Ignition SCADA vs Schneider SCADA - Comparison Sheet
Licensing Model
Ignition SCADA: Unlimited tags, clients, and connections per server (perpetual or subscription-based)
Schneider SCADA: Tag-/client-/point-based licensing (can become costly as scale increases)
Why Ignition Wins: Cost-effective scalability without hidden charges
Platform & Architecture
Ignition SCADA: 100% web-based, cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS), modular
Schneider SCADA: Primarily Windows-based, desktop-heavy
Why Ignition Wins: Flexible deployment across systems and hardware
Web & Mobile Access
Ignition SCADA: Native HTML5 web clients, mobile-responsive views (Perspective Module)
Schneider SCADA: Limited or additional modules needed for mobile/web access
Why Ignition Wins: Built-in modern mobile/web-ready interface
Modularity & Customization
Ignition SCADA: Highly modular, scriptable in Python, easily extendable
Schneider SCADA: Less flexibility, proprietary scripting, limited modularity
Why Ignition Wins: Greater customization, tailored solutions
Integration with IT/OT
Ignition SCADA: Strong support for MQTT, REST APIs, OPC UA, SQL, MES, and ERP integration
Schneider SCADA: Moderate, often needs additional layers or licenses
Why Ignition Wins: Better for modern IT/OT convergence and digital transformation
Cloud & Edge Deployment
Ignition SCADA: Supports edge gateways, cloud hosting, Docker/Kubernetes
Schneider SCADA: Less native cloud support, mostly on-premise focused
Why Ignition Wins: Cloud-ready and future-proof architecture
Performance & Speed
Ignition SCADA: Optimized for high-speed data, real-time streaming, historian integrations
Schneider SCADA: Performs well but can be resource-intensive at scale
Why Ignition Wins: Faster and more efficient with large data sets
User Interface / UX
Ignition SCADA: Modern UI development tools (Perspective, Vision modules)
Schneider SCADA: Older UI framework, not always responsive or modern
Why Ignition Wins: Modern, intuitive, responsive UIs
Third-party Ecosystem
Ignition SCADA: Open platform with active third-party module development
Schneider SCADA: Limited and closed ecosystem
Why Ignition Wins: Better extensibility and support community
Vendor Lock-in
Ignition SCADA: Open and vendor-neutral
Schneider SCADA: More closed, often tied to Schneider ecosystem
Why Ignition Wins: Greater freedom to integrate other systems
Maintenance & Upgrades
Ignition SCADA: Seamless updates via Ignition Gateway, minimal downtime
Schneider SCADA: May involve downtime and manual patching
Why Ignition Wins: Lower maintenance cost and better uptime
Security Features
Ignition SCADA: Role-based access, SSO, SSL/TLS, federated identity support
Schneider SCADA: Good security, but more traditional
Why Ignition Wins: More flexible and modern security options
MES Integration
Ignition SCADA: Native MES modules (Sepasoft) tightly integrated
Schneider SCADA: MES integration usually via 3rd party or additional platforms
Why Ignition Wins: Easier transition to full digital manufacturing
Community & Support
Ignition SCADA: Strong open community, extensive documentation, global integrator network
Schneider SCADA: Support available but more corporate/tiered
Why Ignition Wins: More accessible community-driven innovation
Cost Over Time
Ignition SCADA: Low total cost of ownership, predictable growth
Schneider SCADA: Increasing cost with tags/users/features
Why Ignition Wins: Long-term cost benefits with scalability
