Software · head to head
OSIsoft PI System vs PowerFactory DIgSILENT
OSIsoft PI System
Software
Real-time operational intelligence for industrial operations
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
Software
Advanced power system analysis and grid simulation
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
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; PowerFactory DIgSILENT no prices are published; the product pages only offer Request a Quotation and Demo Request
- They diverge on capability: OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OSIsoft PI System and PowerFactory DIgSILENT actually diverge.
| Attribute | OSIsoft PI System | PowerFactory DIgSILENT |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, Web, Api | Windows, Linux, Api |
| Founded | 1980 | 1985 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), 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 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
- SCADA systems
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 PowerFactory DIgSILENT
- Operations dashboards and trend analysis for plants and utilitiesnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
- Feeding real time operational data into analytics and digital twin applicationsnot PowerFactory DIgSILENT
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
- Power system load flow, short circuit and stability analysis for transmission and distribution networksnot OSIsoft PI System
- Grid code compliance studies and protection coordinationnot OSIsoft PI System
- Modelling renewables and distributed generation integrationnot 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
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
OSIsoft PI System
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the OSIsoft PI System review.
PowerFactory DIgSILENT
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the PowerFactory DIgSILENT review.
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.
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 OSIsoft PI System or PowerFactory DIgSILENT better?
- Neither clearly leads. OSIsoft PI System starts at On request and PowerFactory DIgSILENT at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, OSIsoft PI System or PowerFactory DIgSILENT?
- OSIsoft PI System starts at On request and PowerFactory DIgSILENT at On request.
- Does OSIsoft PI System or PowerFactory DIgSILENT run on more platforms?
- OSIsoft PI System runs on Windows, Web, Api. PowerFactory DIgSILENT runs on Windows, Linux, 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 PowerFactory DIgSILENT is typically brought in for.
- What can OSIsoft PI System do that PowerFactory DIgSILENT cannot?
- OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, Time-series data storage, Advanced analytics, Asset framework. PowerFactory DIgSILENT covers Load flow calculation, Short-circuit analysis, RMS and EMT simulation, Harmonic analysis. Both handle SCADA systems.