Imagine standing on a rooftop with just a tape measure and a calculator, trying to figure out how many panels will fit, how much energy they’ll produce, and how long it will take your client to break even. Sounds exhausting, right? That was in the past.
Today, solar professionals have something far better: design software that does all the demanding work. Instead of endless guesswork and spreadsheets, installers, engineers, and developers now have digital assistants that make their work faster, smarter, and more profitable.
Let’s take a look at leading platforms in 2026. We’ve listed ten best global solar design systems. Many of the same names appear across industry lists because these are the true leaders in PV design. However, unlike lists organized alphabetically or by reviews, this ranking reflects practical impact, workflow integration, and relevance for the future of solar in 2026.
Tools that pioneered core approaches or reshaped industry workflows (like Aurora and OpusFlow) appear earlier, while specialized or highly technical platforms (such as PVcase, PVsyst, and RatedPower) are positioned further down, as they serve more advanced or niche needs. Finally, emerging and AI-driven solutions (like Arka 360) round out the list.
1. Aurora Solar: remote design with precision
Aurora Solar is a software company that has reimagined how photovoltaic (PV) systems are designed and sold by eliminating the need for traditional site visits. By inputting just an address (and optionally an electric bill), Aurora’s platform constructs a detailed, geospatially accurate 3D model using a combination of satellite imagery, LiDAR data (and, where available, high-resolution aerial imagery) to map roof geometry, surfaces, and surrounding obstructions.
At its core, Aurora’s platform represents a shift in how solar is delivered - less about hardware and more about intelligence. By automating complex design and financial analyses behind a seamless digital interface, Aurora helped the industry move from slow, manual workflows to scalable, customer-first operations. The result isn’t just faster sales or lower costs; it’s an ecosystem where solar becomes more accessible, transparent, and tailored to each roof - accelerating the broader transition to renewable energy.
Key features of Aurora Solar:
- Show customers instant savings scenarios, combining production estimates with financing options.
- Design your project utilising advanced 3D tools and LIDAR shading
- Generate polished proposals on the spot, complete with visuals and payback timelines.
- Send e-signature contracts digitally, letting clients sign and approve without delays.
- Equip sales teams to work anywhere, closing deals across wide regions without stepping on-site.
- Make detailed an accurate financial analysis
Pricing
The pricing model of Aurora Solar is licence-based.
- Basic: $159,00 user/month
- Premium: $259,00 user/month
- Enterprise: custom per project
Best for:
Aurora shines when speed and accuracy meet - especially for teams working across wide regions. It is designed for solar installers and engineers working on residential and commercial projects.
2. OpusFlow: all-in-one PV software for growing businesses
OpusFlow isn’t just a solar design tool - it’s the operational heart of your business. While most platforms stop at panel placement, OpusFlow goes several steps further, as an all-in-one ERP system. Its built-in PV Designer allows you to intuitively design solar panels onto rooftops using real satellite imagery. But it doesn’t end there - every panel you place automatically updates your string planning, yield estimates, material lists, and ROI projections in real time.
What truly sets OpusFlow apart is its deep integration across your workflow. Your design instantly becomes a quote, a stock request, a task on your calendar. There’s no double entry, no exporting, no guesswork - just a seamless transition from design to delivery. Imagine creating a sketch in the morning and having a fully branded, data-backed proposal ready for your customer in their customer portal. That’s not just speed - it’s smart solar business.
Key features of OpusFlow:
- Solar design software: Create an accurate solar installation plan with ROI and yield calculations
- CRM: Manage your customers in an easy and friendly way in one single place and create automated CRM tasks such as follow-ups or reminder tickets to your staff.
- Customer portal: Allow your clients to digitally sign quotations and view all the information. Easily track the status of your projects in real time and receive notifications once a quotation has been accepted.
- Calculation and quotation: Complete project packages in just a few minutes, from bills of materials to accurate pricing and financing details and quotations, in your own branding and style.
- Dashboarding: Analyze all your data and management of all your installations in any device and get a bird eye view of your organization.
- Forms: Create your custom forms and checklists, share them with your team and always have the information at your fingertips.
- Efficient invoice management: customize, integrate and control your invoices and even create automations for automatic invoice creation and save time.
- Planning: Organise your projects and schedule for your installation and sales team based on their competency and skills.
- Project management: View all your projects in one place in a Kanban overview. Instantly see the status of your projects and find all the information you need in one place.
- Documents: Keep your documents in one place, automatise file creation, digitise and manage all your documents.
- Purchasing and stock: Create your warehouse digitally in OpusFlow and keep track of all the incoming and outgoing mutations, create article groups for faster quotation and even purchasing orders and connect with suppliers.
- Workflow automations: Create automations on your own and save time and money. You can automate almost any action in OpusFlow, allowing you to have a streamlined workflow and less error in your processes.
Pricing:
OpusFlow offers flexible pricing with two options: monthly and yearly subscriptions.
- Yearly: €99 per user/month
- Monthly: €120 per user/month
With both plans, users get full access to OpusFlow’s features, integrations, and automations. In addition to it, the company also provides a tailored onboarding process to set up your workspace, connect your tools, and train your team for a smooth start. Such onboarding costs depend on your specific setup and needs. After your demo, a customized proposal will be sent.
Best for:
OpusFlow is a perfect ERP system for installation companies of solar panels, air conditioners and climate system, heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers, wind turbines and other renewable energy solutions, who want speed and simplicity without juggling different additional apps.
3. HelioScope: commercial projects made easy
HelioScope is a software platform created to make solar project design easier and more efficient for commercial and industrial use. It helps engineers and developers explore different ways to set up a solar system and understand how each choice affects performance and cost. The platform combines technical accuracy with a user-friendly experience, allowing teams to plan projects with greater confidence and speed.
By simplifying the design process, HelioScope supports professionals in turning complex data into clear, practical insights. It helps companies make better decisions earlier in the planning stage, reducing time spent on trial and error and improving overall project outcomes. In this way, HelioScope has become a trusted tool in the solar industry for developing reliable and profitable energy solutions.
Key features of HelioScope:
- Design any project with consistent accuracy using a set of flexible advanced tools like LIDAR, Independent Tolit, and Parcels, AI, as well as CAD-style interface, shading analysis and automatic layout
- Bankable simulations: make detailed and accurate product estimates
- Integrate financials and proposals
- Team management
- Customer deal
- Project information visibility into prospects
Pricing:
The pricing model is HelioScope licence-based.
- Basic plan: $159,00/month (1 user and 10 projects per month)
- Pro plan: $259,00/month (1 user and 10 projects per month)
- Enterprise plan: custom per-project pricing (unlimited users)
Best for:
To have a HelioScope is like having an engineering team in your browser — without the headache. HelioScope is best suited for organizations and professionals in the solar / photovoltaic (PV) industry who need to design, simulate, and optimize solar energy systems.
4. OpenSolar: powerful and free
Yes, free. OpenSolar proves you don’t always need a subscription to get top-quality design features. It was created by industry experts who wanted to remove cost barriers and help more businesses and installers adopt high-quality digital tools. With OpenSolar, users can design, present, and manage solar projects without paying for expensive licenses, making it especially valuable for small and growing companies.
Beyond being cost-free, OpenSolar demonstrates a belief that innovation in solar technology should be open and inclusive. Its approach encourages collaboration and transparency within the solar community, helping more people transition to clean energy with confidence and ease. By combining professional-grade capabilities with an open-access model, OpenSolar has become a symbol of how accessible technology can drive industry-wide progress.
Key features of OpenSolar:
- Create an accurate 3D design using premium imagery, mountain designer, scaffolding, single line diagrams
- Design and deliver proposals that look professional
- Manage cashflow, finance, signatures and payments
- Built-in CRM: show customers tailored financial plans, including local incentives and payback schedules.
- Shop
- Sales machine
- AI Lead Gen
- Automated bill of materials
- On-demand permitting
- Open API
- Manage teams
- Multi-device support
Pricing:
OpenSolar is a free charge platform. The only extra features are provided for an additional fee.
Best for:
OpenSolar is perfect for smaller teams or startups who want to compete with the big players without burning their budget. Overall, it is designed for solar installation companies and engineers.
5. PVcase: CAD integration for engineers and installers
PVcase is a design software developed for engineers who work on large-scale solar projects. It integrates directly with AutoCAD, creating a familiar environment where professionals can plan and model solar layouts efficiently. Instead of spending long hours on repetitive design tasks, users can focus on refining system performance and meeting project goals with greater precision.
The software represents a shift toward smarter, automated design in the utility-scale solar sector. By reducing manual effort and improving accuracy, PVcase helps engineering teams deliver projects faster and with fewer errors. Its focus on automation and adaptability makes it an important tool for managing the complexity of large solar farms and advancing the growth of renewable energy worldwide.
Key features of PVcase:
- End-to-end design with realistic, terrain-based PV layouts with shade-free table placement
- Automated topographical 3D cabling
- Design utility-scale projects inside AutoCAD, keeping full engineering precision.
- Deep analytics: slope analysis, pilling and collision analysis, automatic cross-section analysis in a few clicks
- Connect your project with manufacturers and data systems
- Place thousands of panels automatically, adapting layouts to terrain and constraints.
- Generate stringing plans and export layouts, ready for further simulations.
- Optimize designs for complex landscapes, cutting manual work dramatically.
- Compare layouts and evaluate different design scenarios.
Pricing:
The pricing model of PVcase is licence-based. The price itself is not transparent.
Best for:
If you’re building a utility-scale PV plant, PVcase cuts months of work down to weeks. It is a great fit for design engineers, EPS managers, consultants, developers, GIS specialists, and installers of solar panels.
6. PVsyst: the veteran simulator
PVsyst has been around since the early 90s — and it’s still the gold standard for performance simulations. Engineers love it for its accuracy, depth, and ability to handle advanced cases like storage integration or microgrids.
What truly sets PVsyst apart is its commitment to precision and transparency. Its methodologies are rooted in solid engineering principles, providing users with clarity and confidence in their results. More than just a tool, PVsyst represents a standard of excellence — a foundation that continues to shape best practices in solar energy modeling and performance analysis across the industry.
Key features of PVsyst:
- Design grid-connected, standalone, and pumping PV systems with shading and 3D modeling tools
- Run precise hourly simulations, capturing how systems perform year-round.
- Battery aging and degradation modeling
- Tracker and bifacial system simulation
- Model advanced setups, including storage integration and microgrids.
- Work with extensive equipment and weather data, ensuring accurate performance forecasts.
- Produce financial and ROI analysis trusted by banks and investors, securing project approval.
- Conduct detailed analysis and customize reports
- Licensing, training and compatibility
- Connect with databases
Pricing:
PVsyst charges approximately €756,00/year for PVsyst 8 Professional with 30 days free trial version, full package of features and updates.
Best for:
PVsyst is tailored for solar professionals, researchers, and engineers driving sophisticated solar developments that rely on high-level technical insight, exacting precision, and thorough reporting for residential and commercial systems alike.
7. PV*SOL: engineering-level simulations
PVSOL has been a trusted name for engineers for decades. This desktop software is known for its detailed simulations and massive component databases. If you want to model a system with total precision - including tricky shading or hybrid setups - PVSOL is your go-to.
Beyond its technical strength, PVSOL stands out for its depth and adaptability. It helps users explore complex configurations and understand the real-world behavior of their designs in detail. Whether managing intricate site conditions or innovative energy concepts, engineers rely on PVSOL for insights that drive performance and quality.
Key features of PV*SOL:
- Design systems in 3D
- Simulate complex shading scenarios, from nearby trees to hybrid system setups.
- Select components from one of the largest global databases, ensuring exact matches.
- Create customizable detailed energy and financial reports with automatic circuit diagrams, forecasts, and profitability metrics, bankable for clients and investors.
- Integrate weather data and location
- Model projects of any scale, from small rooftops to utility-size hybrid plants.
Pricing:
The pricing model of PV*SOL is licence-based.
- PV*SOL 2025: €585,00 (plus VAT), one-year named-user licence
- PV*SOL premium 2025: €845,00 (plus VAT), one-year named-user licence
Best for:
PV*SOL is the kind of software that impresses not just customers, but also investors and regulators. It is created for solar design teams and technical professionals with advanced simulation tools to craft efficient, high-performing solar systems that deliver measurable economic value across all project scales.
8. Solargraf: sales and design in one
Solargraf blends design and sales features in a way that makes life easier for installers. It simplifies the complex process of turning site data into compelling customer experiences. From accurate system visualization to client-ready proposals, Solargraf helps teams bridge the gap between technical design and persuasive presentation — all within a single, cohesive platform.
What sets Solargraf apart is its focus on efficiency and professionalism. It enables users to move from concept to customer conversation with ease, delivering both precision and polish in every step. By aligning engineering accuracy with sales agility, Solargraf transforms how solar companies engage clients, communicate value, and close deals with confidence.
Key features of Solargraf:
- Design 3D layouts with LIDAR, AI-powered roof detection and HD images, giving clients realistic previews.
- Check shading and performance instantly, showing clear energy impacts.
- Make battery and EV charger integration
- Build proposals with your branding and financing options, making deals easier to close.
- Generate permit-ready plan sets quickly, reducing extra design work.
Pricing:
The pricing model of Solargraf is licence-based.
- Starter: $2.799,00/year (2 users, 240 projects) + fee for additional project and user
- Small business: $4.799,00/year (4 users, 480 projects) + fee for additional project and user
- Teams: $6.399,00/year (6 users, 720 projects) + fee for additional project and user
- Enterprise: $12.999,00/year (unlimited users, 1500 projects) + fee for additional project
Best for:
Solargraf is ideal for solar installers who want to look sharp in front of homeowners without extra design steps.
9. RatedPower: utility-scale automation
RatedPower focuses on big solar farms. Its cloud platform automates layouts, energy yields, and costs, helping developers evaluate projects in record time. RatedPower is redefining how utility-scale solar projects are conceived, evaluated, and optimized. Focused on large-scale developments, its platform streamlines the complex process of designing and assessing solar farms - empowering developers and engineers to move from feasibility to insight with remarkable speed and precision.
What makes RatedPower stand out is its ability to bring clarity and control to massive projects. By transforming intricate technical workflows into a cohesive, data-driven process, it allows teams to explore scenarios, compare outcomes, and make strategic decisions with confidence.
Key features of RatedPower:
- Create PV design: PV layout optimization and energy yield simulation
- Generate optimized layouts automatically, tailored for massive solar plants.
- Analyze site and terrain conditions, adapting designs to real-world challenges.
- Make BoM & CAPEX estimates, compare scenarios side by side, such as trackers vs. fixed tilt or hybrid vs. standalone.
- Battery storage integration
- Plan storage and hybrid systems within the same platform, cutting complexity.
- Team management
Pricing:
The pricing model of RatedPower is licence based. Pricing is not publicly visible, but the company offers the following packages on which the price depend:
- Basic
- Advanced
- Enterprise
Best for:
RatedPower created for solar developers and engineers racing to build utility-scale projects, RatedPower is like having a turbo button for desig.
10. Arka 360: solar design with AI power
ARKA 360 brings automation to the forefront of solar design, transforming how teams plan and execute projects. By leveraging advanced intelligence and intuitive workflows, the platform dramatically reduces the time and effort required for precise system design. Tasks that once demanded hours of manual input can now be completed in minutes - allowing engineers to focus on strategy, optimization, and results.
ARKA’s strength lies in its blend of speed, consistency, and innovation. Its automated processes not only accelerate design but also help ensure accuracy and minimize costly mistakes, making it an invaluable ally for fast-moving solar companies.
Key features of Arka 360:
- Auto-generate PV design layouts with AI, placing panels for optimal performance.
- Produce proposals with rich visuals, ready to impress homeowners and investors.
- API integrations
- Prepare permit documents automatically, saving time on compliance.
- Track customers with built-in CRM tools, keeping sales and design in one platform.
Pricing:
The pricing model of Arka 360 is licence based.
- Basic: $159,00/month
- Premium: $199,00/month
- Enterprise: $999,00/month
Best for:
Think of it as a design assistant that never gets tired. Arka 360 is a great fit for solar installation companies.
Don’t let outdated methods hold you back
The solar boom isn’t slowing down, and neither should you. Whether it’s the all-in-one power of OpusFlow, the remote precision of Aurora, or the deep simulations of PVsyst, each software system represents a new way to work smarter, not harder.
What they all have in common is simple: speed, accuracy, and the ability to turn a good installer into a great one. The right PV software doesn’t just save you time — it wins you deals, builds trust with clients, and helps you scale with confidence.
Pick your tool, master it, and start building projects that not only power homes and businesses — but also power the next stage of your growth. Because in 2026, solar design isn’t just about panels and rooftops. It’s about how far the right software can take you.