DIgSILENT PowerFactory vs LTspice
DIgSILENT PowerFactory
digsilent.deLTspice
analog.comSide by side
| Figure | DIgSILENT PowerFactory | LTspice |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Electrical Design Software | 8.0 (#11) | 7.6 (#22) |
| Founded | 1985 | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Gomaringen, Germany | Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA |
| Purpose | PowerFactory analyses electrical generation, transmission, distribution and industrial power systems. | LTspice is a SPICE simulator, schematic capture tool, and waveform viewer for analog circuit simulation. |
| 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. | Users can ask questions, answer them, or comment about LTspice in the EngineerZone forum. |
Plans
DIgSILENT PowerFactory
- Demo licenceFree
- Commercial licence — perpetualPrice not published
- Commercial licence — subscriptionPriced on request
- Commercial licence — time-limitedPriced 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.
LTspice
LTspice is a SPICE simulator, schematic capture tool and waveform viewer for analog circuit simulation. Its graphical schematic interface lets users probe a design, run simulations and inspect results in the built-in viewer. The download includes macromodels for most Analog Devices switching regulators and amplifiers, as well as a device library for general circuit simulation. Users can import third-party SPICE models implemented with .MODEL directives or .SUBCKT blocks. Designs from Signal Chain Designer, Analog Filter Wizard, Analog Photodiode Wizard, Precision ADC Driver Tool and LTpowerCAD can be exported to LTspice for simulation or verification. Tutorials address schematic creation, transient and AC simulation, waveform viewing, transformers, third-party models and noise analysis. The EngineerZone forum is available for questions and discussion. Analog Devices presents LTspice as an engineering design tool, with demo circuits and model libraries for designers. It is listed for Linux, macOS and Windows; the free plan specifies Windows and macOS downloads. A verified forum answer from an Analog Devices employee says telemetry is sent only if users opt in, and that the setting can be changed.