Head-to-head
Aurora Solar vs OpenSolar: which one in 2026?
Aurora Solar is a US solar design and sales platform with per-user plans, and OpenSolar is an Australian-built platform whose core software is free. The difference is a priced seat with AI-assisted design against a free core that earns from partners, services and API use.
Verdict
Aurora Solar fits an installer that treats design software as a paid tool and wants AI-assisted layouts, shade reports and plan sets with a vendor behind them. OpenSolar fits one that wants to avoid license fees and accepts that revenue comes from partners and services. Read the privacy policy of whichever you pick, since Aurora lists AI training on usage data and OpenSolar allows de-identified data sharing.
Aurora Solar and OpenSolar side by side
| Aurora Solar | OpenSolar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | From $135 per user per month on annual billing | Free of charge |
| Cost to start | No free plan or trial on the pricing page; Basic is USD 159 per user monthly or USD 135 billed annually. | Core app is stated as free, and the vendor says partners pay to be on the platform. |
| Higher tiers | Premium at USD 259 per user monthly (USD 220 annual) adds LIDAR-assisted modeling, bankable shade reports and battery modeling. | Paid Enterprise Services: Support at US$500 per month, Customize at US$1,350 and a custom Enterprise tier. |
| Seat and project caps | Basic and Premium are each limited to 50 projects a month and 1 user; unlimited users start at Enterprise. | No seat or project cap is stated for the free core in the pages read. |
| Design automation | Aurora AI generates a roof model and a code-compliant panel layout with shading, stringing and fire pathways. | Auto Design and Auto BOM are named, and a chat link to OpenSolar AI is the only AI named as support. |
| After the design | Sales Mode, Financing, Contract Manager, plan sets and engineering stamps as post-sale services; on-demand site models start at USD 9.99. | Proposals with e-signature, CashFlow, a Finance Marketplace, a parts shop and permitting integrations; API access billed per project via a wallet. |
| Privacy policy and AI | Section 3.B lists AI model training among uses of usage, telemetry and customer interaction data; customer content follows contracts. | No AI or machine learning training is mentioned; personal data may be de-identified and shared as market data with third parties. |
| Hosting and certifications | Data may be stored anywhere, including the US; SOC 2 and ISO are not in the policy, which links to an unopened Trust Center. | Storage may be outside the EU and UK, including Australia and the US; SOC 2 is listed on the services page without a certification claim. |
Where each one wins
Aurora Solar wins on
- Published per-user prices let a solo installer plan costs before any sales call
- Premium adds LIDAR-assisted modeling, bankable shade reports and battery modeling inside one plan
- Plan sets and engineering stamps are available as listed post-sale services
OpenSolar wins on
- Core software is free, so a small installer can design and sell with no license fee
- Design, proposal, finance and parts shop are named under one free platform
- Enterprise Services have published monthly prices, from US$500 for priority support
Which to pick
Pick Aurora Solar if
You want a priced per-user design tool with AI-assisted site models, LIDAR options and post-sale plan sets, and can accept 50 projects a month on Basic.
Pick OpenSolar if
You want to start at no license cost, and are fine paying for services, support or API access only if the business needs them.
Each tool in context: Aurora Solar profile, OpenSolar profile, and the full Best AI Solar Design Software in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenSolar really free?
The core app is stated as free on the vendor's free page, and the vendor says partners pay to be on the platform. API Access and accounting connectors are billed separately, and the rate for API use was not published on the pages read. Enterprise Services start at US$500 per month.
What does Aurora Solar cost per month?
As of November 2026, Basic is USD 159 per user billed monthly or USD 135 billed annually, and Premium is USD 259 monthly or USD 220 annually. Both are limited to 50 projects a month and 1 user. Enterprise is quote only, and on-demand site models start at USD 9.99.
Which one names an AI design feature?
Aurora Solar does: Aurora AI generates a roof model and panel layout with shading, stringing and fire pathways. OpenSolar names Auto Design and Auto BOM, and its only AI-labeled item is a chat link for support. Neither page was verified for output quality.
Do these tools train AI on my data?
Aurora's privacy policy lists AI model training among uses of usage, telemetry and customer interaction data, while customer content follows customer contracts. OpenSolar's policy does not mention training models. It allows de-identified data to be shared as market data, so ask each vendor in writing.