Field service software · South Africa
OpenSolar
Free solar design, proposals & CRM for installers
Market position
A free, global end-to-end solar platform — design, proposals, CRM and e-signatures — used by 28,000+ installers worldwide. With SA's rooftop-solar boom creating thousands of installer businesses, a zero-cost professional toolset is compelling.
South Africa-specific note
No verified SA office — it works anywhere, but support is global. Pair it with a job-management tool (ServCraft, Tradify) for the business side; OpenSolar handles design and proposals.
Pros
- + Completely free (funded via hardware/finance partners)
- + Professional solar design + proposals
- + CRM and e-signatures included
- + Huge global user base
Cons
- − No SA office — global product, no local support
- − Solar-specific, not general trades software
- − Monetised via partner ecosystem (mind the nudges)
- − SA-specific feature depth unverified
Typical South Africa pricing
Free.
Why this matters for South Africa trades
Electrical work legally requires Department of Employment & Labour registration (registered persons issue the mandatory Certificate of Compliance); gas work requires SAQCC Gas registration (unregistered work voids home insurance); PIRB plumbing CoCs are required for geysers and solar water heaters; CIDB grading gates public construction; NHBRC registration is mandatory for home builders; and employers need a current COIDA Letter of Good Standing for site access.
South African trades vendor selection is shaped by Certificate-of-Compliance culture (electrical CoCs via DoEL-registered persons, SAQCC Gas, PIRB plumbing CoCs), CIDB contractor grading (1–9) gating public work, NHBRC registration for home builders, SARS compliance (15% VAT, monthly EMP201, e-invoicing phasing in ~2026–28), the COIDA Letter of Good Standing — and the solar-installation boom the load-shedding era created.
Frequently asked
Is OpenSolar a good fit for South Africa trades?
A free, global end-to-end solar platform — design, proposals, CRM and e-signatures — used by 28,000+ installers worldwide. With SA's rooftop-solar boom creating thousands of installer businesses, a zero-cost professional toolset is compelling. No verified SA office — it works anywhere, but support is global. Pair it with a job-management tool (ServCraft, Tradify) for the business side; OpenSolar handles design and proposals.
What does OpenSolar cost in South Africa?
Free.. Pricing and availability can change by region — confirm current South Africa pricing on the vendor's site before committing.