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Energy · head to head

PowerFactory DIgSILENT vs SMA Energy

PowerFactory DIgSILENT logo

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

Energy

Advanced power system analysis and grid simulation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SMA Energy logo

SMA Energy

Energy

Inverter monitoring and cloud portal

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SMA Energy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: PowerFactory DIgSILENT no prices are published; the product pages only offer Request a Quotation and Demo Request; SMA Energy requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
  • They diverge on capability: PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, SMA Energy covers Real-time monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PowerFactory DIgSILENT and SMA Energy actually diverge.

Attributes where PowerFactory DIgSILENT and SMA Energy differ
AttributePowerFactory DIgSILENTSMA Energy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Linux, ApiWeb, Mobile
Founded19851981

Identical on both: 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 SMA Energy

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Battery management
  • Energy analytics
  • Mobile portal
  • System optimization
  • SSL encryption
  • Web support
  • Mobile support

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

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 SMA Energy
  • Grid code compliance studies and protection coordinationnot SMA Energy
  • Modelling renewables and distributed generation integrationnot SMA Energy

SMA Energy

  • System monitoringnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • Battery optimizationnot 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

SMA Energy

  • Requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
  • SMA Sunny Portal monitoring has data delays and does not guarantee real-time updates
  • Limited scalability for larger residential or commercial installations beyond 18.9 kWh
  • Requires all devices to have latest software versions and compatible communication protocols

Pricing, plan by plan

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.

SMA Energy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SMA Energy 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 SMA Energy if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want battery management.
SMA Energy review

Questions people ask

Is PowerFactory DIgSILENT or SMA Energy better?
Neither clearly leads. PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request and SMA Energy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PowerFactory DIgSILENT or SMA Energy?
SMA Energy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for PowerFactory DIgSILENT and Free for SMA Energy.
Does PowerFactory DIgSILENT or SMA Energy run on more platforms?
PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, Api. SMA Energy runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use SMA Energy for free?
Yes. SMA Energy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request.
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 SMA Energy is typically brought in for.
What can PowerFactory DIgSILENT do that SMA Energy cannot?
PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis. SMA Energy covers Real-time monitoring, Battery management, Energy analytics, Mobile portal. Both handle Cloud deployment.

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
SMA Energy: Is SMA Energy Maximizer free?

No. SMA Energy Maximizer requires an SMA Premium subscription. However, there is a 90-day free trial period. After the trial, the service requires a paid subscription to access automated optimization features. The SMA Premium digital service is built into SMA devices powered by ennexOS.

Source
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
SMA Energy: What are the system requirements for SMA Energy?

SMA Energy requires compatible SMA inverters, SMA Energy Meter for consumption tracking, and communication protocols like Modbus or Speedwire for connectivity. All devices must have the latest software version, and a network connection is required for remote monitoring through SMA Sunny Portal.

Source
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
SMA Energy: Does SMA Energy work offline?

SMA Energy systems can continue generating electricity offline, but remote monitoring and cloud-based optimization through SMA Sunny Portal require internet connectivity. If communication fails between devices, inverters reduce output power to 0 percent as a safety fallback.

Source
SMA Energy: What is the maximum system size for residential installations?

SMA systems typically support a maximum residential configuration of 18.9 kWh battery storage, which is suitable for most single-family homes but may be insufficient for larger properties or commercial applications.

Source
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