Pros
Cons
Quick answer
PVsyst 8 Professional costs CHF 700 per year on the vendor's shop, updates included, and a one-month free trial is offered with generic components and watermarked reports. It runs only on Windows, with one licence per computer. Pick it for detailed yield and shade simulation by engineers. Prices checked October 2026.
Weighing PVsyst against SurgePV?
Book a guided demo to see design, shading, yield and proposals in one workflow, priced per user per year in US dollars.
Book a Free DemoChecking cost first? See the SurgePV pricing page.
SurgePV publishes this page and is a vendor in this category. SurgePV competes with PVsyst and is compared in the table below. The facts here come from PVsyst’s own pages and SurgePV’s public pricing, checked October 2026. Last checked: October 2026.
What does PVsyst do?
PVsyst is a Windows program for sizing, simulating and analysing solar power systems. PVsyst’s help calls it “a PC software package for the study, sizing and data analysis of complete PV systems” (PVsyst help). PV means photovoltaic, or solar. The help says it covers grid-connected, stand-alone, pumping and DC-grid systems. Simulations use hourly or sub-hourly time steps.
Here is what the vendor documents, with the page for each fact.
| Area | What the vendor says | Page |
|---|---|---|
| System design | “Rapidly design grid-connected, standalone, or pumping photovoltaic systems.” It shows sizing limits for modules and inverters. | PVsyst 8 product page |
| Simulation | Reports gains and losses. A “Loss Diagram” helps you find weak points. An engineer report is printed for each run. | PVsyst help |
| Shade | Near shadings: build a 3D scene or import one from another CAD tool. “Layout” calculates electrical shading losses (mismatch). | Product page |
| Other models | Storage, self-consumption, bifacial modules, trackers, module ageing and batch runs. | Product page |
| Weather data | Seven databases: Meteonorm 9, NASA-Power, PVGIS-TMY, NLR/NSRDB TMY, Solcast TMY, Solar Anywhere TGY and Solargis. You can also import other formats. | Product page |
| Money | You enter costs and tariffs. The tool calculates LCOE (cost of each unit of energy over time), ROI (return on investment), payback period and NPV (net present value). | Economic evaluation help |
| Single line diagram (SLD) | An SLD is a simple drawing of how the system is wired. PVsyst has an SLD editor and viewer for grid-connected systems. It does not include storage. | SLD help |
Shade models and their limits
PVsyst’s help describes several ways to count shade. “Linear (irradiance)” shading counts only the loss of sunlight on the array, with no electrical effect. The Module Layout method calculates the electrical mismatch losses between shaded and unshaded modules (near shadings help).
The Module Layout help lists limits. It does not apply to thin-film modules. PVsyst shows a warning above 1 MWp and an error above 5 MWp (MWp means megawatts of panel capacity), because the run takes a long time. You can change these limits in the Advanced Parameters (Module Layout help).
P50 and P90
P50 is the yearly output that has a 50% chance of being beaten. P90 is the output that has a 90% chance of being beaten. PVsyst’s P90 tool assumes that yearly output follows a normal (Gaussian) curve centred on your simulation result. The help says the main source of spread is the uncertainty and year-to-year variation of the weather data. The tool is not available for stand-alone and pumping systems (P50/P90 help).
How much does PVsyst cost?
PVsyst 8 Professional costs CHF 700 per year. All prices below are in Swiss francs (CHF), copied from the vendor’s shop and product page. We do not convert them. The page does not say whether tax is included. Checked October 2026.
| Plan | Vendor price | What the vendor says |
|---|---|---|
| PVsyst 8 Professional | CHF 700.- / year | “Full features without any restrictions”. Updates included. Also grants access to PVsyst 7. |
| Group discounts (Professional) | 2-4 licences: -5%. 5-9: -15%. 10+: -20% | “Discounts on grouped orders” |
| Education | CHF 420.- / year | Teacher devices only. Reports carry an “Education” watermark. |
| Classroom | CHF 25.- / year | Reports carry a “Classroom” watermark. Manufacturers shown as generic. |
| Student | CHF 25.- / year | Needs a student card. Reports carry a “Student” watermark. |
| Training / Research | CHF 560.- / year | Reports carry a “Training” or “Research” watermark. |
| PVsystCLI | CHF 3’000.- / year | Command line tool to run simulations. Server-side installation and remote access allowed. |
| PVsystCLI Education or Research | CHF 1’500.- / year | Watermarked reports |
| PVsystBasic 1.0 | CHF 25.- / year | A separate program for direct solar pumping. It has its own 30-day free trial. |
Source: PVsyst shop and PVsyst 8 product page.
- PVsystCLICHF 3,000
- PVsyst 8 ProfessionalCHF 700
- Training / ResearchCHF 560
- EducationCHF 420
- StudentCHF 25
Source: PVsyst shop, checked October 2026.
Is there a PVsyst free trial?
The product page offers a “One-month free trial”. The licensing help explains it. For 30 days PVsyst has full features, except that you can use only generic components and reports carry a watermark. After that it switches to demo mode, which removes most functions. A paid licence turns on full use (licensing help).
PVsystCLI has its own trial: 60 days and 250 calls (PVsystCLI licensing help).
Need proposals as well as yield reports?
PVsyst pages do not list a proposal feature. SurgePV lists proposal generation in its scope. Bring a live project to a demo.
Book a Free DemoChecking cost first? See the SurgePV pricing page.
Who should choose PVsyst?
It suits you if:
- You are an engineer or researcher who needs hourly simulation, a loss diagram and a printed report. The help says the software is “geared to the needs of architects, engineers, researchers”.
- Your team works on Windows PCs and can buy one licence per computer.
- You want to model near shade in 3D and count electrical mismatch. For reports clients may ask about, see our checklist on bankable PVsyst reports.
Look elsewhere if:
- You need to run the software natively on a Mac, or on a server, Remote Desktop or Azure Virtual Desktop. The vendor lists servers, Remote Desktop, Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows Enterprise editions and ARM versions of Windows as unsupported. The conditions of use (updated 1 June 2026) say PVsyst 8 cannot be operated from a Windows Remote Desktop client.
- You need to keep your workspace in OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox. The vendor says the workspace does not support shared or remotely synced folders. You can sync files after you close PVsyst.
- You need a single line diagram for a stand-alone system, a pumping system or a system with storage. The vendor says the SLD is for grid-connected systems and leaves out storage.
- You need a customer proposal document. We found no proposal or quote feature in the PVsyst help or on the product pages (searched October 2026). Ask PVsyst if you need one.
PVsyst vs SurgePV: scope and price
SurgePV sells competing software. The SurgePV column uses only SurgePV’s own product facts and pricing page.
| Topic | PVsyst | SurgePV |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Study, sizing and data analysis of complete PV systems | 3D roof modeling, solar array layout, shading analysis, energy-yield modeling, financial modeling, electrical workflow support, bill-of-materials output and proposal generation |
| Price | CHF 700.- / year for PVsyst 8 Professional | USD per user per year: $1,899 (1 user), $1,499 (3 seats), $1,299 (5 seats) |
| Try it first | One-month free trial with generic components and watermarked reports | Guided demo; no self-serve trial |
| Customer proposals | Not found in the PVsyst help or product pages | Proposal generation is part of the scope |
| Limits | Windows only; one licence per computer | Results depend on source data, assumptions, equipment models, configuration and review. Outputs support design work but do not replace approval by the responsible engineer, authority, lender, insurer or utility. |
The two prices use different currencies and units, so do not compare them directly. To see SurgePV on your own project, Book a Free Demo.
Bottom line
Choose PVsyst if your engineers need hourly simulation, 3D near shade and printed loss reports, and your team works on Windows. Choose SurgePV if you also need layout, proposals and a per-user web workflow. Book a Free Demo or read the SurgePV pricing page to compare cost on your seat count.
Other options
- PVsyst vs SurgePV: a direct comparison with SurgePV.
- PVsyst alternatives: other tools that cover similar work.
- PVsyst vs HelioScope: a side-by-side of two simulation tools.
- Solar simulation software: a list of simulation tools by use case.
For a plain explanation of the software, read what PVsyst software does. For licence and trial detail, read is PVsyst free.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PVsyst cost?
PVsyst 8 Professional is listed at CHF 700 per year, with updates included. PVsystCLI, the command line version, is CHF 3’000 per year. Education and student licences cost less. The shop page does not say whether tax is included. Checked October 2026.
Is PVsyst free?
No. PVsyst offers a one-month free trial of PVsyst 8. In the trial you can use only generic components, and reports carry a watermark. After 30 days it switches to demo mode, which removes most functions. You need a paid licence after that.
What is a PVsyst report?
PVsyst prints an engineer report for each simulation run. The vendor says it lists all the parameters used and the main results. Whether a client or reviewer accepts that report is their decision, so ask for their requirements first.
What does the PVsyst model calculate?
PVsyst runs hourly or sub-hourly simulations of a solar system. Results include energy output, a loss diagram, shading losses and, if you enter costs, NPV, LCOE and ROI. The P50/P90 tool is not available for stand-alone and pumping systems.
Can PVsyst run on a Mac?
PVsyst runs only on Windows. The vendor says Mac users can install Windows in a virtual machine, such as Parallels or VirtualBox, and install PVsyst in it. Ask PVsyst whether your exact setup is supported.
How is PVsyst different from SurgePV?
PVsyst is a Windows simulation program priced at CHF 700 per year, while SurgePV is a web design and proposal tool priced from $1,899 per user per year. The currencies and units differ, so compare on your own seat count. Sources: PVsyst shop and the SurgePV pricing page, checked October 2026.
Sources
All pages were read in October 2026. Prices and limits are as the vendor shows them on those pages.
- PVsyst shop
- PVsyst 8 product page
- PVsyst help: overview
- PVsyst help: licensing
- PVsyst help: requirements
- PVsyst help: installation (Mac)
- PVsyst help: single line diagram
- PVsyst help: near shadings
- PVsyst help: Module Layout
- PVsyst help: P50/P90
- PVsyst help: economic evaluation
- PVsystCLI help: licensing
- PVsyst conditions of use, updated 1 June 2026 (PDF)
- SurgePV pricing
About the Contributors
Editorial contributor · SurgePV
Rainer Neumann is credited as an editorial contributor on SurgePV content. This profile does not assert engineering credentials, project totals, software-testing experience, education, speaking engagements, or media citations because independent verification evidence is not retained in the publication record.
CEO & Co-Founder · SurgePV
Keyur Rakholiya is identified by SurgePV as its CEO and a company co-founder. His SurgePV author page lists only role information that can be tied to the public profile below; credentials, project totals, testing claims, media appearances, and speaking engagements are not asserted without retained evidence.
