DIgSILENT PowerFactory vs ETAP
DIgSILENT PowerFactory
digsilent.de
ETAP
etap.comSide by side
| Figure | DIgSILENT PowerFactory | ETAP |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 2 |
| Spec score · Electrical Design Software | 8.0 (#11) | 8.7 (#2) |
| Data exchange | The base package supports network-data import and conversion, and its DGS interface exchanges data in ASCII, XML, CSV and ODBC formats for GIS and SCADA interfacing. | DataX supports integrations and data exchange across GIS, BIM, CAD, and legacy tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, ESRI ArcMaps, Caneco BT, and ERACS. |
| Founded | 1985 | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Gomaringen, Germany | Irvine, California, USA |
| Purpose | PowerFactory analyses electrical generation, transmission, distribution and industrial power systems. | ETAP provides software and hardware solutions for electrical systems across design, engineering, operations, and maintenance. |
| Security | DIgSILENT states that it is certified to ISO 27001:2022 and ISO 9001:2015. | ETAP Grid Intelligence lists role-based access, audit trails, single sign-on, multi-tenant isolation, and design aligned with IEC 62443 and IEC 62351 cybersecurity standards. |
| Support | Commercial perpetual licences include maintenance and support for the first 12 months, and subscriptions include them for the subscription term; software support requests go through the Customer Portal. | Power Simulator subscriptions include dedicated priority support, according to ETAP. |
Plans
DIgSILENT PowerFactory
- Demo licenceFree
- Commercial licence — perpetualPrice not published
- Commercial licence — subscriptionPriced on request
- Commercial licence — time-limitedPriced on request
ETAP
- ETAP Power Simulator GrowPriced on request
- ETAP Power Simulator LaunchPriced on request
In their own words
DIgSILENT PowerFactory
DIgSILENT PowerFactory is software for analyzing electrical generation, transmission, distribution and industrial power systems. Its study areas include renewable integration, distributed generation, and medium- and low-voltage networks. Available analyses cover load flow, short circuits, contingencies, protection, stability and electromagnetic transients. Users can automate work with Python, DIgSILENT Programming Language, a C++ API or a parallel task automation tool. The base package imports and converts network data; its DGS interface exchanges data in ASCII, XML, CSV and ODBC formats for GIS and SCADA connections. Additional interfaces include OPC DA/UA, IEEE C37.118 simulation and FMI 2.0 co-simulation, though some require separate licences. Editions range from a local SQLite setup to licence-server management and shared project data using Oracle, SQL Server or PostgreSQL. The 28-day demo is free for one user, with predefined functions, and excludes DGS, exports and API. Commercial pricing is available on request; platforms listed are Windows, API and self-hosted.
ETAP
ETAP provides software and hardware for electrical systems across design, engineering, operations, and maintenance. Its modular energy management platform centers on a unified electrical digital twin for power system design, analysis, operations, and automation. ETAP 2026 includes analysis for renewable integration, feeder hosting capacity, Volt-VAR optimization, battery energy storage, and grid-code studies. Power Simulator is designed to predict system behavior, optimize grid performance, and run offline or real-time predictive simulations. DataX exchanges information across GIS, BIM, CAD, and legacy tools, with interfaces for products including Revit, AutoCAD, Excel, AVEVA, and ArcGIS. NetPM supports multi-user model creation, concurrent studies, change management, and role-based access. Grid Intelligence lists Modbus TCP, BACnet/IP, and REST protocols and integrations with systems such as SCADA, GIS, and OMS. ETAP serves utilities, infrastructure, industries, and buildings. Design and analysis products list supported 64-bit Windows systems; etapAPP is available for iOS, Windows, and Android tablets. Pricing is by customized quote, with a free 30-day demo and no free plan.