Best Solar Software in the US: 7 Tools Compared

If your US projects need electrical drawings, OpenSolar and HelioScope document single line diagrams. These are simple drawings of how the system is wired. Aurora Solar documents NEC validation reports. NEC is the US National Electrical Code. Arka360 sells NEC-compliant permit drawings. If you want a yield simulation on Windows that imports US weather data, look at PVsyst. SurgePV fits teams that want design, shading, financial analysis and proposals in one web application, priced per user. Its pricing page does not name a single line diagram output.

This is a desk comparison of what each vendor publishes, checked October 2026. We have not run side-by-side tests.

Criteria used: electrical drawings and NEC checks, permit path, utility rates and incentive inputs, yield output for lenders, and published USD price.

Tools not compared: Solargraf is not compared on this page. Its site, solargraf.com, returned HTTP 403 (access refused) to automated reads, including a headless browser (read October 2026). Pylon and Scanifly are on our small installers list but not here. Scanifly’s home page lists PV design from remote imagery or from drone-based onsite data. We did not compare it here.

Best-For Picks for US Projects

• Electrical drawings generated in the design tool, with a free core app: OpenSolar. It says its single line diagram generator has a template for the US. It also lists permitting integrations for US projects. API Access and connectors are charged from 16 April 2026.
• Residential design with NEC validation and plan sets ordered in the same platform: Aurora Solar. Its design page lists NEC validation reports. Its plan sets service lists AHJ-ready plan sets in 24 to 48 hours. AHJ means authority having jurisdiction, the local permit office.
• Commercial rooftop and ground-mount work with single-line diagrams and P90 values: HelioScope. It lists single-line diagrams in its plan comparison. It lists P90, P95 and P99 values on Pro. A P90 is a yield level expected to be met or exceeded in 90% of years.
• Detailed yield simulation on Windows with US weather data: PVsyst. It lists NLR/NSRDB TMY among its weather databases.
• Design, shading, financial analysis and proposals in one product, priced per user: SurgePV. Its pricing page lists them with unlimited projects. Confirm fair-use limits.

Also in the table: Arka360 for outsourced NEC permit drawings with PE stamps, and SolarEdge Designer for installs built on SolarEdge equipment.

Comparison Table

The tools are in alphabetical order. This is not a ranking. Pick by the situation above.

Tool	Best for	Electrical drawings and NEC	Price (checked October 2026)	Free access
Arka360	Outsourced permit drawings	NEC-compliant permit drawings sold as a service; electric single line diagram on Premium and Enterprise	Basic $199 per month, 1 user (arka360.com)	Not stated on the pricing page
Aurora Solar	Residential design and sales	NEC validation reports; plan sets service	Basic $135 per user per month billed annually ($1,620 per year); Premium $220 per user per month billed annually ($2,640 per year) (aurorasolar.com)	Not stated on the pricing page
HelioScope	Commercial rooftop and ground mount	Single-line diagrams and CAD export in the plan comparison	Basic $1,620 per license per year; Pro $2,640 per license per year (helioscope.aurorasolar.com)	14-day free trial (help article)
OpenSolar	Free core app with US permit integrations	Single line diagram generator with a US template	Core app free; API Access and connectors charged from 16 April 2026; optional Enterprise Services from US$500 per month (opensolar.com)	Core app free
PVsyst	Yield simulation	Single line diagram editor for grid-connected systems; no US format stated	Not published (USD); CHF 700 per license per year (pvsyst.com)	One-month free trial
SolarEdge Designer	SolarEdge installs	Checks against SolarEdge design rules; AutoCAD integration listed	No license or subscription fees (solaredge.com)	Free to register
SurgePV	Design-to-proposal in one web app	Electrical workflow support; DC stringing listed on /pricing	$1,899 per user per year (1 user); see /pricing	Guided demo, no self-serve trial

Every price above was read on the vendor’s own page in October 2026. Taxes, discounts and plan limits change, so confirm them with the vendor before you buy.

US Rules Behind These Criteria

These are the US facts the criteria rest on. We read each one on the regulator or program page named.

• Electrical code. NFPA says NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, is enforced in all 50 states and lists the 2026 edition as current (NFPA 70). Which edition your authority enforces is a local question, so check it before you rely on any tool’s NEC check.
• Permits. SolarAPP+ says it automates residential solar and energy storage permitting. It issues a permit instantly for code-compliant applications in jurisdictions that use it (SolarAPP+). Per its help article (last updated 6 July 2026), the installer fee is $35 for a Solar Permit. It is $30 for Add-on Energy Storage or Storage Only. The first 3 revisions are free. Any fee the jurisdiction charges comes on top. OpenSolar lists SolarAPP+ among its US permitting integrations.
• Residential tax credit. The IRS says the Residential Clean Energy Credit is 30% for property installed from 2022 through December 31, 2025. It is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS, page updated July 2026).
• Commercial tax credit. IRS Notice 2025-42 describes the termination of the section 48E credit for applicable solar facilities placed in service after December 31, 2027. It says the termination date applies to facilities whose construction begins after July 4, 2026 (IRS Notice 2025-42).
• State and utility incentives. DSIRE, run by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, lists incentives by state (DSIRE). Net metering and net billing rules differ by state and utility.

For permit documents and NEC notes by state, see our US solar compliance guide. Tax-credit status on this page comes from the IRS pages cited above.

Tool-by-Tool Comparison

The tools are in alphabetical order. This is not a ranking. Pick by the situation above.

Arka360

Arka360 sells design, proposal and lead management software, plus permit services.

Best for: US teams that want to outsource NEC permit drawings and PE stamps while using a design tool from the same vendor.

Not the right choice if: you need the price of permit drawings before you order. The pages we read list the services but no price for them.

What the vendor documents: its permit page lists NEC-compliant drawings for rooftop permitting, including layout, stringing, labels and wire sizing. It also lists structural and electrical PE stamps on request, and delivery in 24 to 48 hours. The pricing page’s full feature list checks the electric single line diagram, CAD export, AI assisted 3D model and battery sizing for Premium and Enterprise. It does not check them for Basic. It checks the utility rate finder, adders, discounts and incentives, cash, loan, lease and PPA financing, the 8760 production report and PVsyst export for all three plans.

Price (checked October 2026): Basic $199 per month, 1 user. Premium $358 per month, 2 users. Enterprise is “Talk to Sales”. The page also holds rupee tables and hidden dollar tables. The pricing-in page holds a second set of rupee prices. The figures here are the US dollar cards shown in a browser view. Source: Arka360 pricing.

Limitations: the pricing page does not say whether a free trial exists.

Vendor link: arka360.com permit services.

Aurora Solar

Aurora Solar sells a solar design and sales platform. HelioScope, listed below, describes itself as an Aurora Inc. company.

Best for: residential installers who want remote design, an NEC validation report and the option to order plan sets from the same platform.

Not the right choice if: you need LiDAR-assisted modeling or bankable shade reports without paying for Premium. LiDAR is a laser scan that measures heights. It is also not the right choice if you need more than 1 user on Basic or Premium. The pricing page lists 1 user on both.

What the vendor documents: the design page lists NEC validation reports to check electrical configuration. The pricing page lists a US AHJ database of more than 25,000 jurisdictions. It also lists a utility rate database where you set your own rates or use rates from Genability and Aurora. It lists adders, discounts and incentives too. Premium adds LiDAR-assisted modeling and bankable shade reports. The plan sets page lists AHJ-ready plan sets in 24 to 48 hours. The pricing page lists plan sets and engineering stamps as add-ons. Aurora’s help centre says its Instant Plan Sets (US residential pitched roof) include a single line diagram.

Price (checked October 2026): Basic is $159 per user per month billed monthly or $135 per user per month billed annually ($1,620 per year). Premium is $259 per user per month billed monthly or $220 per user per month billed annually ($2,640 per year). Enterprise is custom. Source: Aurora pricing.

Limitations: the AHJ database is a US list, so it does not help outside the US. A free trial is not stated on the pricing page. Aurora gives P50 values only. It does not natively output P90, per its help article.

Vendor link: aurorasolar.com.

HelioScope

HelioScope is part of Aurora Inc.; its footer reads “an Aurora Inc. Company”.

Best for: commercial rooftop, carport and ground-mount designers who want single-line diagrams, CAD export and an hourly production report in one design tool.

Not the right choice if: your work is mostly homes. HelioScope describes its plans as tools for “commercial solar-plus-storage design”, and Basic includes 10 projects per month.

What the vendor documents: single-line diagrams, CAD export, an 8760 production report and shade reports in the plan comparison. Pro and Enterprise add a Utility Rate Editor and financial analysis tools. They also add LiDAR-assisted modeling, AI-based obstruction detection, financial modeling and sales proposals. They add P90, P95 and P99 values too.

Price (checked October 2026): Basic is $159 per license per month or $1,620 per license per year. Basic includes 1 user and 10 projects per month. Pro is $259 per license per month or $2,640 per license per year. Enterprise is custom. The standard free trial lasts 14 days, per its help article. Source: HelioScope pricing.

Limitations: designs up to 1.25 MW (DC) on Basic and 5 MW (DC) on Pro; single-axis trackers and PVsyst export are Enterprise features.

Vendor link: helioscope.aurorasolar.com.

OpenSolar

OpenSolar says partners pay to be on its platform. This makes the core app free for installers.

Best for: US installers who want a free core app for design and proposals. The app generates single line diagrams and connects to permitting partners.

Not the right choice if: you want one fixed all-inclusive price. Premium 2D and 3D imagery is “pay-per-project” per its sales page. Its support and customization plans are paid, at US$500 and US$1,350 per month. API Access and connectors are charged from 16 April 2026.

What the vendor documents: a single line diagram generator, “automatically generated from your system design and stringing”. Its marketing page lists templates for AU, US, UK, DE, IT and ES. Its help article lists templates for AU, NZ, US, CA, UK, FR, DE, IT, ES and IN. For US projects it lists permitting integrations with partners including GreenLancer and SolarAPP+. The partner does the permitting work, not OpenSolar. Its auto design page lists heatmaps, shade reports and “bankable shading analysis values”. Its accuracy page says the performance engine is based on the System Advisor Model.

Price (checked October 2026): the home page says “100% Free of charge” for the core app. From 16 April 2026 the vendor charges for API Access, which is a per-project fee. The per-project API fee is on OpenSolar’s API page. It also charges for supported connectors, which are a monthly fee per organization. The 16 February 2026 post says accounting connectors are billed as a monthly fee per organization. Paid Enterprise Services are optional: Support is US$500 per month, Customize is US$1,350 per month, and Enterprise is custom. Premium imagery is pay per image, and the price is shown in the app. Sources: free page and Enterprise Services.

Limitations: Auto Design is described as in beta. OpenSolar’s help center documents a utility rate database applied by ZIP code. It also documents custom tariffs with demand charges. The help center also has articles on setting up the ITC, the US investment tax credit, and on incentive expiry dates. We did not check its incentive data.

Vendor link: opensolar.com single line diagrams.

PVsyst

PVsyst is a Windows desktop program from PVsyst SA in Satigny, Switzerland.

Best for: engineers and consultants who want a detailed yield simulation with US weather data and a losses report.

Not the right choice if: you want a browser tool, layouts or proposals. Its single line diagram editor covers grid-connected systems only and leaves out storage. It is described as work in progress. The pages we read list no proposal output.

What the vendor documents: near shadings from a 3D scene, horizon import, electrical shading (mismatch) calculation and sub-hourly simulation. It also lists gains and losses reports. It lists an economic assessment that calculates NPV, LCOE and ROI. NPV is net present value. LCOE is the average cost of each unit of energy over the system’s life. ROI is return on investment. Its help also documents a single line diagram editor and viewer for grid-connected systems, with no US format stated. It lists NLR/NSRDB TMY among its weather databases. NSRDB is the National Solar Radiation Database. TMY is a typical meteorological year, a set of weather data for a typical year. The product page we read does not state lender acceptance.

Price (checked October 2026): not published in USD. The shop lists CHF 700 per year for PVsyst 8 Professional, updates included. It lists discounts of 5% for 2 to 4 licenses, 15% for 5 to 9 and 20% for 10 or more. The product page describes the one-month free trial of PVsyst 8. Source: PVsyst shop.

Limitations: it runs on Windows only, with one license per computer, and remote desktop and server installs are listed as unsupported.

Vendor link: pvsyst.com.

SolarEdge Designer

SolarEdge Designer is a design tool from SolarEdge, an inverter manufacturer.

Best for: installers whose systems use SolarEdge equipment and want design, stringing and proposals without a software fee.

Not the right choice if: you design with other manufacturers’ equipment. SolarEdge’s page frames the tool around “all your SolarEdge systems” and SolarEdge design rules, so confirm what it supports for other brands.

What the vendor documents: HD satellite imagery, AI-assisted 3D modeling and roof detection, and automatic stringing and DC cabling. It also lists battery and backup planning, and proposals with energy simulation, financial analysis and ROI forecasts. It lists integration with AutoCAD, PVsyst and the SolarEdge monitoring platform.

Price (checked October 2026): “No Extra Charges”: free automatic upgrades with no license or subscription fees. Source: SolarEdge Designer.

Limitations: the Designer page we read does not list electrical drawings, permit documents or a CRM (customer relationship software).

Vendor link: solaredge.com.

SurgePV

SurgePV is our product. SurgePV publishes this list and is one of the vendors on it.

Best for: US installers who want roof modeling, layout, shading, yield, financial modeling and proposals in one web application. It is priced per user.

Not the right choice if:

• you need a self-serve trial. SurgePV offers a guided demo and does not advertise a trial.
• you want electrical drawings generated in the design tool. OpenSolar and HelioScope document single line diagrams. SurgePV’s product scope lists electrical workflow support, and its pricing page lists DC stringing (how panels are wired into strings). Neither the product scope nor the pricing page names a diagram output.
• you want a free core app. OpenSolar’s core app is free. API Access and connectors are charged from 16 April 2026. SolarEdge Designer states no license or subscription fees.
• you need a full CRM, or a monitoring or ERP (business planning software) product. SurgePV’s published product scope does not list a CRM. It is not a monitoring or ERP product.
• you need approval from a lender, authority or engineer. SurgePV outputs support design and documentation but do not replace that approval.

What the vendor documents: the pricing page has a list called “Everything included”. It names unlimited projects, AI solar designing and shadow analysis. It also names generation and financial analysis and proposal generation. It names 3D embedded designing and DC stringing too. Confirm fair-use limits on unlimited projects. For product detail, see solar design software and the generation and financial tool.

Price (checked October 2026): $1,899 per user per year for 1 user, $1,499 per user per year for 3 seats ($4,497 for the 3 seats), and $1,299 per user per year for 5 seats ($6,495 for the 5 seats). Access starts with a guided demo.

Limitations: results depend on the source data, assumptions and equipment models you use. Pricing, access and contract terms are confirmed in a written quote.

Vendor link: SurgePV solar design software.

Sources and Dates

Vendor pages were read in October 2026, and prices are the figures each vendor published on those pages. The links below are the vendor pages the entries rely on, grouped by tool. SurgePV facts come from its own pricing and demo pages.

• Arka360: pricing-in page, Arka360 pricing, arka360.com permit services
• Aurora Solar: Instant Plan Sets, Aurora pricing, help article, aurorasolar.com
• HelioScope: help article, HelioScope pricing, helioscope.aurorasolar.com
• OpenSolar: sales page, help article, OpenSolar’s API page, 16 February 2026 post, free page, Enterprise Services, help center, setting up the ITC
• PVsyst: single line diagram, product page, PVsyst shop
• SolarEdge Designer: SolarEdge Designer

How We Ordered These Tools

SurgePV publishes this page and is a vendor on this list. Its entry uses the same vendor-page sources and template as every other tool here.

The tools are listed alphabetically, and the matrix records what each vendor documents, not what we saw in use. “Not stated” means the pages we read did not say; the feature may still exist.

Tool	Electrical drawings and NEC	Permit path	Utility rates and incentives	Yield output	Price in USD
Arka360	Electric single line diagram (Premium, Enterprise)	Permit and PE stamp service	Utility rate finder; adders, discounts and incentives (all plans, feature list)	8760 production report (all plans, feature list)	Yes, per month
Aurora Solar	NEC validation reports	AHJ database; plan sets service	Utility rate database; adders, discounts and incentives	Bankable shade reports (Premium)	Yes, per user per month
HelioScope	Single-line diagrams, CAD export	Not stated	Utility Rate Editor (Pro, Enterprise)	8760 report; P90, P95, P99 (Pro)	Yes, per license per year
OpenSolar	Single line diagram generator, US template	US permitting integrations	Utility rate database, ITC setup and incentive expiry articles (help center); incentive data not checked	Shade reports, bankable shading values	Core app free
PVsyst	Single line diagram editor, grid-connected only	Not stated	Economic assessment	Simulation reports; NLR/NSRDB TMY data	Not published (USD)
SolarEdge Designer	SolarEdge design rules; AutoCAD integration	Not stated	Financial analysis, ROI forecasts	Energy simulation	No fee stated
SurgePV	Electrical workflow support, DC stringing	Not stated	Generation and financial analysis	Yield modeling	Yes, per user per year

Electrical drawings and NEC. It matters because US permit sets need code-aware electrical documents. We did not check any drawing against an authority’s requirements.

Permit path. It matters because permitting is a common delay for small US teams. We did not submit anything through any partner.

Utility rates and incentives. It matters because savings figures depend on the tariff and the incentive in force. We did not check how any tool models the tax-credit changes above.

Yield output. It matters because lenders and clients read the production number. We did not compare outputs or check which lenders accept them.

Price in USD. It matters because US teams budget in dollars. We did not negotiate quotes, and we left out taxes and discounts.

On these US criteria the picks differ from our small installers list. Here the order of picks follows electrical drawings, permit path and yield data. OpenSolar, Aurora Solar and HelioScope each document a drawing or permit item. SurgePV’s pricing page does not name that item. SurgePV is the pick only for the web-based design-to-proposal case, priced per user.

Not covered in this update: a federal and state net-metering comparison by tool, because the vendor pages we read do not describe how each tool models net metering.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best solar software in the United States?

It depends on what a US project must produce. OpenSolar and HelioScope list single line diagrams. Aurora Solar lists NEC validation reports and a plan sets service. Arka360 sells NEC-compliant permit drawings. PVsyst is a Windows yield simulator that lists NSRDB weather data. SurgePV combines design, shading, financial analysis and proposals in one product, priced per user. Use the comparison table to match the tool to your documents.

Do solar design tools generate single line diagrams for US permits?

Some do. OpenSolar says its generator creates single line diagrams from the design, with a US template. HelioScope lists single-line diagrams in its plan comparison. Arka360 lists an electric single line diagram for its Premium and Enterprise plans and sells NEC-compliant permit drawings. Your authority decides what it accepts, so check its submission requirements before you choose a tool.

Which solar software do US lenders accept?

Lenders set their own requirements, and none of the vendor pages we read states which lenders accept its reports. Aurora Solar lists bankable shade reports on Premium. OpenSolar lists bankable shading analysis values. HelioScope lists P90, P95 and P99 values on Pro. Ask your lender what it needs before you buy.

How much does solar software cost in the US?

OpenSolar says its core app is free of charge, but the vendor charges for API Access and supported connectors from 16 April 2026. SolarEdge Designer states no license or subscription fees. Aurora Solar Basic is $135 per user per month billed annually. HelioScope Basic is $1,620 per license per year. Arka360 Basic is $199 per month. SurgePV Individual is $1,899 per user per year. PVsyst publishes CHF 700 per year, a Swiss franc price, and no US dollar price.

Does solar software handle the federal solar tax credit?

The IRS says the Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. For commercial projects, IRS Notice 2025-42 describes the termination of the section 48E credit for solar facilities placed in service after December 31, 2027. It says the termination date applies to facilities whose construction begins after July 4, 2026. The vendor pages we read do not say how each tool models these changes, so ask the vendor and a tax adviser.

What NEC compliance do US solar projects need?

NFPA says NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, is enforced in all 50 states, and lists the 2026 edition as current. Which edition applies is set by your state or local authority. Aurora Solar lists NEC validation reports in its design tool. Software outputs support design and documentation. They do not replace review by the responsible engineer or authority.