OpenSolar vs Pylon
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
OpenSolar
Free solar design, proposal and project management software funded by partners
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Best team size
- 1-500
- Free trial
- Free tier instead
Pylon
Pay-per-project solar design and proposal software from Sydney, with 3D shading, battery design and an optional solar CRM
- Starting price
- No monthly plan (see pricing note)
- Best team size
- 1-100
- Free trial
- None listed
What actually separates them
Only the points where our data on OpenSolar and Pylon differs. A feature or integration missing from one tool's list means our entry does not record it, not that the tool lacks it. Everything they share is further down.
- → Price structure: Pylon publishes module or per-project prices rather than a monthly plan; OpenSolar has a free tier. Compare the total over the period you expect to use each.
- → Integrations listed for one tool only: OpenSolar: goodleap, sungage, dividend finance, lightreach; Pylon: servicem8, mailchimp, brighte, smart ease.
- → Features listed for one tool only: OpenSolar: production estimates, project management, payments; Pylon: shading analysis, solar proposals, battery design.
Quick verdict
OpenSolar: Solar installers of any size, in the US, UK, Australia and many other countries, that want free design, proposal and project software and accept partner-funded placement.
Pylon: Solar installers in Australia and the UK who want fast residential or commercial designs and proposals without a monthly subscription.
Decision matrix: which one is right for you?
Pick OpenSolar if…
- → Your situation matches OpenSolar's target profile: Solar installers of any size, in the US, UK, Australia and many other countries, that want free design, proposal and project software and accept partner-funded placement
- → QuickBooks matters: OpenSolar lists a QuickBooks integration (QuickBooks (product not specified)); our entry for Pylon lists none
Pick Pylon if…
- → Your situation matches Pylon's target profile: Solar installers in Australia and the UK who want fast residential or commercial designs and proposals without a monthly subscription
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | OpenSolar | Pylon |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free: free | Standard (per project) |
| Tier 2 | - | Pro (per project) |
| Tier 3 | - | Enterprise |
OpenSolar has a free tier (Free). Pylon publishes module or per-project prices rather than a monthly plan (listed in its full review), so compare the total over the period you expect to use it.
Pros & cons
OpenSolar
- + QuickBooks integration listed (QuickBooks (product not specified))
- − Partners pay for placement, so in-app lenders and products are not neutral
- − API Access (per project), connectors (monthly) and premium imagery cost extra and prices are shown only in the app
- − Some features depend on your country
Pylon
- − Built mainly for the Australian market, with a separate UK site and no US-specific site or pricing
- − The currency on the main pricing page is not labeled
- − The CRM is a separate per-user subscription
- − Per-project charges add up at high volume
- − No QuickBooks integration in our data (OpenSolar lists one)
Feature comparison
Features as listed in our entries. The lists use different words for similar features, so check a feature you need on both vendors' sites.
Listed for OpenSolar only
- + production estimates
- + project management
- + payments
- + ai assistant
Listed for both
- ✓ solar design
- ✓ 3d modeling
- ✓ proposals
- ✓ single line diagrams
Listed for Pylon only
- + shading analysis
- + solar proposals
- + battery design
- + esignature
- + crm
Integrations
Listed for OpenSolar only
- + goodleap
- + sungage
- + dividend finance
- + lightreach
- + enfin
- + sunlight financial
- + quickbooks
- + metromap
- + hardware distributors
- + api
Listed for both
- ✓ xero
- ✓ nearmap
Listed for Pylon only
- + servicem8
- + mailchimp
- + brighte
- + smart ease
- + solaris finance
- + solarquotes
- + solarchoice
- + google workspace
- + microsoft 365
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | OpenSolar fit | Pylon fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | 10 / 10 | 10 / 10 | Tie |
Vertical-fit scores (1-10) rate how well each tool is built for the trade, checked against the trades the vendor's own pages say it serves. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, OpenSolar or Pylon?
It depends on your trade, team size and budget. OpenSolar is best for solar installers of any size, in the US, UK, Australia and many other countries, that want free design, proposal and project software and accept partner-funded placement. Pylon is best for solar installers in Australia and the UK who want fast residential or commercial designs and proposals without a monthly subscription. See the decision matrix above, and the trade-by-trade fit table if you work in one trade.
Is OpenSolar cheaper than Pylon?
Pylon publishes module or per-project prices rather than a monthly plan, so compare the total over the period you expect to use each.
Can OpenSolar and Pylon integrate with QuickBooks?
OpenSolar lists QuickBooks (product not specified). Our entry for Pylon lists no QuickBooks integration. Check which way each sync runs, and on which plans, in each tool's full review before you buy.
Do OpenSolar or Pylon offer a free trial?
OpenSolar: a free tier. Pylon: no free trial in our data.
Can I move from OpenSolar to Pylon (or the other way)?
Our data does not record migration support for either tool. Ask both vendors which records they import and export (customers, jobs, invoices, recurring agreements, price books), in which file format, and whether they help with the import.
OpenSolar vs Pylon: which has better customer support?
Our data does not record support channels or response times for either tool. Ask each vendor which support comes with the plan you would buy. Each full review links to G2 and Capterra, where you can read current user reviews.
Which suits a solo contractor, and which a growing team?
Our data puts OpenSolar's best team size at 1-500 and Pylon's at 1-100. OpenSolar's entry price is a free tier; Pylon's is module or per-project prices (no monthly plan). Price both at the team size you expect to have, not only today's.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with each tool's pricing tiers, integrations and weaknesses.
Should your product be in this comparison?
We check OpenSolar and Pylon against their own websites and list the cons next to the pros. If you build a competing product that is not listed here, you can submit it for editorial review. An evaluation can end with or without a listing.
Listings are free. We do not accept payment for inclusion, for placement, for a score, or to remove a documented con. Read this page first and decide whether you want that.