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HOMER Energy vs OSIsoft PI System

HOMER Energy logo

HOMER Energy

Software

Microgrid and distributed energy optimization software

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 HOMER Energy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: HOMER Energy now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent; OSIsoft PI System oSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages
  • They diverge on capability: HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization, OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HOMER Energy and OSIsoft PI System differ
AttributeHOMER EnergyOSIsoft PI System
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, WebWindows, Web, Api
Founded20091980

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 HOMER Energy

  • Microgrid optimization
  • Techno-economic analysis
  • Component library
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Energy storage sizing
  • Renewable integration
  • Load profile analysis
  • 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

What people use each for

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

HOMER Energy

  • Sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systemsnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinationsnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Electric bill optimisation for grid-connected sites and EV chargingnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Utility-scale storage investment analysisnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Comparing least-cost configurations against load and resource datanot OSIsoft PI System

OSIsoft PI System

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

HOMER Energy

  • Now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • Split into three separate products, HOMER Pro for off-grid and microgrids, HOMER Grid for bill optimisation and HOMER Front for utility-scale, so the right one depends on project type
  • Pricing is not shown on the product pages

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

HOMER Energy

Free
  • HOMER GridFree
    • Grid-connected optimization
    • Basic components
    • Limited simulations
  • HOMER Pro$1500/year
    • Advanced optimization
    • All components
    • Unlimited simulations
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Multi-user licenses
    • API access
    • Custom modules

OSIsoft PI System

On request

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

Which should you pick?

Choose HOMER Energy if

  • You need microgrid optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want techno-economic analysis.
HOMER Energy 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 HOMER Energy or OSIsoft PI System better?
Neither clearly leads. HOMER Energy 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, HOMER Energy or OSIsoft PI System?
HOMER Energy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HOMER Energy and On request for OSIsoft PI System.
Does HOMER Energy or OSIsoft PI System run on more platforms?
HOMER Energy runs on Windows, Web. OSIsoft PI System runs on Windows, Web, Api.
Can I use HOMER Energy for free?
Yes. HOMER Energy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OSIsoft PI System starts at On request.
What is HOMER Energy best used for?
HOMER Energy is most often used for sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systems, modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinations, electric bill optimisation for grid-connected sites and ev charging, utility-scale storage investment analysis. Of those, sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systems and modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinations are not what OSIsoft PI System is typically brought in for.
What can HOMER Energy do that OSIsoft PI System cannot?
HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization, Techno-economic analysis, Component library, Sensitivity analysis. OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, Time-series data storage, Advanced analytics, Asset framework.
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