Quick answer
OpenSolar lists its software as free of charge and funds it through partners, while SurgePV costs $1,899 per user per year for one user, or $1,299 per user for five seats, billed annually before 18% GST (both checked November 2026). Choose OpenSolar if license cost decides; choose SurgePV for a paid single-vendor workflow with onboarding.
Comparing OpenSolar with SurgePV?
See a paid, single-vendor design to proposal workflow on one of your own projects.
Book a Free DemoChecking cost first? See the SurgePV pricing page.
SurgePV publishes this page and is one of the two products compared. The facts come from the vendors’ public pages, checked November 2026.
OpenSolar vs SurgePV: price and plans
OpenSolar is listed as free of charge, and SurgePV is a paid per-user subscription. OpenSolar says partners pay to be on its platform, which funds the free software.
- OpenSolar$0 listed as free of charge
- SurgePV, 5 seats$1,299
- SurgePV, 3 seats$1,499
- SurgePV, 1 user$1,899
Source: OpenSolar homepage and SurgePV pricing page, before 18% GST, checked November 2026.
| OpenSolar | SurgePV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | “100% Free of charge” per its homepage; Pro account and add-ons listed without prices | $1,899 per user per year (1 user); $1,499 per user (3 seats, $4,497 total); $1,299 per user (5 seats, $6,495 total); annual billing, before 18% GST |
| Business model | Partners such as manufacturers, finance companies and distributors pay, per its why-free page | Subscription; enterprise pricing is custom |
| Design | Auto Design, Auto BOM, Mounting Designer, Single Line Diagrams | 3D roof modeling, array layout, shading analysis |
| Sell | Proposals, CashFlow, integrated finance, e-signature | Financial modeling, proposal generation |
| Manage | Shop, project CRM, permitting integrations, teams | Bill of materials, electrical workflow support; lead management on the Individual plan |
| Reach | 185+ countries, 28,000+ active professionals | Reach not stated on the pricing page |
| Access | Create an account | Guided demo; no self-serve trial advertised |
What does OpenSolar do well?
OpenSolar bundles design, sales and project management in one account, with finance and supplier integrations. Its design list includes Auto Design and single line diagrams, and add-ons include an API and an imagery marketplace. Our OpenSolar review covers it in depth.
Pros: no license fee; broad feature list; international reach.
Cons: add-on and Pro prices are not shown; partner-funded model means partner offers sit inside the workflow.
What does SurgePV do well?
SurgePV combines 3D roof modeling, layout, shading, yield and financial modeling, electrical workflow support, bill of materials and proposals in a web platform. The pricing page says all features are included in every plan, with free onboarding. See SurgePV pricing.
Pros: one paid vendor for the design-to-proposal flow; seat discounts down to $1,299 per user.
Cons: a license fee that OpenSolar does not charge; guided demo, not a trial; outputs do not replace engineer, lender or utility approval.
Free tool or paid platform?
Book a guided demo and measure time per design against what you do today.
Book a Free DemoChecking cost first? See the SurgePV pricing page.
Who should pick which?
- Pick OpenSolar if license cost is your main constraint and you want design, finance and project tools in one free account.
- Pick SurgePV if you want a single paid vendor with onboarding included and a guided evaluation.
- Compare both against others in our free solar design software list and the Aurora Solar vs OpenSolar page.
Bottom line
OpenSolar wins on license cost; SurgePV is the option for teams that prefer a paid single-vendor workflow. To see SurgePV on your own project, book a demo or check pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenSolar better than SurgePV?
OpenSolar is cheaper, since its homepage lists it as free of charge, while SurgePV is a paid single-vendor platform from $1,899 per user per year for one user. Which is better depends on your workflow (vendor pages, checked November 2026).
Is OpenSolar really free?
Yes, its homepage says the software is free of charge, and its why-free page says partners pay to be part of the platform. Pro and add-on prices are not shown.
How much does SurgePV cost?
SurgePV is $1,899 per user per year for one user, $1,499 per user for three seats and $1,299 per user for five seats, billed annually before 18% GST (pricing page, checked November 2026).
Can I try SurgePV for free?
SurgePV offers a guided demo, not a self-serve trial, and the demo does not need a credit card (pricing page, checked November 2026).
What does OpenSolar include?
OpenSolar lists Auto Design, Auto BOM, single line diagrams, proposals, integrated finance, e-signature and project CRM on its homepage (checked November 2026).
Which is better for a small solar installer?
OpenSolar suits a tight budget because it has no license fee. A small installer who wants onboarding and one vendor for design to proposal can compare SurgePV’s Individual plan at $1,899 per year.
Sources
- OpenSolar homepage: free of charge, features, reach. Checked November 2026.
- OpenSolar why-free page: partner-funded model. Checked November 2026.
- SurgePV pricing page: plans, per-user prices, GST, demo access. Checked November 2026.
Last checked: 4 November 2026.
