PhotoniK Review: Solar Design Software Features, Pricing & Pros (2026)

TL;DR: Photonik Review Summary

Photonik is a free, browser-based solar design and proposal tool created by the Clean Energy Reviews team in Australia. Built by solar professionals for small installers, Photonik offers simple panel placement, system costing, and proposal generation without requiring training or upfront costs.

Based on community feedback and official Photonik documentation, users praise Photonik's ease of use and accessibility. However, the software remains in BETA status and lacks electrical engineering capabilities like automated SLD generation and wire sizing that commercial EPCs need for permit submissions.

For Australian residential installers on a tight budget, Photonik offers a simple entry point. For commercial teams needing electrical documentation, US market coverage, or production-ready features, SurgePV provides the engineering depth and geographic scope Photonik doesn't offer.

What Is Photonik?

Photonik is a cloud-based solar design and proposal software developed by Clean Energy Reviews, a globally recognized independent solar information source based in Australia.

The Creator: Clean Energy Reviews

Clean Energy Reviews is known for unbiased solar product analysis and technical guides. The team created Photonik to address a simple problem: most solar design software is too expensive or complicated for small installers.

Founder Jason Svarc brings real-world credentials:

• Qualified engineer and CEC-accredited solar specialist
• 10+ years designing and building solar systems (since 2010)
• Former teacher at Swinburne University of Technology (solar system design)
• Co-founder of Clean Energy Reviews
• Based in Kinglake, Victoria, Australia

Beta Development Status

Photonik is currently in BETA. This means:

• Features are still being developed and refined
• Functionality may change as the tool evolves
• Not all planned features are available yet
• Community feedback actively shapes the roadmap

Beta status doesn't mean the tool is broken, but it does mean it's not fully mature. Production teams should weigh this when choosing software for daily workflows.

Core Mission

According to Clean Energy Reviews, Photonik aims to be "the most user-friendly solar design tool" for installers, contractors, and consumers. The focus is accessibility over complexity.

Target Market

Photonik primarily serves:

• Small to medium residential solar installers (Australia)
• Part-time solar professionals needing quick proposals
• Consumers researching solar options for their homes
• Teams wanting to avoid expensive software subscriptions

Photonik is Australia-focused, with local integrations like the STC (Small-scale Technology Certificate) rebate calculator.

Photonik Features Overview

Photonik offers a streamlined feature set focused on getting residential proposals done quickly. Here's what you can actually do.

Panel Placement & Design Tools

Photonik provides browser-based design with visual tools:

HD Satellite Imagery: Photonik pulls high-definition satellite maps so you can see the roof you're designing on. The imagery quality is solid for residential projects.

Drag-and-Drop Interface: Place panels visually on the roof. No CAD training needed. The interface is simple enough that new users report getting started without tutorials.

String and DC Cable Path Drawing: You can draw DC cable runs and string layouts on your site plan. This helps communicate installation plans to crews.

Array Section Overview: Photonik shows daily generation estimates (kWh/day) for each array section, helping you optimize placement.

Efficiency Comparison: The tool compares your design to the ideal orientation at that site, showing how close you are to maximum output.

Module & Inverter Selection

Module Library: Access to a selection of solar modules. The library size hasn't been publicly disclosed, but it covers common residential modules.

Inverter Library with MPPT Matching: Select inverters and Photonik handles MPPT voltage matching automatically. String voltage calculations validate your design against inverter specifications.

This automation saves time on manual voltage calculations, though it's focused on simple residential configurations. Unlike SurgePV's electrical engineering features, Photonik doesn't appear to offer full NEC-compliant wire sizing or voltage drop calculations.

Proposal Generation

Professional Proposals in Minutes: Photonik's main value proposition is speed. The tool claims you can generate a professional proposal in about 2 minutes.

System Costing: Automatic cost calculations with support for margins and rebates. You input your costs, set your margin, and Photonik does the math.

No Training Required: According to user feedback, installers report using Photonik without formal training sessions. The learning curve is intentionally low.

Battery Storage Integration

Photonik includes energy storage system design:

Battery Modeling: Add batteries to your system design

Savings and Payback Engine: Calculate storage economics

For residential installers, this is helpful since battery storage is increasingly common in Australian residential solar.

Australian Market Tools

Photonik is built for the Australian market with local integrations:

STC Rebate Calculator: Australia's Small-scale Technology Certificate rebate system is integrated. The calculator estimates STC value based on zone factors and system size.

Australian Utility Integration: Designed around Australian electricity markets and rebate structures.

These features make Photonik particularly useful for Australian installers but less relevant for US or international teams. SurgePV offers full US market coverage with 3,000+ utility rate databases.

What's Missing

To provide an honest assessment, here's what Photonik doesn't appear to offer based on available documentation:

No Confirmed SLD Generation: Research found no evidence of automated Single Line Diagram (SLD) generation. Commercial EPCs need SLDs for permit submissions, and if Photonik doesn't generate them, you'll need AutoCAD or another electrical tool.

SurgePV generates permit-ready SLDs in 5-10 minutes following NEC Article 690 requirements.

No Confirmed Wire Sizing: No evidence of automated wire sizing or electrical engineering calculations. For residential projects without strict permit requirements, this may not matter. For commercial or jurisdictions requiring detailed electrical documentation, this is a workflow gap.

No Advanced LIDAR Shading: No confirmed integration with LIDAR-based shading analysis. Photonik appears to offer basic shading information, but not the 8760-hour detailed analysis tools like SurgePV's shading analysis provide.

No Commercial Structures: No evidence of carport solar design, tracker support, or ground-mount optimization beyond basic functionality. Photonik appears residential-focused.

Limited US/International Support: Photonik has a US page (photonik.solar/us/) but the tool is primarily Australia-focused. US utility coverage and local code compliance appear limited compared to platforms built for the US market.

These limitations don't make Photonik a bad tool. They define its market: simple residential in Australia, not commercial EPCs needing electrical engineering.

Photonik Pricing & Plans

Photonik's pricing model is straightforward: it's free.

Free Tier

Price: $0

Access: Core design features, proposals, costing tools

Sign-up: No sign-up required to try basic functionality

This is Photonik's primary appeal. For small installers with tight budgets, free means no capital barrier to entry.

Paid Tiers

Photonik's pricing page exists, but detailed tier information isn't publicly disclosed. This suggests:

• A freemium model where features may be gated
• Pricing details available on request
• The free tier offers enough functionality for basic residential work

Pricing Comparison: Photonik vs Competitors

How does "free" stack up against other tools?

The Hidden Cost of "Free"

While Photonik's free pricing is attractive, consider the total workflow cost:

Scenario: Commercial project requiring electrical documentation

• Photonik Workflow: Design in Photonik (free) Export AutoCAD for SLD ($2,000/year license) 2-3 hours manual electrical work
• SurgePV Workflow: Design + automated SLD in SurgePV ($1,499/user/year for 3 users) 5-10 minutes Done

For teams doing 5+ commercial projects per month, the labor hours saved with integrated electrical engineering offset software costs quickly.

Bottom Line: Photonik's free pricing is unbeatable for simple residential proposals. But if you need electrical documentation, you'll still need AutoCAD or similar tools, which adds cost and complexity.

What Real Users Say About Photonik

Photonik isn't listed on G2, Capterra, or TrustRadius as of January 2026. This is expected for beta software with limited market presence.

User feedback exists on the Clean Energy Reviews Forum, where community members and Photonik developers engage.

Review Platform Status

G2: Not listed (0 reviews)

Capterra: Not listed (0 reviews)

TrustRadius: Not listed (0 reviews)

Clean Energy Reviews Forum: Active discussion thread with feature requests and feedback

The lack of third-party reviews isn't necessarily negative. It reflects Photonik's stage: early beta with a small user base, not a mature platform with thousands of installations.

For comparison, Aurora Solar has 247 G2 reviews, OpenSolar has active user communities, and PVSyst is widely documented in NREL research.

User Praise (from Clean Energy Reviews Forum)

Based on community feedback, users highlight:

1. Ease of Use: Multiple users report Photonik is simple to use without training. One user called it a "simple to use tool" for getting "quick proposal to a customer."

2. Quick Proposals: The 2-minute proposal generation claim resonates with users who need speed over complexity.

3. Good for Part-Time Installers: Several users mention Photonik works well for small installers or part-time solar professionals who can't justify expensive software.

4. Free Pricing: Predictably, users appreciate that the tool costs nothing to try and use for basic work.

5. Clean Energy Reviews Backing: Users trust the tool because it comes from Clean Energy Reviews, a respected source for independent solar product information.

User Concerns (from Forum Feedback)

Users also flag limitations:

1. Beta Status = Incomplete Features: Some features are missing or planned but not yet built. Users are requesting consumption profiles, additional inverter options, and other capabilities.

2. Limited vs Full CRM Packages: Users note Photonik is a design tool, not a full customer relationship management (CRM) system. If you need lead management, customer tracking, and sales pipeline features, you'll need separate tools.

3. Australian Market Focus: The tool is built for Australia, which is great if you're in Melbourne but less helpful if you're operating in California or New Delhi.

Real Quote Examples (Paraphrased)

From the forum:

> "Photonik is built by solar professionals for solar professionals"

This reflects the credibility Jason Svarc's background brings. Users see it as a tool made by someone who understands installation, not just software development.

> "Simple to use tool" for "quick proposal to a customer"

This captures Photonik's value: speed and simplicity for residential sales.

Photonik Pros & Cons

Let's break down strengths and limitations based on verified information.

Pros

1. Free Pricing

No cost barrier. Small installers can start using Photonik without budget approval or credit cards. This accessibility is rare in solar software.

2. Ease of Use

Users consistently report Photonik requires no formal training. The interface is intuitive enough to start using immediately.

For part-time installers or small teams, this saves onboarding time.

3. Quick Proposal Generation

The 2-minute proposal claim addresses a real pain point: slow proposal turnaround kills deals. Photonik prioritizes speed.

4. Clean Energy Reviews Credibility

Clean Energy Reviews is globally recognized for independent solar analysis. Jason Svarc's 10+ years of design experience and CEC accreditation bring technical credibility.

5. Cloud-Based

Access from anywhere with a browser. No software installation, no desktop dependency.

Teams can work remotely without VPN or local files.

6. Battery Storage Integration

Residential installers in Australia increasingly sell batteries. Photonik's battery modeling is a useful addition.

7. Australian STC Integration

The STC rebate calculator is valuable for Australian installers. Accurately calculating government rebates reduces proposal errors.

8. Active Development

Beta status has a flip side: the team is actively building and responding to user feedback. Feature requests get heard.

Cons

1. Beta Status

Photonik is not production-ready. Features are incomplete, and functionality may change.

Production teams relying on consistent workflows face uncertainty.

Impact: If a feature you depend on changes or disappears, your workflow breaks.

2. No SLD Generation (Not Confirmed)

Research found no evidence of automated Single Line Diagram generation. Commercial EPCs need SLDs for permits.

Impact: You'll still need AutoCAD ($2,000/year) or manual drafting (2-3 hours per project) for electrical documentation. SurgePV's automated SLD generation eliminates this gap in 5-10 minutes.

3. No Wire Sizing (Not Confirmed)

No confirmed automated wire sizing or electrical engineering calculations.

Impact: Manual wire sizing adds 30-60 minutes per project and requires electrical knowledge. Errors can cause inspection failures.

4. No Commercial Structures

No carport design, no tracker support, no advanced ground-mount optimization.

Impact: Commercial EPCs doing carport solar or tracker projects can't use Photonik for these structures. You'll need specialized tools.

5. Limited Shading Analysis

No confirmed LIDAR-based 8760-hour shading analysis.

Impact: For projects requiring bankable accuracy (financing, investor presentations), you may need to validate with PVSyst or similar tools.

6. Geographic Limitations

Primarily Australia-focused. Limited US utility coverage, no confirmed India support.

Impact: If you operate outside Australia, Photonik's utility database and compliance features may not match your market.

7. No G2/Capterra Reviews

Zero third-party validation from review platforms.

Impact: No social proof beyond forum feedback. Harder to benchmark against competitors.

8. Residential Focus

Feature set appears tailored to residential, not commercial 100kW+ projects.

Impact: Commercial EPCs will outgrow Photonik quickly when they need electrical engineering, complex structures, or bankable simulations.

Photonik vs SurgePV: Detailed Comparison

How does Photonik compare to SurgePV for commercial EPCs and installers needing electrical engineering?

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

The Electrical Engineering Gap

This is the biggest differentiator:

Photonik: No confirmed SLD generation or wire sizing. If you need electrical documentation, you export your design and use AutoCAD or manual drafting.

• Time Cost: 2-3 hours per commercial project for manual SLD creation
• Software Cost: AutoCAD license ($2,000/year)
• Skill Requirement: AutoCAD expertise or outsourced drafting

SurgePV: Automated electrical engineering built-in.

• SLD Generation: 5-10 minutes automated
• Wire Sizing: Instant NEC-compliant calculations
• No Additional Tools: Everything in one platform

Impact: For commercial EPCs doing 10+ projects per month, this eliminates 20-30 hours of manual electrical work monthly.

At $75/hour labor cost, that's $1,500-2,250/month saved, or $18,000-27,000/year.

Commercial Capabilities

Carport Solar Design:

• Photonik: Not available
• SurgePV: Native support - only platform with this feature

Carport solar is one of the fastest-growing commercial segments (parking lot canopies with solar panels). If this is your market, Photonik can't serve you.

Tracker Support:

• Photonik: Not available
• SurgePV: Single-axis and dual-axis trackers supported

Trackers increase production 15-35% for ground-mount commercial projects. Without tracker design tools, you're limited to fixed-tilt systems.

Project Scale:

• Photonik: Residential focus
• SurgePV: Up to 10MW projects

If you design 500kW+ commercial rooftop or 1-5MW ground-mount projects, SurgePV's scale matches your needs. Photonik appears built for 5-20kW residential.

Geographic Coverage

Australia:

• Photonik: Full support, STC integration, local utilities
• SurgePV: Available but less Australia-specific

For Australian-only operations, Photonik's local integration is a strength.

United States:

• Photonik: Limited (US page exists but features appear Australia-focused)
• SurgePV: Full support with 3,000+ US utilities

US EPCs need NEC compliance, local utility integrations, and US-specific weather data. SurgePV is built for this; Photonik is not.

India:

• Photonik: Not available
• SurgePV: Full India coverage

If you operate in India or plan to expand there, SurgePV supports that market. Photonik does not.

Workflow Comparison: Commercial Project with Electrical

Let's compare a typical 200kW commercial rooftop project:

Savings with SurgePV: 2.5-4 hours per project. For a team doing 20 commercial projects/month:

• Time saved: 50-80 hours/month
• Labor cost savings (@ $75/hr): $3,750-6,000/month
• Annual productivity gain: $45,000-72,000

Even with SurgePV's software cost, the ROI is clear for commercial workflows.

Cost-Value Analysis

Photonik: Free but limited. Great for:

• Residential proposals without electrical docs
• Australian installers with simple projects
• Budget-conscious startups testing the solar market

SurgePV: $1,499/user/year (For 3 Users plan) but complete. Better for:

• Commercial EPCs needing electrical engineering
• Teams doing 10+ projects/month where time savings matter
• Multi-market operations (US + India)
• Production-ready workflows without beta uncertainty

Total Cost of Ownership:

• Photonik + AutoCAD: $0 + $2,000 = $2,000/year (plus labor hours)
• SurgePV all-inclusive: $1,499/user/year (For 3 Users plan)

SurgePV actually costs less when you account for AutoCAD licensing, and eliminates tool-switching complexity.

Best Use Cases for Photonik

Let's be specific about when Photonik makes sense.

Photonik Is Best For:

Small residential installers in Australia - If you're doing 5-20kW residential rooftop in Sydney or Melbourne, Photonik's Australian focus and STC integration are built for you.

Budget-conscious startups - When you're starting out and can't justify $5,000-10,000/year software budgets, Photonik lets you deliver proposals without upfront costs.

Part-time solar professionals - If solar installation is a side business or you do a few projects per year, free software makes sense.

Consumers researching solar - Homeowners can use Photonik to understand system design before talking to installers. It's accessible enough for non-professionals.

Simple rooftop projects without permit complexity - If your local jurisdiction doesn't require detailed electrical documentation, Photonik's proposal focus is enough.

Teams not needing electrical documentation - If you outsource electrical engineering or have separate CAD resources, Photonik handles the design and proposal side.

Photonik Is NOT Best For:

Commercial EPCs (100kW+ projects) - The lack of SLD generation, wire sizing, and commercial structures makes Photonik unsuitable for commercial workflows.

Teams requiring electrical documentation - If you need permit-ready SLDs and electrical calcs, Photonik doesn't appear to offer this. You'll need AutoCAD or alternatives.

US or India market operations - Photonik's Australia focus means limited utility coverage and compliance tools for other markets.

Carport or tracker projects - No support for commercial structures beyond basic rooftop.

Projects requiring P75/P90 bankability - Financing and investor presentations often require P75/P90 production estimates. Photonik doesn't appear to offer these.

Teams needing CRM integration - Photonik is a design tool, not a full sales CRM. If you need lead management, pipeline tracking, and customer lifecycle tools, you'll need separate software.

Migration Considerations

If you start with Photonik because it's free, consider future growth:

Scenario: You begin with residential, then land a 500kW commercial contract.

• Photonik can't handle the electrical engineering
• You'll need to migrate to SurgePV, Aurora, or add AutoCAD
• Migration takes time (learning new software, redoing templates)

Alternative Approach: Start with a platform that scales with you. SurgePV handles residential and commercial, so you don't outgrow the tool when you scale.

This doesn't mean Photonik is wrong for everyone. It means you should think about where your business is going, not just where it is today.

PhotoniK vs SurgePV: Feature Comparison

How PhotoniK compares to SurgePV across the features commercial EPCs need most.

Final Verdict: Photonik vs SurgePV

Photonik Summary

Strengths:

• Free pricing (no cost barrier)
• Ease of use (no training required)
• Quick proposal generation (2-minute claim)
• Clean Energy Reviews credibility (trusted source, experienced creator)
• Australian market integration (STC calculator, local utilities)
• Battery storage modeling (residential focus)

Ideal For:

• Small residential installers in Australia
• Budget-conscious solar startups
• Part-time solar professionals
• Simple rooftop projects without complex electrical requirements
• Teams outsourcing electrical engineering

Limitations:

• Beta development status (features incomplete)
• No confirmed electrical engineering (SLD, wire sizing)
• Limited commercial capabilities (no carports, trackers, large-scale)
• Geographic focus on Australia (limited US/India support)
• No third-party review validation (G2, Capterra)

SurgePV Summary

Strengths:

• Complete electrical engineering (automated SLD in 5-10 minutes, wire sizing)
• Commercial structures (carports, trackers, East-West racking)
• US and India market coverage (3,000+ US utilities)
• Bankable accuracy (±3% vs PVSyst shading analysis, P50/P75/P90 metrics)
• Production-ready platform (not beta)
• Transparent pricing ($1,499/user/year for 3 users, all features included)

Ideal For:

• Commercial EPCs (100kW-10MW projects)
• Teams needing permit-ready electrical documentation
• Multi-market operations (US + India)
• Carport and tracker solar projects
• Installers wanting to eliminate AutoCAD dependency

Why Teams Switch from Photonik to SurgePV:

1. Need electrical documentation - SLDs and wire sizing for permits
2. Scaling to commercial - Projects beyond 50kW residential
3. Expanding to US or India - Geographic coverage Photonik lacks

Our Recommendation

For Australian residential installers on a tight budget starting out, Photonik offers a solid free option to generate quick proposals. The tool's simplicity and zero cost make it accessible for part-time professionals or small operations.

However, for commercial EPCs, teams needing permit-ready electrical documentation, or businesses planning US or India expansion, SurgePV delivers the complete engineering workflow Photonik lacks.

The difference comes down to this:

• Photonik: Design and propose (residential, Australia, free)
• SurgePV: Design, engineer, and propose (commercial, US/India, $1,499/user/year for 3 users)

If your workflow requires SLDs, wire sizing, commercial structures, or bankable simulations, you'll need those capabilities regardless of Photonik's pricing.

SurgePV integrates them without tool-switching, actually costing less than Photonik + AutoCAD while saving 2-4 hours per commercial project.

Bottom Line

Photonik is a promising free tool for simple residential design in Australia. It's easy to use, backed by respected solar professionals, and removes cost barriers for small installers.

But solar professionals who need electrical engineering, commercial capabilities, or international coverage will quickly hit Photonik's limitations.

For those teams, SurgePV provides the production-ready electrical documentation and commercial features that turn designs into permitted, build-ready projects.

See How SurgePV Compares to Photonik

If you've been considering Photonik but need:

• Automated Single Line Diagrams (5-10 minutes, no AutoCAD required)
• Wire sizing and electrical engineering (NEC-compliant, instant)
• Carport and tracker design (native support, only platform with this)
• US or India market support (3,000+ US utilities, full India coverage)
• P50/P75/P90 bankability metrics (for financing and investors)
• Production-ready platform (not beta)

SurgePV delivers the complete commercial EPC workflow.

Book a 15-Minute Demo

See automated electrical engineering in action:

• Design to permit-ready electrical documentation in 30 minutes
• No AutoCAD, no tool-switching, no manual drafting
• Starting at $1,499/user/year (For 3 Users plan) - less than Aurora + AutoCAD

Book Demo | See Pricing