ETAP vs SOLIDWORKS
ETAP
etap.comSOLIDWORKS
solidworks.comSide by side
| Figure | ETAP | SOLIDWORKS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $4/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Spec score · Electrical Design Software | 8.7 (#2) | 8.3 (#6) |
| Audience | ETAP says its solutions serve utilities, infrastructure, industries, and buildings, including designers, engineers, and operators. | SOLIDWORKS says its markets include industrial, medical, scientific, consumer, educational, technology and transportation organizations. |
| Founded | 1986 | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Irvine, California, USA | Waltham, Massachusetts, USA |
| Integrations | DataX provides interfaces and conversion tools for third-party engineering and CAD software, including Excel, Revit, AVEVA, SmartPlant Electrical, and ArcGIS. | The SOLIDWORKS Solution Partner Program works with hundreds of partners, and Certified Gold Products provide integration inside the SOLIDWORKS interface. |
| Security certification | Operation Technology, Inc. DBA ETAP has an ISO 27001:2022 certificate covering design, development, sales, customer support, maintenance, and sensitive information processed by IT systems, networks, and cloud platforms; the certificate expires January 30, 2028. | The 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27017:2015 for cloud security controls. |
| Support | Power Simulator subscriptions include dedicated priority support, according to ETAP. | Online purchases include technical support and access to getting-started resources covering installation, onboarding and tutorials. |
Plans
ETAP
- ETAP Power Simulator GrowPriced on request
- ETAP Power Simulator LaunchPriced on request
SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Design Standard with Cloud Services$2,820 a year
- SOLIDWORKS Design Professional with Cloud Services$3,456 a year
- SOLIDWORKS Design Premium with Cloud Services$4,716 a year
- SOLIDWORKS for Makers$48 a year
In their own words
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.
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS provides 3D software for creating, simulating, publishing, and managing product data. SOLIDWORKS Design supports parts, assemblies, drawings, sheet-metal, and framing workflows; the portfolio also includes simulation tools for evaluating performance, efficiency, and durability. The installed Design application can work offline. With Cloud Services, it connects to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for collaboration and data management, including sharing and marking up designs and managing revisions. Browser-based xDesign tools provide modeling without a local installation. Standard with Cloud Services costs $2,820 a year for a single machine-locked device, excluding local taxes. Professional costs $3,456 a year and Premium costs $4,716 a year, each for a single user and excluding local taxes. A Makers plan costs $48 a year for personal, non-commercial use, and Design Standard is free for students. The listed platforms include macOS, web, and Windows, though client SOLIDWORKS products list Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit support; eDrawings for Mac lists supported macOS releases. Online purchases include support, and orders can be canceled and refunded within 15 days.