OpenSolar

Overview

OpenSolar is software for solar installers, sales teams, and energy professionals who need to design systems and manage customer-facing project work. It is best suited to teams that want design, proposals, payments, and project management under a free core plan. The main caveat is that API access is a separate add-on with project-based, region-specific fees after a 30-day trial.

Key features

Design, proposals, and payments

Ada AI can generate multiple system designs from chosen preferences in seconds, giving teams options to work from during project planning. Customizable, branded proposals support flexible payments and real-time updates, while branded invoices, milestones, automated reminders, online payments, and e-signatures cover much of the customer payment process. That breadth makes OpenSolar a practical fit for teams that want sales and payment work connected to design, rather than handled in separate tools.

Project operations and equipment

Site survey forms, design handoff, crew scheduling, and service visit tracking extend the platform into project operations. Users can also order equipment from within the design experience and generate a bill of materials from a hardware catalogue. These capabilities help connect planning to field and purchasing work, though teams should judge whether this workflow covers their operational needs before replacing specialized tools.

API, support, and service

API Access connects OpenSolar with CRM, accounting, operations, and incentive tools, and supports project, design, pricing, hardware, and contact data. This can suit businesses that need their solar workflow to exchange information with other systems, but the per-project fee means costs can scale with project creation. The API trial lasts 30 days; billing begins at the start of the closest month after the trial.

OpenSolar says it encrypts data at rest and in transit using TLS/SSL, uses role-based access controls, and targets 99.95% service availability with 24/7 monitoring. It hosts production systems in AWS's Asia-Pacific Sydney region and uses a global content delivery network. Free accounts include dedicated 24/7 support, with live support, tickets, training, webinars, and a Help Center—useful coverage for teams adopting a broad platform without a paid core subscription.

Pricing

OpenSolar Pro: free, billed free of charge. The plan covers solar design, sales, and project management, making it the natural starting point for teams that want the core workflow without a subscription fee.

OpenSolar API Access: custom pricing, billed as a geo-specific per-project fee. It is a paid add-on, and the fee applies when a project is created. The 30-day free trial offers a way to assess the integration before charges begin; teams should account for project volume and regional pricing when deciding whether the connection is worthwhile.

Platforms

OpenSolar is available on Android, iOS, macOS, and the web, with API access for integrations. That range supports teams working across mobile and desktop environments, as well as businesses connecting project data to other software.

Who it's for

OpenSolar is aimed at solar installers, sales teams, and energy professionals who want design, customer proposals, payment handling, and project operations in one platform. It is especially compelling for businesses that value a free core plan and can use its built-in project workflow. Companies that depend on integrations should weigh the API's project-based fees; those needing a different operational focus may prefer a more specialized alternative.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Free core plan. Design, sales, and project management are included without a subscription charge.
• Pro: Connected customer workflow. Branded proposals, invoicing, payment milestones, reminders, online payments, and e-signatures support customer work from proposal toward payment.
• Pro: Field and purchasing coverage. Survey forms, design handoff, crew scheduling, service visit tracking, equipment ordering, and bill-of-materials generation link project stages.
• Con: API costs vary by region and project. The paid add-on charges when a project is created, so integration costs depend on local pricing and usage.
• Con: API billing follows the trial. The 30-day trial ends with billing starting at the beginning of the closest month, a timing detail API users need to plan around.

Alternatives

Solar Installation Software is the category guide for comparing solar installation tools. Consider FieldExecutives if you want a paid option with a free plan capped at two users and a Starter plan priced at ₹1,999 a month, with a set number of users and extra-user fees. MightyFields Solar is another paid option, sold as a per-user SaaS subscription with a 15-user minimum.

SunrAI Project Management may suit teams focused on project lifecycle and dispatch: its Starter plan is $29 a month at planned launch pricing, is free during beta, and covers up to 25 installs per month, one team, lifecycle and dispatch, and permit tracking. Choose Scoop Solar if module-based pricing with unlimited users, storage, and devices better fits your operation; its custom subscription depends on modules, workflows, and installation or service volume.

SolarProjeX is an alternative with paid Starter and Crew plans, a free trial, and Android, API, iOS, and web support. LuminaSims is another paid option for Android and web. SolarIonix offers paid plans and a 14-day free trial with one user and unlimited leads and projects; its Professional plan is priced at 2499.00 INR. SolarNexus is web-based and starts at from $90 (priced on request), with a three-license minimum and discounts for larger license quantities.

Verdict

Choose OpenSolar if you are a solar installer or sales team looking for a free platform that connects system design with proposals, payments, and project operations. Its integrated workflow and free core plan are the strongest reasons to start here. Look elsewhere if you need API integrations at predictable flat pricing: OpenSolar's API fees vary by region and apply per project.