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Energy · head to head

Enphase Enlighten vs ETAP

E

Enphase Enlighten

Energy

Microinverter monitoring and management platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ETAP logo

ETAP

Energy

Electrical power system design and analysis software

From
$5000/year
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; ETAP no pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form
  • They diverge on capability: Enphase Enlighten covers Real-time monitoring, ETAP covers Load flow analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Enphase Enlighten and ETAP actually diverge.

Attributes where Enphase Enlighten and ETAP differ
AttributeEnphase EnlightenETAP
Starting priceFree$5000/year
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows, Api
Founded20061986

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 Enphase Enlighten

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

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

  • Cloud deployment
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

Enphase Enlighten

  • System monitoringnot ETAP
  • Performance optimizationnot ETAP

ETAP

  • Electrical power system modelling, simulation and analysisnot Enphase Enlighten
  • Arc flash, load flow and protection coordination studiesnot 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

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

Enphase Enlighten

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Enphase Enlighten 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 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 ETAP if

  • You need load flow analysis.
  • You work on Windows, Api.
  • You also want short circuit analysis.
ETAP review

Questions people ask

Is Enphase Enlighten or ETAP better?
Neither clearly leads. Enphase Enlighten starts at Free and ETAP at $5000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Enphase Enlighten or ETAP?
Enphase Enlighten has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Enphase Enlighten and $5000/year for ETAP.
Does Enphase Enlighten or ETAP run on more platforms?
Enphase Enlighten runs on Web, iOS, Android. ETAP runs on Windows, Api.
Can I use Enphase Enlighten for free?
Yes. Enphase Enlighten has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ETAP starts at $5000/year.
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 ETAP is typically brought in for.
What can Enphase Enlighten do that ETAP cannot?
Enphase Enlighten covers Real-time monitoring, Per-module performance, Alert notifications, Mobile app. ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Short circuit analysis, Arc flash analysis, Protective device coordination. Both handle Cloud deployment, Api support.

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
ETAP: How is ETAP priced?

ETAP uses subscription-based pricing with tiered bundles (Launch, Grow, Scale) and optional add-ons. Specific prices are not published and require completing a quote request form.

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
ETAP: What products does ETAP offer pricing for?

ETAP offers three main product lines with tiered bundles: CANECO (Electrical Design), ETAP (Power Systems Analysis), and SEE Electrical (Electrical Engineering). Each supports 1-50+ users with 3-5 year term options.

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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