In this paper, two types of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants using either an air separation unit (ASU) or an ion transport membrane (ITM), which provide the oxygen required in the gasification process, were simulated and their thermodynamic performance was compared. Also, the influence of adopting a pre-combustion $CO_2$ capture in the downstream of the gasification process on the performance of the two systems was examined. The system using the ITM exhibits greater net power output than the system using the ASU. However, its net plant efficiency is slightly lower because of the additional fuel consumption required to operate the ITM at an appropriate operating temperature. This efficiency comparison is based on the assumption of a moderately high purity (95%) of the oxygen generated from the ASU. However, if the oxygen purity of the ASU is to be comparable to that of the ITM, which is over 99%, the ASU based IGCC system would exhibit a lower net efficiency than the ITM based system.