Best Solar Software 2026
Design, proposals, and project management for solar installers.
Aurora Solar
Solar design and sales platform.
OpenSolar
Free solar design software.
Scoop Solar
Project management for solar.
PVBid
Commercial solar estimating.
What is Solar Software?
Solar software serves the residential and commercial solar industry with tools for system design, proposal generation, permitting, project management, and operations monitoring. Design tools use satellite imagery, LiDAR data, and shade analysis to create accurate solar array layouts with energy production estimates. Proposal generators create professional sales presentations with financial analysis—payback periods, savings calculations, financing options, and incentive impacts. Permitting software automates the preparation of interconnection applications and building permit documents. Project management tracks installations from contract through inspection and utility approval. Operations and maintenance platforms monitor installed systems for performance issues, manage service tickets, and ensure warranty compliance. CRM features manage the solar sales pipeline from lead generation through installation.
Key Features to Look For
Solar Design
Creates array layouts using satellite imagery with shade analysis and production modeling.
Proposal Generation
Builds professional sales proposals with financial analysis and financing options.
Permitting Automation
Generates permit applications, plan sets, and interconnection documents.
Project Management
Tracks installations through sales, permitting, installation, inspection, and activation.
Monitoring & O&M
Monitors system performance, detects issues, and manages maintenance tickets.
Sales CRM
Manages leads, appointments, proposals, and the complete solar sales pipeline.
How Much Does Solar Cost?
Solar design tools: Aurora Solar at $150–$350/user/month (industry leader), Helioscope at $95/user/month. Proposal tools: OpenSolar (free design and proposals), Solo (Enphase, free). CRM: SolarNexus at $3,000–$6,000/year, Zoho or Salesforce with solar customization. Permitting: SolarAPP+ (free for jurisdictions). Monitoring: Enphase Enlighten (free with Enphase hardware), SolarEdge monitoring (included). Project management: Scoop Solar at $100+/user/month. Full software stacks for mid-size installers run $300–$800/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Evaluate Solar
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