Key Takeaways
- Scanifly specializes in drone-based 3D site surveys with inch-level accuracy
- SurgePV is a complete platform — design, simulation, proposals, engineering, and financial modeling
- Scanifly requires a drone (or outsourced survey) plus additional tools for proposals and permits
- SurgePV works entirely from satellite imagery — no site visit needed for pre-sale design
- Scanifly’s DroneDesign feature is strong for post-sale design true-up verification
- SurgePV costs less and delivers a far broader feature set
Quick Verdict
Our Verdict
If your primary need is inch-accurate 3D site models from drone surveys — particularly for post-sale design verification — Scanifly is a solid specialist tool. For everything else, SurgePV is the better choice. It handles the full workflow from satellite-based design to proposals, engineering documentation, and financial modeling, all without requiring a drone or site visit.
Company Overview
Scanifly
Founded
2018
Headquarters
Portland, Oregon, USA
Focus
Drone-based 3D solar site surveys
Best For
US residential site verification
Pricing Starts
≈$150/month (+ drone cost)
SurgePV
Founded
2025
Headquarters
London, UK (Global)
Focus
All-in-one solar platform
Best For
Global residential, commercial & utility
Pricing Starts
$1,499/yr
Feature Comparison
Here’s a detailed feature-by-feature breakdown of Scanifly vs SurgePV. These are fundamentally different tools — Scanifly is a survey and basic design tool, while SurgePV is a full-stack solar design software platform.
| Feature | Scanifly | SurgePV |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Based Platform | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drone-Based 3D Models | ✓ (Inch-accurate) | ✗ |
| Satellite Imagery Design | ✗ | ✓ (Google & Nearmap) |
| Remote Pre-Sale Design | ✗ (Requires site visit) | ✓ |
| 3D Shade Analysis | ✓ (From drone model) | ✓ (8760-hour simulation) |
| Auto Panel Layout | Basic | ✓ (AI-powered) |
| String Sizing | Basic | ✓ (Auto-stringing) |
| Single-Line Diagrams (SLD) | ✗ | ✓ (Native) |
| Three-Line Diagrams | ✗ | ✓ (Native) |
| Bill of Materials | ✗ | ✓ (Detailed with pricing) |
| Permit Package Generation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Financial Modeling | ✗ | ✓ (Global, multi-currency) |
| Proposal Generation | ✗ | ✓ (Web + PDF) |
| Battery Storage Design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Commercial Projects (>100kW) | Limited | ✓ (Up to 5MW) |
| Utility-Scale Design | ✗ | ✓ |
| API Access | Limited | ✓ (All plans) |
| Requires Drone Hardware | Yes ($1,000–$5,000+) | No |
Design Capabilities
Scanifly and SurgePV approach solar design from entirely different starting points. Scanifly begins with a physical site visit and drone flight. SurgePV starts with satellite imagery and never requires leaving the office.
Scanifly Design Strengths
Scanifly’s core strength is turning a 5-minute drone flight into an inch-accurate 3D model of a roof or site. The company uses proprietary photogrammetry and AI to process drone imagery into detailed models that include roof pitch, azimuth, and obstruction data.
The DroneDesign feature lets installers perform post-sale design verification — after a customer signs, the team flies the site to confirm measurements and finalize the panel layout with real-world accuracy. Scanifly claims this workflow is 30–70% cheaper than using Aurora Solar for the same verification step.
The limitation is clear: Scanifly requires physical access to the site. You cannot use it for remote pre-sale design, and you need either a drone on hand or an outsourced survey service. The design tools themselves are basic — panel placement and shade analysis, but no engineering documentation, proposals, or financial modeling.
SurgePV Design Strengths
SurgePV uses high-resolution satellite imagery from Google and Nearmap for remote design. The AI-powered auto-design engine generates optimized panel layouts in minutes, and the 8760-hour shade simulation provides detailed shading analysis across the full year.
Beyond design, SurgePV includes the full engineering stack: native SLD generation, three-line diagrams, automatic wire sizing, BOM with pricing, and permit package creation. Teams can go from site assessment to proposal delivery without a site visit, a drone, or any additional software.
For post-sale verification, SurgePV’s measurements are accurate enough for the majority of residential and commercial projects. Where inch-level precision is needed, some teams add a tape measure and photos during installation rather than flying a drone.
Proposal & Sales
Scanifly Proposals
Scanifly does not generate customer-facing proposals. It is a site survey and design tool. Teams using Scanifly typically export data and create proposals in a separate platform like Aurora Solar, OpenSolar, or even PowerPoint. There is no financial modeling, no ROI calculations, and no e-signature support.
This means Scanifly cannot function as a standalone tool for most solar businesses. It needs to be paired with another platform, which adds cost and complexity to the workflow.
SurgePV Proposals
SurgePV includes a complete proposal engine that generates white-label web and PDF proposals with system performance data, financial breakdowns, and company branding. The financial modeling engine supports cash, loan, lease, and PPA structures across multiple currencies and tariff structures.
Yield projections are provided at P50/P75/P90 confidence levels, and the platform generates a detailed BOM with component pricing. For teams that want one tool to handle the entire customer journey, SurgePV covers design through contract signing.
Pricing Comparison
The true cost of Scanifly includes not just the software subscription, but also drone hardware and the additional tools needed for proposals and engineering. SurgePV includes everything in one subscription.
| Plan | Scanifly | SurgePV |
|---|---|---|
| Software Subscription | ≈$150/month (≈$1,800/yr) | $1,499/year (3 users) |
| Premium | ≈$250/month (≈$3,000/yr) | $1,299/user/year (5 users) |
| Drone Hardware | $1,000–$5,000+ (one-time) | Not needed |
| Proposal Tool (separate) | $1,000–$3,000/yr additional | Included |
| Total Year 1 Cost | $3,800–$11,000+ | $1,499 |
| Features Included | Survey + basic design only | All features, all plans |
Scanifly + tools $3,800–$11,000+ vs SurgePV $1,499 — SurgePV saves 60–86%Design Solar Without a Drone
SurgePV handles design, simulation, proposals, and engineering documentation from satellite imagery — no drone or site visit required.
Start Free TrialNo credit card required · No drone needed · Full access
Pros & Cons Side-by-Side
Scanifly
Pros
Cons
SurgePV
Pros
Cons
Who Should Choose What?
Scanifly and SurgePV serve very different needs. This decision matrix helps you identify the right tool for your team.
| Your Situation | Choose Scanifly | Choose SurgePV |
|---|---|---|
| Need inch-accurate 3D site models | ✓ | |
| Post-sale design verification workflow | ✓ | |
| Already own a drone and trained pilot | ✓ | |
| Remote pre-sale design (no site visit) | ✓ | |
| Need proposals and financial modeling | ✓ | |
| Need electrical engineering (SLDs) | ✓ | |
| Budget-conscious teams | ✓ | |
| Commercial + utility-scale projects | ✓ | |
| International/European market | ✓ | |
| All-in-one platform (no add-on tools) | ✓ |
Migration Guide: Scanifly to SurgePV
Switching from Scanifly to SurgePV means moving from a drone-first to a satellite-first workflow. Most teams find this transition straightforward. Here’s how:
Sign Up for SurgePV Free Trial
Create your SurgePV account with full access to all features. No credit card required, no drone needed.
Test Satellite-Based Design on Recent Projects
Pick 3-5 recently completed projects and recreate them in SurgePV using satellite imagery. Compare the layouts and measurements to your drone-based designs to build confidence.
Set Up Proposals and Financial Templates
Configure your company branding, pricing templates, and financial models in SurgePV. Generate sample proposals to test the output.
Run Parallel Workflows for One Month
Use SurgePV alongside Scanifly for new projects. This lets your team adapt without disrupting active jobs.
Cancel Scanifly and Supplementary Tool Subscriptions
Once your team is comfortable with SurgePV’s satellite-based workflow, cancel Scanifly and any separate proposal or engineering tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SurgePV better than Scanifly?
For most solar teams, yes. SurgePV provides a complete design-to-proposal workflow without requiring a drone or site visit. Scanifly is better if you specifically need inch-accurate 3D models from drone surveys for post-sale design verification.
Can SurgePV replace Scanifly for site surveys?
SurgePV uses satellite imagery and AI-powered design for pre-sale and post-sale workflows. It does not produce drone-level accuracy for roof measurements, but for the majority of residential and commercial projects, satellite-based design is sufficient.
Does Scanifly generate proposals?
No. Scanifly focuses on 3D site modeling and basic design. It does not include proposal generation, financial modeling, electrical engineering, or permit packages. You need a separate tool for those workflows.
Is drone-based design more accurate than satellite?
Drone surveys produce inch-level accuracy for roof geometry, which is better than satellite imagery. However, satellite-based platforms like SurgePV use high-resolution imagery (Google and Nearmap) that is accurate enough for the vast majority of solar projects.
Can I use Scanifly and SurgePV together?
Some teams use Scanifly for post-sale site verification and SurgePV for pre-sale design and proposals. However, SurgePV’s all-in-one approach eliminates the need for a separate survey tool in most cases.
Which is more cost-effective for residential installers?
SurgePV is significantly more cost-effective. It includes design, simulation, proposals, engineering documentation, and financial modeling for $1,499/yr. Scanifly requires a drone investment plus a subscription, and you still need additional tools for proposals and engineering.