The Quick Answer
Pick Aurora AI if: You're a US residential installer with budget for premium tooling ($2,640-6,000+/yr), no commercial pipeline above standard rooftop, no carport/tracker/East-West projects, and operating only in the US market. Aurora's residential proposal polish is genuinely industry-leading for that profile.
Pick Clara AI / SurgePV if: You need any of these — international project coverage (9 languages, multi-currency), commercial workflows requiring native SLD (no AutoCAD), carport/tracker/East-West racking support, transparent pricing, integrated financial modeling, or no project size limits. Clara AI extends what Aurora does for residential into commercial and utility-scale.
Where Both AIs Are Equivalent
LiDAR-grade roof modeling
Both platforms use LiDAR-derived digital surface models for residential roof analysis. Edge detection, pitch calculation, and azimuth determination are comparable in accuracy. For typical pitched residential roofs, layout output is essentially equivalent.
AI obstruction detection
Computer vision identifies chimneys, vents, skylights, HVAC equipment, and other rooftop obstructions. Both platforms achieve high accuracy on standard residential roofs.
Optimized panel placement
Both AIs handle code-mandated setbacks (fire access pathways, edge offsets), preferred panel orientation, and shading-optimized arrangement. The placement quality is comparable.
Integrated proposal generation
Both produce branded customer-facing proposals from the same design dataset. Aurora's proposals are particularly polished for US residential; Clara AI's proposals support multi-currency and multi-language for international workflows.
Where Clara AI (SurgePV) Wins
1. Commercial workflows with native SLD
Aurora doesn't generate single-line diagrams natively — commercial installers either pay $2,000/year per seat for AutoCAD or have an electrical engineer manually draw SLDs. Clara AI generates NEC-compliant US single-line diagrams from the same project data, with proper conductor labeling, string sizing notation, and AHJ-friendly formatting. For a 5-designer commercial EPC, this eliminates $10,000/year in AutoCAD subscriptions.
2. All major racking types
Aurora's design canvas doesn't natively support carport/canopy structures, single-axis trackers, dual-axis trackers, or East-West (vertical) racking. Clara AI handles all of these in the same canvas as standard rooftop. For commercial EPCs whose pipeline includes any non-standard racking, this is a hard project-acceptance constraint, not a workflow inconvenience.
3. International coverage (9 languages)
Aurora's market focus is primarily US residential with limited international depth. Clara AI operates globally with localized irradiance databases, regional grid code awareness (CEA for India, BSI for UK, IEC for EU, SASO for Saudi Arabia, and more), multi-currency proposal generation, and content localization in 9 languages.
4. Transparent pricing without sales-cycle friction
Aurora pricing isn't publicly listed — every evaluation requires a sales call and quote process that adds 2-4 weeks of friction. SurgePV publishes transparent pricing tiers alongside custom organizational pricing for larger teams. Custom pricing typically lands 30-50% below Aurora's premium tier.
5. Integrated financial modeling
Both platforms include financial modeling, but Clara AI extends it with multi-structure support (cash, loan, lease, PPA), multi-currency, and regional tax treatment (US ITC, Indian PM Surya Ghar, German EEG, Italian Detrazione 50%, etc.). For international or commercial projects, the depth matters.
6. No project size limits
Aurora is residential-focused — utility-scale work isn't its primary use case. Clara AI handles 5 kW residential to 100+ MW utility-scale ground-mount in the same workflow. For EPCs with mixed pipelines, the consolidation eliminates tool-switching overhead.
Where Aurora AI Wins
1. US residential proposal polish
Aurora's proposals lift residential close rates from 30% to 65% in user-reported case studies. The presentation, customer-facing visualization, and CRM integration (native Salesforce/HubSpot two-way sync) are best-in-class for US residential workflows specifically.
2. Native CRM integration depth
Aurora's two-way Salesforce/HubSpot sync runs deeper than SurgePV's standard API integrations. For teams whose sales workflow depends on specific Aurora data fields populating in Salesforce, the integration is mission-critical.
3. Brand recognition
Aurora has 7,000+ companies and 20M+ designs as of 2026. For installers wanting the most-recognized AI design platform brand for credibility with customers and partners, Aurora's brand is genuinely strong.
4. Sub-15-second design speed
Aurora's design generation completes in under 15 seconds for typical residential projects vs Clara AI's under 60 seconds. The 45-second difference is rarely material in practice (both eliminate the manual 30-90 minute CAD work), but Aurora's specific speed metric is industry-leading.
Side-by-Side Feature Comparison
| Capability | Aurora AI | Clara AI / SurgePV |
|---|---|---|
| LiDAR + AI roof modeling | ✅ Industry-leading | ✅ LiDAR-grade equivalent |
| Design speed (residential) | Sub-15 seconds | Sub-60 seconds |
| AI obstruction detection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Native SLD generation (US) | 🔴 Requires AutoCAD ($2k/yr) | ✅ Built-in |
| Carport / canopy support | 🔴 Not native | ✅ Native |
| Single-axis tracker | 🔴 Not native | ✅ Native |
| East-West racking | 🔴 Not native | ✅ Native |
| Utility-scale (above 1 MW) | 🟡 Residential focus | ✅ No upper limit |
| International coverage | 🔴 US-focused | ✅ 9 languages, global |
| Multi-currency proposals | 🟡 USD default | ✅ Native multi-currency |
| Battery (BESS) modeling | 🟡 Available, limited | ✅ Full AC/DC-coupled |
| Salesforce/HubSpot sync | ✅ Two-way native | 🟡 Standard API integration |
| Pricing transparency | 🔴 Sales contact required | ✅ Published tiers |
| Per-seat cost (estimated) | $2,640-6,000+/yr | 30-50% lower (custom) |
| Free trial | $3k credit bundle option | ✅ Trial period |
Decision Framework
Step 1 — What's your primary project type?
- Pure US residential: Aurora is genuinely strong; Clara AI is competitive at lower cost
- US residential + commercial: Clara AI (native SLD eliminates Aurora's AutoCAD requirement)
- International: Clara AI (Aurora is US-focused)
- Carport / tracker / East-West: Clara AI (Aurora doesn't support these)
- Utility-scale: Clara AI (Aurora is residential-focused)
Step 2 — What's your budget tolerance?
- Premium budget ($3k-6k+/yr per seat): Either works; Aurora's residential polish may justify the premium
- Mid-market budget ($1.5k-3k/yr per seat): Clara AI typically lands here; Aurora rarely does
- Need transparent published pricing: Clara AI
Step 3 — How important is CRM integration?
- Salesforce/HubSpot two-way sync mission-critical: Aurora has deeper native integration
- Standard API integration is fine: Either works; Clara AI integrates with any modern CRM via API
Migration Between Them
Project files don't transfer directly between Aurora and SurgePV (no industry interchange format). However, project inputs (site address, modules, inverter, target system size) can be re-entered in 15-30 minutes per project. Most teams migrating from Aurora to Clara AI complete the cutover in 3-5 weeks of overlap. Read the full Aurora-to-SurgePV migration guide for week-by-week steps.
Try Clara AI With Your Real Project
20-minute live walkthrough using your actual project address. We'll generate the 3D model, place panels, run simulation, and produce a proposal — all in real time. Compare directly against your current Aurora workflow.
Book a DemoNo commitment · 20 minutes · Live project walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Clara AI and Aurora AI?
Both are AI-powered solar design assistants, but they're built for different workflows. Aurora AI focuses on residential roof design with industry-leading LiDAR roof modeling — its strength is generating accurate residential 3D models in under 15 seconds and producing polished proposals. Clara AI (SurgePV) handles the same residential workflow but extends across commercial (with native SLD generation), utility-scale (no project size limits), and international markets (9 languages, multi-currency). Clara AI is integrated with full financial modeling and proposal generation in one platform; Aurora AI is integrated with Aurora's premium proposal stack.
Is Clara AI as accurate as Aurora AI for roof modeling?
Yes for residential rooftops. Both platforms use LiDAR-grade satellite data and AI-driven obstruction detection. For typical pitched residential roofs, panel placement accuracy is comparable. For commercial flat-roofs with parapets, HVAC equipment, and walkway requirements, Clara AI handles the full constraint set in one workflow; Aurora requires separate handling for some commercial constraints. For carport, single-axis tracker, and East-West racking, Aurora doesn't natively support these — Clara AI does.
How does pricing compare? Aurora is $2,640-6,000+/year per user.
Aurora Solar pricing isn't publicly listed — buyers contact sales for quotes. Industry estimates place it at $220-259/user/month or $2,640-6,000+/year. SurgePV publishes transparent pricing tiers and is generally 30-50% lower per seat than Aurora's premium tier. For installers needing AutoCAD with Aurora (commercial SLD work), the gap widens further — SurgePV includes native SLD generation; Aurora requires AutoCAD ($2,000/year per seat) for commercial SLD output.
Can Clara AI design carport, tracker, and East-West projects? Aurora can't.
Yes. Clara AI natively supports all major commercial racking types: standard rooftop, carport/canopy, single-axis trackers, dual-axis trackers, East-West (vertical) racking, and ground-mount installations. Aurora Solar's design canvas doesn't natively support carport, tracker, or East-West racking — installers running these projects must use a separate tool. For commercial EPCs whose pipeline includes any non-standard racking, this difference is a hard limit, not a workflow inconvenience.
Does Clara AI work for international projects? Aurora is US-focused.
Yes. Clara AI operates globally with localized irradiance databases (calibrated to IMD, NASA POWER, regional weather services), regional grid code awareness (CEA for India, BSI for UK, IEC for EU, SASO for Saudi Arabia, and more), multi-currency proposal generation, and content localization in 9 languages (English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Arabic). Aurora Solar's coverage is primarily US-focused. For solar EPCs operating in multiple countries, the international workflow gap is substantial.
How fast is Clara AI compared to Aurora AI?
Aurora AI generates designs in under 15 seconds for typical residential projects — the industry-leading speed metric. Clara AI completes the same workflow in under 60 seconds with comparable layout quality. The 45-second difference is rarely material in practice — both eliminate the manual CAD work that used to take 30-90 minutes. Speed becomes more relevant for commercial projects where Clara AI handles complex constraints (parapets, HVAC, walkways) that Aurora doesn't model natively.
Which one has better proposal generation?
Aurora's proposals are industry-leading for US residential — polished, customizable, integrated with native CRM (Salesforce/HubSpot two-way sync). They're a major reason for the $2,640-6,000+/year price tag. Clara AI generates branded proposals from the same design dataset with multi-currency support, multi-language localization, and integrated financial modeling (cash, loan, lease, PPA). For US residential where Aurora is most polished, both are strong. For commercial or international workflows, Clara AI's flexibility is typically better-suited.
Can I migrate from Aurora Solar to Clara AI / SurgePV?
Yes. Most Aurora users complete the migration in 3-5 weeks of overlap. Aurora project files don't import directly (no industry interchange format), but project inputs (site, modules, inverter, target size) can be re-entered in SurgePV in 15-30 minutes per project. Aurora users typically reach SurgePV productivity in 2-4 days because the residential workflows are conceptually similar. See the full Aurora-to-SurgePV migration guide for week-by-week steps.
