and ECC pipes with varying thickness of 70, 75, and 80 mm were developed using ANSYS Workbench to simulate the three-edge bearing test under static loading. The Newton-Raphson method addressed convergence in nonlinear analysis. The results revealed that ECC pipes exhibited a 2–11% enhanced load-carrying capacity relative to RCP, depending on thickness, while also showing increased deflection (up to 17% for 80 mm pipes). The stiffness of both materials was increased as a result of the increased thickness, which in turn reduced deformation. Notably, ECC demonstrated superior ductility, sustaining 40% greater deformation before failure, attributed to fiber bridging and strain-hardening effects. However, the absence of coarse aggregates in ECC raised concerns for compressive load applications. The study concludes that ECC pipes offer a promising alternative due to their strength and ductility, though hybrid designs combining ECC liners with RCC structures are recommended to leverage complementary advantages. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing pipe thickness and material selection in infrastructure projects.