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Software · head to head

Helioscope vs OSIsoft PI System

Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Software

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OSIsoft PI System logo

OSIsoft PI System

Software

Real-time operational intelligence for industrial operations

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; OSIsoft PI System oSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages
  • They diverge on capability: Helioscope covers PV system design, OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helioscope and OSIsoft PI System actually diverge.

Attributes where Helioscope and OSIsoft PI System differ
AttributeHelioscopeOSIsoft PI System
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiWindows, Web, Api
Founded20121980

Identical on both: 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 Helioscope

  • PV system design
  • 3D shade modeling
  • Performance simulation
  • Single-line diagrams
  • BOM generation
  • Proposal templates
  • Component database
  • Financial modeling

Only in OSIsoft PI System

  • Real-time data collection
  • Time-series data storage
  • Advanced analytics
  • Asset framework
  • Visualization tools
  • Event frames
  • Data compression
  • Notifications and alerts

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • SSL encryption

What people use each for

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

Helioscope

  • Simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yieldnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reportsnot OSIsoft PI System

OSIsoft PI System

  • Collecting and historising high frequency industrial process and sensor datanot Helioscope
  • Operations dashboards and trend analysis for plants and utilitiesnot Helioscope
  • Feeding real time operational data into analytics and digital twin applicationsnot 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

OSIsoft PI System

  • OSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages
  • No pricing is published; osisoft.com/pricing resolves to AVEVA product pages with no rate, minimum or cost driver
  • Licensing runs through the AVEVA Flex Subscription Program rather than a published per-seat or per-tag price
  • The PI System is split across separately listed products including PI Server, PI Vision, PI Data Infrastructure and Edge Data Store

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

OSIsoft PI System

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the OSIsoft PI System 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.
Helioscope review

Choose OSIsoft PI System if

  • You need real-time data collection.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Api.
  • You also want time-series data storage.
OSIsoft PI System review

Questions people ask

Is Helioscope or OSIsoft PI System better?
Neither clearly leads. Helioscope starts at Free and OSIsoft PI System at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helioscope or OSIsoft PI System?
Helioscope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helioscope and On request for OSIsoft PI System.
Does Helioscope or OSIsoft PI System run on more platforms?
Helioscope runs on Web, Api. OSIsoft PI System runs on Windows, Web, Api.
Can I use Helioscope for free?
Yes. Helioscope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OSIsoft PI System 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 OSIsoft PI System is typically brought in for.
What can Helioscope do that OSIsoft PI System cannot?
Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, Time-series data storage, Advanced analytics, Asset framework. Both handle SOC2, SSL encryption.
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