OpenSolar Review
Free solar design, proposal and project management software funded by partners
Fit Score
Fit Score
▸ How we scored OpenSolar: 10.0/10
| Factor | Weight | Sub-score |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical fit (best trade) | 60% | 10.0/10 |
| Pricing transparency | 20% | 10.0/10 |
| Integration coverage | 20% | 10.0/10 |
Weighted composite, applied identically to every vendor; no vendor pays to change it. Full Fit Score methodology →
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Quick verdict
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. Pricing starts with a free tier. Trade fit of 8/10 or higher: Solar.
Reviews on review sites
We do not copy third-party review scores onto this page: they change often and we could not verify them. Read OpenSolar's current reviews at the source.
About OpenSolar
OpenSolar is free solar design, sales and project management software. It was founded in 2017 by Adam Pryor and Andrew Birch and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with a remote team around the world. OpenSolar says more than 28,000 solar professionals in over 185 countries use it. It raised US$20 million in equity in October 2025 from investors including Titanium Ventures and Google.
Installers do not pay a licence fee. Instead, OpenSolar says its partners (equipment makers, distributors, lenders, permitting providers and training companies) pay to be part of the platform. In return, their products and loans are offered inside the software: the Shop and bill of materials, Integrated Finance, and other marketplace features.
The software covers the job from lead to invoice. Auto Design and the Mounting Designer produce 3D designs on free or premium imagery, with year-round shading analysis and a performance engine based on the System Advisor Model (SAM), and the Single Line Diagrams tool builds editable diagrams from templates for Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. Sales Machine proposals include financing from lenders such as GoodLeap, Sungage, Dividend Finance and LightReach in the US, and local lenders in the UK, Australia and Germany, plus e-signature. A built-in CRM handles projects, and CashFlow handles invoices and customer payments in the US, UK and Australia. OS 3.0, released in September 2025, added Ada, an AI assistant that can take voice or chat instructions to create projects and start designs.
Some items cost money. Since April 2026, API Access is charged per project and OpenSolar-built connectors (such as Xero and QuickBooks) are a monthly subscription, and premium imagery from Nearmap, MetroMap or 3D Plus is bought per image. These are paid from a prepaid OpenSolar Wallet, and the amounts are shown in the app rather than on the website.
The trade-off: the software is free because partners pay for placement, so the lenders and products you see first are OpenSolar's commercial partners. Teams that connect OpenSolar to other systems through the API or connectors pay usage fees, and some features (SLD templates, payments, imagery providers, connectors) depend on your country.
Pricing
| Tier | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free |
The design, sales and project management platform is free to use, with no licensing fee; OpenSolar is paid by its hardware, finance and service partners. Since 16 April 2026, connecting OpenSolar to outside systems costs extra: API Access is a per-project fee charged when a project is created (30-day free trial), and OpenSolar-built connectors such as Xero and QuickBooks are a flat monthly subscription per organization with regional pricing. Premium imagery (Nearmap, MetroMap, 3D Plus, depending on country) is bought per image; free imagery is included. Paid items are charged through a prepaid OpenSolar Wallet. Fee amounts are shown in the app, not on the public site. Verified against opensolar.com/api and opensolar.com/post/free-platform-data-export-pricing 2026-09-29.
OpenSolar has a free tier (15 of the 127 tools we list have one). The pricing note above lists what the free plan includes and its limits; check them against your team size and job volume before you plan around it.
Pricing verified 2026-09-29. Prices can change, so confirm them with OpenSolar before purchasing.
Switching from another tool? Estimate the 12-month cost of switching →
Key features
Integrations
Pros
- + No licence fee
Design, proposals, e-signature, CRM and project management are free to use. OpenSolar says partners fund the platform and that it remains committed to keeping it free for installers.
- + Wide reach
OpenSolar says more than 28,000 solar professionals in over 185 countries use it, and it has lender and imagery partners in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and parts of Europe.
- + Financing inside the proposal
Integrated Finance includes US lenders such as GoodLeap, Sungage, Dividend Finance, EnFin and LightReach, plus local lenders in the UK, Australia and Germany, so homeowners can see payment options in the proposal.
- + Single-line diagrams built in
The SLD tool generates editable diagrams from your design, with templates for Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain.
- + AI assistant (Ada)
OS 3.0, released in September 2025, added Ada, which takes chat or voice instructions to create projects and start auto designs.
- + Invoicing and payments
CashFlow lets you invoice and collect customer payments inside OpenSolar in the US, UK and Australia.
Cons
- − Integrations now cost money
Since April 2026, API Access is a per-project fee and OpenSolar-built connectors such as Xero and QuickBooks are a monthly subscription. Amounts are shown in the app, not on the public site.
- − Partner placement is not neutral
OpenSolar is paid by the lenders, distributors and manufacturers on the platform. Check that the defaults match the products and loans you actually want to sell.
- − Wallet dependency for API users
Paid items come out of a prepaid OpenSolar Wallet. OpenSolar's help center says that with API Access on, new projects are not created if the Wallet is not set up or is short of funds.
- − Country-dependent features
SLD templates cover six countries, CashFlow runs in the US, UK and Australia, and imagery providers and connectors vary by region. Confirm what is live in your market.
- − No advertised stamp service
OpenSolar's SLD page does not mention wire sizing or engineering stamps, so plan how you will get stamped permit packages if your jurisdictions require them.
Implementation
Create a free account and set up your company profile, equipment and pricing first, since proposals pull from them. Turn on the lenders you actually offer in Integrated Finance, and review the partner products shown in the Shop so the defaults match what you install. Build a few test designs on free imagery and buy premium imagery only for the jobs that need it. If you need to connect OpenSolar to a CRM, accounting or reporting tool, check the in-app price for API Access or connectors in your region, set up and fund the OpenSolar Wallet, and use the 30-day API trial to test the connection before billing starts. Check that your country has SLD templates and CashFlow before relying on them.
Best for / Watch out for
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
Watch out for
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
Available for these trades
Alternatives to OpenSolar
Matched on tool type, shared trades, price tier and team size.
Publishes module or per-project prices, not a monthly plan; also strong for solar.
Costs more at $233.25/mo; also strong for solar.
Also strong for solar.
30-day free trial.
Costs more at $135/mo; also strong for solar.
Quote-only pricing, so compare on fit not cost; also strong for solar.
User reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is OpenSolar really free?
The core design, sales and project management platform is free to use, with no licence fee. OpenSolar is paid by its hardware, finance and service partners. Since 16 April 2026, API Access (per project) and OpenSolar-built connectors (monthly) cost extra, and premium imagery is bought per image.
What is the catch?
Partners pay to be on the platform, so the lenders and products surfaced in the software are OpenSolar's paying partners. If you connect OpenSolar to other systems, expect usage fees paid from a prepaid Wallet.
Where is OpenSolar based and who owns it?
OpenSolar was founded in 2017 by Adam Pryor and Andrew Birch and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia. It is privately held and raised US$20 million in equity in October 2025.
Can OpenSolar make single-line diagrams?
Yes. Its Single Line Diagrams tool generates editable diagrams from your design, with templates for Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. The SLD page does not mention wire sizing or engineering stamps.
Does OpenSolar connect to QuickBooks or Xero?
Yes, through OpenSolar-built accounting connectors billed as a monthly subscription per organization. OpenSolar says they may be available only in certain regions, so check availability and price in the app.
Ready to try OpenSolar?
Free tier available.
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