Freedom251 › Electrical Design Software
DIgSILENT PowerFactory

What DIgSILENT PowerFactory is
DIgSILENT PowerFactory analyzes electrical generation, transmission, distribution, and industrial power systems. Its study areas include power generation, distributed generation, renewable integration, and medium- and low-voltage networks. Listed analyses cover load flow, short circuits, contingencies, protection, stability, and electromagnetic transients. Tasks can be automated using Python, DIgSILENT Programming Language, a C++ API, or a tool for parallel execution. The base package supports network-data import and conversion; its DGS interface exchanges ASCII, XML, CSV, and ODBC data for GIS and SCADA interfacing. Dedicated interfaces include OPC DA/UA, IEEE C37.118 simulation, and FMI 2.0-based co-simulation, though some require separate licences. Editions serve individual users, organizations managing concurrent licences, and teams sharing central project data. A single-user edition uses SQLite; the Team Edition supports Oracle, SQL Server, or PostgreSQL. A 28-day demo licence costs nothing, for one user with predefined functions, and excludes DGS, exports, and API. Commercial pricing is on request. The product is available for Windows, API, and self-hosted deployment.
Who it suits
PowerFactory is aimed at people studying or managing electrical power systems, from individual users to organizations and teams sharing project data. Its analysis and automation options may suit users who need power-system studies and task scripting.
What it does well
- Covers load-flow, protection, stability, and transient analyses
- Automates tasks with Python, DPL, or C++ API
- Team Edition supports shared project data
- 28-day demo licence available
What to know first
- Demo excludes DGS, exports, and API
- Commercial pricing is on request
- Some interfaces require separate licences
Limits
The free demo lasts 28 days, is for one user and provides predefined functions; it excludes DGS, exports and API access. The subscription licence is limited to Single-User Edition, Commercial PF4C and a cloud-based Softkey.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Demo licence | Free of charge for 28 days. · Single user · Predefined functions · Excludes DGS, exports and API · Browser streaming version available | Free |
| Commercial licence — perpetual | Perpetual use; initial purchase price includes the first 12 months of maintenance and support. · Functions configured individually · 100, 250, 500 or unlimited nodes · Softkey, USB dongle or cloud-based softkey | On request |
| Commercial licence — subscription | 6- or 12-month terms; subscription fee includes maintenance and support and renews automatically unless cancelled with 30 days’ prior written notice. · Single-User Edition only · Commercial PF4C · Cloud-based Softkey | On request |
| Commercial licence — time-limited | Fixed term of 6 or 12 months. · Commercial PF4C · Maintenance and support included for licence duration | On request |
As digsilent.de lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the DIgSILENT PowerFactory website.
- Choose the 28-day demo or a commercial licence type.
- Use the browser streaming option available with the demo, or use the Windows product.
- Registered users can access current software releases, documentation and model libraries.
- For deployment, select a Single-User, Multi-User or Team Edition setup.
Verdict
PowerFactory offers a broad set of power-system analyses, automation options, and deployment editions. The demo is time-limited and restricted, while commercial prices are available on request.
Questions
Is there a free plan?
There is no ongoing free plan. A demo licence costs 0.00 USD and lasts 28 days.
What does the demo include?
It is for one user and has predefined functions. It excludes DGS, exports and API access; a browser streaming version is available.
How much do commercial licences cost?
Commercial licence pricing is on request. The perpetual, subscription and time-limited options have different terms and licence details.
Which platforms are supported?
PowerFactory is listed for Windows, API access and self-hosted deployment.
Can teams share project data?
Team Edition supports shared project data through Oracle, SQL Server or PostgreSQL.
What licence and support terms apply?
Perpetual licences include maintenance and support for the first 12 months; subscriptions include them for the subscription term. Support requests go through the Customer Portal.
Facts from DIgSILENT PowerFactory's own pages
- Applications
- The product supports studies of transmission, distribution, industrial systems, power generation, distributed generation and renewable integration. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Automation
- Tasks can be automated with Python, DIgSILENT Programming Language (DPL), a C++ API and a task automation tool for parallel execution. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Core analyses
- Its listed functions include load-flow, short-circuit, MV/LV network, contingency, protection, stability and electromagnetic transient analyses. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- 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. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The public download area offers product documents, while registered users can access current software releases, documentation and model libraries. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Editions
- Single-User uses a local SQLite database, Multi-User manages concurrent licences through a licence server, and Team Edition supports shared project data through Oracle, SQL Server or PostgreSQL. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1985 · digsilent.de, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Gomaringen, Germany · digsilent.de, 28 Sept 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes the editions for individual end users, organisations managing multiple licences, and multi-user teams sharing central project data. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Notable licence limits
- A regular Softkey cannot be used in virtual environments; a cloud-based Softkey requires a permanent internet connection, and the optional floating licence on a local machine is limited to 30 days. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Other interfaces
- Dedicated interfaces include OPC DA/UA, IEEE C37.118 simulation and FMI 2.0-based third-party EMT/RMS co-simulation; some require separate licences, and OPC DA is slated for removal in PowerFactory 2027. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- PowerFactory analyses electrical generation, transmission, distribution and industrial power systems. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- DIgSILENT states that it is certified to ISO 27001:2022 and ISO 9001:2015. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
- 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. · digsilent.de, 11 Oct 2026
Where DIgSILENT PowerFactory stands on Freedom251
- Electrical Design Software#17 of 41
