I personally use PSCAD/EMTDC. The reason being the MOSFETs and IGBTs are better modeled in PSCAD and it does give you flexibility of simulating converters with high switching frequencies. Besides that control layers, modules and interlinking PSCAD with MATLAB can be easily performed.

Other researchers may have different opinion.

I suggest you Psim software

Following

I think the Matlab software is very good program in the simulation and it has a wide library with a lots of tools

ETAP

MATLAB with MATPOWER

I will personally recommend Simulink Power systems tool box available in MATLAB.

Pro:

-Easy to model controller and converters. It is suitable if your research is more about dynamic like stability, fault analysis etc.

-Can interface with other MATLAB toolboxes.

Con:

-Unsuitable if your study is about steady state analysis like loadflow, economic dispatch etc.

In short, if your study concerns stability SIMULINK, PSCAD, DIGSILENT, PSAT is better and if your study is about steady state, MATPOWER, DIGSILENT is better

PSIM

from my viewpoint, PSCAD/EMTDC is the best since its speed is too high compared with MATLAB or any other software. in addition, its accuracy for transient study is great.

I also think PSIM will a good choice as only properly and correct desige model only be successfully simulated with a gurentee of hardware implementation. But also agreed that it will depend on which type of study you want to do. So choice will be based on it. Thanks

MATLAB and PSIM software.