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Energy · head to head

Cutsforth InsightCM vs SolarWinds

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
S

SolarWinds

Energy

Solar asset performance monitoring and management

From
$2/kW/month
Rated
-
Full review

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documentation and any assumption of NI or Emerson backing need reconfirming from scratch.; SolarWinds website uses outdated NetObjects Fusion 2015 tools, suggesting legacy technical infrastructure
  • They diverge on capability: Cutsforth InsightCM covers Multi-physics correlation, SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Cutsforth InsightCM and SolarWinds differ
AttributeCutsforth InsightCMSolarWinds
Starting priceOn request$2/kW/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Web, CloudWeb, Mobile, Api
FoundedUnknown2015

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 SolarWinds

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Performance analytics
  • Alarm management
  • O&M workflows
  • Reporting
  • Benchmarking
  • Weather integration
  • Financial tracking

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 SolarWinds
  • A nuclear operator needing continuous waveform retention as evidence for a condition-based maintenance casenot SolarWinds
  • An industrial site with legacy NI acquisition hardware already installed on critical machinesnot SolarWinds
  • Comparing identical generators across a fleet to separate a machine-specific fault from a design characteristicnot SolarWinds

SolarWinds

  • Solar monitoringnot Cutsforth InsightCM
  • Performance optimizationnot Cutsforth InsightCM
  • O&M managementnot Cutsforth InsightCM
  • Portfolio reportingnot Cutsforth InsightCM
  • Investor reportingnot 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.

SolarWinds

  • Website uses outdated NetObjects Fusion 2015 tools, suggesting legacy technical infrastructure
  • No specific product models, brands, or technical specifications listed for offered solutions
  • Geographic service area boundaries unclear; only mentions San Francisco Bay Area and Central California
  • Minimal customer engagement features; lacks testimonials, project galleries, financing calculators, or online quote forms
  • Email contact discrepancy between display text ([email protected]) and actual mailto link ([email protected])

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

SolarWinds

$2/kW/month
  • Monitor$2/kW/month
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Performance tracking
    • Alerts
  • Optimize$4/kW/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Degradation analysis
    • Benchmarking
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Portfolio management
    • Custom integrations
    • Financial modeling

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 SolarWinds if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want performance analytics.
SolarWinds review

Questions people ask

Is Cutsforth InsightCM or SolarWinds better?
Neither clearly leads. Cutsforth InsightCM starts at On request and SolarWinds at $2/kW/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cutsforth InsightCM or SolarWinds?
Cutsforth InsightCM starts at On request and SolarWinds at $2/kW/month.
Does Cutsforth InsightCM or SolarWinds run on more platforms?
Cutsforth InsightCM runs on Windows, Web, Cloud. SolarWinds runs on Web, Mobile, 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 SolarWinds is typically brought in for.
What can Cutsforth InsightCM do that SolarWinds cannot?
Cutsforth InsightCM covers Multi-physics correlation, Continuous waveform capture, NI hardware compatibility, Electromagnetic interference analysis. SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring, Performance analytics, Alarm management, O&M workflows.

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.

SolarWinds: What geographic areas does SolarWinds Energy serve?

SolarWinds Energy serves the San Francisco Bay Area and Central California regions, but the exact service area boundaries are not clearly defined on their website.

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.

SolarWinds: What solar and renewable products does SolarWinds Energy offer?

SolarWinds Energy specializes in energy efficiency and renewable technologies including solar energy systems and attic ventilation solutions, but specific product models and technical specifications are not published online.

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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