OpenSolar vs Solargraf
Head-to-head comparison of pricing, features, integrations, and use-case fit.
OpenSolar
Free, full-featured solar design and sales software
- Starting price
- Free tier available
- Aggregate rating
- —
- Best team size
- 1-500
- Free trial
- No
Solargraf
Solar design and proposal software, deeply integrated with the Enphase ecosystem
- Starting price
- From $233/mo
- Aggregate rating
- —
- Best team size
- 1-50
- Free trial
- No
What actually separates them
Only the points where OpenSolar and Solargraf genuinely differ, from our verified data. Everything they share is further down.
- → Entry price: OpenSolar starts at Free tier available, Solargraf at From $233/mo, so Solargraf is Infinityx the entry cost.
- → Integrations: only OpenSolar connects to financing, hardware distributors; only Solargraf connects to quickbooks.
- → Features the other lacks: OpenSolar has production_estimates, project_management; Solargraf has solar_proposals, esignature, financing_integration.
Quick verdict
OpenSolar: Solar contractors of any size that want a genuinely free, full-featured design and sales platform and are comfortable with a partner-funded business model.
Solargraf: Residential solar sales teams and installers — especially those selling Enphase IQ batteries and microinverters — who want fast, financeable, e-signable proposals.
OpenSolar has a lower starting price (Free tier available).
Decision matrix — which one is right for you?
Pick OpenSolar if…
- → Your situation matches OpenSolar's target profile: Solar contractors of any size that want a genuinely free, full-featured design and sales platform and are comfortable with a partner-funded business model
- → Budget is the constraint — OpenSolar starts at $0/mo vs $233/mo for Solargraf
Pick Solargraf if…
- → Your situation matches Solargraf's target profile: Residential solar sales teams and installers — especially those selling Enphase IQ batteries and microinverters — who want fast, financeable, e-signable proposals
- → QuickBooks is critical — Solargraf has native integration; OpenSolar requires Zapier or manual workarounds
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | OpenSolar | Solargraf |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free — Free | Starter — Custom |
| Tier 2 | — | Small Business — Custom |
OpenSolar starts at $0/mo on Free. Solargraf starts at $233/mo on Starter. OpenSolar is $233/mo cheaper at the entry tier. At scale (5+ users), both platforms typically converge in price as you climb the tier ladder.
Pros & cons
OpenSolar
- + Lower entry price — Free tier available
- − Some advanced API access and third-party connectors are now paid
- − Partner-funded model means hardware/finance partners get in-platform placement
- − Permit-ready electrical depth is limited like most design-first tools
- − No native QuickBooks integration (Solargraf has it)
Solargraf
- + Native QuickBooks integration (bidirectional sync)
- − Reviewers report shading-analysis inaccuracy of roughly 10-20% versus competing tools and permit packs that need revisions more than half the time
- − Billing is annual-only, so there is no low monthly entry point
Implementation timeline comparison
OpenSolar
1-3 weeks self-service onboarding
Solargraf
4-8 weeks self-service or with optional paid onboarding
Enterprise-tier platforms ($250+/user/mo) typically require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time, custom pricebook setup, and phased rollout to field techs. Mid-tier platforms reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding. Entry-tier platforms are designed for self-service onboarding in 1-3 weeks. Always plan for 2-4 weeks of parallel operation with your existing system before cutting over.
Feature comparison
Only in OpenSolar
- + production estimates
- + project management
Both have
- ✓ solar design
- ✓ 3d modeling
- ✓ proposals
Only in Solargraf
- + solar proposals
- + esignature
- + financing integration
Integrations
Only in OpenSolar
- + financing
- + hardware distributors
Both integrate with
— No common integrations —
Only in Solargraf
- + quickbooks
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | OpenSolar fit | Solargraf fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 | OpenSolar |
Vertical-fit scores combine feature coverage, customer base concentration, and the tool's own positioning for the trade. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, OpenSolar or Solargraf?
Neither is universally better — they target different buyers. OpenSolar is best for Solar contractors of any size that want a genuinely free, full-featured design and sales platform and are comfortable with a partner-funded business model. Solargraf is best for Residential solar sales teams and installers — especially those selling Enphase IQ batteries and microinverters — who want fast, financeable, e-signable proposals. See the decision matrix above for situation-specific guidance, or jump to the per-vertical winner table if you're in a specific trade.
Is OpenSolar cheaper than Solargraf?
OpenSolar has a lower starting price (Free tier available vs From $233/mo). However, total cost depends on team size, features needed, and tier — see the full pricing breakdown above.
Can OpenSolar and Solargraf integrate with QuickBooks?
OpenSolar does not have a native QuickBooks integration (Zapier workaround may exist). Solargraf integrates with QuickBooks natively.
Do OpenSolar or Solargraf offer a free trial?
OpenSolar: no free trial advertised; demo on request. Solargraf: no free trial advertised; demo on request.
How long does OpenSolar vs Solargraf take to implement?
OpenSolar: 1-3 weeks self-service onboarding. Solargraf: 4-8 weeks self-service or with optional paid onboarding. Implementation length scales with pricing tier — enterprise platforms ($250+/user/mo) require 3-6 months with dedicated admin time; mid-tier platforms typically reach operational status in 4-8 weeks with optional paid onboarding.
Can I migrate from OpenSolar to Solargraf (or vice versa)?
Yes, but expect data normalization work. Customer records and active jobs typically import cleanly via CSV. Historical job data, recurring service agreements, and custom pricebooks rarely transfer perfectly — most shops leave historical data in the source system as archival reference rather than migrating it. Budget 2-4 weeks of parallel operation between the two systems during the cutover.
OpenSolar vs Solargraf: which has better customer support?
Both OpenSolar and Solargraf offer email support across all tiers, with phone and live chat typically reserved for higher tiers. Response time SLAs vary by tier — entry-tier customers usually get 24-48 hour email response; enterprise customers get dedicated account managers with same-day response. Read recent G2 reviews specifically for support-quality signals before committing.
Which is better for solo contractors vs growing teams?
For solo contractors and 2-3 person teams, the lower-priced option (OpenSolar) typically wins on cost without sacrificing core features. For growing teams (5-15 employees), evaluate based on which platform's upper tiers include the features you'll need at your 12-18 month projected scale rather than buying for today's team size. For established 15+ employee operations, the depth of enterprise features (reporting, multi-location, marketing attribution) matters more than entry-tier price.
Need a deeper look?
See our full reviews with detailed pricing tiers, integration depth, and weaknesses.
Should your product be in this comparison?
We review OpenSolar and Solargraf against their own published pricing and terms, and we publish the cons next to the pros. If you build a competing product and it is not covered here, send it to us and it gets the same treatment.
Listings are free. No vendor can pay for placement, for a score, or to have a documented con removed. Read this page first and decide whether you want that.