Solar proposals are more complex than almost any other residential trade estimate. A good solar proposal isn't just a price — it's a technical document that includes shade analysis, annual production calculations in kWh, system size in kilowatts, equipment selection (panel brand, inverter type, battery option), utility interconnection fees, state and local rebates, the federal Investment Tax Credit, and often a side-by-side comparison of two or three system configurations at different price points.

Most homeowners considering solar are making a 25-year financial decision. They want to see a 10-year payback calculation, a 25-year net savings number, and a clear breakdown of what they're paying for and why. A generic contractor proposal template doesn't cover any of this. Neither does a spreadsheet — at least not one you can produce in 30 minutes while the homeowner is still sitting across the table.

This guide is specifically about solar estimating and proposal software — the tools that help solar installers generate accurate proposals faster. If you already have a dedicated solar platform and are looking for field service management, see our broader solar contractor software guide.

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What Solar Estimating Software Actually Needs to Do Shade analysis and production modeling — A solar proposal without a production estimate is incomplete. Customers want to know: how many kWh will this system produce in year one? What's the degradation curve over 25 years? How does tree shading on the south-facing roof affect yield? Software that integrates shade modeling from aerial imagery — either through LIDAR data or satellite analysis — gives installers defensible production numbers that customers can compare to their utility bills. System sizing across multiple configurations — Customers often want to see options. A proposal that offers only one system size forces a binary yes/no decision. A three-option proposal — a "basic" system that offsets 80% of usage, a "full offset" system at 100%, and a "full offset plus battery backup" option — gives customers agency and typically increases average contract value. Software that generates all three variants from a single site analysis in minutes is far more useful than software requiring each to be manually calculated. Equipment selection and pricing — Solar system cost varies substantially based on panel brand (tier-1 vs. budget), inverter type (string, microinverter, power optimizer), and whether battery storage is included. Software that maintains a current equipment price database and calculates system cost from a configured BOM, rather than requiring manual pricing, keeps proposals accurate as equipment costs fluctuate. Incentive and rebate calculation — The federal Investment Tax Credit is 30% through at least 2032 under current law. State incentives vary: some states offer additional tax credits, net metering credits, or upfront rebates that significantly affect the customer's net cost. Utility interconnection fees, which vary by utility and system size, affect the total project cost. Proposals that automatically calculate these incentives — and display the gross cost, ITC credit, state incentive, and net customer cost clearly — handle a common source of customer confusion. Financing presentation — Most residential solar customers don't pay cash. Cash, loan, lease, and power purchase agreement (PPA) options all have different financial profiles. Showing a customer their monthly loan payment alongside the net monthly utility bill reduction — and displaying the breakeven point — is standard in competitive solar sales. Software that presents financing options clearly, including different loan terms and rates, is essential for closing at premium system sizes. Professional proposal output — A well-formatted proposal with aerial imagery, shade analysis, system diagrams, production charts, 25-year savings projections, and financing options presented cleanly is a sales document. Solar is a high-consideration purchase and the proposal itself influences close rate. Software that produces polished PDF and web-viewable proposals matters more here than in most trades.
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Top Solar Estimating Software in 2026
1. Aurora Solar — Most Accurate Shade Analysis Price: ~$250–$350/month per user | Best for: Solar installers doing 15+ installs/month who need the most accurate production modeling
Aurora Solar is the production modeling standard for the residential and commercial solar industry. Its LIDAR-based 3D shade analysis produces roof segment irradiance maps that are accurate enough for performance guarantees. The platform pulls aerial imagery, generates a 3D roof model, calculates shading from trees, chimneys, and adjacent structures across all hours and seasons, and produces year-one and 25-year kWh production estimates.
The proposal output is polished and customer-ready. Financing options (cash, loan, lease, PPA) are integrated. Equipment selection from a current database is straightforward.
For solar companies where production modeling accuracy is a competitive differentiator — particularly those who offer performance guarantees or work on complex roofs with significant shading — Aurora's precision justifies its price. Where it falls short: $250–$350/month per user is a real cost for a small installer. A two-person sales team represents $500–$700/month just in software, before any field service management. Aurora's focus is proposal and design; you'll need separate software for invoicing, scheduling, and customer management. The platform is genuinely powerful but more than many smaller installers need.
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2. Solargraf — Best Full-Suite Option for Solar Sales Teams Price: Custom pricing | Best for: Solar companies with dedicated sales reps who need proposal generation in customer-facing sales appointments
Solargraf is built for the solar sales appointment workflow — a sales rep sits with a homeowner, pulls up the tool, generates shade analysis from satellite imagery, builds a proposal with multiple system configurations and financing options, and presents it on a tablet or laptop during the appointment. The workflow is faster than Aurora for field sales use and the proposal output is high quality.
The platform handles lead management, proposal tracking, and basic CRM functions alongside estimating, making it a useful integrated tool for sales-focused solar organizations. Where it falls short: Production modeling is less accurate than Aurora's LIDAR-based analysis for complex shade environments. Custom pricing makes cost comparison difficult. Not designed for field service management post-install.
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3. OpenSolar — Best Free Option Price: Free (core features) | $100–$200/month (advanced) | Best for: Small installers or new solar businesses who need capable estimating without upfront software cost
OpenSolar offers a surprisingly capable free tier that includes shade analysis, system design, production modeling, and professional proposal generation. For a solar installer doing fewer than 5–8 installs per month who doesn't need high-volume proposal generation, OpenSolar covers the core workflow at no cost.
The platform has a large global installer base, which means continuous feature development and a reasonable knowledge base. Where it falls short: Production modeling accuracy is behind Aurora, particularly for complex shade scenarios. The free tier has feature limitations. Support response on the free tier is slower. For installers who need to generate proposals quickly in a competitive market, the tool's speed and accuracy may not be sufficient.
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4. EagleView Solar — Best Roof Measurement Integration Price: Per-report pricing (~$20–$50/report) | Best for: Installers who need precise roof measurements alongside solar design
EagleView's core product is aerial roof measurement for roofing contractors, and the solar product extends that precision to PV design. If you're a contractor who does both roofing and solar, or if you want the most precise roof geometry data for system layout, EagleView Solar integrates rooftop measurements directly into solar design. Where it falls short: The per-report model is cost-efficient for occasional use but adds up for high-volume installers. The platform is more limited as a full proposal and CRM tool compared to Aurora or Solargraf.
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5. Ontrakt — Best for Smaller Installers Who Need a Generalist Platform Price: Free beta at ontrakt.com/beta | Best for: Solar installers doing 3–15 installs/month who want estimating, invoicing, and customer communication in one platform without $300/month specialty tools
Dedicated solar estimating platforms are purpose-built for one thing — proposals — but they don't handle the rest of the installer's business. After the proposal is signed, you still need to track the permit application, schedule the installation, manage the utility interconnection paperwork, invoice for the deposit and final payment, and collect reviews. Most solar installers are managing that in a combination of spreadsheets, Gmail, QuickBooks, and the solar proposal platform, with no clean connection between them.
Ontrakt is a generalist field service platform that handles estimating, client communication, invoicing, and payment collection across the full job lifecycle. The AI estimating works from photos and documents: photograph the roof, upload the site survey or aerial image, and Ontrakt generates a starting estimate with system size, equipment line items, labor, permit fees, and applicable incentives.
The proposal won't have Aurora-level LIDAR shade analysis. For installers doing complex commercial jobs or roofs with significant shading from trees, the shade accuracy won't match dedicated solar tools. But for a residential installer whose jobs are straightforward south-facing or west-facing roofs with minimal shading, Ontrakt generates proposals fast enough and handles invoicing, customer communication, and payment collection in the same platform — for less than the cost of most dedicated solar tools.
The client portal handles deposit collection, progress updates, and final payment. For solar installers spending 2–3 hours per week chasing final payment after interconnection approval, the automated payment flow has a measurable impact. Where it falls short: No LIDAR shade analysis. No integrated financing option presentation (cash vs. loan vs. lease comparison). Not designed to replace Aurora Solar for high-volume or technically complex solar sales workflows. Best suited for smaller installers who prioritize simplicity over specialty features.
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Platform Comparison
| Platform | Starting Price | Shade Analysis | Production Modeling | Financing Options | Full Field Service | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Solar | ~$250/user/month | Excellent (LIDAR) | Excellent | Yes | No | 15+ installs/month, complex shading |
| Solargraf | Custom | Good | Good | Yes | Partial | Sales team, appointment workflow |
| OpenSolar | Free | Good | Good | Yes | No | Small volume, cost-conscious |
| EagleView Solar | Per report | Good | Good | No | No | Roof measurement focus |
| Ontrakt | Free beta | AI from photos | Basic | No | Yes | 3–15 installs/month, generalist need |
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How to Choose Based on Volume and Complexity High-volume installer (20+ installs/month) or complex shade environments: Aurora Solar is the standard for a reason. At 20 installs a month, a $300/month per-user cost is a small fraction of revenue, and the proposal quality and accuracy justify it. Mid-volume installer (10–20 installs/month) with a sales team: Solargraf's field sales workflow is efficient. The per-appointment proposal generation is faster than Aurora in a live customer conversation. Small installer just getting started or doing fewer than 8 installs/month: OpenSolar's free tier is a legitimate starting point. Use it until volume justifies dedicated tools. Solar installer who also does electrical, battery storage, generators, or other trades: A generalist platform like Ontrakt that handles all your trade work in one system may be more valuable than a solar-specific tool that requires a second platform for everything else. The solar estimating won't match Aurora, but the operational simplicity may be worth more.
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Incentives and Why Your Proposal Has to Be Accurate
One of the most common customer objections in solar sales is confusion about net cost after incentives. A $30,000 solar system with the federal ITC applied is a $21,000 net cost. Add a $2,500 state rebate and it's $18,500. If the proposal presents only the gross price, the customer leaves thinking it's more expensive than it is. If it calculates incentives incorrectly, the customer may owe taxes they didn't expect or receive a smaller credit than projected.
Proposals that clearly show gross cost, ITC amount, state incentive, and net out-of-pocket cost — and note that the ITC is a tax credit, not an instant rebate — produce fewer post-contract questions and disputes.
For smaller installers using less sophisticated tools, manually verifying incentive calculations before sending proposals is worth the time.
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Try Ontrakt Free
Ontrakt is in free beta through mid-2026. Solar installers can test AI-generated estimates on real jobs and evaluate whether a single-platform approach to estimating, customer communication, and payment collection simplifies operations — no credit card required. Start your free trial at ontrakt.com/beta

Best Solar Estimating Software in 2026 — Proposals, Shading & Financing

Top Solar Estimating Software in 2026

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