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Software · head to head

Aurora Solar vs OSIsoft PI System

Aurora Solar logo

Aurora Solar

Software

The leading solar design and sales platform

From
$250/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OSIsoft PI System logo

OSIsoft PI System

Software

Real-time operational intelligence for industrial operations

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Aurora Solar both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence; OSIsoft PI System oSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages
  • They diverge on capability: Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aurora Solar and OSIsoft PI System actually diverge.

Attributes where Aurora Solar and OSIsoft PI System differ
AttributeAurora SolarOSIsoft PI System
Starting price$250/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, ApiWindows, Web, Api
Founded20131980

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Aurora Solar

  • 3D solar design
  • Shade analysis
  • LIDAR integration
  • Performance simulation
  • Sales proposals
  • Financing options
  • Permit packages
  • NEC code compliance

Only in OSIsoft PI System

  • Real-time data collection
  • Time-series data storage
  • Advanced analytics
  • Asset framework
  • Visualization tools
  • Event frames
  • Data compression
  • Notifications and alerts

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • SSL encryption

What people use each for

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

Aurora Solar

  • Designing and simulating residential and commercial solar installationsnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projectsnot OSIsoft PI System

OSIsoft PI System

  • Collecting and historising high frequency industrial process and sensor datanot Aurora Solar
  • Operations dashboards and trend analysis for plants and utilitiesnot Aurora Solar
  • Feeding real time operational data into analytics and digital twin applicationsnot Aurora Solar

Where each one falls short

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

Aurora Solar

  • Both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence
  • Projects are capped at 50 a month on both Basic and Premium, so the tiers differ on features rather than volume
  • LIDAR assisted modelling, shade reports and battery storage modelling all require Premium at $259 a month
  • API access and integrations are Enterprise only, which is priced per project rather than per month
  • Paying monthly rather than annually costs $288 more a year on Basic and $468 on Premium

OSIsoft PI System

  • OSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages
  • No pricing is published; osisoft.com/pricing resolves to AVEVA product pages with no rate, minimum or cost driver
  • Licensing runs through the AVEVA Flex Subscription Program rather than a published per-seat or per-tag price
  • The PI System is split across separately listed products including PI Server, PI Vision, PI Data Infrastructure and Edge Data Store

Pricing, plan by plan

Aurora Solar

$250/month
  • Starter$250/month
    • Basic design tools
    • Sales mode
    • Shade analysis
  • Pro$500/month
    • Advanced LIDAR integration
    • Performance simulation
    • Custom branding
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Advanced analytics
    • Custom integrations

OSIsoft PI System

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the OSIsoft PI System review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Aurora Solar if

  • You need 3d solar design.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want shade analysis.
Aurora Solar review

Choose OSIsoft PI System if

  • You need real-time data collection.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Api.
  • You also want time-series data storage.
OSIsoft PI System review

Questions people ask

Is Aurora Solar or OSIsoft PI System better?
Neither clearly leads. Aurora Solar starts at $250/month and OSIsoft PI System at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aurora Solar or OSIsoft PI System?
Aurora Solar starts at $250/month and OSIsoft PI System at On request.
Does Aurora Solar or OSIsoft PI System run on more platforms?
Aurora Solar runs on Web, Api. OSIsoft PI System runs on Windows, Web, Api.
What is Aurora Solar best used for?
Aurora Solar is most often used for designing and simulating residential and commercial solar installations, producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projects. Of those, designing and simulating residential and commercial solar installations and producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projects are not what OSIsoft PI System is typically brought in for.
What can Aurora Solar do that OSIsoft PI System cannot?
Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Shade analysis, LIDAR integration, Performance simulation. OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, Time-series data storage, Advanced analytics, Asset framework. Both handle SOC2, SSL encryption.
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