7 Best Aurora Solar Alternatives for Installers

Aurora Solar alternatives are design and proposal tools you can use instead of Aurora Solar, a cloud platform for home and light commercial solar design. Pylon ranks first at 84.9/100. OpenSolar ranks second at 78.1/100, and its core platform is free.

This guide covers replacements for Aurora’s home and light-commercial tool. Need commercial and industrial (C&I) engineering? See our HelioScope alternatives. Need lender-accepted yield reports (forecasts of how much power a project will make)? See our PVsyst alternatives.

For a ranked list across every segment, see our best solar design software ranking.

Why do installers look for Aurora Solar alternatives?

Aurora Solar is a well-reviewed cloud platform for design, shading and proposals. US home and light-commercial installers use it. Its pricing page and its reviews give installers these reasons to leave:

• Per-seat cost. Basic is USD 159 per user per month, or USD 135 a month billed annually (USD 1,620 a year). That covers one user and 50 projects a month. Every extra designer or rep is another seat, which adds up fast for sales-heavy teams.
• Key features sit on higher tiers. Premium (USD 259 per user per month, or USD 220 billed annually) adds modelling assisted by LIDAR (laser height data), bankable (lender-accepted) shade reports and battery modelling. Enterprise is custom-priced per project. It adds plan sets (permit drawing packages), engineering stamps, drone mapping, the API and unlimited users.
• No free entry point. There is no free plan and no free trial we could confirm. On Basic, on-demand site models cost from USD 9.99 each.
• North America focus. The pricing page is in US dollars and written for North America. Aurora also sends large C&I and utility jobs to its separate HelioScope tool.
• Review complaints. Capterra reviewers say proposal and financial features are limited for the cost. A G2 reviewer says it links poorly with other software. Older Capterra reviews (2019) also report heavy memory use on weak machines.

Aurora Solar at a glance

Source: Aurora Solar pricing, checked October 2026. Read our full Aurora Solar review.

Quick picks

✓ Verified on the company’s own pricing page. ◐ Published by the company outside its pricing page (help centre, store or press release). ? We could not read the company’s pricing page, so the figure is not confirmed. Prices checked October 2026.

Quote only means the company shows no public price. You ask it for a quote.

How the 7 tools scored

• Use-case fit 35%
• User reviews 20%
• Pricing 15%
• Ease of use 10%
• Support 10%
• Momentum 10%

Each bar shows the weighted score out of 100.

Sub-scores at a glance (0-10)

A 5.0 on reviews, ease, support or momentum is our neutral score. We use it when public evidence is thin. It is not a judgement.

How did we choose and score these Aurora Solar alternatives?

How the score is weighted

• Use-case fit 35%
• User reviews 20%
• Pricing 15%
• Ease of use 10%
• Support 10%
• Momentum 10%

We scored 12 tools from 22 to 25 October 2026 and ranked the top 7. The other five are under Also considered. This was desk research using company docs, pricing pages, release notes and user reviews. We did not test any tool hands-on. Aurora itself is not ranked. Scores weigh this page’s job, so a tool can score differently on other pages.

• Use-case fit (35%): How well a tool does this page’s job, which is Aurora’s job. That means home and light-commercial design, shading, storage, proposals and finance.
• User reviews (20%): G2 and Capterra ratings. Ratings based on only a few reviews count for less. Under eight reviews, this criterion gets a middle score of 5 out of 10.
• Pricing (15%): Published prices and free entry points beat quote-only.
• Ease of use, support and momentum (10% each): Review sub-scores and dated releases. A tool with no evidence gets a middle score of 5 out of 10.

PVsyst, SAM and Enerflo were not scored, for the reasons under Also considered. Third-party ratings are context only. We never use them in rating markup (the code that shows star ratings in search results).

SurgePV is not part of this ranking. Read the full method.

1. Pylon: best for small and mid installers who want per-project pricing

Best for: Residential and small commercial installers in the UK, Australia and Ireland who want to stop paying per seat. Score: 84.9/100.

vs Aurora Solar: Pylon bills per job with unlimited users. Aurora bills per user per month (USD 159 on Basic), with a 50-project monthly cap.

What it is: Pylon is a design and proposal tool with an optional solar CRM (software that tracks customers and sales). A Sydney firm makes it for small and mid-sized installers. There is no monthly minimum.

Why we picked it: It scored highest of the 12 tools we checked. It does Aurora’s core job at a published per-project price. That job covers design, batteries, proposals and SLDs (single-line diagrams). Capterra reviewers rate its support 4.9/5.

Key features:

• Solar and battery design on aerial images.
• Editable single-line diagrams (July 2026 update).
• Web and PDF proposals with eSignature.
• MCS (UK certification scheme) reports.
• STC/PDRS (Australian incentive schemes) support.

Pricing: Standard costs GBP 4 per project (up to 30 kW DC). Pro costs GBP 10 per project (custom load profiles, commercial sizes from 99 kW). Enterprise is quote only. The CRM add-on starts from GBP 49 per user per month. You get five free Standard credits with no card. The Irish page shows the same plans in EUR (EUR 4 and EUR 10 per project). Checked October 2026 on the Pylon UK pricing page.

Pros (from user reviews):

• A small team pays only for the jobs it designs, which keeps the cost per job low (Capterra).
• Most users find the layout friendly and the manual clear, though some say advanced features take time to learn (Capterra, G2).
• Proposals are detailed enough to send to homeowners as they are (G2).

Cons (from reviews and our research):

• Aerial image quality varies by area, and the Nearmap link is patchy (Capterra).
• Setting up a customer’s usage profile is awkward (Capterra).
• Prices are published only for the UK (GBP) and Ireland (EUR), so US and Australian buyers must ask.

Reviews: Capterra 4.6/5 (25 reviews, with customer service 4.9/5) and G2 4.3/5 (2 reviews), checked October 2026.

What we could not confirm: US-dollar and Australian-dollar prices, and which plan covers systems between 30 and 99 kW.

Read our full Pylon review or our Pylon alternatives.

getpylon.com

2. OpenSolar: best free Aurora Solar alternative

Best for: Home and small commercial installers who want design and proposals with no licence fee. Score: 78.1/100.

vs Aurora Solar: It is free instead of USD 159 per user per month, but it has 3 G2 reviews against Aurora’s 121.

What it is: OpenSolar is a free design, proposal and sales platform from OpenSolar Inc. Finance and hardware partners, paid imagery and a distributor shop fund it. It launched OS 3.0 in September 2025.

Why we picked it: It matches Pylon on fit, with design, shading, proposals, finance and permit links. The core platform also costs nothing.

Key features:

• Free 3D and 2D rooftop design with shading.
• AI design in OS 3.0.
• Web proposals with e-signature and payment collection.
• Integrated finance options and a distributor hardware shop.
• Permit links, including SolarAPP+.

Pricing: The core platform is free, and the company says it "will always be free for you to use". Since 16 April 2026, API Access (usage-based, 30-day free trial) is paid. So are the Xero and QuickBooks connectors (monthly per organisation). Rates are not published. Premium images are optional and paid. Checked October 2026 on the OpenSolar notice.

Pros (from reviews and our research):

• Designers can add and move panels quickly (G2).
• Reps can use the interactive app in front of the customer (G2).
• You can add the whole team at no cost, as the company says the free core has unlimited users.

Cons (from user reviews):

• Panel layouts lack auto tweaks, so an engineer still has to check them (G2).
• The interface feels outdated (G2).
• It is "not completely free", since some add-ons cost extra (G2).

Reviews: G2 4.8/5 (3 reviews), checked October 2026. We found no Capterra listing. That is too few reviews to judge sentiment.

What we could not confirm: API and connector fee amounts, and shading and storage depth beyond the company’s marketing pages.

Read our full OpenSolar review or our OpenSolar alternatives.

opensolar.com

3. Arka 360: best for India, and for unlimited projects at Aurora’s entry price

Best for: Indian installers, and US installers who outgrow Aurora Basic’s project cap. Score: 71.8/100.

vs Aurora Solar: The international-list Basic costs the same USD 159 a month as Aurora Basic. It includes unlimited home and commercial projects, against Aurora’s 50 a month.

What it is: Arka 360, formerly The Solar Labs, is a cloud design, proposal and light CRM platform. It has offices in Bengaluru and Allen, Texas. Residential and commercial installers use it, mostly in India, and it also sells in the US.

Why we picked it: It has the most user reviews of any ranked alternative, with 137 on G2. Reviewers give high marks for ease of use and support. It covers design, stringing (how panels wire into inverters), proposals and SLDs.

Key features:

• 3D rooftop and ground-mount design with shading.
• Stringing for micro-inverters and optimisers.
• Proposals, generation reports and a lead CRM add-on.
• AI design generation and permitting checks.
• SLD export, optimiser design and API on Premium.

Pricing: The international-list Basic costs USD 159/month or USD 1,699/year. Premium costs USD 199/month or USD 1,999/year. Enterprise costs USD 999/month. India starts from INR 46,000 a year plus 18% GST, though the page showed two conflicting INR price sets. There is also an INR 10,000 onboarding fee that may not apply in the US. Checked October 2026 on the Arka 360 pricing page. Demo only.

Pros (from user reviews):

• New staff pick it up fast: 14 G2 reviewers call it very easy to use.
• Shade analysis and estimates are good enough to quote from.
• 3D views help close deals, and support staff respond with care.

Cons (from user reviews):

• It lags on projects of 3 MWp and above.
• Some features are missing, and one reviewer found the structure options confusing.
• Multi-user limits get in the way for bigger teams.

Reviews: G2 4.3/5 (137 reviews), with ease of use 8.5/10 and support 9.2/10, checked October 2026.

Read our full Arka 360 review or our Arka 360 alternatives.

arka360.com

4. PV*SOL premium: best for European self-consumption design on desktop

Best for: European installers who model batteries, heat pumps and EV charging. Score: 71.5/100.

vs Aurora Solar: A named-user desktop licence (EUR 845 a year) instead of a cloud seat. It has deeper heat-pump and EV modelling, but no listed financing or e-signature.

What it is: PV*SOL premium is desktop 3D design and simulation software from Valentin Software in Germany. It focuses on load and tariff modelling. Its buyers are mostly European installers and planners. Self-consumption means the share of the solar power a building uses itself.

Why we picked it: It is the strongest pick here for European work, with load, battery, heat pump and EV modelling built in. Its prices are published in EUR, so you can budget before a demo.

Key features:

• 3D design with detailed shading.
• Yield simulation on Meteonorm 9 data.
• AC- and DC-coupled batteries.
• Heat pump and EV loads with per-consumer tariffs.

Pricing: EUR 845 per year per named user plus VAT, or EUR 285 for three months. 2D PV*SOL costs EUR 585 a year. Checked October 2026 in the Valentin shop. 30-day trial.

Pros (from our research):

• You can buy three months for a busy season instead of a full year.
• Users find it easy to learn (G2 ease of use 8.2/10, 10 reviews).
• It is kept current: the 2026 version came out on 24 November 2025.

Cons (from our research):

• It runs on a desktop, so reps cannot design in a browser on site.
• Each named user needs a licence, priced in EUR plus VAT.
• There is no financing marketplace or e-signature for sales.

Reviews: G2 4.2/5 (12 reviews), checked October 2026. There is too little review text to summarise.

What we could not confirm: Mac support and stringing or SLD depth.

Read our full PV*SOL premium review or our PV*SOL alternatives.

valentin-software.com

5. Solargraf: best for US permit packages on every plan

Best for: US home installers who want design, proposals, financing and plan sets in one plan. Score: 70.6/100.

vs Aurora Solar: Permit-ready SLDs, three-line diagrams and plan sets come on every plan, while Aurora keeps plan sets on Enterprise. Its reviews trail Aurora’s.

What it is: Solargraf is Enphase’s all-in-one design, proposal, financing and permitting platform. Enphase acquired it with Sofdesk in 2021. It sells mainly to US and Canadian installers. For them it is the closest like-for-like swap for Aurora on this list.

Why we picked it: It is the only tool to score 10 out of 10 for fit, matching all of Aurora’s job, plan sets included. It ranks fifth because its Capterra reviews are weak (3.2/5).

Key features:

• Auto roofline and obstacle detection.
• Shading that the company says NREL and NYSERDA validated.
• Plan sets to NEC 2026 (the US electrical code).
• A database of 14,000+ AHJs (local permit offices).
• Proposals with Concert, LightReach and EnFin financing.

Pricing: Annual bundles start with Starter at USD 2,799 (240 projects, 2 users). Small Business costs USD 4,799 (480, 4 users) and Teams costs USD 6,399 (720, 6 users). Enterprise costs USD 12,999 (1,500 projects, unlimited users, API). Extra projects cost USD 9-11, and extra users USD 960-1,440. Checked October 2026 on the Solargraf pricing page. No trial stated.

Pros (from user reviews):

• Good shading and 3D tools, and design gets easy once past an early learning curve.
• One tool covers every step from proposal to permit.
• Proposals and contracts are easy for homeowners to follow.

Cons (from user reviews):

• It can crash, and 3D models sometimes pull wrong property data.
• Reviewers find it expensive.
• Support waits have grown longer.

Reviews: Capterra 3.2/5 (15 reviews, with ease 3.7/5 and support 3.4/5), checked October 2026. Reviewers like the scope but not the stability.

Read our full Solargraf review or our Solargraf alternatives.

6. Solo: best for US residential sales organisations

Best for: Dealers and installers with large residential sales teams. Score: 66.0/100.

vs Aurora Solar: Built around rep speed and lender checks, with unlimited users. Aurora gives designers more modelling control and publishes prices.

What it is: Solo is an AI-assisted design, proposal and financing platform from Lehi, Utah, for US home solar dealers and installers. It bought SolarNexus in 2023 and now also sells roofing, HVAC and generator "Studios".

Why we picked it: It covers design, shading, proposals and lender checks well, with monthly release notes through April 2026. It ranks lower because prices are not published and reviews are few.

Key features:

• AI auto-design with obstacle detection and setbacks.
• Financing marketplace (Sungage, GoodLeap, LightReach, Dividend).
• Validation checks for lender, utility and AHJ rules.
• CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Enerflo) and an open API.

Pricing: Quote only, "based on usage, support level, and scale". Unlimited users and concierge onboarding are included. Checked October 2026 on the Solo pricing page. Demo required.

Pros (from reviews and our research):

• New reps get up to speed quickly (Capterra review, December 2025).
• New features ship often, with dated monthly release notes through April 2026.
• Growing teams add reps at no extra seat cost, with concierge onboarding included.

Cons (from reviews and our research):

• Reps can change too many settings, which makes quality control harder (same Capterra review).
• Lender and utility checks cover the US only.
• There is no published price, so you need a sales call to budget.

Reviews: G2 4.6/5 (12 reviews), checked October 2026. The review text sits behind a login.

Read our full Solo review or our Solo alternatives.

gosolo.io

7. Sunbase (Design module): best for design inside a solar CRM

Best for: US residential sales teams who mainly need CRM and project tracking. Score: 58.8/100.

vs Aurora Solar: Less design depth, but CRM, project management and inventory in one per-user suite.

What it is: The Sunbase design module comes from Sunbase Data and sits inside its solar CRM suite. It covers remote roof measuring, layout, shading and output estimates. These feed proposals and e-sign contracts. It is not sold on its own.

Why we picked it: It is the only ranked option where design sits inside a full solar CRM, with an entry price on show. Thin reviews and less design depth keep it seventh.

Key features:

• Roof measurement and array layout on imagery.
• Shading and roof-plane solar access.
• Production estimates.
• Bundled CRM, project and inventory modules.

Pricing: "Plans start from USD 59 per user per month", and the rest is custom-quoted. There is no long-term contract on the design product. Checked October 2026 on the Sunbase pricing page.

Pros (from reviews and our research):

• You can see the entry price (USD 59 per user per month) before a sales call.
• Automated tasks save office time (suite-level Capterra review).
• You can leave without a long-term contract on the design product.

Cons (from reviews and our research):

• You cannot buy the design module alone, only with the CRM suite.
• Admin setup is hard without technical skills (same review).
• One suite-wide review is too little to judge the design tool.

Reviews: Capterra 4.0/5 (1 review, whole suite), checked October 2026.

What we could not confirm: 3D modelling, auto-design and SLD output.

Read our full Sunbase review or our Sunbase alternatives.

sunbasedata.com

How do the 7 Aurora Solar alternatives compare?

This table shows what changes when you leave Aurora Solar.

Also considered

• Scanifly: Scored 57.9/100. It builds drone-based 3D site models, but it is quote only, documents no financing proposals and has three G2 reviews.
• HelioScope: Scored 57.7/100. It is Aurora Solar Inc.’s own commercial tool for C&I EPCs, so switching to it is not a move away from Aurora Solar Inc. See our HelioScope alternatives.
• SolarEdge Designer: Scored 55.3/100. It was free per SolarEdge’s 2018 press release, but works around one inverter brand and its current status is not confirmed. See our SolarEdge Designer alternatives.
• Enact (Design & Proposals): Scored 53.3/100. It adds AutoCAD engineering through PVCAD after buying PVComplete on 13 January 2026, but has no confirmed price and no user reviews.
• EasySolar: Scored 43.5/100. This Polish offer app may be dormant. We could not reach its site, and its Android app was last updated in 2016.
• Enerflo: A sales workflow layer that connects to Aurora rather than replacing it. See our Enerflo alternatives.
• PVsyst and SAM: Yield and project-finance tools for C&I and utility jobs. They are not home design-and-sales tools. See our PVsyst alternatives page.

How do you choose an Aurora Solar alternative?

• If seat costs are your problem and you work in the UK, Australia or Ireland, pick Pylon. You pay per project and add users free.
• If you want to stop paying a licence fee, pick OpenSolar. Ask about API and accounting-connector fees first.
• If you are in India, or you exceed Aurora Basic’s 50 projects a month, pick Arka 360.
• If you need permit plan sets without moving to an enterprise contract, pick Solargraf.
• If you run a large US sales organisation on dealer financing, shortlist Solo.
• If you design in Europe around heat pumps, EVs and batteries, pick PV*SOL premium.
• If you fly drones for site surveys, look at Scanifly (also considered).
• If your work has grown into C&I, HelioScope (also considered) is Aurora’s own commercial tool.

For wider shortlists, see our best solar design software ranking and our residential design software ranking. Small installers can read our guide to residential solar design software. You can also compare design and proposal software and free solar design software.

Want more choices? Browse every tool we checked in our design and simulation category.

Aurora Solar alternatives FAQs

Sources

Checked 22 to 25 October 2026.

• Aurora Solar: pricing, G2, Capterra, G2 review, What’s New
• Pylon: UK pricing, Capterra, G2, July 2026 update
• OpenSolar: pricing notice, free platform, news, G2
• Arka 360: pricing, G2, G2 comparison
• PV*SOL premium: shop, 2026 release, G2
• Solargraf: pricing, Capterra, Q2 2026 highlights
• Solo: pricing, integrations, G2, Capterra review, April 2026 release notes
• Sunbase: pricing, Capterra
• Scanifly: site, G2
• HelioScope: pricing, G2
• SolarEdge Designer: press release (2018)
• Enact: Solar Power World (January 2026), G2
• EasySolar: Apptopia

Last updated 28 October 2026. Next scheduled review: 23 January 2027.