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Energy & Utilities · head to head

Enphase Enlighten vs PowerFactory DIgSILENT

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Enphase Enlighten

Energy & Utilities

Microinverter monitoring and management platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PowerFactory DIgSILENT logo

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

Energy & Utilities

Advanced power system analysis and grid simulation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Enphase Enlighten has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Enphase Enlighten only works with Enphase microinverter systems, not compatible with other solar equipment; PowerFactory DIgSILENT no prices are published; the product pages only offer Request a Quotation and Demo Request
  • They diverge on capability: Enphase Enlighten covers Real-time monitoring, PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Enphase Enlighten and PowerFactory DIgSILENT actually diverge.

Attributes where Enphase Enlighten and PowerFactory DIgSILENT differ
AttributeEnphase EnlightenPowerFactory DIgSILENT
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows, Linux, Api
Founded20061985

Identical on both: 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 Enphase Enlighten

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Per-module performance
  • Alert notifications
  • Mobile app
  • API access
  • SunPower
  • Tesla
  • SSL encryption

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

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Enphase Enlighten

  • System monitoringnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
  • Performance optimizationnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

  • Power system load flow, short circuit and stability analysis for transmission and distribution networksnot Enphase Enlighten
  • Grid code compliance studies and protection coordinationnot Enphase Enlighten
  • Modelling renewables and distributed generation integrationnot Enphase Enlighten

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Enphase Enlighten

  • Only works with Enphase microinverter systems, not compatible with other solar equipment
  • Requires 10-year paid subscription after initial free period for core monitoring
  • Cloud-based system requiring internet connection for real-time data access

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Enphase Enlighten

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Enphase Enlighten review.

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Enphase Enlighten if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want per-module performance.
Enphase Enlighten review

Choose PowerFactory DIgSILENT if

  • You need load flow calculation.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Api.
  • You also want short-circuit analysis.
PowerFactory DIgSILENT review

Questions people ask

Is Enphase Enlighten or PowerFactory DIgSILENT better?
Neither clearly leads. Enphase Enlighten starts at Free and PowerFactory DIgSILENT at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Enphase Enlighten or PowerFactory DIgSILENT?
Enphase Enlighten has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Enphase Enlighten and On request for PowerFactory DIgSILENT.
Does Enphase Enlighten or PowerFactory DIgSILENT run on more platforms?
Enphase Enlighten runs on Web, iOS, Android. PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, Api.
Can I use Enphase Enlighten for free?
Yes. Enphase Enlighten has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request.
What is Enphase Enlighten best used for?
Enphase Enlighten is most often used for system monitoring, performance optimization. Of those, system monitoring and performance optimization are not what PowerFactory DIgSILENT is typically brought in for.
What can Enphase Enlighten do that PowerFactory DIgSILENT cannot?
Enphase Enlighten covers Real-time monitoring, Per-module performance, Alert notifications, Mobile app. PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis. Both handle Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Enphase Enlighten: Is Enphase Enlighten free to use?

The standard Enlighten app comes included with any Enphase microinverter system at no extra charge for the first 10 years from installation, after which it costs $49/year minimum.

Source
Enphase Enlighten: What is the cost for Enlighten Manager premium upgrade?

Enlighten Manager upgrade costs $9.99/month with month-to-month cancellation, or a one-time lifetime subscription is available through the Enphase store.

Source
Enphase Enlighten: What data does Enlighten monitor?

Enlighten pulls data from IQ Microinverters, the IQ Gateway, IQ Batteries, and Enphase EV chargers into a single monitoring view, showing near real-time panel-by-panel performance data.

Source
Enphase Enlighten: Does Enlighten send alerts for system issues?

Yes, Enlighten continuously monitors system performance and highlights deviations, with customers able to choose to receive alerts upon certain conditions.

Source
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