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Energy · head to head

OSIsoft PI System vs SMA Energy

OSIsoft PI System logo

OSIsoft PI System

Energy

Real-time operational intelligence for industrial operations

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SMA Energy logo

SMA Energy

Energy

Inverter monitoring and cloud portal

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SMA Energy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OSIsoft PI System oSIsoft is now AVEVA and osisoft.com redirects to the AVEVA PI System pages; SMA Energy requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
  • They diverge on capability: OSIsoft PI System covers Real-time data collection, SMA Energy covers Real-time monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where OSIsoft PI System and SMA Energy differ
AttributeOSIsoft PI SystemSMA Energy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Web, ApiWeb, Mobile
Founded19801981

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Energy).

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 SMA Energy

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Battery management
  • Energy analytics
  • Mobile portal
  • System optimization
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Mobile support

Both cover

  • 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 SMA Energy
  • Operations dashboards and trend analysis for plants and utilitiesnot SMA Energy
  • Feeding real time operational data into analytics and digital twin applicationsnot SMA Energy

SMA Energy

  • System monitoringnot OSIsoft PI System
  • Battery optimizationnot 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

SMA Energy

  • Requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
  • SMA Sunny Portal monitoring has data delays and does not guarantee real-time updates
  • Limited scalability for larger residential or commercial installations beyond 18.9 kWh
  • Requires all devices to have latest software versions and compatible communication protocols

Pricing, plan by plan

OSIsoft PI System

On request

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

SMA Energy

Free

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

Choose SMA Energy if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want battery management.
SMA Energy review

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OSIsoft PI System: How much does the AVEVA PI System cost?

AVEVA PI System (formerly OSIsoft PI System) operates on a subscription-based commercial model with customized pricing. The company structures subscriptions to match specific use cases and business needs, requiring direct contact with account representatives.

Source
SMA Energy: Is SMA Energy Maximizer free?

No. SMA Energy Maximizer requires an SMA Premium subscription. However, there is a 90-day free trial period. After the trial, the service requires a paid subscription to access automated optimization features. The SMA Premium digital service is built into SMA devices powered by ennexOS.

Source
OSIsoft PI System: What is AVEVA PI System's pricing model?

AVEVA offers subscription-based licensing for software components running on-premises or in the cloud. Subscriptions are customized per customer use case, and pricing is determined through consultation with local account representatives.

Source
SMA Energy: What are the system requirements for SMA Energy?

SMA Energy requires compatible SMA inverters, SMA Energy Meter for consumption tracking, and communication protocols like Modbus or Speedwire for connectivity. All devices must have the latest software version, and a network connection is required for remote monitoring through SMA Sunny Portal.

Source
SMA Energy: Does SMA Energy work offline?

SMA Energy systems can continue generating electricity offline, but remote monitoring and cloud-based optimization through SMA Sunny Portal require internet connectivity. If communication fails between devices, inverters reduce output power to 0 percent as a safety fallback.

Source
SMA Energy: What is the maximum system size for residential installations?

SMA systems typically support a maximum residential configuration of 18.9 kWh battery storage, which is suitable for most single-family homes but may be insufficient for larger properties or commercial applications.

Source
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