Softwr

Software · head to head

SolarWinds vs Stem Athena

S

SolarWinds

Software

Solar asset performance monitoring and management

From
$2/kW/month
Rated
-
Full review
S

Stem Athena

Software

AI-driven clean energy optimization

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring, Stem Athena covers AI optimization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SolarWinds and Stem Athena actually diverge.

Attributes where SolarWinds and Stem Athena differ
AttributeSolarWindsStem Athena
Starting price$2/kW/monthOn request
Founded20152009

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Mobile, Api), 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 SolarWinds

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Alarm management
  • O&M workflows
  • Reporting
  • Benchmarking
  • Weather integration
  • Financial tracking
  • SMA

Only in Stem Athena

  • AI optimization
  • Energy storage management
  • Demand charge reduction
  • Grid services
  • Solar integration
  • Weather forecasting
  • Remote monitoring
  • Tesla

Both cover

  • Performance analytics
  • SolarEdge
  • Enphase
  • SOC2
  • Data encryption
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

SolarWinds

  • Solar monitoringnot Stem Athena
  • Performance optimizationnot Stem Athena
  • O&M managementnot Stem Athena
  • Portfolio reportingnot Stem Athena
  • Investor reportingnot Stem Athena

Stem Athena

  • Optimising dispatch and market participation of battery energy storagenot SolarWinds
  • Monitoring and reporting on solar and storage asset performancenot SolarWinds
  • Remote diagnostics across renewable generation fleetsnot SolarWinds

Where each one falls short

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

SolarWinds

Nothing recorded yet. See the SolarWinds review.

Stem Athena

  • Stem's site names the product PowerTrack Optimizer, formerly Athena, so the Athena name is retired
  • No price, subscription fee or contract term is published anywhere on the site
  • The optimizer is one component of the wider PowerTrack suite alongside separate EMS, SCADA, Power Plant Controller and Logger products rather than a standalone licence
  • Design, procurement, commissioning and operation are sold as managed services separate from the software

Pricing, plan by plan

SolarWinds

$2/kW/month
  • Monitor$2/kW/month
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Performance tracking
    • Alerts
  • Optimize$4/kW/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Degradation analysis
    • Benchmarking
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Portfolio management
    • Custom integrations
    • Financial modeling

Stem Athena

On request
  • Commercial$undefined/custom
    • Energy storage optimization
    • Demand charge management
    • Rate optimization
  • Utility$undefined/custom
    • Grid services
    • VPP management
    • Frequency regulation
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Fleet management
    • Portfolio optimization
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose SolarWinds if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want alarm management.
SolarWinds review

Choose Stem Athena if

  • You need ai optimization.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want energy storage management.
Stem Athena review

Questions people ask

Is SolarWinds or Stem Athena better?
Neither clearly leads. SolarWinds starts at $2/kW/month and Stem Athena at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SolarWinds or Stem Athena?
SolarWinds starts at $2/kW/month and Stem Athena at On request.
Does SolarWinds or Stem Athena run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Mobile, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is SolarWinds best used for?
SolarWinds is most often used for solar monitoring, performance optimization, o&m management, portfolio reporting. Of those, solar monitoring and performance optimization are not what Stem Athena is typically brought in for.
What can SolarWinds do that Stem Athena cannot?
SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring, Alarm management, O&M workflows, Reporting. Stem Athena covers AI optimization, Energy storage management, Demand charge reduction, Grid services. Both handle Performance analytics, SolarEdge, Enphase, SOC2.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on SolarWinds

More on Stem Athena

Keep looking

Other head to heads