Energy & Utilities · head to head
PowerFactory DIgSILENT vs ETAP
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
Energy & Utilities
Advanced power system analysis and grid simulation
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
ETAP
Energy & Utilities
Electrical power system design and analysis software
- From
- $5000/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PowerFactory DIgSILENT no prices are published; the product pages only offer Request a Quotation and Demo Request; ETAP no pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form
- They diverge on capability: PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, ETAP covers Load flow analysis.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PowerFactory DIgSILENT and ETAP actually diverge.
| Attribute | PowerFactory DIgSILENT | ETAP |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $5000/year |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Api | Windows, Api |
| Founded | 1985 | 1986 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Energy & Utilities).
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 PowerFactory DIgSILENT
- Load flow calculation
- Short-circuit analysis
- RMS and EMT simulation
- Harmonic analysis
- Stability analysis
- Protection coordination
- Renewable energy integration
- Scripting and automation
Only in ETAP
- Load flow analysis
- Short circuit analysis
- Arc flash analysis
- Protective device coordination
- Harmonics analysis
- Transient stability
- Cable sizing
- Panel schedule design
Both cover
- SCADA systems
- GIS
- License management
- User authentication
- On-premise deployment
- Cloud deployment
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
- Power system load flow, short circuit and stability analysis for transmission and distribution networksnot ETAP
- Grid code compliance studies and protection coordinationnot ETAP
- Modelling renewables and distributed generation integrationnot ETAP
ETAP
- Electrical power system modelling, simulation and analysisnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
- Arc flash, load flow and protection coordination studiesnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.
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 PowerFactory DIgSILENT if
- You need load flow calculation.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Api.
- You also want short-circuit analysis.
Choose ETAP if
- You need load flow analysis.
- You work on Windows, Api.
- You also want short circuit analysis.
Questions people ask
- Is PowerFactory DIgSILENT or ETAP better?
- Neither clearly leads. PowerFactory DIgSILENT 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, PowerFactory DIgSILENT or ETAP?
- PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request and ETAP at $5000/year.
- Does PowerFactory DIgSILENT or ETAP run on more platforms?
- PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, Api. ETAP runs on Windows, Api.
- What is PowerFactory DIgSILENT best used for?
- PowerFactory DIgSILENT is most often used for power system load flow, short circuit and stability analysis for transmission and distribution networks, grid code compliance studies and protection coordination, modelling renewables and distributed generation integration. Of those, power system load flow, short circuit and stability analysis for transmission and distribution networks and grid code compliance studies and protection coordination are not what ETAP is typically brought in for.
- What can PowerFactory DIgSILENT do that ETAP cannot?
- PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis. ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Short circuit analysis, Arc flash analysis, Protective device coordination. Both handle SCADA systems, GIS, License management, User authentication.