ETAP

subscription (module-based annual bundles) Engineer & Analyze

Electrical power systems analysis and energy management platform used by AEC engineers to design, simulate, and commission electrical networks for data centers, hospitals, industrial facilities, and utilities -- covers load flow, arc flash, short-circuit, protective device coordination, and real-time SCADA; integrates bidirectionally with Revit and AutoCAD for BIM-linked electrical one-line diagrams; 80% owned by Schneider Electric since June 2021 while retaining independent vendor branding.

Hidden Pricing
3.2 /5 composite score
Solid for electrical engineers designing data center power distribution -- the dedicated data-center industry page (etap.com/industries/data-center) demonstrates genuine sector targeting (arc flash, contingency analysis, eSCADA, UPS modeling), and the May 2026 ETAP 2026 release added 3D MHD arc flash for DC bus systems common in data centers; module-based pricing (RF1) and steep learning curve limit smaller firms.
Solid

Rubric Scorecard

How we grade →

Criterion Score Evidence
Value for the price 4/5 subscription (module-based annual bundles)
Agent Friendliness 4/5 API: etapAPI: public RESTful API with Swagger UI, HTTPS, callable from any language (etap.com/product/etap-rest-api); etapPY: Python scripting IDE with VS Code / PyCharm support for batch study automation and parallel remote execution (etap.com/product/etappy)
Ease of adoption 2/5 desktop-install, steep learning curve
Portability & lock-in 3/5 4 file formats, export: api
Interoperability 3/5 4 integrations
Visit ETAP →

How we verified this: we checked ETAP against its live site and an independent source — capterra.com. Nothing on this page is listed from memory. See how we grade. Verified 2026-07-05.

Evidence

File formats

FormatDirectionSupport
RVT both partial -- Bidirectional Revit 2025/2026 via DataX BIM exchange
DWG both partial -- AutoCAD 2025/2026 via eXCAD interface
CIM/XML both full
CSV export full

Integrations

Autodesk Revit (native) AutoCAD (native) GIS systems (api-only) SCADA / EMS (native)

Adoption

Deploymentdesktop-install
Self-serve signupno
Implementation requiredvendor-led
Training requiredcertification
Learning curvesteep

Data export

Export mechanismapi
Export scopeall-data

Pricing detail

Hidden costsFull capability requires purchasing multiple module bundles; individual modules licensed separately at enterprise rates

Also covers

ETAP also appears in these sub-categories:

Energy Analysis
Solid for data center power engineers needing energy management -- ETAP covers load/generation forecasting, energy arbitrage, demand billing, harmonic power quality monitoring, and PUE-adjacent real-time state estimation; strongest when the team already uses ETAP for protection engineering on the same project.

Alternatives in MEP Design

Web-based Manual J/S/D HVAC load-calculation tool with LiDAR floor-plan scanning, satellite trace input, and cross-device access -- pay per project or by monthly subscription.
3.4/5
Commercial HVAC system sizing and hourly energy analysis tool covering 8,760-hour annual simulation, 7,400+ weather stations, and LEED compliance reporting for rooftops, VRF, chillers, and heat pumps.
3.2/5
Cloud-based mechanical and plumbing design platform that calculates pipe sizing, heat load, duct sizing, and drainage in real time as you draw, with AutoCAD and Revit integration.
3.0/5
ACCA-certified HVAC load-calculation platform covering Manual J, S, D, and N with a drag-and-drop drawing interface, mobile app, and energy compliance add-ons for residential and commercial projects.
2.8/5

Compare all MEP Design tools →

Subscribe to Building Probable

Independent AEC + AI reviews & research, including MEP Design coverage -- the companion newsletter to buildingtech.pro.

Subscribe to Building Probable →