Software advice
Best AI Solar Design Software in 2026
AI solar design software is a class of programs that turn a site address or survey into a modeled roof, a placed array, a shading and production estimate, and the drawings or proposal that follow, using machine assistance for jobs such as roof detection, obstruction finding and layout. It is not a general CAD package, a CRM, or a pure engineering simulator.
Quick answer
Aurora Solar is first for public per-seat prices and a defined step up to LIDAR modeling, shade reports and batteries. OpenSolar is the pick when the budget is zero, and Scanifly suits teams that capture roofs by drone.
A solar installer choosing design software is really choosing where the sale happens: a quick roof model that feeds a proposal, a survey-led workflow that feeds permits, or an engineering simulator that feeds a lender. This ranking judges thirteen products on what the vendors state on their own pages: whether prices are public, whether the AI claims are named and described, how project data is handled, and how well each fits a working installer or developer. Many vendors here publish no price, which is itself a ranking factor. Where a pricing page shows conflicting figures, the page says so rather than picking one. Rank order is the verdict, and tools with thin vendor documentation sit lower even when the product may be strong in use.
The 13 best AI solar design software in 2026, ranked
There is no score. Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. How we rank.
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | Entry price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aurora Solar | Residential and commercial installers who want published per-seat pricing and a clear upgrade path to shade reports. | No | From $135 per user per month on annual billing |
| 2 | OpenSolar | Installers wanting design, proposals and a CRM with no license fee, accepting a US or Australian location. | Yes | Free of charge |
| 3 | Solargraf | Residential and commercial installers who want AI-assisted design with permit packages and financing in one product. | No | $2799 USD per year, per the pricing page |
| 4 | SurgePV | Small teams wanting AI solar designing and proposals in every plan, buying several seats at a lower rate. | No | $1,899 per user per year |
| 5 | Scanifly | Installers who survey roofs by drone and want permit-ready plan sets from the captured model. | No | Quoted |
| 6 | Arka360 | Teams that want AI assisted modeling and battery sizing and will confirm the price directly with the vendor. | No | Quoted |
| 7 | Eturnity | Installers who want one 3D model to produce roof plans, string plans and single-line diagrams. | Trial | Quoted |
| 8 | PVcase | Developers and EPC teams designing commercial rooftops or ground-mount plants who already work in AutoCAD. | No | Quoted |
| 9 | Reonic | German-market installers selling commercial systems who want offers, CRM and tariff simulation together. | No | Quoted |
| 10 | Sollit | Installers of solar and heat pumps who want design, quoting and service in one platform. | No | Quoted |
| 11 | PV*SOL | Planners who size PV systems on the desktop and want an API and a component database. | Trial | Quoted |
| 12 | archelios PRO | Engineers who need probability indicators such as P50, P75 and P90 for PV project studies. | No | Quoted |
| 13 | Solarius-PV | Italian and BIM-oriented designers who value an IFC-certified PV tool. | Trial | Quoted |
- 1
Aurora Solar takes first place because its prices are public at two levels and the step up is concrete: Premium brings LIDAR-assisted modeling, bankable shade reports and storage modeling. AutoDesigner and AI-assisted obstruction detection are the AI features the vendor names. Basic at $1,620 a year undercuts the entry plans of SurgePV and Solargraf, though it caps projects at 50 a month and mentions no free trial.
Strong on
- Basic and Premium prices are public, so a buyer can budget per seat before talking to sales.
- The vendor's own pages name AutoDesigner plus AI help with site models and obstacle detection.
- Premium also models storage, which helps sellers who bundle batteries into the offer.
Weak on
- Basic is limited to one user and 50 projects per month.
- Enterprise, which carries APIs, plan sets and engineering stamps, is quote only.
- Its privacy policy covers AI training on usage data and states no hosting region.
Skip it if: Solo installers who want a free tool or a trial, and teams that need an API without negotiating an Enterprise contract. Basic caps projects at 50 per month; Premium adds LIDAR modeling and shade reports; Enterprise is quote only.
- 2
OpenSolar is second because its design, sales and project modules cost nothing according to the homepage, which no other tool here matches. Auto Design, Auto BOM, e-signature and integrated finance are listed. It sits below Aurora Solar because its AI footprint is one chat link with no described scope, data may be stored in Australia or the US, and the paid add-on is unpriced.
Strong on
- Design, sales and project management modules are free of charge per the homepage.
- Auto Design, Auto BOM, Mounting Designer and single line diagrams are listed together.
- A public API and an Imagery Marketplace are listed alongside permitting integrations.
Weak on
- The Chat with OpenSolar AI link has no description of scope on the pages opened.
- The privacy policy says data may be stored outside the EU, naming Australia and/or the US.
- Enterprise Services has no published price or scope.
Skip it if: European firms that need a stated EU hosting region or a documented certification before storing customer project data. The homepage calls the software 100% free; Enterprise Services is an add-on with no published price.
- 3
Solargraf lands third for putting AI-assisted solar and battery design, an assistant called Sol and automated permit packages under one subscription, with commercial projects and 16 languages supported. The pricing page lists four USD annual tiers from $2799, dearer than Aurora Solar's entry, and the Public API costs $4000 a year extra below Enterprise. Maker and country are not stated on the pages opened.
Strong on
- The vendor names AI-powered design, an assistant called Sol and an agentic solution that creates projects from commands.
- Automated permit package generation and commercial projects sit beside residential design.
- Proposals support 16 languages and name Propel and TPO financing options.
Weak on
- The entry tier costs $2799 per year, above the entry plans of Aurora Solar and SurgePV.
- Public API access is a $4000 annual add-on below Enterprise.
- The homepage and pricing page disagree on whether pricing is published.
Skip it if: Small installers or solo designers who need a low annual commitment, or an API without paying the add-on. Four annual USD tiers on the pricing page, while the homepage says pricing is not published.
- 4
SurgePV is fourth because it prices four plans openly and includes AI solar designing, shadow analysis and proposals in each priced one, with a Clara AI copilot named. The per-seat rate drops to $1,299 at five users. Against that stand an unstated currency, GST on top, hosting in India and project data kept up to two years after closure, so it ranks behind the better documented tools above.
Strong on
- AI solar designing is included in every priced plan, with Clara AI named as a design copilot.
- Per-user cost falls from $1,899 for one seat to $1,299 at five seats.
- Shadow analysis, 3D design, DC stringing and proposal generation are in the core features.
Weak on
- The pricing page gives no currency code and adds 18% GST to the figures.
- Project data may be kept up to two years after account closure unless deletion is requested.
- No API or third-party integrations are named on the pages opened.
Skip it if: Teams that need an API, named CRM integrations or a currency-stated quote on the pricing page. Individual plan billed yearly; 18% GST is added and no currency code is stated.
- 5
Scanifly ranks fifth because its drone and imagery workflow is specific: remote design from satellite, LiDAR and Nearmap data, drone onsite design, shading analysis and CAD export. The homepage names AI obstruction detection and AI shading analysis. No prices, no privacy policy link and no hosting statement keep it behind tools whose costs and data terms a buyer can read.
Strong on
- PrelimDesign and DroneDesign cover remote and onsite design from the same product.
- AI obstruction detection and AI shading analysis are named on the homepage.
- A Field Ops mobile app carries digital structural, electrical and property checklists.
Weak on
- No prices are published and Design Services, the outsourced option, has no stated rate.
- The homepage footer links only Terms of Service, with no privacy policy.
- Integrations are described as categories, with no specific CRM or financing product named.
Skip it if: Buyers who must compare license cost or review a privacy policy before a trial. No prices published, and the pricing page returned a 404 when opened.
- 6
Arka360 is sixth because Premium names AI assisted modeling, battery storage sizing and SketchUp and PVsyst model export, and an API is listed as a plan feature. Its pricing page shows several sets that do not agree, and Enterprise is Talk to Sales in one and $999 per month in another, so the cost of ownership cannot be fixed from the page.
Strong on
- Premium names AI assisted modeling and an AI assisted 3D model.
- Battery storage and backup sizing are listed in the Premium plan.
- Model export to SketchUp and PVsyst and API integration are named as plan features.
Weak on
- Three pricing sets on one page disagree on currency, billing period and Enterprise.
- The pricing page names no legal entity; the maker appears only in the privacy policy.
- No hosting region is stated; Azure Blob Storage is named without a location.
Skip it if: Buyers who need one binding public price and a named list of integrations before signing. Pricing page shows three sets that disagree (INR and two USD sets), so no single entry price is used.
- 7
Eturnity is seventh because its design workflow is easy to follow: a modeller fed by several survey sources, a designer that checks strings, and drawings produced from a single model. The company says it embraces AI yet names no feature, prices stay private and an integrations page is missing, which weakens its case against tools with named AI.
Strong on
- The modeller can start from aerial photos, point-cloud data or drone captures.
- Module placement, shading simulation and string checks happen in one designer.
- One model yields the roof, string and electrical drawings.
Weak on
- No prices are published, so the entry cost cannot be read from the vendor pages.
- The homepage makes a general AI statement without naming a feature.
- Hosting location, retention and certifications go unstated across the pages opened.
Skip it if: Buyers who need AI features documented by name, a public price or a listed integration. No prices published; the homepage offers a free trial of unstated length.
- 8
PVcase is eighth because it is built for larger projects: Roof Mount, Ground Mount on AutoCAD, Yield with 3D ray tracing and Prospect for site screening. The pages describe automation and simulation without calling them AI, and pricing is quote only. It suits utility and commercial teams more than a residential sales crew, which limits the fit here.
Strong on
- Four named products cover site screening, layout, rooftop design and yield simulation.
- Ground Mount automates terrain-following layout inside AutoCAD for utility sites.
- The privacy policy gives a retention rule: business account data is kept 90 days, then deleted.
Weak on
- No prices, currency or billing basis appear on the pricing page.
- The pages name no AI feature, only automation and simulation.
- Only AutoCAD is named as a platform; no CRM or GIS connectors are listed.
Skip it if: Residential installers who want proposals, financing and CRM in the same tool as the design. Quote on request; the pricing page says cost varies by team size, platform scope and data scope.
- 9
Reonic is ninth because the page opened covers its 360 Commercial product: energy profiles, profitability simulation, offers, CRM and 3D planning for large systems. Six AI products are named, including Sales AI and Component AI, yet none is described, and the demo is the only route. Capability behind the AI names cannot be judged from the vendor page.
Strong on
- Energy profiles can come from standard commercial profiles or measured consumption.
- System variants can be compared inside a single offer.
- Time-of-use tariff modelling is listed for commercial projects.
Weak on
- The six named AI products have no descriptions on the page opened.
- Only a demo is offered, with no trial or public price.
- The integrations page returned a 404 and no integration is named.
Skip it if: Residential-only installers and teams that need public pricing, a self-serve trial or named integrations. No prices published; the demo is a free, non-binding product presentation.
- 10
Sollit is tenth because design is one module in a wider platform for leads, sales, execution, service and HVAC, and no feature is described as AI. Yield, payback and ROI are calculated automatically from aerial imagery and a material list feeds the quote. An ISO 27001 logo appears, though its scope is not described, and prices are absent.
Strong on
- The Design module plans from aerial imagery with slope angles, shading and payback.
- A material list is generated for the quote.
- The same platform serves solar and HVAC work, including monitoring after installation.
Weak on
- No prices are published, and the scope of the free demo is not described.
- The page names no AI capability, though yield and payback are calculated automatically.
- The privacy page returned a 404, and the API documentation is linked without terms.
Skip it if: Design-first teams that need AI features named on the vendor's pages or a stated legal entity. No prices published; a free demo is the entry route, and Sollit is the new name of 2Solar.
- 11
PV*SOL ranks eleventh because the page opened gives little to weigh: a premium and a standard line, a component database, a free online calculator and an API. No price, trial length or AI capability is stated. It is a long-standing desktop planning product from a German maker, but this ranking rewards documented AI and public terms.
Strong on
- The PV*SOL database is named as a component library within the product line.
- PV*SOL online is a free calculator listed beside the desktop product.
- An Application Programming Interface is listed as its own product line.
Weak on
- No prices are published on the pages opened, and the order links go to an external shop.
- No AI capability is named on the pages opened.
- Trial length and feature limits are not stated.
Skip it if: Sales teams who need proposals, CRM or AI-assisted layouts rather than a planning and simulation tool. Prices are not published; the order links lead to an external shop and a trial version can be downloaded.
- 12
archelios PRO is twelfth because the page opened is thin on what a buyer compares. It names Platinum and Gold tiers that differ by custom indicators, BIM exports to a web destination and a 2025.1 release announced 21 November 2025. No price, power limit, country, AI capability or hosting statement appears on the pages opened.
Strong on
- Platinum adds five custom probability indicators from P50 to P95.
- P50, P75 and P90 indicators come by default.
- BIM exports go to an archelios PRO web destination.
Weak on
- No prices, currency or power limits appear on the product page.
- Legal form and country are not stated on the pages opened.
- No AI capability is named on the pages opened.
Skip it if: Residential sales teams that want proposals, financing or a CRM, none of which the page mentions. Prices are not published; the page names Platinum and Gold tiers without prices or currency.
- 13
Solarius-PV is last because the only page opened is a release history that lists a trial, a Power Pack upgrade and a buildingSMART IFC certification for the software. Nothing there describes design features, prices or AI, and other feature claims came only from search snippets, which were left out. The BIM link is its distinctive trait.
Strong on
- The software carries an IFC certification from buildingSMART International, linked on the product page.
- A free trial is linked from the product page.
- A Power Pack upgrade is offered as a separate purchase.
Weak on
- No prices are published, and third-party price figures conflict.
- The page opened names no AI feature and no design capability to evaluate.
- Hosting location and retention are not stated on the pages opened.
Skip it if: Buyers who need a documented feature list, public pricing or AI assistance on the vendor's own pages. Prices are not published; a free trial and a Power Pack upgrade are linked without details.
How these AI solar design software were judged
How good is the AI in solar design software?
The AI claims differ in how specific they are. Aurora Solar names AutoDesigner, AI-assisted site models and obstruction detection. Scanifly names AI obstruction detection and AI shading analysis. Solargraf names an assistant called Sol and an agentic solution that creates projects from commands. Arka360 names AI assisted modeling in Premium. Reonic lists six AI products without describing any, and Eturnity says it embraces AI without naming a feature. PVcase, Sollit, PV*SOL, archelios PRO and Solarius-PV name no AI on the pages opened. This ranking credits a named, described capability over a slogan, and it does not test output accuracy.
What does solar design software cost?
Most vendors here do not publish a price. Aurora Solar prices Basic at $1,620 a year per seat on annual billing and Premium at $2,640. SurgePV lists $1,899 per user per year, falling to $1,299 at five users, with GST added. Solargraf lists $2799 to $12999 per year, plus a $4000 API add-on on lower tiers. OpenSolar calls its software free. Arka360 shows several pricing sets that disagree, so no figure is relied on. PVcase, Reonic, Sollit, Eturnity, Scanifly and the desktop tools are quote, demo or trial only.
Where does solar design software keep your project data?
Few vendors state a hosting region. SurgePV names Google Cloud in India and keeps project data up to two years after closure. Arka360 names Azure Blob Storage without a region and answers deletion requests within 30 days. PVcase names AWS, Google and Microsoft, some outside the EEA, and deletes account data within 45 days after a 90 day hold. OpenSolar says data may sit in Australia or the US. Aurora Solar participates in the Data Privacy Framework but names no fixed hosting region. Sollit shows an ISO 27001 logo without describing its scope. None states whether customer data trains models.
How hard is it to leave a solar design platform?
Lock-in is about where designs, customers and proposals live. Suites with a built-in CRM and e-signature, such as OpenSolar, Reonic and Sollit, hold more of the business than a pure designer does. APIs help data leave: PV*SOL, OpenSolar, Arka360 and Sollit list one, Solargraf sells it as a $4000 annual add-on below Enterprise, and Aurora Solar reserves APIs and integrations for Enterprise. Export formats matter too: Scanifly and PVcase output CAD, Arka360 names SketchUp and PVsyst model export, and archelios PRO exports BIM to its web destination.
Which solar design software fits which kind of buyer?
Residential installers selling at the kitchen table fit Aurora Solar, OpenSolar, Solargraf or SurgePV, which pair design with proposals. Teams that survey roofs by drone fit Scanifly. Commercial developers working in AutoCAD fit PVcase, while German commercial installers selling energy profiles fit Reonic. Engineers who need probability indicators or BIM links fit archelios PRO or Solarius-PV, and planners who want a desktop component database fit PV*SOL. European buyers should check the hosting statements above, because several vendors store data in India, Australia or the US or state no location.
How to choose an AI solar design software in three steps
- Decide whether you sell or engineer. Start with the output you need most. If a homeowner or business signs a proposal, you want roof modeling, financing and e-signature, which is the Aurora Solar, OpenSolar, Solargraf and SurgePV territory. If a lender or grid operator reads the result, you want yield and probability studies, which is where PVcase, archelios PRO and PV*SOL sit. Choosing the wrong type costs more than choosing the wrong vendor, because the workflows barely overlap, migrating projects between them is manual work, and the team that signs the contract is rarely the team that has to live in the tool.
- Ask for the price in writing and in one currency. Many vendors here publish nothing, and two show figures that disagree. Before a trial, ask for the per-seat price, the currency, whether tax is added, the project cap and what the API costs. SurgePV adds 18% GST to its listed prices, Solargraf sells its API separately, and Aurora Solar caps Basic at 50 projects a month. A quote that names these items lets you compare a $1,620 annual seat with a $2799 tier on the same basis, and it gives you something to hold the vendor to at renewal.
- Test the AI on a roof you already built. Take three finished projects, including one with chimneys, dormers or heavy shading, and rerun them in each trial. Compare obstruction detection, module count and the shade result with what you installed. Vendors name features such as AutoDesigner, AI shading analysis or Sol, but none of the pages opened state accuracy. Also read the privacy policy during the trial, because retention periods and hosting regions vary from 45 days to two years across the tools, and several vendors state neither one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI solar design software in 2026?
Aurora Solar ranks first here because its Basic and Premium prices are public and Premium brings LIDAR-assisted modeling, bankable shade reports and storage modeling. OpenSolar is second as a free option, and Solargraf third for named AI features and permit packages. The ranking rests on vendor pages, not output tests, so trial your own roofs.
Is there free solar design software with AI features?
OpenSolar describes its software as free of charge on its homepage, with design, sales and project modules, and it links a Chat with OpenSolar AI feature without describing its scope. Eturnity, PV*SOL and Solarius-PV offer free trials instead of a free plan. Every other tool in this ranking is paid or quote only.
How much does Aurora Solar cost compared with SurgePV?
Aurora Solar Basic costs $1,620 a year per seat on annual billing, with a cap of 50 projects each month. SurgePV Individual is $1,899 per user per year with 18% GST added and no currency code stated. Aurora Premium is $2,640 a year. SurgePV drops to $1,299 per user at five seats.
Which solar design tools publish no price at all?
Scanifly, PVcase, Reonic, Sollit, Eturnity, PV*SOL, archelios PRO and Solarius-PV publish no prices on the pages opened. PVcase says pricing varies by team size and scope, Reonic and Sollit offer a demo, and PV*SOL links an external shop. Arka360 shows a price page with several sets that disagree.
Can solar design software generate permit drawings?
Several name plan sets. Scanifly lists permit-ready plan sets and CAD export, Solargraf lists automated permit package generation, Eturnity generates roof plans, string plans and single-line diagrams from one model, and Aurora Solar Enterprise includes plan sets and engineering stamps. OpenSolar lists single line diagrams and permitting integrations. Whether a drawing is accepted depends on your jurisdiction, which vendors do not guarantee.
Is any of this software hosted in the EU?
No vendor opened here states an EU hosting region. SurgePV names Google Cloud in India, OpenSolar says Australia and/or the US, PVcase names cloud providers some of which are outside the EEA, and Arka360 names Azure Blob Storage without a region. Aurora Solar says data may be processed anywhere in the world. Ask each vendor in writing before storing customer data.
Do solar design vendors train AI on my project data?
None of the vendors states it plainly for customer project data. Aurora Solar's privacy policy names AI model training as a purpose for usage and interaction data, and carves out data handled on behalf of customers. The other vendors' pages opened are silent on the point, so ask directly and get the answer in the contract.
Which tool suits commercial and utility-scale solar projects?
PVcase is the clearest fit on the pages opened: Ground Mount layout on AutoCAD, Roof Mount for commercial rooftops, Yield with 3D ray tracing and Prospect for site screening, all quote only. Reonic targets commercial offers with energy profiles and tariff modelling, and Aurora Solar Enterprise offers custom project volume, unlimited users and APIs.