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Energy · head to head

Cutsforth InsightCM vs ETAP

Cutsforth InsightCM logo

Cutsforth InsightCM

Energy

Multi-physics condition monitoring for generators and rotating plant, moved from National Instruments to Cutsforth

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ETAP logo

ETAP

Energy

Electrical power system design and analysis software

From
$5000/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cutsforth InsightCM ownership moved from National Instruments to Cutsforth while NI itself was absorbed by Emerson, so support contracts, documentation and any assumption of NI or Emerson backing need reconfirming from scratch.; ETAP no pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form
  • They diverge on capability: Cutsforth InsightCM covers Multi-physics correlation, ETAP covers Load flow analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cutsforth InsightCM and ETAP actually diverge.

Attributes where Cutsforth InsightCM and ETAP differ
AttributeCutsforth InsightCMETAP
Starting priceOn request$5000/year
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Web, CloudWindows, Api
FoundedUnknown1986

Identical on both: 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 Cutsforth InsightCM

  • Multi-physics correlation
  • Continuous waveform capture
  • NI hardware compatibility
  • Electromagnetic interference analysis
  • On-premise or cloud
  • Configurable acquisition
  • Automated alarming
  • Fleet view

Only in ETAP

  • Load flow analysis
  • Short circuit analysis
  • Arc flash analysis
  • Protective device coordination
  • Harmonics analysis
  • Transient stability
  • Cable sizing
  • Panel schedule design

What people use each for

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

Cutsforth InsightCM

  • A generating station correlating partial discharge, EMI and vibration on a turbine generator in one diagnosis rather than three separate systemsnot ETAP
  • A nuclear operator needing continuous waveform retention as evidence for a condition-based maintenance casenot ETAP
  • An industrial site with legacy NI acquisition hardware already installed on critical machinesnot ETAP
  • Comparing identical generators across a fleet to separate a machine-specific fault from a design characteristicnot ETAP

ETAP

  • Electrical power system modelling, simulation and analysisnot Cutsforth InsightCM
  • Arc flash, load flow and protection coordination studiesnot Cutsforth InsightCM

Where each one falls short

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

Cutsforth InsightCM

  • Ownership moved from National Instruments to Cutsforth while NI itself was absorbed by Emerson, so support contracts, documentation and any assumption of NI or Emerson backing need reconfirming from scratch.
  • Cutsforth is a small specialist company, so a buyer standardising a fleet-wide monitoring platform is accepting a vendor with far less scale than Emerson, SKF or Bently Nevada.
  • The product depends on data acquisition hardware on the machine, and that hardware is typically the larger part of the cost, which the software conversation tends to obscure.
  • Its strength is high-value generation and large rotating assets; instrumenting a broad population of ordinary pumps and fans with it is disproportionately expensive.
  • Continuous multi-physics capture produces large volumes of waveform data, so storage sizing and retention policy are real deployment decisions rather than defaults.

ETAP

  • No pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form
  • Subscription durations offered are 3 years and 5 years, so there is no short commitment option
  • Licences are banded by user count rather than sold individually, in brackets of 1, 5 to 15, 15 to 25, 25 to 50 and over 50
  • National and international network licences are priced separately

Pricing, plan by plan

Cutsforth InsightCM

On request
  • InsightCM$undefined/year
    • Priced per monitored machine and channel count rather than per user
    • Data acquisition hardware quoted separately and often the larger cost
    • On-premise and cloud deployments priced differently

ETAP

$5000/year
  • Standard$5000/year
    • Load flow analysis
    • Short circuit analysis
    • Arc flash analysis
  • Professional$15000/year
    • Advanced analysis
    • Protective device coordination
    • Harmonics analysis
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Real-time monitoring
    • SCADA integration
    • Custom modules

Which should you pick?

Choose Cutsforth InsightCM if

  • You need multi-physics correlation.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Cloud.
  • You also want continuous waveform capture.
Cutsforth InsightCM review

Choose ETAP if

  • You need load flow analysis.
  • You work on Windows, Api.
  • You also want short circuit analysis.
ETAP review

Questions people ask

Is Cutsforth InsightCM or ETAP better?
Neither clearly leads. Cutsforth InsightCM starts at On request and ETAP at $5000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cutsforth InsightCM or ETAP?
Cutsforth InsightCM starts at On request and ETAP at $5000/year.
Does Cutsforth InsightCM or ETAP run on more platforms?
Cutsforth InsightCM runs on Windows, Web, Cloud. ETAP runs on Windows, Api.
What is Cutsforth InsightCM best used for?
Cutsforth InsightCM is most often used for a generating station correlating partial discharge, emi and vibration on a turbine generator in one diagnosis rather than three separate systems, a nuclear operator needing continuous waveform retention as evidence for a condition-based maintenance case, an industrial site with legacy ni acquisition hardware already installed on critical machines, comparing identical generators across a fleet to separate a machine-specific fault from a design characteristic. Of those, a generating station correlating partial discharge, emi and vibration on a turbine generator in one diagnosis rather than three separate systems and a nuclear operator needing continuous waveform retention as evidence for a condition-based maintenance case are not what ETAP is typically brought in for.
What can Cutsforth InsightCM do that ETAP cannot?
Cutsforth InsightCM covers Multi-physics correlation, Continuous waveform capture, NI hardware compatibility, Electromagnetic interference analysis. ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Short circuit analysis, Arc flash analysis, Protective device coordination.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cutsforth InsightCM: Is InsightCM still a National Instruments product?

No. It was developed by NI but is now owned and developed by Cutsforth. NI itself became part of Emerson in October 2023.

ETAP: How is ETAP priced?

ETAP uses subscription-based pricing with tiered bundles (Launch, Grow, Scale) and optional add-ons. Specific prices are not published and require completing a quote request form.

Source
Cutsforth InsightCM: Does it require NI hardware?

It is compatible with NI-based acquisition systems and with Cutsforth monitoring hardware, so existing NI installations carry over.

ETAP: What products does ETAP offer pricing for?

ETAP offers three main product lines with tiered bundles: CANECO (Electrical Design), ETAP (Power Systems Analysis), and SEE Electrical (Electrical Engineering). Each supports 1-50+ users with 3-5 year term options.

Source
Cutsforth InsightCM: What makes it different from a vibration platform?

It correlates several measurement types, including partial discharge and electromagnetic interference, which matters on generators rather than on general rotating equipment.

Cutsforth InsightCM: Can it be deployed on-premise?

Yes, on-premise or cloud, which is why it remains viable for nuclear and utility sites with data residency rules.

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