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Energy · head to head

Bently Nevada System 1 vs PowerFactory DIgSILENT

Bently Nevada System 1 logo

Bently Nevada System 1

Energy

Machinery condition monitoring software for critical rotating equipment protected by Bently Nevada hardware

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PowerFactory DIgSILENT logo

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

Energy

Advanced power system analysis and grid simulation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bently Nevada System 1 system 1 assumes Bently Nevada hardware; connected to third-party protection systems it loses access to the dynamic and transient data that is the entire reason to buy it, so the software choice is really made when the racks are specified.; PowerFactory DIgSILENT no prices are published; the product pages only offer Request a Quotation and Demo Request
  • They diverge on capability: Bently Nevada System 1 covers Turbomachinery plot set, PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bently Nevada System 1 and PowerFactory DIgSILENT actually diverge.

Attributes where Bently Nevada System 1 and PowerFactory DIgSILENT differ
AttributeBently Nevada System 1PowerFactory DIgSILENT
PlatformsWindows, Web, On-premiseWindows, Linux, Api
FoundedUnknown1985

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

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 Bently Nevada System 1

  • Turbomachinery plot set
  • Transient capture
  • 3500 and Orbit 60 integration
  • Decision support
  • Data diode support
  • Process data correlation

Only in PowerFactory DIgSILENT

  • Load flow calculation
  • Short-circuit analysis
  • RMS and EMT simulation
  • Harmonic analysis
  • Stability analysis
  • Protection coordination
  • Renewable energy integration
  • Scripting and automation

What people use each for

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

Bently Nevada System 1

  • A refinery with API 670 protected compressor trains needing transient startup data captured and analysed, which general vibration platforms cannot donot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • An LNG plant where a single unplanned compressor trip costs more than the entire monitoring programmenot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • A power station correlating turbine vibration with process conditions to distinguish a real fault from a load-related responsenot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • An offshore operator using remote diagnostics because there is no rotating machinery specialist on the installationnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

  • Power system load flow, short circuit and stability analysis for transmission and distribution networksnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Grid code compliance studies and protection coordinationnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Modelling renewables and distributed generation integrationnot Bently Nevada System 1

Where each one falls short

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

Bently Nevada System 1

  • System 1 assumes Bently Nevada hardware; connected to third-party protection systems it loses access to the dynamic and transient data that is the entire reason to buy it, so the software choice is really made when the racks are specified.
  • It is priced by machine train, which makes it appropriate for a dozen critical machines and prohibitively expensive as a plant-wide condition monitoring system for balance-of-plant equipment.
  • Reading the output well needs a rotating machinery specialist; orbit and shaft centreline plots are not self-explanatory, and a site without that skill will either buy the Baker Hughes remote monitoring service or under-use the software.
  • The annual support and upgrade contract is a continuing cost that must be maintained to stay on supported versions, and lapsing it on a system tied to safety-relevant protection hardware is not a realistic saving.
  • Nothing about pricing is published and the product is sold as part of a machinery relationship with Baker Hughes, so competitive tension at renewal is limited once the hardware is installed.

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

  • No prices are published; the product pages only offer Request a Quotation and Demo Request
  • The commercial licence is sold by node count, in tiers of 100, 250, 500 or unlimited nodes
  • Functions are sold as a configurable package rather than included, so advanced modules are priced separately
  • Support, maintenance and upgrades are included only for the first 12 months of a perpetual licence and then require an annual maintenance contract
  • The number of concurrent users on the Multi-User Edition is limited to the number of licences purchased
  • A floating licence used on a local machine is time limited to a maximum of 30 days
  • Centralised project data on Oracle, SQL Server or PostgreSQL requires the Team Edition; Single-User and Multi-User editions use a local SQLite database
  • Education licences are capped at 50 nodes and forbid commercial use
  • Student licences are capped at 50 nodes, are cloud softkey only and expire 12 months from issue

Pricing, plan by plan

Bently Nevada System 1

On request
  • System 1$undefined/year
    • Priced by machine train and connected data source
    • Bently Nevada protection hardware assumed or purchased alongside
    • Annual software support and upgrade contract sold separately

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Bently Nevada System 1 if

  • You need turbomachinery plot set.
  • You work on Windows, Web, On-premise.
  • You also want transient capture.
Bently Nevada System 1 review

Choose PowerFactory DIgSILENT if

  • You need load flow calculation.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Api.
  • You also want short-circuit analysis.
PowerFactory DIgSILENT review

Questions people ask

Is Bently Nevada System 1 or PowerFactory DIgSILENT better?
Neither clearly leads. Bently Nevada System 1 starts at On request and PowerFactory DIgSILENT at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bently Nevada System 1 or PowerFactory DIgSILENT?
Bently Nevada System 1 starts at On request and PowerFactory DIgSILENT at On request.
Does Bently Nevada System 1 or PowerFactory DIgSILENT run on more platforms?
Bently Nevada System 1 runs on Windows, Web, On-premise. PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, Api.
What is Bently Nevada System 1 best used for?
Bently Nevada System 1 is most often used for a refinery with api 670 protected compressor trains needing transient startup data captured and analysed, which general vibration platforms cannot do, an lng plant where a single unplanned compressor trip costs more than the entire monitoring programme, a power station correlating turbine vibration with process conditions to distinguish a real fault from a load-related response, an offshore operator using remote diagnostics because there is no rotating machinery specialist on the installation. Of those, a refinery with api 670 protected compressor trains needing transient startup data captured and analysed, which general vibration platforms cannot do and an lng plant where a single unplanned compressor trip costs more than the entire monitoring programme are not what PowerFactory DIgSILENT is typically brought in for.
What can Bently Nevada System 1 do that PowerFactory DIgSILENT cannot?
Bently Nevada System 1 covers Turbomachinery plot set, Transient capture, 3500 and Orbit 60 integration, Decision support. PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bently Nevada System 1: Do I need Bently Nevada hardware?

Practically, yes. System 1 can take some third-party inputs but the dynamic and transient data that justify it come from 3500 or Orbit 60 racks.

PowerFactory DIgSILENT: How does DIgSILENT PowerFactory licensing work?

PowerFactory offers flexible software editions and licensing options. Customers must request a quotation from DIgSILENT to get pricing based on their specific needs and applications. A demo request option is also available.

Source
Bently Nevada System 1: Is System 1 suitable for all my plant motors?

No. It is priced and designed for critical machine trains. Balance-of-plant motors are far better served by a general condition monitoring platform.

PowerFactory DIgSILENT: What training and support does DIgSILENT offer?

DIgSILENT provides training courses that can be booked directly. Customers also have access to a knowledge base, license migration assistance, and customer portal. Support services include consulting, testing and certification, and IT projects.

Source
Bently Nevada System 1: What does Orbit 60 add?

A newer protection platform with SIL certification and a built-in data diode, which removes the network security objection to connecting protection systems.

PowerFactory DIgSILENT: Is there a demo version available?

Yes, DIgSILENT offers demo requests for PowerFactory and StationWare products. Prospective customers can contact DIgSILENT directly to schedule a demonstration of the software capabilities.

Source
Bently Nevada System 1: Can Baker Hughes monitor the machines for me?

Yes, remote machinery diagnostic services are offered, which is how many sites without an in-house specialist actually consume System 1.

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