Energy & Utilities · head to head
Helioscope vs PowerFactory DIgSILENT
Helioscope
Energy & Utilities
Accurate solar design for commercial projects
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
Energy & Utilities
Advanced power system analysis and grid simulation
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Helioscope has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own; PowerFactory DIgSILENT no prices are published; the product pages only offer Request a Quotation and Demo Request
- They diverge on capability: Helioscope covers PV system design, PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Helioscope and PowerFactory DIgSILENT actually diverge.
| Attribute | Helioscope | PowerFactory DIgSILENT |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Windows, Linux, Api |
| Founded | 2012 | 1985 |
Identical on both: 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 Helioscope
- PV system design
- 3D shade modeling
- Performance simulation
- Single-line diagrams
- BOM generation
- Proposal templates
- Component database
- Financial modeling
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
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Helioscope
- Simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yieldnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
- Laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reportsnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
- Power system load flow, short circuit and stability analysis for transmission and distribution networksnot Helioscope
- Grid code compliance studies and protection coordinationnot Helioscope
- Modelling renewables and distributed generation integrationnot Helioscope
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Helioscope
- Licences are single user, so each designer needs their own
- Projects are capped at 10 a month on both Basic and Pro
- System size is capped by plan, at 1.25 MW DC on Basic and 5 MW on Pro, so a larger array forces an upgrade regardless of project count
- Trackers, LIDAR modelling and API access sit on the higher tiers
- Enterprise is priced per project with no published figure
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
Helioscope
Free- FreeFree
- 3 projects
- Basic design tools
- Shade analysis
- Professional$95/month
- Unlimited projects
- Advanced shading
- Custom reports
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Everything in Pro
- API access
- Custom integrations
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Helioscope if
- You need pv system design.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want 3d shade modeling.
Choose PowerFactory DIgSILENT if
- You need load flow calculation.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Api.
- You also want short-circuit analysis.
Questions people ask
- Is Helioscope or PowerFactory DIgSILENT better?
- Neither clearly leads. Helioscope starts at Free and PowerFactory DIgSILENT at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Helioscope or PowerFactory DIgSILENT?
- Helioscope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helioscope and On request for PowerFactory DIgSILENT.
- Does Helioscope or PowerFactory DIgSILENT run on more platforms?
- Helioscope runs on Web, Api. PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, Api.
- Can I use Helioscope for free?
- Yes. Helioscope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PowerFactory DIgSILENT starts at On request.
- What is Helioscope best used for?
- Helioscope is most often used for simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yield, laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reports. Of those, simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yield and laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reports are not what PowerFactory DIgSILENT is typically brought in for.
- What can Helioscope do that PowerFactory DIgSILENT cannot?
- Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis. Both handle Cloud deployment.