Vibration + power monitoring with the industry's most SMB-friendly terms
Weighted average across 16 categories
Sense is the rare machine monitoring platform that genuinely serves the full-cycle SMB need — combining vibration and power monitoring in a single system, at a price point that doesn't require a capital committee sign-off. Hardware starts at $1,200 (purchased, depreciable) and software runs $70/month per workstation with no contract, no minimum order, and unlimited users.
The white-glove onboarding at no cost is a meaningful differentiator: most SMBs lack in-house IIoT expertise, and having expert setup included removes the most common deployment barrier. Predictive maintenance is native, the API is open, and both legacy and modern equipment are supported — because the system reads vibration and power consumption rather than requiring machine-native protocols.
The only structural gap is PLC integration. Sense does not natively read PLC data, which limits access to machine-specific variables available on newer CNC equipment. For most SMB environments running mixed or aging equipment, this is not a blocking issue.
Platform fit rated by sector and use case.
Purpose-built for smaller manufacturing operations. No minimum, no contract, owned hardware, and white-glove onboarding create a zero-friction entry point.
Monitors via vibration and power consumption — any machine that moves or consumes electricity is compatible, from 1960s lathes to modern machining centers.
Native predictive maintenance with vibration analysis flags bearing wear, imbalance, and electrical anomalies before failure.
Shops needing cycle-level CNC data or native Fanuc/Siemens protocol integration should evaluate PLC-connected alternatives.
| Feature | Sense | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | ||
Vibration Monitoring Continuous vibration analysis |
Yes | Core capability; detects bearing wear, imbalance, looseness, resonance |
Power Monitoring Electrical current monitoring |
Yes | Monitors consumption patterns for motor health and machine state |
PLC Integration Native PLC data |
No | Sensor-based approach bypasses PLC entirely |
Predictive Maintenance AI-powered fault detection |
Yes | Vibration and power patterns used to predict failure modes |
| Commercial Terms | ||
Hardware Price Upfront cost |
$1,200 one-time | Purchased hardware; depreciable asset on balance sheet |
Software Price Monthly subscription |
$70/mo/workstation | Unlimited users per workstation; no per-seat fees |
Contract Length Required commitment |
None required | Flexible month-to-month; no lock-in |
Hardware Ownership Own vs. lease |
Own & Depreciate | Customer owns hardware; eligible for Section 179 deduction |
User Accounts Seat pricing |
Unlimited at no cost | All team members access the platform with no per-seat fees |
Onboarding Setup cost |
Free white-glove | Expert onboarding included at no additional cost |
Evaluated from the frontline technician, plant manager, and operations director perspective.
Vibration data surfaces machine health issues before they require reactive intervention. Alerts are specific enough to guide targeted repairs.
Plant managers gain OEE tracking and uptime reporting backed by dual-sensor data. Unlimited user model means all stakeholders share data without per-seat cost escalation.
Owned hardware with depreciable value, no contract commitment, no minimum order, and unlimited users. The combination of vibration and power monitoring eliminates need for two separate tools.