All ComparisonsPRODUCT COMPARISON
You Don't Need a $50,000 License to Do Professional Electrical Calculations
ETAP is the gold standard for power systems analysis. But if you're sizing cables, checking voltage drops, or running arc flash studies — you're paying for a fighter jet when you need a pickup truck. ECalPro delivers the calculations 95% of engineers actually use, in a browser, for 99% less.
Try ECalPro FreeAt a Glance
Cloud-native
Works on any device, any browser. No installation.
From $0/month
Free tier with all calculators. Pro from $29/mo.
24,000+ tests
Validated against published reference data.
30+ standards
AS/NZS, BS, IEC, NEC, IEEE — one platform.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
14 capabilities compared. We're honest about where ETAP is stronger.
| Feature | ECalPro | ETAP |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Browser (any device) | Windows desktop only |
| Standards supported | AS/NZS 3008, BS 7671, IEC 60364, NEC, IEC 60909, IEEE 1584, IEEE 1185 | IEC, NEC (primarily) |
| Starting price | $29/month | $5,000+/year (estimated) |
| Free tier | Yes (all calculators, watermarked reports) | No |
| Setup time | 0 (open browser) | Hours to days (install + license) |
| Calculator modules | 27 modules | 50+ modules |
| Automated test coverage | 24,000+ tests | ~1,100 published |
| Report export formats | PDF, XLSX, DOCX | |
| PPP pricing (42 countries) | Yes | No |
| Arc flash standard | IEEE 1584-2018 | IEEE 1584-2018 |
| Power systems analysis (load flow, stability) | Not available | Full suite |
| Protection coordination (TCC curves) | Basic (coordination checks) | Full TCC plotting + relay library |
| Methodology transparency | Every equation + clause reference shown | Summary results |
| Multi-language support | 23 languages | Limited |
Standards Support
ECalPro was built from day one as a multi-standard platform. Every calculation references specific clause numbers, table entries, and derating factors — not just a final number.
ECalPro Standards
- AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2017 — Cable sizing (Australian conditions)
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 — Wiring rules, maximum demand
- BS 7671:2018+A2 — IET Wiring Regulations (UK)
- IEC 60364-5-52 — Cable sizing (international)
- NEC/NFPA 70:2023 — US conductor sizing
- IEEE 1584:2018 — Arc flash hazard analysis
- IEC 60909-0 — Short circuit calculations
ETAP Standards
- IEC 60909 — Short circuit
- IEEE 1584 — Arc flash
- NEC/NFPA 70 — Conductor sizing
- IEC 60364 — Cable sizing
- AS/NZS 3008 — Not primary focus
- BS 7671 — Limited support
ETAP excels at IEC/IEEE power systems analysis (load flow, stability, harmonics) — capabilities ECalPro does not claim to replace.
When ETAP Is the Right Choice
We believe in being honest. ETAP is the better tool when you need:
- Full power systems analysis — load flow, transient stability, motor acceleration, harmonic analysis for utility-scale grids
- Protection coordination with TCC curves — detailed relay coordination using manufacturer device libraries with thousands of protective devices
- Enterprise-scale projects — large refinery, power plant, or grid studies where the $5,000+ license is a rounding error in the project budget
When ECalPro Is the Better Fit
For the 95% of electrical engineering projects that need reliable, standards-compliant calculations without enterprise overhead:
- Distribution-level cable sizing — across AS/NZS, BS, IEC, and NEC standards with full derating factors and clause references
- Arc flash studies per IEEE 1584-2018 — incident energy, arc flash boundary, PPE category with the updated empirical model. Try it free
- Consultancies and small firms — no IT department, no license servers, no budget for $5K+ per seat. Just open the browser and calculate
- International projects — switch between standards in one tool. Size a cable to BS 7671 for a UK project, then to NEC for a US one, without buying separate software
- Verifiable results — every intermediate step shown, every derating factor cited. Your checker can follow the calculation without opening ETAP
Pricing Comparison
ECalPro
$0 – $69/mo
- Free tier — all 27 calculators
- Pro $29/mo — branded reports, API
- Team $69/mo — collaboration, Excel export
- PPP pricing for 42 countries
- 17% annual discount
ETAP
$5,000+/yr (est.)
- No free tier
- Quote-based pricing
- Per-seat licensing
- No PPP pricing
- Annual license renewal
Try These Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ECalPro a replacement for ETAP?
Not entirely. ETAP is a full power systems analysis suite built for utility-scale grid studies, transient stability, and relay coordination with manufacturer device libraries. ECalPro focuses on the calculations that 95% of electrical engineers need daily: cable sizing, voltage drop, arc flash, short circuit, and maximum demand. If your work is primarily distribution-level design, ECalPro covers it at a fraction of the cost.
How does ECalPro's accuracy compare to ETAP?
Both tools implement the same underlying standards (IEEE 1584-2018, IEC 60909, etc.). ECalPro has 24,000+ automated tests validated against published reference data and cross-checked with manual calculations. The key difference is transparency: ECalPro shows every intermediate step and clause reference, so you can verify the result yourself rather than trusting a black box.
Can I migrate from ETAP to ECalPro?
For cable sizing, voltage drop, arc flash, and short circuit calculations, yes. You can re-run your existing scenarios in ECalPro and compare results. For power flow analysis, transient stability, or relay coordination with specific manufacturer curves, ETAP remains the appropriate tool.
Why is ECalPro so much cheaper than ETAP?
Different scope and delivery model. ECalPro is cloud-native SaaS focused on the most common engineering calculations. There is no desktop software to maintain, no license server infrastructure, and no per-seat dongles. ETAP prices reflect decades of R&D into power systems simulation capabilities that most engineers never use.
Does ECalPro support AS/NZS standards that ETAP does not?
Yes. ECalPro has comprehensive support for AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2017 (cable sizing) and AS/NZS 3000:2018 (wiring rules, maximum demand) with full table lookups, derating factors, and clause references. ETAP's primary focus is IEC and NEC standards.
Try It Free — No Credit Card Required
All 27 calculators. 30+ standards. Full methodology transparency. PDF/XLSX/DOCX reports. Start in seconds.