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Energy · head to head

Bently Nevada System 1 vs Stem Athena

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
Stem Athena logo

Stem Athena

Energy

AI-driven clean energy optimization

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.; Stem Athena stem's site names the product PowerTrack Optimizer, formerly Athena, so the Athena name is retired
  • They diverge on capability: Bently Nevada System 1 covers Turbomachinery plot set, Stem Athena covers AI optimization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bently Nevada System 1 and Stem Athena actually diverge.

Attributes where Bently Nevada System 1 and Stem Athena differ
AttributeBently Nevada System 1Stem Athena
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Web, On-premiseWeb, Mobile, Api
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: starting price (On request), 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 Stem Athena

  • AI optimization
  • Energy storage management
  • Demand charge reduction
  • Grid services
  • Solar integration
  • Weather forecasting
  • Performance analytics
  • Remote monitoring

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 Stem Athena
  • An LNG plant where a single unplanned compressor trip costs more than the entire monitoring programmenot Stem Athena
  • A power station correlating turbine vibration with process conditions to distinguish a real fault from a load-related responsenot Stem Athena
  • An offshore operator using remote diagnostics because there is no rotating machinery specialist on the installationnot Stem Athena

Stem Athena

  • Energy asset optimization and managementnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Renewable energy integrationnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Energy storage managementnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Grid operations optimizationnot 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.

Stem Athena

  • Stem's site names the product PowerTrack Optimizer, formerly Athena, so the Athena name is retired
  • No price, subscription fee or contract term is published anywhere on the site
  • The optimizer is one component of the wider PowerTrack suite alongside separate EMS, SCADA, Power Plant Controller and Logger products rather than a standalone licence
  • Design, procurement, commissioning and operation are sold as managed services separate from the software

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

Stem Athena

On request
  • Commercial$undefined/custom
    • Energy storage optimization
    • Demand charge management
    • Rate optimization
  • Utility$undefined/custom
    • Grid services
    • VPP management
    • Frequency regulation
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Fleet management
    • Portfolio optimization
    • Custom integrations

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 Stem Athena if

  • You need ai optimization.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want energy storage management.
Stem Athena review

Questions people ask

Is Bently Nevada System 1 or Stem Athena better?
Neither clearly leads. Bently Nevada System 1 starts at On request and Stem Athena 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 Stem Athena?
Bently Nevada System 1 starts at On request and Stem Athena at On request.
Does Bently Nevada System 1 or Stem Athena run on more platforms?
Bently Nevada System 1 runs on Windows, Web, On-premise. Stem Athena runs on Web, Mobile, 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 Stem Athena is typically brought in for.
What can Bently Nevada System 1 do that Stem Athena cannot?
Bently Nevada System 1 covers Turbomachinery plot set, Transient capture, 3500 and Orbit 60 integration, Decision support. Stem Athena covers AI optimization, Energy storage management, Demand charge reduction, Grid services.

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.

Stem Athena: How much does Stem Athena cost?

Stem does not publish pricing for Athena on its website. The company appears to use a custom enterprise pricing model. Interested customers must contact Stem directly through their website to inquire about pricing and availability.

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.

Stem Athena: Does Stem offer a free trial?

The Stem website does not mention a free trial or demo option for Athena. Customers are directed to contact Stem's sales team for information about trial access or pricing.

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.

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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