Software · head to head
ETAP vs Stem Athena

ETAP
Software
Electrical power system design and analysis software
- From
- $5000/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ETAP no pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form; Stem Athena stem's site names the product PowerTrack Optimizer, formerly Athena, so the Athena name is retired
- They diverge on capability: ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Stem Athena covers AI optimization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ETAP and Stem Athena actually diverge.
| Attribute | ETAP | Stem Athena |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5000/year | On request |
| Platforms | Windows, Api | Web, Mobile, Api |
| Founded | 1986 | 2009 |
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 Stem Athena
- AI optimization
- Energy storage management
- Demand charge reduction
- Grid services
- Solar integration
- Weather forecasting
- Performance analytics
- Remote monitoring
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 Stem Athena
- Arc flash, load flow and protection coordination studiesnot Stem Athena
Stem Athena
- Optimising dispatch and market participation of battery energy storagenot ETAP
- Monitoring and reporting on solar and storage asset performancenot ETAP
- Remote diagnostics across renewable generation fleetsnot 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
Stem Athena
- Stem's site names the product PowerTrack Optimizer, formerly Athena, so the Athena name is retired
- No price, subscription fee or contract term is published anywhere on the site
- The optimizer is one component of the wider PowerTrack suite alongside separate EMS, SCADA, Power Plant Controller and Logger products rather than a standalone licence
- Design, procurement, commissioning and operation are sold as managed services separate from the software
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
Stem Athena
On request- Commercial$undefined/custom
- Energy storage optimization
- Demand charge management
- Rate optimization
- Utility$undefined/custom
- Grid services
- VPP management
- Frequency regulation
- Enterprise$undefined/custom
- Fleet management
- Portfolio optimization
- Custom integrations
Which should you pick?
Choose ETAP if
- You need load flow analysis.
- You work on Windows, Api.
- You also want short circuit analysis.
Choose Stem Athena if
- You need ai optimization.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
- You also want energy storage management.
Questions people ask
- Is ETAP or Stem Athena better?
- Neither clearly leads. ETAP starts at $5000/year and Stem Athena at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ETAP or Stem Athena?
- ETAP starts at $5000/year and Stem Athena at On request.
- Does ETAP or Stem Athena run on more platforms?
- ETAP runs on Windows, Api. Stem Athena 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 Stem Athena is typically brought in for.
- What can ETAP do that Stem Athena cannot?
- ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Short circuit analysis, Arc flash analysis, Protective device coordination. Stem Athena covers AI optimization, Energy storage management, Demand charge reduction, Grid services. Both handle Data encryption, Cloud deployment.
Related pages
More on Stem Athena
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