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Manufacturing · head to head

Petasense vs TrakSYS

Petasense logo

Petasense

Manufacturing

Wireless vibration and asset reliability monitoring, now owned by AssetWatch

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TrakSYS logo

TrakSYS

Manufacturing

Manufacturing execution and plant performance platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Petasense petasense is now owned by AssetWatch, whose business is monitoring delivered as a managed service, so a buyer wanting self-service software should get the delivery model written into the contract rather than assume it.; TrakSYS configuration is the implementation, so deployment is a project measured in months and needs a partner or trained staff
  • They diverge on capability: Petasense covers Vibration Mote, TrakSYS covers Real-time production tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Petasense and TrakSYS actually diverge.

Attributes where Petasense and TrakSYS differ
AttributePetasenseTrakSYS
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, iOS, AndroidWindows, Web, Self-hosted

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Manufacturing).

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 Petasense

  • Vibration Mote
  • Transmitter range
  • ARO cloud
  • VFD-specific monitoring
  • Reliability workflow
  • Mixed wired and wireless

Only in TrakSYS

  • Real-time production tracking
  • OEE and downtime analysis
  • Configurable workflows
  • Quality management
  • Equipment connectivity
  • Reporting

What people use each for

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

Petasense

  • A reliability team wanting continuous vibration data on assets currently covered by a quarterly walkaround routenot TrakSYS
  • A plant with variable frequency drive assets where generic vibration analytics produce too many false alarmsnot TrakSYS
  • Mixing battery sensors on accessible pumps with wired sensors on the handful of assets that would stop productionnot TrakSYS
  • A manufacturer with no in-house vibration analyst that wants the analysis delivered as a service rather than as a dashboardnot TrakSYS

TrakSYS

  • Plants whose processes do not fit a packaged MESnot Petasense
  • Attributing downtime to cause rather than reporting an aggregatenot Petasense
  • Regulated production needing enforced in-process quality checksnot Petasense

Where each one falls short

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

Petasense

  • Petasense is now owned by AssetWatch, whose business is monitoring delivered as a managed service, so a buyer wanting self-service software should get the delivery model written into the contract rather than assume it.
  • Hardware is required per measurement point and gateways are required per area, so the up-front capital for a plant-wide deployment is substantial and separate from the subscription.
  • Per-asset subscription pricing scales linearly, which makes full coverage of a large population of low-value motors uneconomic compared with route-based monitoring.
  • Nothing is published on sensor cost, subscription rate, gateway requirements or contract length, so a total cost of ownership figure requires a full sales engagement before you can compare it against anything.
  • Battery-powered wireless sensors trade measurement richness for battery life, so the sampling rate and resolution are lower than a wired analyser would give, which limits diagnosis of high-frequency bearing defects on critical machines.

TrakSYS

  • Configuration is the implementation, so deployment is a project measured in months and needs a partner or trained staff
  • Quote-only pricing with no published rates
  • Flexibility means two TrakSYS installations can look nothing alike, which makes hiring for it harder
  • Considerable overkill for a small plant tracking output in a spreadsheet

Pricing, plan by plan

Petasense

On request
  • Petasense ARO$undefined/year
    • Subscription priced per monitored asset
    • Vibration Mote or Transmitter hardware required per measurement point
    • Gateway hardware required for wireless deployments

TrakSYS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the TrakSYS review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Petasense if

  • You need vibration mote.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android.
  • You also want transmitter range.
Petasense review

Choose TrakSYS if

  • You need real-time production tracking.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want oee and downtime analysis.
TrakSYS review

Questions people ask

Is Petasense or TrakSYS better?
Neither clearly leads. Petasense starts at On request and TrakSYS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Petasense or TrakSYS?
Petasense starts at On request and TrakSYS at On request.
Does Petasense or TrakSYS run on more platforms?
Petasense runs on Web, Cloud, iOS, Android. TrakSYS runs on Windows, Web, Self-hosted.
What is Petasense best used for?
Petasense is most often used for a reliability team wanting continuous vibration data on assets currently covered by a quarterly walkaround route, a plant with variable frequency drive assets where generic vibration analytics produce too many false alarms, mixing battery sensors on accessible pumps with wired sensors on the handful of assets that would stop production, a manufacturer with no in-house vibration analyst that wants the analysis delivered as a service rather than as a dashboard. Of those, a reliability team wanting continuous vibration data on assets currently covered by a quarterly walkaround route and a plant with variable frequency drive assets where generic vibration analytics produce too many false alarms are not what TrakSYS is typically brought in for.
What can Petasense do that TrakSYS cannot?
Petasense covers Vibration Mote, Transmitter range, ARO cloud, VFD-specific monitoring. TrakSYS covers Real-time production tracking, OEE and downtime analysis, Configurable workflows, Quality management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Petasense: Is Petasense still a separate product?

Yes. It trades under its own name with its own product line, but the owner since January 2024 is AssetWatch.

TrakSYS: What does TrakSYS cost?

Quoted per site and not published; implementation is normally a substantial part of the total.

Petasense: Do I have to buy Petasense hardware?

Yes. The platform is built around its own Motes and Transmitters; it is not a bring-your-own-sensor analytics product.

TrakSYS: Is it a product or a platform?

A platform. Screens and workflows are configured for the plant, which is why it fits unusual processes and why deployment is a project.

Petasense: Can I get monitoring as a service?

Yes, through parent AssetWatch, whose model is condition monitoring engineers reviewing your data. Clarify which model your quote covers.

TrakSYS: When is it the wrong choice?

When a packaged MES fits your process, or when the plant is small enough that the configuration effort outweighs the gain.

Petasense: How is it priced?

Per monitored asset on subscription, plus sensors and gateways. Nothing is published.

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