Online solar design tools let you design a complete PV system in the browser, without installs, on any device. The category has matured fast in the last 3 years and now matches desktop tools on accuracy while leading on speed and team collaboration. This guide compares the seven serious options in 2026.
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The 7 Online Solar Design Tools Worth Evaluating
1. SurgePV: The All-in-One Pick
SurgePV ships AI 3D roof modeling, 8,760-hour shade analysis, bankable yield, solar financial modeling, AutoCAD export, and branded solar proposals on every paid plan. $1,299 to $1,899 per user per year flat.
2. Aurora Solar
US-residential-focused cloud tool. $159 to $259 per user per month. AI Mode and Sales Mode add-ons. See the full Aurora Solar alternative comparison for a deeper breakdown.
3. HelioScope
Browser-based engineering simulator. $99 to $300+ per user per month. No native proposal builder. Our HelioScope alternative guide covers the trade-offs in detail.
4. OpenSolar
Free entry tier. Add-ons stack at C&I. Simplified shading. The OpenSolar alternative breakdown walks through when the free tier stops paying off.
5. Pylon
US residential proposal-led tool. Per-feature pricing. More detail in the Pylon alternative comparison.
6. Solargraf
Residential proposal templates, Enphase-owned. See the Solargraf alternative review for the full picture.
7. SAM Online (NREL beta)
Free research tool, not production-grade.
Online Solar Design Tools at a Glance
| Tool | AI 3D from satellite | 8,760-hr shading | Bankable P50/P75/P90 | White-label proposal | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurgePV | Yes | All plans | Yes | Included | $1,299 to $1,899 / user / yr |
| Aurora | AI Mode (paid) | Upper tier | Available | Sales Mode (paid) | $1,908 to $3,108+ / user / yr |
| HelioScope | No | Mid+ | Yes | Not supported | $1,188 to $3,600+ / user / yr |
| OpenSolar | Limited | Simplified | Not produced | Yes (templates) | Free + add-ons |
| Pylon | No | Limited | Not produced | Yes | Varies |
| Solargraf | No | Limited | Not produced | Yes | $1,200 to $2,400 / user / yr |
| SAM Online | No | Yes | Yes | No | Free |
Online Solar Design Tool vs Online Solar Design Software: Same Thing?
Yes. “Online solar design tool”, “solar design tool online”, and “online solar design software” all describe the same category: a browser-delivered platform that models the site, lays out modules, simulates yield, and produces the customer-facing document. The wording changes with who is searching, not what they need.
Two distinctions do matter when you scope a purchase:
- A solar system design tool (or PV system design tool) implies whole-system scope, so array plus inverter selection plus string sizing plus balance of system, not just roof geometry. Confirm the tool sizes strings against real inverter MPPT windows before you commit.
- A free solar design tool is a genuinely different product class. OpenSolar’s free tier, SAM, and PVWatts are useful, but none produce bankable P50/P75/P90 output with module-level shading. Our free solar design software breakdown covers exactly where the free tiers stop.
If you need one browser platform that covers all three readings, that is the shortlist below.
What an Online Solar Design Tool Should Do
SurgePV ships all eight. Most alternatives miss two or more.
Speed Benchmark: Address to Branded Proposal
| Tool | Average residential time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SurgePV | 18 to 20 minutes | AI 3D + Clara AI + integrated proposal |
| Aurora Solar | 30 to 45 minutes | AI Mode + Sales Mode |
| HelioScope + Solargraf | 45 to 75 minutes | Two-tool workflow |
| OpenSolar | 20 to 30 minutes | Limited engineering |
| Pylon | 25 to 35 minutes | Residential focus |
Pricing for 5-Seat Teams
| Tool | Annual cost (5 seats) |
|---|---|
| SurgePV 5-User Team | $6,495 |
| Aurora Mid + AI + Sales | $14,000 to $18,000 |
| HelioScope Mid + Solargraf | $12,000 to $16,000 |
| OpenSolar Pro + extensions | $6,000 to $10,000 |
| Pylon | Varies |
The full SurgePV pricing page lays out every plan side by side.
Fastest browser-based solar design workflow at the lowest total cost
SurgePV's 5-User Team plan is $6,495 per year all-in. Address to branded proposal in 20 minutes.
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Who Should Choose Each Tool
- Choose SurgePV for the cleanest end-to-end online solar design workflow at the lowest realised cost.
- Choose Aurora for US-residential at the upper tier.
- Choose HelioScope for engineering-only browser simulation.
- Choose OpenSolar for small residential at lowest fixed cost.
- Choose Pylon or Solargraf for fast residential proposals only.
- Choose SAM Online for research and sensitivity studies.
Ready to design solar in the browser, end to end?
SurgePV combines AI 3D, 8,760-hour shading, bankable yield, financial modelling, and white-label proposals in one online platform.
Book a Free DemoFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best online solar design tool in 2026?
Are online solar design tools free?
Can online solar design tools produce bankable yield reports?
Do online solar design tools work on mobile devices?
What is the fastest online solar design tool?
Do online solar design tools require a credit card to try?
How accurate are online solar design tools compared to desktop tools like PVsyst?
Is an online solar design tool the same as a solar system design tool?
Nirav Dhanani CEO, Qbits Energy
Co-founder & CEO driving Qbits Energy's product strategy and growth across India.