Solar design software is the secret weapon for solar professionals who want to create standout designs, lower operational costs, and stay ahead of industry regulations. By adding solar software to your company’s tech stack, you can create accurate layouts, streamline sales processes, and improve customer presentations—ultimately helping you sell more PV systems.
But what’s the best solar design software available today? That’s exactly what we’ll uncover in this article.
Keep reading to learn what solar design software is, how it supports solar development, and which solutions are ideal for your business.
What is Solar Design Software?
Solar design software is specialized design software that enables solar companies to accurately plan and optimize photovoltaic (PV) systems for homeowners and commercial clients. It helps solar professionals simulate different system layouts, calculate real-time energy production, analyze shading effects on panels, and forecast potential savings. Additionally, high-quality solar software can significantly boost your sales process by generating compelling proposals that clearly demonstrate value to prospective customers.
While every solar design software solution offers unique features, most include core capabilities such as 3D modeling, automated design tools, shading analysis, weather data integration, and detailed financial analysis. These features collectively help installers create precise proposals that clearly communicate system benefits to potential customers.
4 Benefits of Solar Design Software
Before listing the top 10 solar design applications, let’s explore five reasons that it is such a valuable investment.
1. Faster design turnaround times
As the name suggests, the right solar design software enables your company to quickly and efficiently create optimized solar system layouts.
For example, you can use these solutions to rapidly analyze homes or commercial properties for solar viability. Additionally, you can accurately measure rooftops remotely, minimizing physical site visits for your installation team. Both capabilities help your team complete projects—and close sales—in significantly less time.
2. Reduction in costs and material wastage
Most solar software solutions are SaaS products, requiring a monthly or yearly subscription fee. Even so, they ultimately save your company money by reducing the man-hours required to complete solar projects.
Because the designs you create are highly accurate, your installation team can clearly identify exactly where panels should be placed, enabling them to complete installs faster and with fewer mistakes. Additionally, precise layouts help reduce material wastage and unnecessary expenses. All these factors translate into substantial cost savings—even when accounting for the price of the software.
3. Better sales enablement
Your customers want assurance that the solar system you install on their homes or businesses will save them money and provide reliable energy. But they also want to visualize exactly how the finished project will look before they commit to buying.
Solar design software allows you to create detailed visualizations of solar projects for customers, making it easier for your sales team to sell effectively and close deals faster. Additionally, these tools shorten the length of your sales cycle by helping teams track customer interactions, manage follow-up tasks efficiently, and ensure no opportunities slip through the cracks.
4. Compliance with regulatory requirements and standards
Last but not least, solar design software helps you meet all relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards. Use these tools to build compliant systems that ensure customer safety and satisfaction while protecting your business from costly fines, lawsuits, and other compliance-related expenses.
10 Best Solar Design Software Tools in 2025
The solar design software industry continues to evolve rapidly, with innovative solutions helping solar professionals optimize their workflows and create more accurate solar designs. These platforms enable companies to develop efficient solar systems, reduce costs, and streamline the entire process from initial lead capture to final install.
To help you find the best solution, we’ve compiled a list of the most highly-rated solar design software applications available in 2025, according to G2 reviews, arranged in alphabetical order. Pricing information for each tool is accurate as of the publication date.
- ARKA 360
- Aurora Solar
- HelioScope
- OpenSolar
- Pylon
- PV*SOL
- PVcase Ground Mount/Roof Mount
- PVsyst
- RatedPower
- Solargraf
1. ARKA 360
ARKA 360 provides a versatile solar software and services platform specifically tailored for solar installers, offering comprehensive tools to streamline the entire solar business operation and optimize system layouts for both homeowners and commercial clients.
Key features:
- AI-assisted panel placement for optimized system layouts with enhanced accuracy
- Detailed 3D modeling with comprehensive visualization options to help sell solar to potential customers
- Advanced shading analysis and real-time performance simulation
- NEM 3.0 support for compliance with current regulations in the solar industry
- Integrated storage solution design capabilities for complete energy systems
- Automated design tools with permit package generation and professional engineer stamps
Best for: Solar installation companies focusing on residential and commercial projects that need to optimize both their design processes and overall business operations while reducing costs.
Pricing: Three-tier structure with options for various business needs.
G2 rating: 4.4 stars / 85 reviews
2. Aurora Solar
G2 rating: 4.6 stars / 79 reviews
Aurora Solar has established itself as a premier cloud-based solar design platform, helping solar professionals transform the entire solar sales and delivery process with its comprehensive feature set and user-friendly interface.
Key features:
- Advanced solar system design for both residential and commercial projects with automated design capabilities
- Remote site assessment tools eliminating the need for physical visits, reducing company costs
- Sophisticated 3D modeling and visualization tools to create compelling solar designs
- Detailed financial analysis with integrated financing options to help sell systems to homeowners
- Professional proposal generation functionality for enhanced lead capture
- E-signature contract capabilities for streamlined sales closing
Best for: Solar installers and contractors seeking an end-to-end solution that covers every aspect of the solar sales process from initial design through proposal generation to final install.
Pricing: Subscription-based model with various tiers depending on business size and requirements.
G2 rating: 4.7 stars / 117 reviews
3. HelioScope
HelioScope delivers a sophisticated web-based platform that emphasizes simplicity without sacrificing analytical power, making complex system design and energy simulations accessible to solar professionals of varying expertise levels.
Key features:
- 3D design engine with intuitive interface for quick system layouts and panel placement
- Detailed energy yield simulation for accurate performance modeling in real time
- Comprehensive financial calculator for project economics and system costs
- Drag-and-drop proposal editor to create professional client presentations
- Robust shading analysis capabilities for layout optimization
- Streamlined workflow from solar design to proposal to help sell more systems
Best for: Commercial solar project developers and engineers who need bankable designs with accurate performance predictions and professional presentation capabilities for solar development projects.
Pricing: Basic Plan $159/month, Pro Plan at $259/month, Enterprise tier available.
G2 rating: 4.5 stars / 19 reviews
4. OpenSolar
OpenSolar stands out as a free-to-use solar design software platform that doesn’t compromise on functionality or quality, providing comprehensive tools without charging licensing fees or imposing design limitations, allowing companies to reduce costs while maximizing sales.
Key features:
- High-resolution 3D modeling with detailed visualization options for accurate solar designs
- Comprehensive shading analysis and performance simulation for optimal panel placement
- Integrated customer management tools for streamlined lead capture and workflows
- Customizable proposal generation capabilities to help sell solar to homeowners
- Financial analysis with incentive calculation functionality to demonstrate system value
- Cloud-based platform enabling team collaboration and support
Best for: Small to mid-sized solar companies seeking a cost-effective yet powerful design software solution with particular emphasis on sales and customer engagement for both residential and commercial solar development.
Pricing: Free platform with no licensing fees, seat limits, or design caps.
G2 rating: 4.6 stars / 3 reviews
5. Pylon
Pylon combines comprehensive solar design functionality with CRM capabilities, creating a unified platform for growing solar businesses that need to manage both technical systems and customer relationship aspects throughout the solar development process.
Key features:
- 3D modeling with high-resolution imagery to create detailed solar designs without monthly fees
- Advanced shading analysis through proprietary algorithms for optimal panel placement
- Load profile and interval data analysis tools for system optimization
- Automated financing calculations to help sell solar systems with clear cost benefits
- Project management integration for streamlined install workflows
- Real-time weather data integration for accurate energy performance predictions
Best for: Fast-growing solar businesses seeking an affordable yet comprehensive solution that combines design software capabilities with customer relationship management functionality to optimize the entire sales process.
Pricing: Pay-as-you-go model, contact vendor for enterprise options.
G2 rating: 4.3 stars / 2 reviews
6. PV*SOL
PV*SOL delivers comprehensive simulation capabilities for photovoltaic system planning, enabling solar professionals to create optimized designs for both residential homeowners and commercial applications with detailed analytical tools.
Key features:
- Advanced PV simulation for precise energy yield predictions and system optimization
- Detailed shading analysis for complex scenarios affecting panel performance
- Battery storage integration planning capabilities for complete energy systems
- Comprehensive financial analysis to demonstrate costs and benefits to customers
- Weather data integration for location-specific calculations in real time
- System sizing and component selection guidance for accurate layout development
Best for: Solar designers, architects, and engineers who require in-depth analysis capabilities for optimizing system performance and financial returns across diverse solar development projects.
Pricing: License-based with different tiers available for various company needs.
G2 rating: 4.3 stars / 10 reviews
7. PVcase Ground Mount / Roof Mount
PVcase offers two powerful AutoCAD-based solar design solutions: PVcase Ground Mount for utility-scale projects and PVcase Roof Mount for commercial and industrial rooftop installations, both delivering precision engineering and automated workflows to solar professionals.
Key features:
- PVcase Ground Mount: AutoCAD-driven design software optimized for utility-scale solar developments with advanced automation capabilities
- PVcase Roof Mount: Specialized tool for commercial and industrial rooftop solar designs, launched in 2023
- Both platforms offer seamless AutoCAD integration for professional engineering workflows
- Comprehensive electrical design tools including automated stringing and cabling for both mount types
- Shading analysis calculating hourly impacts across 365 days (~8760 simulations per year)
- Layout comparison features allowing designers to evaluate multiple design scenarios in real time
- Export capabilities to PVsyst for detailed yield analysis and bill of materials generation
- Time-saving automation reducing design time by 60-70% according to user testimonials
Best for: Solar developers and engineers working on either utility-scale ground-mounted projects or commercial and industrial rooftop installations who require professional CAD-based tools, precision engineering, and value workflow efficiency in creating accurate solar designs.
Pricing: Contact vendor for subscription options for both Ground Mount and Roof Mount solutions.
G2 rating: PVcase Ground Mount is winner of G2’s 2025 Best CAD Software award with nearly 300 reviews including 233 five-star ratings
8. PVsyst
PVsyst represents one of the most technically robust and established platforms in the solar industry for photovoltaic system design and performance evaluation, offering comprehensive simulation capabilities for solar professionals working on projects of all scales.
Key features:
- Advanced PV system simulation for energy yield predictions with exceptional accuracy
- Comprehensive analysis for grid-connected, stand-alone, and pumping systems
- Detailed shading analysis for complex scenarios affecting panel performance
- Extensive meteorological and component databases to optimize system design
- Multi-configuration support for layout optimization in real time
- In-depth financial modeling and ROI calculations to help sell systems based on costs and benefits
Best for: Engineers, researchers, and solar professionals requiring highly technical, in-depth analysis for sophisticated solar development projects where precision and detailed reporting are essential for both residential and commercial installations.
Pricing: License-based with academic and commercial options available.
G2 rating: 4.7 stars / 17 reviews
9. RatedPower
RatedPower specializes in utility-scale solar project design and optimization, providing cloud-based software that automates the study, analysis, design, and engineering of large-scale PV systems for commercial solar development.
Key features:
- Automated design and layout generation for rapid capacity assessment
- Multiple scenario comparisons for optimal system configuration and panel placement
- Technical and economic optimization tools to reduce costs and maximize energy production
- Layout editing functionality for custom refinements in real time
- Energy yield assessment integrated within the platform for accurate performance metrics
- Detailed reporting capabilities for stakeholder presentations and sales support
Best for: Utility-scale solar developers and engineers focused on large commercial projects who need to rapidly evaluate and optimize multiple solar designs and system scenarios.
Pricing: Subscription-based with various tiers available – contact vendor for details.
G2 rating: Strong user reviews highlighted in search results with users praising its speed in generating PV energy capacities compared to other tools in the industry
10. Solargraf
Solargraf functions as an all-in-one solar sales and design platform specifically developed for installers and sales teams, streamlining the entire customer acquisition process from lead capture through system design to final install.
Key features:
- User-friendly interface designed for quick adoption by solar professionals
- Real-time shading analysis and system optimization for accurate panel placement
- Automated permit documentation generation to support the install process
- Visually appealing customer proposals with customization options to help sell solar systems
- Sales team management capabilities for improved workflows and lead tracking
- Integration with financing options for simplified customer purchasing and reduced upfront costs
Best for: Solar installation companies focusing on residential homeowners and light commercial projects that need to optimize their sales process and customer engagement throughout the solar development journey.
Pricing: Four tiers from “Starter” to “Enterprise. The “Starter” plan is $2,799 annually for 2 users and 240 projects.
G2 rating: 4.4 stars / 4 reviews
Close More Deals With the Right Tools
The best solar design software will help you build more cost-effective solar systems for your clients, which will lead to more sales and greater customer satisfaction.
Now you just have to choose which app you want to invest in. We encourage you to read back through the reviews above, conduct your own research, and settle on a tool that helps you fulfill your mission.
Looking to improve your solar company’s sales numbers? Download our “Complete Field Guide For Solar Sales Leaders” to learn tips, tricks, and best practices your sales team can use to connect with more prospects, increase sales, and drive more revenue.
