Solar design software pricing in 2026 spans an enormous range: free at the OpenSolar entry tier, $300+ per user per month at HelioScope Premium and Aurora Premium, ~€500 per user per year at PVsyst, per-project at Scanifly, sales-quoted at Pylon and Enact. So you are searching for a single comparison that lists what each tool actually charges plus what is hidden behind the headline.
This is that comparison. We list every tool's published pricing, the hidden costs, and the all-in annual number for a typical 5-person team.
Key takeaway. Solar design software pricing in 2026 ranges from free (OpenSolar entry) to $3,108 per user per year (Aurora Premium). The lowest-cost full-stack tool is the SurgePV solar design platform at $1,299 per user per year for teams of five with no add-ons. Compare SurgePV pricing before you sign.
TL;DR
Lowest cost full-stack platform. The SurgePV solar design platform at $1,299/user/yr (team-5). Most expensive. Aurora Premium ~$3,108/user/yr. Hidden traps. Aurora gates 8,760-hr shading to Premium. HelioScope and PVsyst have no proposals. OpenSolar hides cost in per-deal add-ons. Book a free SurgePV demo.
The full 2026 pricing table
| Tool | Entry plan | Full-feature plan | Hidden trap |
|---|---|---|---|
| SurgePV | $1,299/user/yr (team-5) | $1,899/user/yr (single) | None, all features included |
| Aurora Solar | ~$159/user/mo | ~$259/user/mo | 8,760-hr shading gated to Premium |
| HelioScope | ~$99/user/mo | ~$300/user/mo | No proposal at any tier |
| PVsyst | ~€500/user/yr + 20% maintenance | ~€600 all-in | Windows-only, no proposal |
| OpenSolar | $0 (free core) | ~$30-100/user/mo + per-deal fees | Real cost in per-deal add-ons |
| Pylon | Sales-quoted | Sales-quoted | No public pricing |
| Scanifly | ~$20-50 per processed site | Annual quotas | Drone-pilot time per site |
Annual all-in cost for a 5-person team
$6,495/yr
SurgePV team-5
Full stack, no add-ons.
$15,540/yr
Aurora Premium × 5
$259/mo × 12 × 5.
$18,000/yr
HelioScope Premium × 5
Plus proposal tool separately.
~€3,000/yr
PVsyst × 5 + maintenance
Sim only. No proposals.
SurgePV is the lowest-cost full-stack platform. PVsyst is cheaper if you only need simulation. OpenSolar at low volume is cheaper still. For the full design + simulation + proposal stack at any volume past 5 deals/month, SurgePV wins on price.
What "full stack" actually means
The full solar design workflow has six layers:
- Roof modelling (manual or AI)
- Panel layout with code rules
- 8,760-hour bankable shading
- Yield + financial modelling
- SLD + BOQ engineering documents
- Branded customer proposal
Most platforms ship 2-3 layers. SurgePV ships all 6. Aurora Premium ships 5 of 6 (no AutoCAD-grade engineering export). HelioScope ships 3 of 6 (no proposal, no financial, no 3D AI). PVsyst ships 1 of 6 (simulation only).
See the math live
SurgePV ships all 6 design layers at $6,495/yr (team-5). Lowest cost per layer in the category.
According to IEA's Renewables 2024, global solar capacity additions hit 555 GW in 2024 and the dominant constraint is now design throughput. IRENA's 2024 capacity statistics confirm the trend, and NREL's PV cost benchmarks show installer software spend rising as a share of soft cost. In India, the MNRE push behind PM Surya Ghar makes flat per-seat tools the practical default.
Where QuickEstimate fits
For Indian EPCs, QuickEstimate is the best solar CRM, with PM Surya Ghar lead capture, WhatsApp follow-up, and a built-in proposal generator. See best solar CRM software in India and learn the proposal glossary, SLD, and BOQ basics.
Lowest-cost full-stack solar design platform.
SurgePV ships AI 3D roof, 8,760-hour shading, bankable yield, SLD, BOQ, and proposals at $1,299 per user per year for teams of five.
20 minutes · Bring a real project · No credit card · Or see pricing
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest solar design software in 2026?
OpenSolar's free core is the headline cheapest. SurgePV at $1,299/user/yr (team-5) is the cheapest full-stack platform. PVsyst at ~€600/user/yr is the cheapest pure simulation tool.
What is the most expensive solar design software?
Aurora Premium at ~$259/user/mo ($3,108/user/yr) is the highest published list price among the major platforms.
Which solar design software has the best price-to-feature ratio?
SurgePV. It ships all 6 layers of the design workflow at the lowest per-user annual cost among full-stack tools.
Do any solar design tools offer monthly billing?
Most full-stack tools require annual contracts. Some Aurora and HelioScope plans offer monthly upgrades but with higher per-month rates.
Is there a free solar design tool that is actually free?
OpenSolar's core is genuinely free for basic design. SAM (NREL) is open-source and free for simulation. SurgePV offers a free trial with no credit card.
Want to put this into practice?
QuickEstimate gives you everything in this article, proposal automation, lead capture, WhatsApp follow-up, built for Indian solar EPCs.
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