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Energy · head to head

PowerFactory DIgSILENT vs iHawk by Cyberhawk

PowerFactory DIgSILENT logo

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

Energy

Advanced power system analysis and grid simulation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
iHawk by Cyberhawk logo

iHawk by Cyberhawk

Energy

Asset inspection data platform sold by a drone inspection service company, not standalone software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; iHawk by Cyberhawk cyberhawk's business is inspection services, so the platform is normally sold as part of a capture contract and the software line item cannot be compared cleanly against standalone asset inspection platforms
  • They diverge on capability: PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, iHawk by Cyberhawk covers Visual data management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PowerFactory DIgSILENT and iHawk by Cyberhawk actually diverge.

Attributes where PowerFactory DIgSILENT and iHawk by Cyberhawk differ
AttributePowerFactory DIgSILENTiHawk by Cyberhawk
PlatformsWindows, Linux, ApiWeb
Founded1985Unknown

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 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 iHawk by Cyberhawk

  • Visual data management
  • Defect tagging and tracking
  • Visualive AI review
  • Geospatial layers
  • Asset hierarchy
  • Progress monitoring
  • Reporting and export

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 iHawk by Cyberhawk
  • Grid code compliance studies and protection coordinationnot iHawk by Cyberhawk
  • Modelling renewables and distributed generation integrationnot iHawk by Cyberhawk

iHawk by Cyberhawk

  • A transmission operator inspecting several thousand towers annually that needs defect history per structure rather than a folder of photographs per campaignnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • An offshore operator that wants flare tip and structural inspection imagery held against the same asset tags used in its maintenance systemnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • A capital project owner tracking construction progress from repeated aerial capture over a two year buildnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • A utility responding to a regulator that requires evidence of condition assessment across a defined asset populationnot 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

iHawk by Cyberhawk

  • Cyberhawk's business is inspection services, so the platform is normally sold as part of a capture contract and the software line item cannot be compared cleanly against standalone asset inspection platforms
  • Nothing is published about price, and because contracts bundle flights, processing and platform access, the recurring cost after the inspection campaign ends is often not clear at signature
  • The value of the platform grows with the length of the historical series held in it, which makes switching increasingly expensive over time and gives the vendor leverage at renewal
  • It is a review and management platform rather than an enterprise asset management system, so defect findings still need to reach SAP or Maximo to become work orders, and that integration is a project in its own right
  • Automated defect detection reduces review effort but does not remove the need for qualified inspection engineers to sign off findings, so headcount savings are smaller than a technology-led business case usually assumes

Pricing, plan by plan

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.

iHawk by Cyberhawk

On request
  • iHawk platform$undefined/year
    • Usually contracted together with Cyberhawk inspection services
    • Priced by asset count, data volume and inspection programme scope
    • Standalone platform licensing available on request but not the standard route

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.
PowerFactory DIgSILENT review

Choose iHawk by Cyberhawk if

  • You need visual data management.
  • You also want defect tagging and tracking.
iHawk by Cyberhawk review

Questions people ask

Is PowerFactory DIgSILENT or iHawk by Cyberhawk better?
Neither clearly leads. PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request and iHawk by Cyberhawk at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PowerFactory DIgSILENT or iHawk by Cyberhawk?
PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request and iHawk by Cyberhawk at On request.
Does PowerFactory DIgSILENT or iHawk by Cyberhawk run on more platforms?
PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, Api. iHawk by Cyberhawk runs on Web.
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 iHawk by Cyberhawk is typically brought in for.
What can PowerFactory DIgSILENT do that iHawk by Cyberhawk cannot?
PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis. iHawk by Cyberhawk covers Visual data management, Defect tagging and tracking, Visualive AI review, Geospatial layers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
iHawk by Cyberhawk: Can I buy iHawk without Cyberhawk's inspection services?

Ask explicitly. The company positions the platform as enterprise software, but its normal route to market is bundled with data capture, so standalone terms are negotiated rather than listed.

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
iHawk by Cyberhawk: Who owns the inspection data?

That is contract-specific and should be settled before signature, including what format you receive on exit and whether historical defect tagging comes with you.

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
iHawk by Cyberhawk: What does it cost?

Not published. Expect pricing driven by asset count, data volume and the scope of the inspection programme.

iHawk by Cyberhawk: Does it replace an asset management system?

No. It manages inspection data and findings. Work orders and maintenance planning stay in SAP, Maximo or your equivalent.

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