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AVEVA PI System vs ESPHome

AVEVA PI System logo

AVEVA PI System

Software

Industrial data infrastructure for real-time insights

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ESPHome logo

ESPHome

Software

Custom firmware for ESP8266/ESP32 smart home devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ESPHome has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AVEVA PI System pricing is not published and comes through an account representative; ESPHome eSPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects
  • They diverge on capability: AVEVA PI System covers Real-time data collection, ESPHome covers YAML Configuration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AVEVA PI System and ESPHome actually diverge.

Attributes where AVEVA PI System and ESPHome differ
AttributeAVEVA PI SystemESPHome
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timeopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsDesktop, Web, Mobile, ApiESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi
Founded19672018

Identical on both: 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 AVEVA PI System

  • Real-time data collection
  • Time-series data storage
  • Asset framework
  • Visualization
  • Analytics
  • Event management
  • Notifications
  • Data integration

Only in ESPHome

  • YAML Configuration
  • OTA Updates
  • Home Assistant Native
  • Custom Components
  • Home Assistant
  • MQTT
  • API
  • Native integration

What people use each for

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

AVEVA PI System

  • Collecting and historising real-time process data from plant equipmentnot ESPHome
  • Operations dashboards and alerting through PI Visionnot ESPHome
  • Edge data collection where connectivity is intermittentnot ESPHome
  • Pulling process data into Excel analysis with PI DataLinknot ESPHome
  • Utilities, pharma, mining and oil and gas process monitoringnot ESPHome

ESPHome

  • Building custom smart home sensors and switches on ESP32 hardwarenot AVEVA PI System
  • Replacing vendor cloud firmware on ESP based devices with locally controlled firmwarenot AVEVA PI System
  • Integrating DIY devices into Home Assistant over a native API or MQTTnot AVEVA PI System

Where each one falls short

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

AVEVA PI System

  • Pricing is not published and comes through an account representative
  • The vendor is moving to a subscription commercial model, so perpetual licence expectations no longer hold
  • Made up of several separately named components, including PI Server, PI Vision, Edge Data Store and the adapters and connectors needed per data source

ESPHome

  • ESPHome runs only on supported microcontrollers; the project recommends ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 and advises against ESP8266 for new projects
  • Support for ESP32-H2, RP2040 and other newer chips is documented as less mature
  • Large displays and some sensors do not work well on ESP8266 because of its limited RAM, which is roughly a fifth of an ESP32

Pricing, plan by plan

AVEVA PI System

On request
  • Data Archive$undefined/license
    • Time-series data storage
    • High-speed data collection
    • Data compression
  • Operations$undefined/license
    • PI Vision dashboards
    • AF analytics
    • Event frames
  • Enterprise$undefined/license
    • PI Integrator
    • Cloud connectivity
    • Advanced analytics

ESPHome

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Full firmware
    • Home Assistant integration
    • Custom sensors

Which should you pick?

Choose AVEVA PI System if

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

Choose ESPHome if

  • You need yaml configuration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want ota updates.
ESPHome review

Questions people ask

Is AVEVA PI System or ESPHome better?
Neither clearly leads. AVEVA PI System starts at On request and ESPHome at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AVEVA PI System or ESPHome?
ESPHome has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for AVEVA PI System and Free for ESPHome.
Does AVEVA PI System or ESPHome run on more platforms?
AVEVA PI System runs on Desktop, Web, Mobile, Api. ESPHome runs on ESP8266, ESP32, Docker, Raspberry Pi.
Can I use ESPHome for free?
Yes. ESPHome has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. AVEVA PI System starts at On request.
What is AVEVA PI System best used for?
AVEVA PI System is most often used for collecting and historising real-time process data from plant equipment, operations dashboards and alerting through pi vision, edge data collection where connectivity is intermittent, pulling process data into excel analysis with pi datalink. Of those, collecting and historising real-time process data from plant equipment and operations dashboards and alerting through pi vision are not what ESPHome is typically brought in for.
What can AVEVA PI System do that ESPHome cannot?
AVEVA PI System covers Real-time data collection, Time-series data storage, Asset framework, Visualization. ESPHome covers YAML Configuration, OTA Updates, Home Assistant Native, Custom Components.
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