OpenSolar vs Solo
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
Solo
Fast, accurate solar proposals with managed design
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Aggregate rating
- —
- Best team size
- 5-200
- Free trial
- No
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.
Solo: Residential solar sales teams that want fast, highly accurate proposals via managed design without building an in-house design team, and that prefer per-proposal pricing.
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
Pick Solo if…
- → Your situation matches Solo's target profile: Residential solar sales teams that want fast, highly accurate proposals via managed design without building an in-house design team, and that prefer per-proposal pricing
Pricing side-by-side
| Tier | OpenSolar | Solo |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free — Free | Per proposal (~$29-$32) — Custom |
Solo uses custom-quoted pricing (typically $250-$800/user/mo for enterprise FSM platforms); OpenSolar has transparent public pricing starting at $0/mo. If budget predictability matters, OpenSolar wins on transparency alone. If you need enterprise-tier features and don't mind the sales process, Solo's custom pricing reflects the deeper feature set.
Pros & cons
OpenSolar
- − 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
Solo
- − Per-proposal pricing gets expensive at high volume
- − Residential-only
- − No in-house electrical engineering
- − Monthly cost can be unpredictable since it scales with proposal volume
- − No public pricing — sales call required for a quote
Implementation timeline comparison
OpenSolar
1-3 weeks self-service onboarding
Solo
3-6 months for full deployment with dedicated implementation manager
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
- + solar design
- + 3d modeling
- + proposals
- + project management
Both have
- ✓ production estimates
Only in Solo
- + solar proposals
- + managed design
- + financing integration
- + in app editing
Integrations
Only in OpenSolar
- + hardware distributors
Both integrate with
- ✓ financing
Only in Solo
- + crm
Which fits better in each trade
| Trade | OpenSolar fit | Solo 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 Solo?
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. Solo is best for Residential solar sales teams that want fast, highly accurate proposals via managed design without building an in-house design team, and that prefer per-proposal pricing. 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 Solo?
Both OpenSolar and Solo use custom pricing or have similar entry costs — request quotes from both to compare apples-to-apples for your specific team size.
Can OpenSolar and Solo integrate with QuickBooks?
OpenSolar does not have a native QuickBooks integration (Zapier workaround may exist). Solo does not have a native QuickBooks integration.
Do OpenSolar or Solo offer a free trial?
OpenSolar: no free trial advertised; demo on request. Solo: no free trial advertised; demo on request.
How long does OpenSolar vs Solo take to implement?
OpenSolar: 1-3 weeks self-service onboarding. Solo: 3-6 months for full deployment with dedicated implementation manager. 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 Solo (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 Solo: which has better customer support?
Both OpenSolar and Solo 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 (either) 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.