Key Takeaways
- Aurora Solar is for residential/commercial; PVcase is for utility-scale ground-mount
- PVcase requires AutoCAD or Civil 3D ($2,500-4,000+/year on top)
- Aurora cannot handle utility-scale projects; PVcase cannot handle residential
- PVcase has 1,500+ customers focused on large-scale solar development
- Neither tool offers proposals or financial modeling
- SurgePV covers residential through 5MW commercial in one cloud platform
Quick Verdict
Our Verdict
Aurora Solar and PVcase serve completely different markets with zero overlap. Aurora handles residential and small commercial with polished proposals. PVcase handles multi-MW utility-scale with terrain-aware CAD design. If your company works across project sizes from rooftop to small utility-scale, neither tool covers the full range. SurgePV spans residential to 5MW in a single platform.
Company Overview
Aurora Solar
Founded
2013
Headquarters
San Francisco, USA
Focus
Residential solar design & proposals
Best For
US residential & small commercial
Pricing Starts
~$1,765/yr
PVcase
Founded
2019
Headquarters
Vilnius, Lithuania
Focus
Utility-scale solar CAD design
Best For
Utility-scale developers & EPCs
Pricing Starts
Custom enterprise (+ AutoCAD req.)
Feature Comparison
These tools have almost no feature overlap. One does residential in the cloud; the other does utility-scale in CAD.
| Feature | Aurora Solar | PVcase |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Based | ✓ | ✗ (AutoCAD plugin) |
| Residential Rooftop Design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Utility-Scale Design | ✗ | ✓ (50MW+) |
| Terrain Analysis | ✗ | ✓ (Topographic grading) |
| Cable Routing | ✗ | ✓ (Automatic) |
| Tracker Layout | ✗ | ✓ |
| Satellite Imagery | ✓ (Google & Nearmap) | Via AutoCAD/Civil 3D |
| Interactive Proposals | ✓ (Best-in-class) | ✗ |
| CRM Integration | ✓ (Salesforce native) | ✗ |
| Financial Modeling | Basic (US-focused) | ✗ |
| BOM Generation | Basic | ✓ (Detailed) |
| Civil Engineering Output | ✗ | ✓ (Grading, roads, fencing) |
| Requires AutoCAD/Civil 3D | No | Yes ($2,500-4,000+/yr) |
| E-Signature | ✓ (DocuSign) | ✗ |
Design Capabilities
Aurora Solar and PVcase operate in entirely different design paradigms.
Aurora Solar Design Strengths
Aurora excels at residential rooftop design. LIDAR data provides accurate roof measurements, NearMap imagery enables precise panel placement, and the auto-layout engine handles complex residential geometries. The design-to-proposal pipeline is seamless for high-volume residential teams.
Aurora cannot design utility-scale projects. There’s no terrain analysis, no cable routing, no tracker layout tools, and no support for the large site areas and complex grading that utility-scale requires.
PVcase Design Strengths
PVcase is built for the other end of the spectrum. Running as a plugin for AutoCAD and Civil 3D, it handles terrain-aware utility-scale layouts with automatic tracker and fixed-tilt configurations. The software optimizes panel placement based on topographic data, generates cable routing plans, and produces civil engineering deliverables including grading plans, road layouts, and fencing.
PVcase has over 1,500 customers in the utility-scale space. For 50MW+ projects, the design iteration speed is a significant advantage — what takes days in manual CAD work takes hours in PVcase.
PVcase cannot design residential rooftop systems. It has no proposal builder, no CRM, no financial modeling, and no satellite-based roof design. It’s a pure engineering CAD tool.
Proposal & Sales
Aurora Solar Proposals
Aurora’s interactive proposals are industry-leading for residential sales. Mobile-optimized, visually polished, with 3D system views and real-time financing toggles. Combined with Salesforce CRM and DocuSign, Aurora is a complete residential sales platform.
PVcase Sales Tools
PVcase has none. It generates CAD drawings and engineering documents — not customer-facing proposals. Utility-scale sales processes typically involve detailed engineering feasibility studies, financial models in Excel, and lengthy procurement cycles. PVcase outputs feed into that process but don’t drive it.
Pricing Comparison
The cost structures reflect completely different market segments.
| Cost Item | Aurora Solar | PVcase |
|---|---|---|
| Software License | ~$1,765/year | Custom enterprise pricing |
| Required Add-Ons | AutoCAD for SLDs (+$1,800/yr) | AutoCAD/Civil 3D ($2,500-4,000+/yr) |
| Estimated Total (1 seat) | $1,765-3,565/year | $8,000-15,000+/year |
| Proposals Included? | ✓ | ✗ |
| Financial Modeling? | Basic | ✗ |
| Target Project Size | 5-500kW | 10MW-500MW+ |
Aurora: ~$1,765/yr for residential — PVcase: $8,000-15,000+/yr for utility-scale — SurgePV: $1,499/yr for bothLooking for a Better Alternative? Try SurgePV
Design residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects up to 5MW in one cloud platform — with native electrical engineering and proposals included.
Start Free TrialNo credit card required · No AutoCAD needed · Residential to utility-scale
Pros & Cons Side-by-Side
Aurora Solar
Pros
Cons
PVcase
Pros
Cons
Who Should Choose What?
| Your Situation | Choose Aurora | Choose PVcase |
|---|---|---|
| Residential installer | ✓ | |
| Utility-scale developer (50MW+) | ✓ | |
| Need terrain-aware ground-mount design | ✓ | |
| Need proposals and sales tools | ✓ | |
| Already using AutoCAD/Civil 3D | ✓ | |
| Small commercial (500kW-5MW) | Consider SurgePV | |
| Mixed resi + commercial portfolio | Consider SurgePV | |
Best Alternative: SurgePV
If neither Aurora Solar nor PVcase fully meets your needs, SurgePV bridges the residential-to-commercial gap. This solar design software gives you Aurora-style cloud-based design with proposals for residential projects, plus commercial and utility-scale capabilities up to 5MW — without needing AutoCAD or Civil 3D. Native electrical engineering, SLD generation, and financial modeling are all included.
SurgePV delivers design, simulation, proposals, electrical engineering, and financial modeling in one cloud platform starting at $1,499/year — with all features included on every plan. For companies doing rooftop through mid-scale commercial, it eliminates the need for multiple specialized tools.
Start your free SurgePV trial and design any project size from one platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Aurora Solar design utility-scale projects?
No. Aurora Solar is built for residential and small commercial projects. It cannot handle utility-scale layouts with hundreds of thousands of panels, terrain analysis, or cable routing across large sites.
Can PVcase design residential rooftop systems?
PVcase is not designed for residential rooftop work. It runs as a plugin for AutoCAD and Civil 3D, built specifically for ground-mount utility-scale and large commercial projects.
How much does PVcase cost?
PVcase uses custom enterprise pricing — there are no published rates. You also need an AutoCAD or Civil 3D license ($2,500-4,000+/year). Total cost can exceed $10,000/year per seat.
Is PVcase worth the cost for large projects?
For utility-scale developers designing 50MW+ sites, PVcase pays for itself through faster iteration and terrain optimization. For anything under 10MW, the cost is hard to justify.
What’s a better alternative to both Aurora Solar and PVcase?
SurgePV handles residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects up to 5MW in one cloud platform. At $1,499/year with native electrical engineering included, it bridges the gap between Aurora’s residential focus and PVcase’s utility-scale specialization.
Does PVcase include proposals or financial modeling?
No. PVcase is a pure CAD design and engineering tool for utility-scale layouts. It has no proposal generation, no CRM, and no financial modeling. Those functions require separate tools.