- Solar software compared
- Nine solar software tools
- Planning permission and residential solar in the UK
- Residential, commercial or utility-scale?
- Setting up solar design software
- Proposal details customers look for
- Drones, site visits and remote design
- Battery storage on the rise
- Choosing between two close options
- My plain advice on solar software
- Frequently asked questions
Solar software helps installers design systems, simulate output, produce proposals and permit plans, and run the sales and install process. Residential installers usually want design and proposals in one tool, while commercial and utility teams need detailed simulation and engineering. Nine tools follow in no particular order.
Every solar job starts with the same questions: how many panels fit, what will they produce and how quickly can we get a customer a clear proposal? The faster and more accurately you answer, the more jobs you win.
The nine tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from free design and proposal tools to engineering software for utility-scale projects. Each description comes from the vendor's own site, re-checked this week. To bring in more local enquiries, see my local SEO checklist for service businesses.
Solar software compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes free use or a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Solar | Design and sales platform | Residential design and proposals | No |
| Enerflo | Sales operations platform | Running the residential sales process | No |
| Energy Toolbase | Solar and storage modelling | Battery storage projects | No |
| HelioScope | Commercial design tool | Commercial system design | Trial only |
| OpenSolar | Design and proposal tool | Free design and proposals | Yes |
| PVcase | Utility-scale design | Utility-scale and site selection | No |
| PVsyst | Simulation software | Bankable yield simulations | Trial only |
| Scanifly | Drone-based design | Drone site surveys | No |
| Solargraf | Design and permitting | Proposals and permit plans | No |
Nine solar software tools
Aurora Solar
Best for: Residential installers that want detailed design, roof modelling and polished proposals from a widely used platform.
Enerflo
Best for: Residential solar companies with sales teams that want leads, proposals and installs tracked in one operating system.
Energy Toolbase
Best for: Developers and installers adding battery storage who need detailed financial modelling and controls in one platform.
HelioScope
Best for: Commercial installers designing larger rooftop and ground systems who need fast layouts and performance simulation.
OpenSolar
Best for: Small installers who want design, proposals and ordering in one tool without a subscription.
PVcase
Best for: Developers and engineers working on utility-scale projects who need site selection and detailed engineering design.
PVsyst
Best for: Engineers who need detailed hourly simulations and the reports that lenders and investors often expect to see.
Scanifly
Best for: Installers who survey sites by drone and want accurate 3D models so designs fit first time.
Solargraf
Best for: Installers that want design, proposals and permit plan sets produced in one workflow with AI help.
Planning permission and residential solar in the UK
The Planning Portal says installing solar panels on residential buildings and land may be permitted development with no need to apply for planning permission, but there are important limits and conditions that must be met.
What that means for you: for UK homes, check those limits before you finalise a design, especially on listed buildings and in conservation areas. A design that breaks them can't go ahead as permitted development, and that's an awkward conversation after a customer has said yes.
Residential, commercial or utility-scale?
Residential tools focus on quick roof modelling, shading, attractive proposals and fast permit packs. Commercial tools handle bigger layouts, more complex electrical design and performance simulation. Utility-scale software covers site selection, terrain and detailed engineering across large areas.
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Match the tool to your typical job. Software built for utility-scale engineering will feel heavy for a home installer, and a residential tool won't satisfy a lender on a large project.
Setting up solar design software
- Load your standard panels, inverters and racking into the library.
- Create proposal templates with your branding and warranty details.
- Agree how shading and roof data are captured on site.
- Test a design on a job you've already installed and compare output.
- Connect your CRM so leads and proposals stay linked.
- Train sales and design staff on the same workflow.
Proposal details customers look for
- Clear panel layout. A picture of their roof builds confidence.
- Realistic output. Overpromising leads to complaints later.
- Warranty information. Equipment and workmanship terms in plain words.
- Next steps. What happens after they say yes, and when.
Drones, site visits and remote design
Remote design from imagery saves trips, but it isn't always enough. Drone surveys and quick site visits catch vents, shading and roof condition that satellite images miss. Choose software that works with the data you collect, so designs fit first time and installers don't get surprises.
Battery storage on the rise
More customers ask about batteries alongside panels. If storage is part of your offer, check the software can model it and show the benefit clearly in proposals. It's much easier to sell what a customer can see on the page.
Choosing between two close options
If two tools look similar, ask each vendor for a design on a real roof you've already installed. Compare the layouts, the output estimate and how long it took. It's the quickest way to see which one your team will trust, and you'll learn a lot about the support you'll get. Ask how often the equipment library is updated, too, because out-of-date panels and inverters make for awkward proposals.
Do you make solar software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on solar software
Pick the tool that gets an accurate, good-looking proposal to a customer fastest. Speed wins jobs, but accuracy protects your reputation when the system is producing for years.
Test any tool on a few installs you've already completed. If its estimates match what those systems produce, you can trust it on new jobs. For more on marketing a trade business, see my contractor's guide to marketing.
Frequently asked questions
What software do solar installers use?
Most use a design and proposal tool, often with permit plan features, plus a CRM or operations platform for sales and installs.
Is there free solar design software?
One tool on this list describes itself as free software, and several others offer free trials.
Do UK homes need planning permission for solar panels?
Often not. The Planning Portal says it may be permitted development, but limits and conditions apply.
What is solar simulation software?
It models how a system will perform across the year using weather, shading and equipment data.
Can solar software create permit plans?
Some tools produce permit plan sets alongside designs and proposals, which saves drafting time.
Which solar software suits commercial projects?
Commercial teams usually need detailed layout, electrical design and performance simulation rather than quick residential tools.
