Comparison
Ignition vs VTScada
Ignition (Inductive Automation) is listed as SCADA, HMI, IIoT; VTScada (Trihedral) as SCADA, HMI. No direct integration between them is listed. Last reviewed October 19, 2026.
Ignition
Inductive Automation · 13 integrations
VTScada
Trihedral · 0 integrations
Head-to-head
Ignition vs VTScada: key differences
Every row cites the vendor's own pages
Both publish their prices and sell perpetual licenses, but they count differently. Ignition is licensed per server with unlimited tags and clients, and you add modules. VTScada is licensed per installed PC by I/O tag count, with historian, alarm management and reporting built into one install. VTScada's free tier (VTScadaLIGHT) covers 50 I/O; Ignition offers a full-featured trial and a non-commercial Maker Edition.
| Topic | Ignition | VTScada |
|---|---|---|
| What you license[1, 9, 10] | One license per server; add modules or suites as needed. | One license per installed PC (Runtime or Development Runtime), priced by I/O tag count. |
| Tags[3, 9, 10] | Unlimited tags per server license. | Tag bands from 1,000 up to 2,500,000 I/O tags; counts include all applications on the PC. |
| Thin / web clients[3, 9, 10] | Unlimited clients per server license. | Thin clients licensed per concurrent user (single, 5-pack or unlimited options). |
| One-time or subscription[1, 9] | Standard licenses are perpetual (one-time); Cloud Edition is usage-based. | License prices are one-time; support and upgrades are optional yearly plans. |
| Public pricing[2, 9] | Yes, full public price list (platform from US$1,200). | Yes, US price list and bundles published as a PDF; enterprise list (100,000+ I/O) on request. |
| What's in the base product[2, 7, 10] | Platform plus modules, e.g. Perspective (US$11,225), Reporting, Historian and Alarm Notification suites. | HMI, historian, ISA 18.2 alarm management and reports in one install; alarm notifications are an option priced by tag count; version control with Development Runtime. |
| Server OS[5, 10] | Windows, macOS and Linux. | Windows PC, laptop or panel PC per license. |
| Connectivity[4, 7, 12] | Built on SQL, Python, OPC UA and MQTT. | 100+ drivers (Modbus, DNP3, Siemens S7, Rockwell CIP/ENIP...); MQTT 3.1.1 + Sparkplug B and OPC UA client since v12. |
| Free options[5, 6, 11] | Fully functional trial; free Maker Edition (non-commercial). | VTScadaLIGHT free up to 50 I/O on up to 10 PCs; 90-day trial. |
Consider Ignition when…
- You want unlimited tags and clients from one server, and to grow by adding modules.
- Your servers run Linux or macOS, or you want a usage-billed cloud option (Ignition Cloud Edition).
Consider VTScada when…
- You want historian, alarm management and reporting in one install, priced by tag count.
- Your systems are in water, power or oil & gas telemetry, where its RTU and radio drivers (DNP3, MDS, Motorola ACE) are built in.
“Consider when” points are PlantWired's editorial reading of the sourced facts above, not vendor claims or a recommendation.
Directory listing side by side
| Attribute | Ignition | VTScada |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Inductive Automation | Trihedral |
| Categories | SCADA, HMI, IIoT | SCADA, HMI |
| Ecosystems | Ignition | Vendor-neutral |
| Pricing model | Per-server license, unlimited tags | One-time per-PC license by I/O tag count; free up to 50 I/O |
| Listed integrations | 13 | 0 |
| Website | https://inductiveautomation.com | https://www.vtscada.com |
| Direct link | No direct integration listed | |
Shared integrations
None listed yet.
Sources
- [1]Inductive Automation: Ignition pricing: https://inductiveautomation.com/pricing/ignition
- [2]Inductive Automation: full price list: https://inductiveautomation.com/pricing/list
- [3]Inductive Automation: Ignition overview: https://inductiveautomation.com/ignition/
- [4]Inductive Automation: Universal Platform: https://inductiveautomation.com/ignition/platform
- [5]Inductive Automation: free trial download: https://inductiveautomation.com/downloads/
- [6]Inductive Automation: Ignition Maker Edition: https://inductiveautomation.com/ignition/maker-edition
- [7]VTScada by Trihedral: home page: https://www.vtscada.com/
- [8]VTScada: About Trihedral: https://www.vtscada.com/about-trihedral/
- [9]VTScada: SCADA software pricing: https://www.vtscada.com/scada-software-pricing/
- [10]VTScada: software licensing: https://www.vtscada.com/software-licensing/
- [11]VTScada: VTScadaLIGHT free SCADA software: https://www.vtscada.com/free-scada-software/
- [12]VTScada: Communication Driver Library 12.1 (datasheet): https://www.vtscada.com/documents/datasheets/Datasheet-VTScada-12-1-DriverList.pdf
- Checked October 19, 2026. Prices are vendor list prices as shown on that date and may change.
- Ignition: official site https://inductiveautomation.com
- VTScada: official site https://www.vtscada.com
- Integration links: PlantWired editorial directory (methodology)
See everything that works with Ignition or VTScada.
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Editorial comparison based on public information. Not a recommendation; verify specifics with each vendor.