OpenSolar is free to start.
Powerlily is funded by the installers who use it.
OpenSolar gives installers a free design, proposal and project platform funded by hardware, finance and service partners. Powerlily is a subscription your company pays for, so the platform answers to the installer and extends into fleet monitoring, the client portal and field operations.
Credit where it is due
What OpenSolar does well.
OpenSolar is a capable platform, and free is a real advantage. Its own pages list:
- A free core platform
- Design, proposals, CRM and project management at no subscription cost, funded by partners who pay to be on the platform.
- Built-in invoicing and payments
- Branded invoices, payment milestones and automated payment reminders.
- Hardware and finance in the workflow
- Distributor ordering with a calculated bill of materials, integrated finance options and permitting.
One record from first contact to aftercare.
Design, proposals, CRM, invoicing, the client portal and fleet monitoring share the same customer and project, on a plan priced for the company rather than the seat.
Who pays for the software
OpenSolar is funded by manufacturers, finance companies, distributors and other partners. Powerlily is funded by the installers who use it. Your catalogue, prices and finance choices are your own, and online payments go to your own account with no Powerlily cut.
Premium imagery on the plan
OpenSolar offers free imagery with premium captures paid per image. Powerlily includes Google HD and Bing imagery from Essentials, EagleView on Standard, and Nearmap and drone survey processing on Pro.
Beyond the sale
Powerlily continues into a branded client portal, multi-brand fleet monitoring, crew scheduling, Site Safety forms and Lilypad canvassing, all on the same customer and project record.
OpenSolar list pricing.
Published USD list prices from OpenSolar’s own website. Every Powerlily plan includes unlimited users and branches; current plan prices are on our pricing page. Compare Powerlily plans ↗
- Free
- Core software Funded by partners who pay to be on the platform.
- Pay per image
- Premium imagery Paid from a wallet balance through the imagery marketplace.
Powerlily and OpenSolar compared.
Powerlily entries name the plan that includes each capability. OpenSolar entries reflect its public pricing and product pages.
| Capability | Powerlily | OpenSolar |
|---|---|---|
| How it is funded | Your company subscription | Partners: manufacturers, finance companies, distributors and others |
| Users | Unlimited on every plan | Not listed |
| 3D design and interactive proposals | Included | Included |
| E-signature | Included | Included |
| CRM and project management | Every plan | Included |
| Invoicing and online payments | Invoicing on every plan; online payments on Pro | Included |
| Premium imagery | Included by plan: EagleView on Standard, Nearmap on Pro | Pay per image |
| Drone survey processing | Pro | Not listed |
| Single-line diagrams | Pro | Included |
| Branded client portal | Standard and Pro | Not listed |
| Multi-brand fleet monitoring | Pro, no per-system fee | Not listed |
| Crew scheduling, canvassing and Site Safety | Lilypad, iOS and Android | Not listed |
OpenSolar details were checked on November 7, 2026 against opensolar.com/pro, opensolar.com/free, opensolar.com/imagery-marketplace. “Not listed” means we could not find the capability there; it may be available through an integration, add-on or sales plan. Prices and features change. If anything here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it. OpenSolar is a trademark of its owner, used here only to identify the product compared.
Which one suits your company?
- OpenSolar may fit if
- Keeping software cost at zero is the priority, and partner-funded hardware, finance and imagery options suit the way you buy.
- Powerlily may fit if
- You want a platform paid for by installers, with imagery included by plan and the customer relationship carried through installation, monitoring and service.
Switching from OpenSolar?
Book a walkthrough with your own projects in mind, or create an account and start today. Guided onboarding is included on every plan.
