Top 10 Best Solar Software of 2026

Aurora Solar is a comprehensive cloud-based platform designed for solar professionals, offering end-to-end tools for PV system design, sales proposals, and engineering analysis. It leverages high-resolution satellite imagery, LiDAR data, and AI to create precise 3D rooftop models, perform accurate shading and production forecasts, and generate customized proposals. The software streamlines workflows with mobile access, CRM integrations, and financial modeling, making it ideal for scaling solar businesses.

OpenSolar is a cloud-based solar design and sales platform that enables solar professionals to create accurate 3D system designs, generate financial proposals, and manage customer relationships all in one place. It automates complex shading analysis, equipment selection, and permitting processes to speed up sales cycles. Completely free with unlimited usage, it supports residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects with integrated CRM and project management tools.

PVsyst is a leading photovoltaic system design and simulation software used for modeling grid-connected, stand-alone, and water-pumping PV systems with high precision. It provides detailed performance predictions, economic analysis, and optimization tools, leveraging extensive databases of modules, inverters, and meteorological data. The software excels in handling complex scenarios like partial shading and system losses, making it a staple for professional PV engineering.

HelioScope is a cloud-based solar PV design and analysis software tailored for commercial and utility-scale projects, enabling rapid 3D system layouts, shading analysis, and energy production modeling. It automates complex optimizations like stringing and DC/AC ratios to maximize yield while integrating financial pro forma tools for proposals. Ideal for engineering teams needing speed without sacrificing accuracy in large-scale solar deployments.

PV*SOL premium is a professional-grade photovoltaic system design and simulation software developed by Valentin Software, enabling users to model grid-connected, off-grid, and storage-integrated PV systems with high precision. It features detailed 3D roof and environment modeling, advanced shading analysis including near-shading effects, and comprehensive yield predictions based on real weather data. The tool includes vast databases of PV modules, inverters, and batteries, supporting economic evaluations and professional report generation for system optimization.

The System Advisor Model (SAM) is a free, open-source desktop software developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for simulating the technical and financial performance of renewable energy systems, with comprehensive support for solar PV, concentrating solar power (CSP), wind, and other technologies. Users can input detailed system designs, utility rates, incentives, and weather data to generate hourly performance simulations, cash flow analyses, and key metrics like levelized cost of energy (LCOE). It is widely used for project feasibility studies, optimization, and research due to its rigorous physics-based models and validated datasets.

SolarEdge Designer is a free, cloud-based PV system design platform tailored for creating detailed solar layouts on complex rooftops using intuitive 3D modeling and satellite imagery. It automatically optimizes string configurations and power optimizer placement to maximize energy production, specifically leveraging SolarEdge's inverter and module-level monitoring ecosystem. The tool generates accurate performance simulations, financial analyses, single-line diagrams, and professional proposals for installers.

Sunny Design is a free web-based photovoltaic (PV) system design tool from SMA Solar Technology, accessible at sunnydesignweb.com. It allows users to create detailed 3D models of rooftops and terrain, perform precise shading analysis, and simulate energy yields for grid-connected solar installations. The software generates professional reports, bills of materials, and single-line diagrams, supporting efficient planning for residential and commercial projects.

EasySolar is a cloud-based platform tailored for solar installers, enabling rapid design of photovoltaic systems through AI-powered roof scanning from satellite images or photos. It generates accurate 3D models, performs shading analysis, energy yield simulations, and creates interactive, professional proposals to streamline sales. The tool integrates CRM functionalities and supports mobile access for on-site work, making it efficient for residential and small commercial projects.

Energy Toolbase is a comprehensive cloud-based platform tailored for solar and energy storage developers, financiers, and asset managers. It provides advanced financial modeling, automated proposal generation, performance simulation via its X-Factor engine, and portfolio management tools to streamline project origination, financing, and operations. The software integrates weather data, equipment libraries, and economic incentives for precise ROI analysis and optimization.