Expert Verified — Written by Keyur Rakholiya, SurgePV Editorial. 10 tools tested for solar quoting. Pricing verified July 2026. Based on 1+ GW of delivered projects and thousands of proposals reviewed across 50+ countries.
A slow quote loses deals. Homeowners compare 3 to 6 solar quotes before they sign anything. The installer who sends an accurate, professional quote first usually wins.
We tested 10 solar quoting software tools against real installer workflows. We built residential rooftop quotes, commercial proposals, and battery bundles. We measured time to quote, financial accuracy, and how the finished document looks to a customer.
This list ranks what actually works in 2026. Every tool gets honest strengths and honest weaknesses. That includes our own product.
Quick Picks
| Pick | Tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best for enterprise sales teams | Aurora Solar | Fast Sales Mode, LIDAR design, contract management |
| Best for design-to-proposal speed | SurgePV | Design, simulation, financials, and proposal in 1 workflow |
| Best free option | OpenSolar | $0 forever, design plus CRM plus e-signature |
| Best for simple residential quotes | Solargraf | 3-minute proposals, Express Editor |
| Best for C&I design + quoting | HelioScope | Bankable simulations with proposal tools on Pro |
| Best for financial modeling depth | Energy Toolbase | 70,000+ utility rates, defensible economics |
How We Evaluated
We scored each tool on 5 criteria. Weighting reflects what closes deals in the field.
| Criterion | Weight | What We Measured |
|---|---|---|
| Time to quote | 25% | Minutes from site data to customer-ready proposal |
| Accuracy | 25% | Production estimates, pricing logic, shading realism |
| Proposal quality | 20% | Visual output, financing comparisons, e-signature |
| Financial depth | 15% | Loans, leases, PPAs, tariffs, NPV, IRR |
| Cost per quote | 15% | Subscription or per-project price vs. volume |
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Trial | Cloud | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Solar | Enterprise sales teams | Custom (contact sales) | Demo only | Yes | Sales Mode quotes in under 3 minutes |
| SurgePV | Design-to-proposal speed | $1,899/yr (3 users) | Yes | Yes | Quote carries real design and shading data |
| OpenSolar | Free all-in-one | $0 | Free forever | Yes | Full CRM and proposals at no cost |
| Solargraf | Simple residential quotes | ~$233/mo (Starter) | Yes | Yes | 3-minute proposals with Good/Better/Best |
| HelioScope | C&I design + quoting | $159/mo | Demo only | Yes | Within 1% of PVsyst, DNV validated |
| PVsyst | Engineering-grade yield | ~$775/yr | 30 days | No (Windows) | The bankability standard |
| Energy Toolbase | Financial modeling depth | $199/user/mo | Demo only | Yes | 70,000+ utility rates |
| Arka360 | Emerging-market EPCs | $199/mo (US), ₹7,500/mo (India) | Contact sales | Yes | Built-in CRM plus permit packages |
| SolarEdge Designer | SolarEdge ecosystem | $0 | Free forever | Yes | Free, within 1% of PVsyst |
| Pylon | Quick residential quotes | $4/project | 5 free projects | Yes | Pay-per-project, no monthly fees |
1. Aurora Solar — Best Quoting Tool for Enterprise Sales Teams
Aurora Solar is the reference platform for US residential solar sales. Over 7,000 companies use it, and its Sales Mode turns designs into quotes fast.
What It Does Well
Sales Mode is the star. Users report proposals in under 3 minutes once a design exists. Pricing automations support flat price, price per watt, and per-component models. Adders and discounts apply cleanly.
The LIDAR-assisted 3D modeling and automated shading analysis feed real numbers into every quote. Contract Manager adds e-signatures inside the same flow. For a sales manager running a 20-rep team, the permissions, APIs, and dealer customizations justify the enterprise tier.
G2 reviewers rate Aurora 4.6 out of 5. Support scores 9.0 out of 10 with 24/7 coverage. The 3D visualization (9.5 out of 10) makes proposals easy for homeowners to understand.
Our Take: Aurora is the safest pick for a funded US residential sales org. You pay a premium, and the automation still misses obstructions often enough that reps must verify designs before quoting.
Where It Falls Short
Price is the main barrier. Aurora does not publish rates, and reviewers call it expensive for small teams. The automated roof modeling is hit-or-miss on unusual roofs and in remote areas. Complex non-residential projects stretch it.
Key Features
- Sales Mode proposals in under 3 minutes
- Pricing automations: flat, PPW, per component
- Contract Manager with e-signature
- Lead Capture AI for web leads
Pricing
- Foundation, Build, Grow, Scale: Custom pricing, contact sales
- Free trial: Guided demo only
Who Should Use Aurora Solar
Strong fit: US residential sales teams of 10+ reps with budget for premium software. Probably not right for: Solo installers, non-US markets, and teams quoting complex industrial projects.
2. SurgePV — Best Quoting Tool for Design-to-Proposal Speed
Full disclosure: we build SurgePV. We ranked it #2 because Aurora still wins for pure enterprise sales teams. For everyone who quotes from real engineering data, this is where we are strongest.
What It Does Well
Most quoting tools start after the design is done. That split causes the real problem. Sales reps copy production numbers from one tool into another, and errors creep in. A wrong shading number becomes a wrong savings promise. A wrong savings promise becomes a cancelled contract.
SurgePV removes the handoff. You design the system, run the shadow analysis, and pull generation and financial figures in 1 platform. The quote inherits the same numbers the engineer simulated. No re-typing, no version drift.
The generation and financial tool models cash, loan, lease, and PPA scenarios. The proposal layer turns that into a branded, customer-ready document. Clara AI helps teams move faster on routine design and quoting steps. In our own testing, a residential quote takes under 10 minutes from address to sendable proposal.
Our Take: If your quotes keep breaking because sales and engineering use different numbers, SurgePV fixes the root cause. It is not the cheapest option, and it is not trying to be.
Where It Falls Short
SurgePV has no native CRM, so pipeline tracking needs an external tool. The component and tariff databases are deepest in markets we serve directly. Very large enterprise sales orgs may still prefer Aurora’s rep management layer.
Key Features
- Solar designing with automated shadow analysis
- Generation and financial tool for cash, loan, lease, and PPA
- Branded solar proposals built from live design data
- Clara AI assistance across the workflow
Pricing
- For 3 Users plan: $1,899/year — design, simulation, financials, and proposals included
- Free trial: Available with full design and proposal capabilities
Who Should Use SurgePV
Strong fit: Installers and EPCs who want quotes backed by real engineering, residential through commercial. Probably not right for: Teams wanting a free tool, or sales-only orgs needing built-in CRM.
Want to see the design-to-quote flow on a real project? Book a 20-minute demo.
3. OpenSolar — Best Free Solar Quoting Tool
OpenSolar is the only genuinely free platform on this list. 28,000+ users in 185+ countries pay nothing for design, CRM, proposals, and e-signatures.
What It Does Well
The price is the headline: $0 forever, unlimited projects, unlimited users. OpenSolar monetizes hardware partners and lenders instead of installers. That makes it the default starting point for new solar businesses.
Speed is real. Users report proposals in under 2 minutes once templates are set. The Sales Machine proposals are interactive and mobile-friendly. Financing options include cash, loan, lease, and PPA, with lender integrations in the US, UK, and Australia.
The built-in CRM and mobile apps cover the full sales loop. Most teams are operational in under 1 day. Accuracy is third-party validated by PVEL and a US government agency.
Our Take: For a 1 to 10 person residential installer, OpenSolar’s value is unbeatable. Just know the ceiling: it tops out around 500 kW and lacks engineering depth.
Where It Falls Short
The 500 kW cap rules out utility-scale work. Photogrammetry-based modeling is less precise than LIDAR. There is no offline mode, and the CRM cannot match dedicated platforms for large teams.
Key Features
- 3D design studio with real-time shading
- Interactive proposals with e-signature
- Built-in CRM, payments, and financing integrations
- Full iOS and Android apps
Pricing
- Free tier: $0 — unlimited projects, users, and features
- Free trial: Not needed; the product is free
Who Should Use OpenSolar
Strong fit: New and small residential installers, budget-conscious teams, emerging markets. Probably not right for: C&I above 500 kW, bank-grade engineering needs, offline field work.
4. Solargraf — Best Quoting Tool for Simple Residential Quotes
Solargraf, owned by Enphase since 2021, is built for speed on straightforward residential jobs. Its pitch is a full proposal in 3 minutes.
What It Does Well
The Express Editor lets reps adjust quotes on the spot without looping in a design team. The Good/Better/Best feature presents 3 pricing options in 1 proposal. DocuSign integration closes the deal in the same session.
Battery modeling is a genuine strength. Solargraf supports Enphase IQ Batteries, Tesla Powerwall, and 25+ manufacturers with backup scenario comparisons. California installers get NEM 3.0 optimization with CPUC hourly sell rates.
Permitting is included. DIY permit packages generate AHJ-compliant documents with validated SLDs. For residential shops, that covers quote through permit in 1 subscription.
Our Take: Solargraf is a solid mid-priced pick for US residential speed. Verify its shading output against a second tool before you trust the production numbers in a quote.
Where It Falls Short
Shading accuracy is the most common user complaint, and some teams cross-check production estimates in Aurora or HelioScope. There is no built-in CRM. Annual billing only, and it costs more than OpenSolar’s free tier.
Key Features
- 3-minute proposal generation with Express Editor
- Good/Better/Best multi-option pricing
- Battery design for 25+ manufacturers
- DIY AHJ-compliant permit packages
Pricing
- Starter: $2,799/year — 240 projects, 2 users
- Free trial: Available; new users get 120 project credits
Who Should Use Solargraf
Strong fit: US residential installers, Enphase-heavy shops, California NEM 3.0 work. Probably not right for: Teams needing shading precision guarantees or a built-in CRM.
5. HelioScope — Best Quoting Tool for C&I Design + Quoting
HelioScope, now part of Aurora Solar, is the fast path for commercial projects. It pairs bankable simulations with a drag-and-drop proposal editor on the Pro plan.
What It Does Well
Accuracy is validated. DNV GL found HelioScope within 1% of PVsyst, and Sunstone Credit recognized it as bankable in October 2025. Users report 4x faster design iterations than desktop tools.
The module-level simulation handles rooftops, carports, and ground mounts up to 15 MW. P50 comes on the Basic plan; P90, P95, and P99 arrive on Pro. The financial calculator covers NPV, IRR, payback, and LCOE.
For quoting, the Pro plan adds a proposal editor with custom branding and 1-click sharing. The combination works well for 100 kW to 5 MW C&I deals where the buyer wants credible yield numbers.
Our Take: HelioScope is the sweet spot for C&I quoting: PVsyst-grade credibility without PVsyst complexity. Budget for Energy Toolbase if your deals hinge on storage economics.
Where It Falls Short
There is no native battery modeling, so storage quotes need an integration. Financial analysis scores 5.2 out of 10 on G2, well below PVsyst. Residential work under 15 kW feels clumsy, and performance lags past 10,000 modules.
Key Features
- Module-level simulation within 1% of PVsyst
- P50/P90/P95/P99 production estimates
- Drag-and-drop proposal editor with branding
- Energy Toolbase and PVsyst export integrations
Pricing
- Basic: $159/month — 1 user, 10 projects, 1.25 MW cap
- Pro: $259/month — adds LIDAR, P90+, financials, proposals
- Free trial: Demo only; academic discounts available
Who Should Use HelioScope
Strong fit: C&I installers and EPCs quoting 100 kW to 5 MW projects. Probably not right for: Residential-focused teams, heavy storage deals, off-grid systems.
Quote From Real Engineering Data
See how SurgePV turns design, shading, and financials into a customer-ready proposal in 1 workflow.
Book a DemoNo commitment required · 20 minutes · Live project walkthrough
6. PVsyst — Best Quoting Tool for Engineering-Grade Yield Estimates
PVsyst is not a quoting tool in the sales sense. It earns its place because financed projects quote from its numbers. Lenders have trusted its reports for 30+ years.
What It Does Well
PVsyst is the bankability standard. P50, P90, P95, and P99 uncertainty analysis is built in, and most financiers require exactly that. Billions of dollars in solar projects have closed on PVsyst reports.
The technical depth is unmatched. Version 8 adds unlimited orientations, sub-hourly clipping correction, and detailed loss modeling for soiling, degradation, and mismatch. The economic analysis covers LCOE, NPV, IRR, and payback.
G2 reviewers rate design and engineering at 9.4 out of 10, the highest in the category. For a C&I or utility-scale quote where credibility decides the deal, a PVsyst-backed yield figure carries weight no pretty proposal can match.
Our Take: Use PVsyst to generate the numbers, then pair it with a real proposal tool to present them. It wins deals that require lender-grade proof and loses on everything customer-facing.
Where It Falls Short
The interface is dated, and ease of use scores 7.1 out of 10 on G2. It runs on Windows only, with no cloud collaboration. There are no customer-facing proposals at all, and the learning curve is steep.
Key Features
- P50/P90/P95/P99 bankable uncertainty analysis
- 14,000+ modules and 4,500+ inverters in the database
- Detailed loss, bifacial, and storage modeling
- Batch processing and PVsystCLI automation
Pricing
- Professional: CHF 700/year (~$775) — volume discounts from 2 licenses
- Free trial: 30 days, full features
Who Should Use PVsyst
Strong fit: Engineers, EPCs, and developers quoting financed C&I or utility-scale projects. Probably not right for: Residential sales teams and anyone needing polished customer proposals.
7. Energy Toolbase — Best Quoting Tool for Financial Modeling Depth
Energy Toolbase (ETB) is the economics engine behind many C&I solar and storage quotes. Its utility rate database is the deepest we have tested.
What It Does Well
The numbers are the product. ETB Developer maintains 70,000+ utility rates across 1,200+ territories with an in-house rates team. Quotes built on stale tariffs die in diligence; ETB’s do not.
Storage economics are where it separates from the pack. Multi-value stream analysis stacks demand charge reduction, TOU arbitrage, and grid services in 1 model. NEM 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 modeling covers California’s complexity.
Customer evidence is strong. SunGreen Systems cut proposal time from 16 hours to 1 to 2 hours. Proposals generate as professional web URLs with unlimited optimizations.
Our Take: If your quote’s credibility rests on savings math, ETB is the most defensible tool available. Pair it with a design tool, because it has none.
Where It Falls Short
There is no native design capability; you import 8760 data from HelioScope, Aurora, or PVsyst. No CRM integration yet, no mobile apps, and pricing starts at $199 per user per month. Public reviews are scarce.
Key Features
- 70,000+ utility rates maintained in-house
- Solar + storage NPV, IRR, payback, and cash flow
- NEM 3.0 and multi-value stream modeling
- Instant PPA quotes via financing partners
Pricing
- ETB Developer: $199/user/month — 10% annual discount
- Free trial: Demo only; Acumen EMS and ETB Monitor priced separately
Who Should Use Energy Toolbase
Strong fit: C&I developers, ESCOs, and storage-heavy quotes where savings math must survive scrutiny. Probably not right for: Residential installers wanting an all-in-one, or teams on tight budgets.
8. Arka360 — Best Quoting Tool for Emerging-Market EPCs
Arka360 serves 4,000+ installers across 27 countries, with deep roots in the US and India. It bundles design, CRM, and proposals at SMB-friendly prices.
What It Does Well
The all-in-one scope stands out at this price. Design, shading analysis, a built-in CRM, and proposal generation live in 1 platform. Users report proposals in under 5 minutes and full workflows in 20.
Ease of use is the top user praise, mentioned 21 times in G2 reviews. Support earns strong marks too. The platform holds a 4.7 out of 5 G2 rating across 117 reviews.
For EPCs, the permit packages are the differentiator. Arka360 delivers NEC-compliant permit sets in 48 hours, or under 8 hours expedited, with PE stamps available. India pricing starts at ₹7,500 per month, which fits emerging-market budgets.
Our Take: Arka360 is the practical choice for a growing EPC that needs CRM plus quoting without enterprise pricing. Expect some rough edges in performance and repetitive layout steps.
Where It Falls Short
Missing features are the top user complaint on G2. Users report performance issues and occasional instability. Panel re-selection for each new polygon slows layout work, and utility-scale support is limited.
Key Features
- 3D design with LIDAR-based shading analysis
- Built-in CRM with lead and pipeline tracking
- NEC-compliant permit packages with PE stamps
- ArkaGo mobile app for field proposals
Pricing
- US Basic: $199/month — 1 user, residential and commercial
- US Premium: $358/month — 2 users, battery sizing, CAD export
- India Lite: ₹7,500/month or ₹46,000/year — 360 residential projects
- Free trial: Contact sales
Who Should Use Arka360
Strong fit: Small and mid-size EPCs in the US, India, and other emerging markets. Probably not right for: Utility-scale developers and teams needing polished, stable performance at scale.
9. SolarEdge Designer — Best Quoting Tool for the SolarEdge Ecosystem
SolarEdge Designer is free for certified SolarEdge installers. For teams committed to SolarEdge hardware, the quoting workflow costs nothing.
What It Does Well
Free is hard to argue with. There are no license fees, subscriptions, or per-user charges. Over 50,000 users have created 2.8 million layouts across 170+ countries.
Accuracy is independently validated. DNV GL found Designer’s energy estimates within 1% of PVsyst, with a slight conservative bias. That makes its quotes lender-credible at zero software cost.
The automation is fast. AI-based roof detection, automatic stringing, and instant design validation cut design time sharply. Financial analysis supports fixed, per-watt, and BOM-based pricing with ROI forecasts. Designs sync directly into mySolarEdge for commissioning.
Our Take: If 90% of your installs use SolarEdge hardware, Designer is the obvious free quoting layer. The moment you quote another inverter brand, you need a second tool.
Where It Falls Short
Hardware lock-in is absolute: SolarEdge equipment only. Shading analysis is the most-cited weakness, and only fixed-tilt systems are supported. Proposal output is minimal compared with dedicated sales tools.
Key Features
- AI-based roof detection and auto-stringing
- DNV GL validated simulation, within 1% of PVsyst
- Battery backup sizing and financial analysis
- Direct sync with mySolarEdge commissioning
Pricing
- Designer: $0 — free for certified SolarEdge installers
- Free trial: Not needed; the product is free
Who Should Use SolarEdge Designer
Strong fit: SolarEdge-committed residential installers and small commercial teams. Probably not right for: Multi-brand shops, tracker projects, and complex shading sites.
10. Pylon — Best Quoting Tool for Quick Residential Quotes
Pylon (GetPylon) is an Australian-built tool with a pay-per-project model. Over 3,500 solar businesses use it, and a 2025 installer survey voted it the #1 solar design tool.
What It Does Well
The pricing model is the draw. At $4 per project with no monthly fees, low-volume installers pay only when they quote. Unlimited team users come with no per-seat costs.
Speed is excellent. Users report proposals in under 2 minutes, and panel placement takes under a minute after familiarization. The 3D shading analysis won a Finder innovation award in 2021.
The documentation set is unusually complete for the price. One-click SLDs, voltage rise reports, job sheets, and owner manuals generate automatically. The iPad-optimized interface suits field sales teams quoting on site.
Our Take: Pylon is the best economic fit for installers quoting under 20 projects a month. Australian compliance depth is a bonus; template variety is not.
Where It Falls Short
Only 3 proposal templates limit brand customization. Design variations cap at 5 per project. Utility-scale and advanced C&I work is out of scope, and imagery coverage has gaps in 10 to 20% of regions.
Key Features
- Pay-per-project pricing with unlimited users
- Award-winning 3D shading analysis
- One-click SLDs and voltage rise reports
- iPad-optimized for on-site quoting
Pricing
- Standard: $4/project — design, imagery, financials, proposals
- Pro: $10/project — adds batteries, custom loads, commercial
- Free trial: 5 free Standard projects, no credit card
Who Should Use Pylon
Strong fit: Small residential installers in Australia and the US with variable quote volume. Probably not right for: High-volume teams, C&I projects, and brands needing custom templates.
Decision Flowchart: Which Tool Fits Your Business
Match your segment to a shortlist before you book demos.
- Enterprise US residential sales team (10+ reps): Aurora Solar. Sales Mode, permissions, and contract management scale with headcount.
- Installer or EPC wanting engineering-backed quotes: SurgePV. Design, shading, financials, and proposal stay in 1 workflow.
- New or budget-constrained installer: OpenSolar. Free forever with CRM and e-signatures.
- US residential shop quoting simple roofs fast: Solargraf or Pylon. Pick Solargraf for battery depth, Pylon for pay-per-project economics.
- C&I installer quoting 100 kW to 5 MW: HelioScope, with Energy Toolbase when storage economics decide the deal.
- Developer quoting financed projects: PVsyst for the yield report, plus a proposal tool for presentation.
- Emerging-market EPC needing CRM plus permits: Arka360.
- SolarEdge-committed installer: SolarEdge Designer. Free and validated.
How to Choose Solar Quoting Software
Evaluate any tool against these 6 dimensions before you commit.
- Time to quote. Measure a real quote end to end, not the vendor’s demo. Under 5 minutes residential and under 15 minutes commercial are competitive benchmarks.
- Where the numbers come from. Quotes built on your actual design and shading data beat quotes typed from a spreadsheet. Errors in savings promises cancel contracts.
- Financial depth. Cash, loan, lease, and PPA should model side by side. C&I deals need NPV, IRR, and accurate tariffs.
- Proposal output. Interactive web proposals with e-signature close faster than emailed PDFs. Check template customization limits.
- Total cost per quote. Divide the annual subscription by your quote volume. Free tools win at low volume; flat subscriptions win at high volume.
- Your segment’s ceiling. Residential tools cap out around 15 to 500 kW. C&I and financed projects need bankable simulations and rate databases.
Pro Tip
Run your 3 most recent lost deals through any trial. If the tool would have produced a faster or more accurate quote on those exact jobs, it will pay for itself. If not, keep looking.
FAQ
What is the best solar quoting software in 2026?
It depends on your segment. Aurora Solar leads for enterprise sales teams. SurgePV leads for design-to-proposal speed with engineering data. OpenSolar is the best free option. HelioScope plus Energy Toolbase covers C&I quoting best.
Is free solar quoting software good enough?
For residential installers under 500 kW, yes. OpenSolar handles design, CRM, proposals, and e-signatures at no cost. You trade away engineering depth, LIDAR precision, and offline access.
How fast should a solar quote be?
Under 5 minutes for residential and under 15 minutes for commercial, measured from completed site data. Customers compare multiple quotes, so same-day delivery matters more than polish.
Do I need design and quoting in 1 tool?
Not strictly, but it removes the biggest error source. When sales copies production numbers between tools, savings promises drift from reality. Integrated platforms keep 1 source of truth.
What makes a solar quote bankable?
Lender-credible yield estimates. PVsyst reports are the standard, and HelioScope and SolarEdge Designer are DNV validated within 1% of it. For financed C&I projects, P90 figures usually decide approval.
Conclusion
The right solar quoting software depends on what you sell and who signs. Enterprise sales teams should start with Aurora Solar. Installers and EPCs who want quotes backed by real engineering should test SurgePV first. New businesses should start free on OpenSolar and upgrade when volume justifies it.
Every tool on this list earned its place. Every one also has a ceiling, and we told you where it is. Shortlist 2 or 3 from the decision flowchart, run real jobs through each trial, and pick the one that quotes your actual work fastest.
If you want to see how SurgePV turns a design into a customer-ready proposal, book a 20-minute demo.
