solarscope.io vs Aurora Solar: Complete 2026 Comparison
Two approaches to solar analysis — which one fits your workflow and budget?
Overview
Aurora Solar is an established solar design and sales platform, primarily serving residential and commercial installers. It offers detailed roof modeling, shading analysis, proposal generation, and financing integration. Aurora acquired HelioScope in 2022, expanding into commercial solar. Pricing runs $135-220 per user per month.
solarscope.io is an AI-powered solar site analysis platform focused on fast feasibility assessment. It combines real-time solar data (NREL, PVGIS), infrastructure mapping, and AI analysis to evaluate any site in minutes. Pricing starts at $99/year — less than one month of Aurora.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | solarscope.io | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Site analysis & feasibility | Design & sales proposals |
| Best For | Developers, consultants, engineers | Residential installers, sales teams |
| AI Capabilities | Full AI agent with natural language | AI roof detection |
| Speed to Analysis | Minutes | Hours (detailed design) |
| Pricing | $99-299/year | $135-220/user/month |
| Project Scale | Residential to utility-scale | Residential & commercial |
Who Should Use Each Tool?
Choose Aurora Solar if:
- You're a residential solar installer who needs customer-facing proposals
- You need detailed 3D roof modeling with shade analysis
- You require financing integration and contract generation
- Your sales process depends on polished visual proposals
- You focus primarily on residential and small commercial
Choose solarscope.io if:
- You need to quickly assess site feasibility before detailed design
- You're a developer or consultant screening multiple sites
- You want AI-powered analysis with natural language interaction
- You work across multiple project scales (including utility)
- You need professional analysis without $200/month/user costs
Feature Comparison
| Feature | solarscope.io | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|
| AI Site Analysis | ✓ Comprehensive AI agent mode | Limited (roof detection) |
| Solar Radiation Data | NREL, PVGIS, Global Solar Atlas | Integrated irradiance data |
| Infrastructure Data | Transmission lines, flood zones, grid | Limited |
| 3D Roof Modeling | Not included | ✓ Detailed LIDAR-based |
| Shade Analysis | Basic (AI mentions considerations) | ✓ Detailed hour-by-hour |
| Sales Proposals | Not included | ✓ Customer-ready PDFs |
| Financing Integration | Not included | ✓ Multiple lenders |
| Grid Connectivity Analysis | ✓ Transmission line proximity | Not included |
| Setup Time | Minutes | Hours to days |
| Utility-Scale Support | ✓ Full support | Limited (use HelioScope) |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | solarscope.io | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | $99/year ($8/month) | ~$135/user/month |
| Professional | $299/year ($25/month) | ~$220/user/month |
| Annual Cost (1 user) | $99 - $299 | $1,620 - $2,640 |
| Team of 5 (annual) | $495 - $1,495 | $8,100 - $13,200 |
solarscope.io's annual Pro plan ($299) costs less than 2 months of Aurora's basic tier.
Different Tools for Different Jobs
solarscope.io and Aurora Solar aren't direct competitors — they serve different stages of the solar workflow:
solarscope.io excels at:
- Site Screening: Quickly evaluate if a location is worth pursuing
- Feasibility Assessment: Understand solar potential, grid access, constraints
- Due Diligence: Get AI-powered analysis for investment decisions
- Multi-Site Comparison: Evaluate multiple locations rapidly
Aurora Solar excels at:
- Residential Design: Detailed roof layouts with optimal panel placement
- Customer Proposals: Professional sales documents with financing options
- Shade Analysis: Hour-by-hour shading calculations
- Contract Generation: End-to-end sales workflow
Can You Use Both?
Yes — many solar professionals use solarscope.io for initial site assessment, then Aurora for detailed residential design and proposals. This workflow makes sense:
- Screen sites with solarscope.io ($99/year) — fast, AI-powered feasibility
- Design qualified projects in Aurora — only pay for seats you need
This can significantly reduce your Aurora costs by ensuring you only spend design time on viable projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is solarscope.io a good alternative to Aurora Solar?
For site analysis and feasibility assessment, yes. solarscope.io provides faster, AI-powered site evaluation at a fraction of the cost. For detailed residential design and sales proposals, Aurora remains the better choice.
Does solarscope.io do shade analysis like Aurora?
solarscope.io's AI considers shading as part of its site assessment and will flag potential shading concerns. However, it doesn't provide the detailed hour-by-hour shade modeling that Aurora offers for roof-mounted systems.
Can solarscope.io generate customer proposals?
solarscope.io generates site analysis reports and AI assessments, but not customer-facing sales proposals with financing. If you need polished sales documents, Aurora or similar tools are better suited.
Which is better for commercial and utility projects?
solarscope.io is more versatile for larger projects. Aurora focuses on residential and small commercial. For utility-scale, Aurora users typically switch to HelioScope (which they acquired) or other tools.
Why is Aurora Solar so much more expensive?
Aurora provides a comprehensive platform with 3D modeling, LIDAR integration, financing partnerships, and sales tools. This infrastructure and the residential installer market support premium pricing. solarscope.io focuses specifically on site analysis, enabling lower costs.
The Bottom Line
Aurora Solar is the industry standard for residential solar design and sales. If you're an installer who needs customer proposals, financing integration, and detailed roof modeling, Aurora delivers.
solarscope.io is the faster, more affordable choice for site analysis and feasibility. If you need to quickly evaluate sites, understand solar potential, or screen projects before detailed design, solarscope.io gives you AI-powered answers in minutes at a fraction of the cost.
Many professionals use both: solarscope.io for fast assessment, Aurora for final design.
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