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Energy & Utilities · head to head

PowerFactory DIgSILENT vs OSIsoft PI System

PowerFactory DIgSILENT logo

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

Energy & Utilities

Advanced power system analysis and grid simulation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OSIsoft PI System logo

OSIsoft PI System

Energy & Utilities

Real-time operational intelligence for industrial operations

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; OSIsoft PI System oSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages
  • They diverge on capability: PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PowerFactory DIgSILENT and OSIsoft PI System actually diverge.

Attributes where PowerFactory DIgSILENT and OSIsoft PI System differ
AttributePowerFactory DIgSILENTOSIsoft PI System
PlatformsWindows, Linux, ApiWindows, Web, Api
Founded19851980

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), 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 OSIsoft PI System

  • Real-time data collection
  • Time-series data storage
  • Advanced analytics
  • Asset framework
  • Visualization tools
  • Event frames
  • Data compression
  • Notifications and alerts

Both cover

  • SCADA systems

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 OSIsoft PI System
  • Grid code compliance studies and protection coordinationnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Modelling renewables and distributed generation integrationnot OSIsoft PI System

OSIsoft PI System

  • Collecting and historising high frequency industrial process and sensor datanot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • Operations dashboards and trend analysis for plants and utilitiesnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • Feeding real time operational data into analytics and digital twin applicationsnot 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

OSIsoft PI System

  • OSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages
  • No pricing is published; osisoft.com/pricing resolves to AVEVA product pages with no rate, minimum or cost driver
  • Licensing runs through the AVEVA Flex Subscription Program rather than a published per-seat or per-tag price
  • The PI System is split across separately listed products including PI Server, PI Vision, PI Data Infrastructure and Edge Data Store

Pricing, plan by plan

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.

OSIsoft PI System

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the OSIsoft PI System review.

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 OSIsoft PI System if

  • You need real-time data collection.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Api.
  • You also want time-series data storage.
OSIsoft PI System review

Questions people ask

Is PowerFactory DIgSILENT or OSIsoft PI System better?
Neither clearly leads. PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request and OSIsoft PI System at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PowerFactory DIgSILENT or OSIsoft PI System?
PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request and OSIsoft PI System at On request.
Does PowerFactory DIgSILENT or OSIsoft PI System run on more platforms?
PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, Api. OSIsoft PI System runs on Windows, Web, 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 OSIsoft PI System is typically brought in for.
What can PowerFactory DIgSILENT do that OSIsoft PI System cannot?
PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis. OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, Time-series data storage, Advanced analytics, Asset framework. Both handle SCADA systems.
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