The ETAP alternative for engineers who value their time
ETAP is powerful. It's also expensive, slow to set up, and locked to a dongle. If you need short circuit, load flow, arc flash, and equipment sizing, ekx does them in a browser for a fraction of the cost.
What you get
ETAP requires USB dongles and license servers. ekx runs in your browser. Open a tab, start working.
ETAP requires you to configure each study before you run it. In ekx, load flow updates as you build and short circuit runs in one click, with no setup.
ETAP costs $3,000–5,000/year. ekx starts free, with paid plans at $27/month (Starter) or $149/user/month (Professional).
No installation, no admin rights, no compatibility issues. Works on any laptop with a browser.
ETAP has hundreds of features and weeks of training. ekx focuses on the studies you need most.
Built with modern web technology. Fast, responsive, and designed for how engineers work today.
What ekx does differently than ETAP
ETAP is a comprehensive platform for large utilities and complex system studies. ekx is purpose-built for the studies most engineers need most often, and does them faster.
- Short circuit, load flow, arc flash, and equipment sizing on one diagram
- No installation or hardware required — works in any browser
- Start free, upgrade as you need more projects and buses
- One-click studies — no separate study configuration
Start free. Upgrade when you need more.
Free tier includes 1 project with up to 2 buses. Paid plans start at $27/month for consultants and $149/user/month for unlimited access.
View All PlansFrequently asked questions
For load flow, short circuit, NEC equipment sizing, arc flash, protection device curves, and harmonic design checks, often yes. ekx doesn't do transient stability or full protection coordination studies, and arc flash doesn't yet cover systems with more than one independent source or buses a 50 hp or larger motor can feed. If you need those, ETAP may be the right tool.
ekx uses the IEC 60909 method for short circuit, which ETAP also offers, Newton-Raphson for load flow, and IEEE 1584-2018 for arc flash. Results should always be verified by a licensed PE, regardless of the tool.
ETAP typically costs $3,000–5,000/year. ekx Professional is $149/user/month, or $1,490/user/year billed yearly, with unlimited projects and buses. The free tier lets you evaluate with no commitment.
Direct ETAP file import is not available. You can rebuild your model in ekx using the drag-and-drop builder, or import device data via CSV.
Try the faster, cheaper alternative.
Short circuit, load flow, arc flash, and equipment sizing. No dongles, no five-figure price tag.