Softwr

Energy & Utilities · head to head

ETAP vs PowerFactory DIgSILENT

ETAP logo

ETAP

Energy & Utilities

Electrical power system design and analysis software

From
$5000/year
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

  • Each has a real cost: ETAP no pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form; PowerFactory DIgSILENT no prices are published; the product pages only offer Request a Quotation and Demo Request
  • They diverge on capability: ETAP covers Load flow analysis, PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ETAP and PowerFactory DIgSILENT actually diverge.

Attributes where ETAP and PowerFactory DIgSILENT differ
AttributeETAPPowerFactory DIgSILENT
Starting price$5000/yearOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindows, ApiWindows, Linux, Api
Founded19861985

Identical on both: 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 ETAP

  • Load flow analysis
  • Short circuit analysis
  • Arc flash analysis
  • Protective device coordination
  • Harmonics analysis
  • Transient stability
  • Cable sizing
  • Panel schedule design

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

  • SCADA systems
  • GIS
  • License management
  • User authentication
  • On-premise deployment
  • Cloud deployment
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

ETAP

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

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

PowerFactory DIgSILENT

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ETAP if

  • You need load flow analysis.
  • You work on Windows, Api.
  • You also want short circuit analysis.
ETAP 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 ETAP or PowerFactory DIgSILENT better?
Neither clearly leads. ETAP starts at $5000/year and PowerFactory DIgSILENT at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ETAP or PowerFactory DIgSILENT?
ETAP starts at $5000/year and PowerFactory DIgSILENT at On request.
Does ETAP or PowerFactory DIgSILENT run on more platforms?
ETAP runs on Windows, Api. PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, Api.
What is ETAP best used for?
ETAP is most often used for electrical power system modelling, simulation and analysis, arc flash, load flow and protection coordination studies. Of those, electrical power system modelling, simulation and analysis and arc flash, load flow and protection coordination studies are not what PowerFactory DIgSILENT is typically brought in for.
What can ETAP do that PowerFactory DIgSILENT cannot?
ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Short circuit analysis, Arc flash analysis, Protective device coordination. PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis. Both handle SCADA systems, GIS, License management, User authentication.
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