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Energy · head to head

ETAP vs SMA Energy

ETAP logo

ETAP

Energy

Electrical power system design and analysis software

From
$5000/year
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: ETAP no pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form; SMA Energy requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
  • They diverge on capability: ETAP covers Load flow analysis, 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 ETAP and SMA Energy actually diverge.

Attributes where ETAP and SMA Energy differ
AttributeETAPSMA Energy
Starting price$5000/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, ApiWeb, Mobile
Founded19861981

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 ETAP

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

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.

ETAP

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

SMA Energy

  • System monitoringnot ETAP
  • Battery optimizationnot 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

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

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

SMA Energy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SMA Energy 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 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 ETAP or SMA Energy better?
Neither clearly leads. ETAP starts at $5000/year and SMA Energy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ETAP or SMA Energy?
SMA Energy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5000/year for ETAP and Free for SMA Energy.
Does ETAP or SMA Energy run on more platforms?
ETAP runs on Windows, 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. ETAP starts at $5000/year.
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 SMA Energy is typically brought in for.
What can ETAP do that SMA Energy cannot?
ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Short circuit analysis, Arc flash analysis, Protective device coordination. SMA Energy covers Real-time monitoring, Battery management, Energy analytics, Mobile portal. Both handle Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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
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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