Top 10 Best Solar Planning Software of 2026

Aurora Solar is a leading cloud-based solar design and sales platform that enables solar professionals to create accurate 3D models, perform site assessments, and generate proposals efficiently using satellite imagery, LiDAR data, and AI-driven tools. It provides precise energy production forecasts, financial analysis, and shading simulations to optimize PV system designs. The software streamlines the entire workflow from initial sales to permitting with integrations to CRM systems and hardware catalogs.

OpenSolar is a cloud-based solar design and sales platform that allows professionals to create detailed 3D system designs, generate proposals, and manage customer pipelines in one place. It features an extensive global component database, automated design tools, financial modeling, and CRM integrations to streamline the entire solar sales process. Designed for speed and collaboration, it enables real-time sharing and editing, making it ideal for installers aiming to close deals faster without upfront software costs.

HelioScope is a cloud-based solar design and engineering platform tailored for utility-scale PV projects, enabling rapid system layout generation and optimization. It provides advanced row-by-row shading analysis, energy yield predictions, and financial modeling to maximize project performance. The software streamlines the design process from site assessment to detailed engineering reports.

PVsyst is a leading professional software for the detailed design, simulation, and performance analysis of photovoltaic (PV) systems, supporting grid-connected, stand-alone, and water-pumping configurations. It excels in precise yield predictions by modeling complex factors like near-shading, soiling, module mismatch, and aging. Used globally by engineers for bankable reports, it features an extensive database of over 9,000 modules and 4,000 inverters.

PV*SOL by Valentin Software is a professional-grade photovoltaic simulation tool designed for detailed planning and optimization of solar PV systems, both grid-connected and off-grid. It excels in 3D modeling of rooftops, surroundings, and shading objects to deliver precise yield predictions and system performance analysis. The software supports module layout optimization, battery integration, economic calculations, and generates professional reports for permits and tenders.

The System Advisor Model (SAM), developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is a free, open-source software tool for simulating the performance and financial viability of renewable energy systems, with primary strengths in solar PV, concentrating solar power (CSP), wind, and battery storage. It enables users to input detailed system specifications, weather data, and financial parameters to generate hourly energy production forecasts, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and cash flow analyses. SAM supports a wide range of project scales, from residential rooftops to utility-scale plants, and is widely used by engineers, researchers, and developers for techno-economic assessments.

Arka360 is a cloud-based solar design and sales automation platform that allows users to create precise 3D rooftop models using LiDAR data, optimize panel layouts, and perform energy yield and financial analyses. It streamlines the sales process with automated professional proposals, single-line diagrams, and permitting tools, all integrated into a single workflow. Designed for solar professionals, it reduces design time from hours to minutes while ensuring compliance with standards like NEC.

BlueSol is a professional photovoltaic system design software that enables detailed sizing, simulation, and optimization of solar PV installations, including grid-tied, off-grid, and hybrid systems with storage. It features comprehensive energy yield predictions, shading analysis, economic evaluations, and automated generation of technical reports compliant with international standards. The tool includes a vast database of modules, inverters, and components, supporting both single-phase and three-phase configurations.

EasySolar is a cloud-based solar planning software designed for PV installers and sales teams, allowing users to generate professional 3D designs of solar installations from a single photo or CAD import in minutes. It automates key calculations including energy yield, shading analysis, and financial projections, while producing customizable sales proposals and contracts. The platform integrates with CRM systems and offers mobile access for on-site work, streamlining the entire sales-to-installation workflow.

SolarEdge Designer is a free cloud-based tool for designing residential and commercial solar PV systems, offering 3D rooftop modeling, shading analysis, and energy yield simulations. It generates detailed proposals, bills of materials, and permit-ready documents while optimizing layouts for SolarEdge inverters, power optimizers, and batteries. The platform integrates with SolarEdge's monitoring system for seamless project handoff from design to operation.