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Manufacturing · head to head

ABB 800xA vs MachineMetrics

ABB 800xA logo

ABB 800xA

Manufacturing

Distributed control system and process automation platform for continuous and hybrid process plants

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MachineMetrics logo

MachineMetrics

Manufacturing

Collect, monitor, analyze and drive action with machine data

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ABB 800xA licensing is by I/O count, controller count and workplace clients, and none of it is published, so two plants of similar size can be quoted very differently with no external benchmark to argue against.; MachineMetrics no specific pricing published; vendor uses volume-based subscription model requiring sales contact
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ABB 800xA and MachineMetrics actually diverge.

Attributes where ABB 800xA and MachineMetrics differ
AttributeABB 800xAMachineMetrics
PlatformsWindowsWeb

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Manufacturing).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ABB 800xA

  • Extended Automation
  • AC 800M controllers
  • Connectivity servers
  • Safety integration
  • IEC 61850 electrical
  • Batch management
  • Information management
  • Asset optimisation

Only in MachineMetrics

Nothing recorded that ABB 800xA does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ABB 800xA

  • A refinery replacing operator consoles and control room infrastructure while keeping working field controllers in placenot MachineMetrics
  • A pulp and paper mill consolidating process, electrical and safety monitoring into a single operator workplacenot MachineMetrics
  • A mining operation that needs SIL 3 safety functions on the same network as process control rather than a separate safety systemnot MachineMetrics
  • A marine or offshore platform where ABB already supplies the electrical distribution and IEC 61850 integration removes a second systemnot MachineMetrics

MachineMetrics

  • Tracking real-time machine performance and outputnot ABB 800xA
  • Identifying and analyzing production downtime causesnot ABB 800xA
  • Detecting equipment issues before failures happennot ABB 800xA
  • Managing job scheduling with drag-and-drop toolsnot ABB 800xA
  • Syncing shop floor data to ERP automaticallynot ABB 800xA

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ABB 800xA

  • Licensing is by I/O count, controller count and workplace clients, and none of it is published, so two plants of similar size can be quoted very differently with no external benchmark to argue against.
  • Engineering and commissioning typically cost more than the software and controller hardware together, and that share is not visible in the initial ABB quotation, which prices the system rather than the project.
  • It is Windows only for servers and workplaces, so the operating system lifecycle drives forced upgrade cycles that have nothing to do with your process.
  • Once configured, the aspect object model and the specific integrator conventions used make handing the system to a different service provider expensive; ABB service contracts are effectively sticky.
  • Software maintenance is an annual contract on top of the licence and lapsing it means you cannot take version upgrades, so the system quietly ages out of security support if the plant skips renewals to save money.

MachineMetrics

  • No specific pricing published; vendor uses volume-based subscription model requiring sales contact
  • Costs scale with number of connected machines; exact rates not disclosed publicly
  • Customers must book demo or request quote to receive pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

ABB 800xA

On request
  • ABB Ability System 800xA$undefined/year
    • Licensed by I/O count, controller count and workplace clients
    • Sold as a project through ABB or a certified partner
    • Annual software maintenance contract priced separately

MachineMetrics

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the MachineMetrics review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ABB 800xA if

  • You need extended automation.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want ac 800m controllers.
ABB 800xA review

Choose MachineMetrics if

Nothing in the data separates MachineMetrics from ABB 800xA on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

MachineMetrics review

Questions people ask

Is ABB 800xA or MachineMetrics better?
Neither clearly leads. ABB 800xA starts at On request and MachineMetrics at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ABB 800xA or MachineMetrics?
ABB 800xA starts at On request and MachineMetrics at On request.
Does ABB 800xA or MachineMetrics run on more platforms?
ABB 800xA runs on Windows. MachineMetrics runs on Web.
What is ABB 800xA best used for?
ABB 800xA is most often used for a refinery replacing operator consoles and control room infrastructure while keeping working field controllers in place, a pulp and paper mill consolidating process, electrical and safety monitoring into a single operator workplace, a mining operation that needs sil 3 safety functions on the same network as process control rather than a separate safety system, a marine or offshore platform where abb already supplies the electrical distribution and iec 61850 integration removes a second system. Of those, a refinery replacing operator consoles and control room infrastructure while keeping working field controllers in place and a pulp and paper mill consolidating process, electrical and safety monitoring into a single operator workplace are not what MachineMetrics is typically brought in for.
What can ABB 800xA do that MachineMetrics cannot?
ABB 800xA covers Extended Automation, AC 800M controllers, Connectivity servers, Safety integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ABB 800xA: Is 800xA sold as a perpetual licence?

Yes, the system licence is perpetual, but a separate annual software maintenance agreement is required to receive updates and version upgrades.

MachineMetrics: How much does MachineMetrics cost?

MachineMetrics does not publish specific pricing rates on its website. The company uses a volume-based subscription model where the more machines you connect, the less it costs per machine. Exact pricing requires contacting the company for a custom quote or booking a demo.

Source
ABB 800xA: Can 800xA control non-ABB field hardware?

Yes. Connectivity servers front third-party PLC and DCS systems and legacy ABB families, which is the main reason it wins brownfield projects.

MachineMetrics: What are MachineMetrics' pricing tiers?

MachineMetrics offers three tiers: Core Platform for entry-level machine connectivity, Intelligent MES for mid-tier with ERP integration, and Enterprise for multi-site support with business intelligence. Exact pricing is based on machine count and requires a quote.

Source
ABB 800xA: Does it replace a separate electrical SCADA?

It can. IEC 61850 substation integration is native, so many plants drop a separate electrical monitoring system.

MachineMetrics: What support is included with MachineMetrics plans?

All MachineMetrics plans include customer support with unlimited remote assistance and training, regardless of tier selection.

Source
ABB 800xA: What is the realistic implementation timeline?

A full plant migration is measured in years, not months; phased cutovers of one unit at a time are the norm.

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