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Software · head to head

OSIsoft PI System vs Aurora Solar

OSIsoft PI System logo

OSIsoft PI System

Software

Real-time operational intelligence for industrial operations

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Aurora Solar logo

Aurora Solar

Software

The leading solar design and sales platform

From
$250/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: OSIsoft PI System oSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages; Aurora Solar both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence
  • They diverge on capability: OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where OSIsoft PI System and Aurora Solar differ
AttributeOSIsoft PI SystemAurora Solar
Starting priceOn request$250/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Web, ApiWeb, Api
Founded19802013

Identical on both: 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 OSIsoft PI System

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

Only in Aurora Solar

  • 3D solar design
  • Shade analysis
  • LIDAR integration
  • Performance simulation
  • Sales proposals
  • Financing options
  • Permit packages
  • NEC code compliance

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • SSL encryption

What people use each for

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

OSIsoft PI System

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

Aurora Solar

  • Designing and simulating residential and commercial solar installationsnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projectsnot OSIsoft PI System

Where each one falls short

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

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

Aurora Solar

  • Both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence
  • Projects are capped at 50 a month on both Basic and Premium, so the tiers differ on features rather than volume
  • LIDAR assisted modelling, shade reports and battery storage modelling all require Premium at $259 a month
  • API access and integrations are Enterprise only, which is priced per project rather than per month
  • Paying monthly rather than annually costs $288 more a year on Basic and $468 on Premium

Pricing, plan by plan

OSIsoft PI System

On request

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

Aurora Solar

$250/month
  • Starter$250/month
    • Basic design tools
    • Sales mode
    • Shade analysis
  • Pro$500/month
    • Advanced LIDAR integration
    • Performance simulation
    • Custom branding
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Advanced analytics
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Aurora Solar if

  • You need 3d solar design.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want shade analysis.
Aurora Solar review

Questions people ask

Is OSIsoft PI System or Aurora Solar better?
Neither clearly leads. OSIsoft PI System starts at On request and Aurora Solar at $250/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OSIsoft PI System or Aurora Solar?
OSIsoft PI System starts at On request and Aurora Solar at $250/month.
Does OSIsoft PI System or Aurora Solar run on more platforms?
OSIsoft PI System runs on Windows, Web, Api. Aurora Solar runs on Web, Api.
What is OSIsoft PI System best used for?
OSIsoft PI System is most often used for collecting and historising high frequency industrial process and sensor data, operations dashboards and trend analysis for plants and utilities, feeding real time operational data into analytics and digital twin applications. Of those, collecting and historising high frequency industrial process and sensor data and operations dashboards and trend analysis for plants and utilities are not what Aurora Solar is typically brought in for.
What can OSIsoft PI System do that Aurora Solar cannot?
OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, Time-series data storage, Advanced analytics, Asset framework. Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Shade analysis, LIDAR integration, Performance simulation. Both handle SOC2, SSL encryption.
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