Scanifly Review: Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons (2026)

TL;DR: Scanifly Quick Verdict

Rating: 4.0/5 (based on accuracy strength and case study results)

Scanifly excels at one thing: drone-based solar design with 1-3" measurement accuracy. Their NYSERDA and MassCEC approvals make them mandatory for certain Northeast US markets. Case studies from Namaste Solar show 96% revision reduction, and EmPower Solar reports 53% lower design costs.

Best For: Quality-focused contractors where accuracy prevents costly revisions, complex C&I rooftops requiring drone surveys, NYSERDA/MassCEC regulated projects in New York and Massachusetts.

Not Ideal For: Teams wanting complete workflows (design + financials + CRM), budget-conscious installers (drone hardware + software + FAA license adds up fast), anyone not doing drone flights, companies needing financial modeling or proposal generation.

Bottom Line: Brilliant at accuracy. Incomplete as a platform. If revisions are destroying your margins and you can invest in drones, Scanifly delivers. If you want everything in one place without hardware investments, consider SurgePV instead.

What Is Scanifly?

Scanifly launched in 2015, moving from Brooklyn to Cambridge, Massachusetts. The founding team—Jason Steinberg (CEO), John Novak (CPO), and Denis Kobozev (CTO)—built Scanifly around a focused premise: better data from drones means better designs with fewer revisions.

They've raised $12.4M total ($10M in March 2022) and processed over 150,000 projects. With 31 employees and $3.8M annual revenue, they're a focused, capital-efficient operation specializing in photogrammetry accuracy.

Company Overview

Scanifly Products & Features Analysis

Scanifly offers four main products. Let me break down each with specific capabilities and limitations.

PrelimDesign: Satellite Imagery Initial Designs

What It Does: Quick initial site assessments using satellite imagery—no drone required.

Capabilities:

• Satellite-based roof measurements
• Initial system sizing
• Quick feasibility assessments
• Shade analysis (satellite-based)

Best For: Early-stage site evaluation before committing to drone flights.

Limitations: Lower accuracy than DroneDesign. If you're using PrelimDesign only, you lose Scanifly's primary advantage.

My Take: PrelimDesign is useful for qualifying sites before drone investment. But if satellite imagery is your primary workflow, you might as well use a platform with more complete features.

DroneDesign: Core Photogrammetry Product

What It Does: Processes hundreds of overlapping drone images into true 3D roof models with 1-3" measurement accuracy.

How It Works:

1. Fly drone over property (typically DJI platform)
2. Capture hundreds of overlapping images at 50-200 feet
3. Scanifly processes images into georeferenced 3D model
4. Design directly on the accurate 3D surface

Key Capabilities:

• 1-3" measurement accuracy (verified in case studies)
• True 3D roof models (not flat projections)
• Accurate obstruction detection (vents, HVAC, pipes, skylights)
• Real roof pitch detection (measured, not estimated)
• Shade obstacle heights (trees, neighboring buildings)
• Viewshed shading analysis (measured data, not estimates)

Technical Requirements:

• Commercial drone (DJI recommended)
• FAA Part 107 license
• GPU-capable computer for processing
• High-speed internet for uploads

Why 1-3" Accuracy Matters:

Commercial rooftops have complexity that satellite imagery misses. HVAC units, pipe penetrations, skylights, and structural obstacles create design constraints. A 6-inch error in obstruction location can mean:

• Panel placement conflicts during installation
• Permit rejections requiring redesign
• Change orders and schedule delays
• Customer dissatisfaction and margin erosion

Scanifly's accuracy eliminates these issues. Case studies confirm 90%+ revision reduction when switching from satellite-based tools.

Field Ops Mobile App (iOS/Android)

What It Does: Mobile application for field teams handling drone operations.

Capabilities:

• Flight planning (automated flight paths)
• Data capture (image management)
• Site documentation (notes, photos)
• Cloud sync (automatic upload to Scanifly platform)
• Offline mode (for areas with limited connectivity)

Supported Platforms: iOS and Android

Best For: Field crews performing drone surveys at multiple sites daily.

Limitations: Focused on drone operations only. No design capabilities on mobile. No customer-facing proposal viewing.

Design Services: 48-Hour Turnaround

What It Does: Outsourced design work performed by Scanifly's engineering team.

How It Works:

1. Upload drone data to Scanifly platform
2. Scanifly's design team creates permit-ready plans
3. Receive completed designs within 48 hours

Pricing: Per-project basis (contact sales for rates)

Best For: Companies with drone capability but limited design capacity, or for occasional complex projects outside normal workflow.

Advantages: Predictable per-project cost, no internal design headcount needed, 48-hour turnaround guarantee.

Scanifly Pricing & Total Cost of Ownership

Scanifly doesn't publish pricing. You'll contact sales for quotes. Here's what we know from market research.

Pricing Model

• Software subscription: Annual (contact sales)
• Design services: Per-project pricing
• Enterprise deals: Custom volume pricing available

The Hidden Cost Problem

Scanifly's cost isn't just software. Drone-based design requires significant additional investment.

True Cost of Ownership Breakdown

Total hardware/licensing investment: $2,875-6,675 (one-time)

Annual ongoing costs: $4,000-7,500+ (software + insurance)

What Scanifly Doesn't Include

Because Scanifly is design-only, you need additional tools for complete workflows:

Additional tools for complete workflow: $6,588+/year

Total Cost Comparison

Scanifly Stack (design + complete workflow):

• Scanifly: ~$4,000-6,000/year (estimate)
• Drone hardware: $2,000+ (one-time, amortized)
• Energy Toolbase: $2,388/year
• CRM: $1,200/year
• AutoCAD: $2,000/year
• Total: $10,000-12,000+/year (plus drone hardware)

SurgePV Alternative:

• SurgePV (For 3 Users plan): $1,499/user/year
• Drone: $0 (not required)
• Financial modeling: $0 (included)
• CRM: $0 (included)
• Proposals: $0 (included)
• Total: $1,499/user/year

Result: Approximately 60% lower total cost of ownership with SurgePV, without drone hardware investment.

What Scanifly Is Missing

Here's the uncomfortable truth: Scanifly is a design tool, not a business platform. Let me be specific about the gaps.

No Financial Modeling

Scanifly has zero financial capabilities.

You cannot:

• Calculate ROI for customers
• Model utility savings
• Compare financing options (cash, loan, lease, PPA)
• Generate NPV, IRR, or payback analysis
• Model battery storage economics
• Show customers their investment returns

Impact: You need Energy Toolbase, Aurora (if you're using both), or manual spreadsheets. That's another subscription, more data entry, and more tool-switching.

SurgePV alternative: Financial modeling included. Cash, loan, lease, PPA comparisons. Storage economics. All in one platform.

No CRM or Project Management

Scanifly has no customer relationship management.

You cannot:

• Track leads and sales pipeline
• Manage customer communications
• Assign and track project tasks
• Collaborate with team members on deals
• Generate sales reports

Impact: You need Salesforce, HubSpot, or another CRM. More subscriptions, more data silos.

No Electrical Engineering

Scanifly has no electrical documentation.

You cannot:

• Generate Single Line Diagrams (SLDs)
• Calculate wire sizing
• Determine voltage drop
• Create panel schedules
• Produce permit-ready electrical documentation

Impact: You need AutoCAD ($2,000/year) and 2-3 hours per project for SLD creation. For commercial projects, this is a major bottleneck.

SurgePV alternative: Generates permit-ready SLDs in 5-10 minutes. Automated wire sizing. Voltage drop calculations. No AutoCAD required. (Verified from)

No Proposal Generation

Scanifly has no customer-facing proposals.

You cannot:

• Generate branded proposals
• Show visual system layouts to customers
• Present financing options side-by-side
• Send interactive proposal links
• Track proposal views and engagement

Impact: You need separate proposal software or manual PowerPoint/PDF creation.

Limited Language Support

Scanifly is English-only. No multilingual interface or documentation. Limited appeal for international operations.

Hardware Requirements

Unlike cloud-based platforms, Scanifly requires:

• GPU-capable computer for photogrammetry processing
• High-speed internet for large file uploads
• Commercial drone hardware
• FAA Part 107 certification (US)

This creates barriers for smaller teams and those without drone capacity.

User Feedback & Case Studies

Scanifly has limited G2 and Capterra reviews (common for B2B tools with direct sales). But their published case studies provide verified performance data.

Namaste Solar: 96% Revision Reduction

Company: Namaste Solar (Colorado-based installer)

Challenge: 25% of designs required revisions, causing delays and margin erosion

Results After Scanifly:

• Before: 25% revision rate
• After: <1% revision rate
• Improvement: 96% reduction in revisions

What This Means: For every 100 projects, Namaste Solar went from 25 redesigns to less than 1. At 2-3 hours per redesign, that's 50-75 hours saved per 100 projects.

EmPower Solar: 53% Cost Reduction

Company: EmPower Solar (New York-based installer)

Challenge: High design costs from revision cycles and tool complexity

Results After Scanifly:

• 53% reduction in design costs vs previous workflow
• Faster project delivery
• Improved permit approval rates

What This Means: When designs are right the first time, you don't pay for revisions. EmPower's experience validates Scanifly's accuracy claims.

Solar Energy Services: 78% Faster Completion

Company: Solar Energy Services

Challenge: Project completion delays from design changes and permit corrections

Results After Scanifly:

• 78% reduction in project completion time
• Streamlined design-to-permit workflow
• Zero-revision target achieved

Verified Results Pattern

Across all case studies, consistent patterns emerge:

• 90%+ revision reduction (when switching from satellite-based tools)
• 50%+ time savings on project completion
• Zero-revision workflows achievable for standard projects
• Improved permit approval rates (especially NYSERDA/MassCEC)

Industry Recognition

Scanifly has earned recognition beyond case studies:

• First and only NYSERDA approval
• First and only MassCEC approval
• Additional approvals: CEC, Austin Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon
• Industry coverage in Solar Power World
• Integration partnerships with SnapNrack, Unirac, Enerflo (7 total)

Common User Praise

Based on case studies and market feedback:

• Accuracy (dominant theme in all feedback)
• Revision elimination (primary business value)
• Regulatory compliance (NYSERDA/MassCEC moat)
• Integration depth (racking manufacturer partnerships)
• Design services option (for capacity constraints)

Common User Concerns

Based on market analysis:

• Missing financial modeling (frequent request)
• No CRM integration (workflow fragmentation)
• Pricing opacity (contact sales required)
• Drone requirement (hardware investment barrier)
• English-only (international limitations)
• GPU requirements (processing constraints)

Scanifly Pros & Cons

Pros

1-3" measurement accuracy - Genuinely best-in-class. Satellite tools cannot match this precision. Verified in multiple case studies.

NYSERDA/MassCEC approval - Regulatory moat. First and only platform with these approvals. Mandatory for certain Northeast US incentive programs.

90%+ revision reduction - Consistent results across case studies. Namaste Solar: 25% to <1%. This drives real cost savings.

Solar-exclusive photogrammetry - Only platform focused entirely on solar drone design. Not general construction or surveying.

Zero-revision workflows achievable - When accuracy is paramount, Scanifly delivers right-first-time designs.

7 integration partnerships - SnapNrack, Unirac, Enerflo, and others. Direct material ordering from accurate BOMs.

Design Services option - 48-hour turnaround for outsourced permit-ready plans. Useful for capacity constraints.

Mobile Field Ops app - iOS/Android for flight planning, data capture, and site documentation.

Cons

No financial modeling - Zero ROI, NPV, IRR, or savings calculations. Need Energy Toolbase or similar ($2,388/year).

No CRM/project management - No pipeline tracking, customer management, or team collaboration. Need separate subscription.

No electrical engineering - No SLDs, wire sizing, or permit documentation. Need AutoCAD ($2,000/year) and 2-3 hours per project.

No proposal generation - Cannot create customer-facing sales materials. Need separate tool or manual creation.

Drone requirement - $1,700-3,000 hardware cost + FAA Part 107 license + insurance. Significant barrier.

Pricing undisclosed - Contact sales required. No public pricing for planning.

Design-only scope - Requires 3-4 additional tools for complete workflow. Tool-switching and data silos.

Small team (31 employees) - Limited support capacity compared to larger platforms.

English-only - No multilingual support. Limited international applicability.

GPU/internet requirements - Hardware constraints beyond drone itself.

SurgePV vs Scanifly

This comparison matters because they represent fundamentally different approaches: specialist accuracy vs complete platform.

Philosophy Comparison

Scanifly Philosophy: Maximum measurement accuracy through drone photogrammetry. Accept that you'll need multiple tools for complete workflow.

SurgePV Philosophy: Complete workflow in one platform. Design, electrical engineering, financials, and proposals without tool-switching.

Head-to-Head Feature Comparison

Workflow Comparison

With Scanifly (design-only workflow):

1. Schedule drone flight
2. Fly drone + capture images
3. Upload and process in Scanifly
4. Design system layout
5. Export to AutoCAD for SLD (2-3 hours)
6. Model financials in Energy Toolbase
7. Track in separate CRM
8. Create proposal manually

Tools used: 5+ (Scanifly, AutoCAD, Energy Toolbase, CRM, proposal software)

Time per project: 3-4+ hours

With SurgePV (complete workflow):

1. Design in SurgePV (satellite data)
2. Generate SLD automatically (5-10 min)
3. Financial modeling (included)
4. Generate proposal (included)
5. Track in CRM (included)

Tools used: 1 (SurgePV only)

Time per project: 30-55 minutes

Workflow efficiency: SurgePV completes in 1 tool what Scanifly requires 5+ tools to achieve.

Cost of Ownership Comparison

Scanifly complete workflow cost (annual):

SurgePV complete workflow cost (annual):

Annual savings with SurgePV: $9,749-11,749 per user

When to Choose Each

Choose Scanifly if:

• Revisions are destroying your margins (and drone accuracy fixes that)
• Complex rooftops with unusual obstructions requiring detailed surveys
• NYSERDA/MassCEC projects requiring regulatory approval
• You already have drone operations and trained pilots
• Accuracy is worth the multi-tool complexity and cost
• C&I projects where satellite accuracy isn't sufficient

Choose SurgePV if:

• Complete workflow in one platform matters
• No drone investment desired or feasible
• Financial modeling and proposals are critical
• Electrical engineering (SLD generation, wire sizing) is required
• Lower total cost of ownership is a priority
• Commercial EPCs needing full capabilities without tool-switching
• You want transparent, published pricing

Who Should Use Scanifly?

Scanifly Is Best For

Quality-focused contractors where revision costs exceed Scanifly investment. If you're spending $5,000+/year on redesigns and change orders, Scanifly's accuracy pays for itself.

Complex C&I rooftops with unusual obstructions, multiple roof levels, or architectural features. Satellite imagery struggles with these; drone photogrammetry captures every detail.

NYSERDA/MassCEC contractors in New York and Massachusetts. Regulatory approval means streamlined incentive processing. If you do volume in these markets, Scanifly may be mandatory.

Companies with existing drone operations. If you already have drones, pilots, and FAA licensing for inspections or other work, Scanifly adds value without additional hardware investment.

High-value projects where accuracy justifies drone flight costs. Large commercial installations where a single revision costs $5,000-10,000+ in delay and rework.

Scanifly Is NOT Ideal For

Budget-conscious installers. Drone + software + additional tools = $10,000+/year total. If margins are tight, the investment may not pencil.

Teams wanting complete workflows. Scanifly is design-only. You'll need 3-4 additional subscriptions for CRM, financials, electrical, and proposals.

Companies without drone capacity. Hardware investment ($2,000+), FAA licensing, training, and insurance create significant barriers. Don't buy Scanifly hoping to "eventually" get drones.

Standard residential volume. Drone flights for individual residential projects don't scale efficiently. Time and cost per project may exceed satellite-based alternatives.

International operations. English-only interface and US-focused regulatory approvals limit applicability outside North America.

Migration Considerations

Switching from Scanifly to SurgePV

Common Reasons Users Consider Switching:

1. Tool fatigue - Managing 4-5 subscriptions for complete workflow becomes unsustainable
2. Cost pressure - $10,000+/year total cost significantly higher than alternatives
3. Workflow efficiency - Tool-switching adds time and introduces errors
4. Electrical documentation - AutoCAD dependency for SLDs is expensive and slow
5. Residential scaling - Drone flights don't scale for high-volume residential

What Migrates

Migration Process

Timeline: 2-3 weeks typical

Steps:

1. Data Export: Download project records from Scanifly and associated tools
2. SurgePV Setup: Configure company settings, utility rates, team members
3. Parallel Testing: Run 5-10 projects in both systems to validate
4. Team Training: SurgePV onboarding (2-3 weeks to productivity)
5. Full Transition: Complete migration after parallel validation

Migration Support from SurgePV

• Dedicated migration specialist
• Data import assistance for customer records
• Team training and onboarding
• 1:1 support during transition
• Priority support during first 90 days

Risk Mitigation

• Trial period available to validate fit before commitment
• Parallel operation recommended during transition
• No long-term contracts required for initial evaluation

When NOT to Migrate

Keep Scanifly if:

• NYSERDA/MassCEC approval is mandatory for your market
• Complex C&I rooftops require drone accuracy
• You've already invested in drone operations and trained staff
• Revision costs have genuinely been eliminated by Scanifly accuracy

Scanifly vs SurgePV: Feature Comparison

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

Final Verdict

Scanifly is brilliant at one thing: drone photogrammetry accuracy. The 1-3" measurement precision is genuinely best-in-class. NYSERDA and MassCEC approvals create a real regulatory moat. Case studies showing 96% revision reduction are documented and believable.

But "brilliant at one thing" doesn't equal "complete solution."

The Core Trade-Off

Scanifly offers superior measurement accuracy but requires you to buy, learn, and manage 3-4 additional tools for a complete workflow. You're trading simplicity and cost efficiency for precision.

The Math for Most Installers

Scanifly complete workflow:

• Scanifly + drone + Energy Toolbase + CRM + AutoCAD
• Total: $10,000-12,000+/year + $2,000 drone hardware
• Tools managed: 5+
• Workflow steps: 8+

SurgePV complete workflow:

• SurgePV only
• Total: $1,499/user/year (For 3 Users plan)
• Tools managed: 1
• Workflow steps: 5

Annual savings with SurgePV: $8,500-10,500 per user

Scanifly Summary

Strengths:

• 1-3" drone photogrammetry accuracy
• NYSERDA/MassCEC regulatory approval (unique moat)
• 96% revision reduction verified in case studies
• Solar-exclusive platform focus

Ideal For:

• Complex C&I rooftops requiring measured accuracy
• NYSERDA/MassCEC regulated projects
• Teams with existing drone operations
• Quality-focused contractors where revisions destroy margins

Limitations:

• Design-only (no financials, CRM, electrical, proposals)
• Requires 3-4 additional tools for complete workflow
• Drone investment + licensing + insurance required
• $10,000-12,000+/year total cost of ownership

SurgePV Summary

Strengths:

• Complete platform (design + electrical + financials + proposals)
• Automated SLD generation (5-10 min vs 2-3 hours with AutoCAD)
• Transparent pricing ($1,499/user/year for 3 users)
• No hardware investment required
• Only platform with native carport design

Ideal For:

• Commercial EPCs needing complete workflows
• Teams wanting electrical engineering without AutoCAD
• Companies prioritizing lower total cost of ownership
• Installers seeking one tool instead of five

Our Recommendation

For most solar installers and EPCs, start with an all-in-one platform. Satellite-based design has improved significantly. SurgePV's accuracy (±3% vs PVSyst) is sufficient for the vast majority of projects.

Add Scanifly as a specialist tool IF:

• Revision costs are a documented, measured problem exceeding $5,000+/year
• You do significant NYSERDA/MassCEC volume where approval is required
• Complex C&I rooftops consistently require detail satellite imagery misses
• You've already invested in drone operations for other purposes

Don't choose Scanifly if:

• You're hoping "someday" to get drones (the workflow doesn't work without them)
• Budget is tight and tool consolidation matters
• Complete workflow in one platform is the priority
• You need electrical engineering (SLDs) without AutoCAD

Bottom Line

Scanifly is excellent at accuracy. SurgePV is excellent at workflow completeness. Choose based on your primary pain point.

If revisions are destroying your margins and you're willing to invest $10,000+/year in a multi-tool stack, Scanifly delivers.

If you want design, electrical engineering, financials, and proposals in one platform at $1,499/user/year without hardware investment, see SurgePV.

Ready for Complete Workflow?

If Scanifly's design-only scope means too many tools and too much complexity, see how an all-in-one platform changes the equation.

Book a SurgePV Demo - See design, electrical engineering, financials, and proposals in one platform.

What you'll see:

• Automated SLD generation (5-10 minutes vs 2-3 hours)
• Financial modeling with cash, loan, lease, PPA options
• Professional proposals with interactive web links
• Complete workflow without tool-switching

No pressure, no obligation.

Not ready for a demo?

• See SurgePV Pricing - Transparent pricing, no contact-sales required
• Read Best Solar Design Software Guide - Market comparison
• Compare Commercial Solar Solutions - EPC-focused features