Softwr

Software · head to head

ETAP vs SolarWinds

ETAP logo

ETAP

Software

Electrical power system design and analysis software

From
$5000/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SolarWinds

Software

Solar asset performance monitoring and management

From
$2/kW/month
Rated
-
Full review

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: ETAP covers Load flow analysis, SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ETAP and SolarWinds actually diverge.

Attributes where ETAP and SolarWinds differ
AttributeETAPSolarWinds
Starting price$5000/year$2/kW/month
PlatformsWindows, ApiWeb, Mobile, Api
Founded19862015

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 SolarWinds

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Performance analytics
  • Alarm management
  • O&M workflows
  • Reporting
  • Benchmarking
  • Weather integration
  • Financial tracking

Both cover

  • Data encryption
  • 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 SolarWinds
  • Arc flash, load flow and protection coordination studiesnot SolarWinds

SolarWinds

  • Solar monitoringnot ETAP
  • Performance optimizationnot ETAP
  • O&M managementnot ETAP
  • Portfolio reportingnot ETAP
  • Investor reportingnot 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

SolarWinds

Nothing recorded yet. See the SolarWinds review.

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

SolarWinds

$2/kW/month
  • Monitor$2/kW/month
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Performance tracking
    • Alerts
  • Optimize$4/kW/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Degradation analysis
    • Benchmarking
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Portfolio management
    • Custom integrations
    • Financial modeling

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 SolarWinds if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want performance analytics.
SolarWinds review

Questions people ask

Is ETAP or SolarWinds better?
Neither clearly leads. ETAP starts at $5000/year and SolarWinds at $2/kW/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ETAP or SolarWinds?
ETAP starts at $5000/year and SolarWinds at $2/kW/month.
Does ETAP or SolarWinds run on more platforms?
ETAP runs on Windows, Api. SolarWinds runs on Web, Mobile, 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 SolarWinds is typically brought in for.
What can ETAP do that SolarWinds cannot?
ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Short circuit analysis, Arc flash analysis, Protective device coordination. SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring, Performance analytics, Alarm management, O&M workflows. Both handle Data encryption, Cloud deployment.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on ETAP

More on SolarWinds

Keep looking

Other head to heads