Quick answer
Aurora Solar is paid residential design and sales software: Basic is $135 per user per month billed annually ($159 monthly), Premium $220 ($259 monthly). OpenSolar's core software is free per the vendor, with paid add-ons such as Enterprise Services from US$500 per month. The deciding factor is budget against Aurora's LIDAR and shade-report tier. Checked November 2026.
Comparing Aurora Solar with OpenSolar?
Add a third view: a per-user design, yield and proposal tool demoed on one of your real projects.
Book a Free DemoChecking cost first? See the SurgePV pricing page.
SurgePV publishes this page and is a vendor in this category. SurgePV is not one of the two products compared here. The facts come from the vendors’ public pages, checked October and November 2026.
Aurora Solar vs OpenSolar: How Much Does Each Cost?
Aurora charges per user per month, and OpenSolar does not charge for its core software. Aurora’s prices below are from its North America pricing page, which shows “$” without naming the currency.
| Aurora Solar | OpenSolar | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Basic: $159 per user per month, or $135 billed annually ($1,620 per year) | Core software “100% Free of charge” |
| Next plan | Premium: $259 per user per month, or $220 billed annually ($2,640 per year) | Enterprise Services: Support US$500, Customize US$1,350 per month |
| Top plan | Enterprise: custom per project | Enterprise: custom pricing |
| Included | 1 user and 50 projects per month on Basic and Premium | No per-license limit stated |
| Commitment | None on monthly plans; one year on annual plans | None stated for the free core |
Sources: Aurora pricing, OpenSolar free page, OpenSolar Enterprise Services, checked November 2026.
- OpenSolar core software$0 free; add-ons paid
- Aurora Basic$1,620
- SurgePV (1 user)$1,899
- Aurora Premium$2,640
Source: Vendor pricing pages, checked November 2026.
What Does Aurora Solar Do?
Aurora Solar is software to design and sell solar. Design Mode lists automated panel placement and stringing, and Sales Mode builds web and PDF proposals. Premium adds LIDAR-assisted modeling, bankable shade reports and battery modeling. Enterprise adds the API, Contract Manager and AI-assisted site models.
Aurora’s estimates are P50 values, and its help says it “does not natively output P90”. The single-line diagram editor is “only available in Europe” per its help article. See the Aurora Solar review.
What Does OpenSolar Do?
OpenSolar is cloud software to design, sell and manage solar projects. It lists Auto Design (in beta per the vendor), a bill of materials, proposals, CashFlow payments, e-signature, a project CRM and permitting integrations for US projects.
Its help center recommends keeping 3D designs under 500 kW. API access and connectors are paid, and the amount is shown in the OpenSolar app. See the OpenSolar review.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Aurora Solar | OpenSolar |
|---|---|---|
| Residential design and proposals | Yes, from Basic | Yes, free core |
| Shade report | Bankable shade reports on Premium and Enterprise | Shade reports listed on Auto Design page |
| LIDAR | LIDAR-assisted modeling on Premium and Enterprise | Not described on the pages read |
| Single-line diagrams | Editor available in Europe only, per help | Templates for six countries on the SLD page |
| Batteries | Modeling on Premium and Enterprise | Not covered on the pages read |
| Payments and CRM | Contract Manager (Enterprise); CRM tutorials need API access | CashFlow and project CRM listed |
| Commercial scale | HelioScope, a separate product, is listed for commercial | 3D designs under 500 kW recommended |
Want one price per user instead of tiers or add-ons?
SurgePV lists design, yield, financial modeling and proposals in one per-user plan. Ask for a walkthrough.
Book a Free DemoChecking cost first? See the SurgePV pricing page.
Who Should Pick Which?
- Pick Aurora Solar if you want a paid residential design and sales tool with named lender integrations, LIDAR shading on Premium and plan sets for US pitched roofs.
- Pick OpenSolar if you want design, proposals, payments and CRM without a license fee and can live with paid API access and a 500 kW 3D guideline.
- Consider SurgePV if you want a per-user plan covering array layout, shading, yield, financial modeling and proposals. It lists $1,899 per user per year for one user in USD, with a guided demo and no self-serve trial.
Pros and cons. Aurora: deep residential tooling and plan sets, but a per-user fee and shade reports only on Premium. OpenSolar: no license fee and broad sales tools, but paid integrations and a size guideline.
Bottom Line
If budget is the constraint and projects are residential, OpenSolar’s free core is hard to ignore. If you need LIDAR shading, bankable shade reports and lender integrations in one paid tool, Aurora Premium is the closer fit. To see a third approach, book a SurgePV demo or check the pricing page. More reading: Aurora Solar alternatives, Aurora Solar vs SurgePV, OpenSolar vs SurgePV and residential solar software.
Sources
- Aurora pricing: plans, prices, features, commitments. Checked November 2026.
- Aurora P-values help: P50 only. Checked October 2026.
- Aurora SLD editor help: Europe only. Checked October 2026.
- OpenSolar free page: core software free. Checked November 2026.
- OpenSolar Enterprise Services: paid services. Checked October 2026.
- OpenSolar commercial design help: 500 kW guidance. Checked October 2026.
- SurgePV: pricing page and published product scope, checked November 2026.
Last checked: 4 November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aurora Solar better than OpenSolar?
Aurora is a paid residential design and sales tool, while OpenSolar’s core software is free per the vendor. Aurora lists LIDAR-assisted modeling and bankable shade reports on Premium. OpenSolar lists Auto Design, proposals, payments and a project CRM at no license fee. Checked November 2026.
How much does Aurora Solar cost?
Aurora Basic is $159 per user per month billed monthly or $135 billed annually ($1,620 per year). Premium is $259 monthly or $220 billed annually ($2,640 per year). Enterprise is custom per project, per Aurora’s North America pricing page checked November 2026.
Is OpenSolar free forever?
OpenSolar says its core software is “100% Free of charge” for solar professionals and that partners fund the platform. The vendor lists paid items, including Enterprise Services from US$500 per month, API access and accounting connectors, so check which parts you need.
Does OpenSolar have shading analysis like Aurora?
Yes, both describe shading. OpenSolar’s Auto Design page lists shading analysis with heatmaps and shade reports. Aurora’s help describes irradiance per roof face and LIDAR shading, and its bankable shade reports start on Premium, not Basic.
Which is better for residential installers, Aurora or OpenSolar?
Both target residential work. Aurora says Basic has “all the essential tools for residential design and sales” for a per-user fee. OpenSolar bundles design, proposals, payments and CRM without a license fee, but paid add-ons exist for API access and connectors.
Can either tool produce P90 energy estimates?
Aurora does not natively output P90 for solar production, per its help article, and its estimates are P50 values. The OpenSolar pages read do not describe a P90 feature. For lender-style P90 reports, check PVsyst or HelioScope Pro.
