About
OpenSolar is a comprehensive, free solar business platform designed for solar installers, contractors, and sales professionals. It provides an end-to-end workflow covering project design, customer proposals, financial modeling, e-signatures, and project management — all at no cost to the user. The platform's design tools include Auto Design, an Imagery Marketplace, a Mounting Designer, and Single Line Diagram generation for permit-ready documentation. On the sales side, OpenSolar offers AI-powered lead generation, a Sales Machine module, dynamic customer proposals, CashFlow analysis, and integrated financing options to help close deals faster. For project management, users get a built-in CRM, a Shop and Bill of Materials tool, Supplier Assist for procurement, on-demand permitting support, and team collaboration features. The platform also exposes an OpenSolar API for deeper integrations. OpenSolar is trusted by 28,000+ active solar professionals in 185+ countries and has partnerships with 200+ industry providers. It is free because it is funded through its partner and marketplace ecosystem, making it accessible to solo installers and large enterprises alike. The company also donates 1% of annual revenues to solar electrification of underserved communities, reflecting its mission to accelerate global solar adoption.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Auto Design: Automatically generate accurate solar system designs using aerial imagery and AI, reducing manual design time significantly.
- Sales Machine & Proposals: Create professional, dynamic customer proposals with integrated CashFlow analysis and financing options to accelerate deal closure.
- E-Signature & Integrated Payments: Collect legally binding e-signatures and process payments directly within the platform for a seamless customer experience.
- Project Management & CRM: Manage every stage of a solar project with a built-in CRM, Bill of Materials, Supplier Assist, and on-demand permitting support.
- Imagery Marketplace: Purchase premium aerial imagery from providers like Nearmap and MetroMap on a per-project basis, avoiding costly subscriptions.
Use Cases
- A residential solar installer uses OpenSolar to auto-design a rooftop system using aerial imagery, generate a customer proposal with financing options, and collect an e-signature — all in one platform.
- A solar sales team leverages the AI Lead Gen and Sales Machine tools to identify prospects, send dynamic proposals, and track deal progress through the built-in CRM.
- A solar contractor uses the Mounting Designer and Single Line Diagram tools to produce permit-ready documentation and submits for on-demand permitting directly from the platform.
- A solar business owner manages procurement by using the Bill of Materials and Supplier Assist features to source components and track project costs.
- A solar company entering a new international market uses OpenSolar's multi-country, multi-language support to onboard local installers and standardize project workflows across regions.
Pros
- Completely Free: The full platform is available at no charge to solar professionals, removing a major barrier for small and mid-size installers.
- End-to-End Workflow: Covers everything from design and sales to permitting and project management in a single unified platform.
- Global Reach: Available in 185+ countries with multi-language support, making it accessible to solar professionals worldwide.
- Rich Partner Ecosystem: 200+ integrated partners and providers including suppliers, financiers, and imagery services extend platform capabilities.
Cons
- Niche Use Case: Purpose-built for the solar industry, so it has no utility for professionals outside of renewable energy.
- Imagery Costs Add Up: While the platform is free, premium aerial imagery purchases via the Imagery Marketplace add per-project costs.
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features: Tools like Single Line Diagrams and the Mounting Designer may require training for installers new to digital design workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenSolar really free?
Yes, OpenSolar is 100% free for solar professionals. It is funded through its partner and marketplace ecosystem, not by charging installers.
Who is OpenSolar designed for?
OpenSolar is built for solar installers, contractors, sales teams, and solar businesses of all sizes — from solo operators to large enterprises.
Does OpenSolar support international projects?
Yes, OpenSolar is available in 185+ countries with support for multiple languages including English, Spanish, German, and Italian.
What AI features does OpenSolar include?
OpenSolar includes AI-powered Auto Design for instant system layout generation and an AI Lead Gen tool to help solar pros attract and convert new customers.
Can OpenSolar integrate with other tools?
Yes, OpenSolar offers an API for custom integrations, plus native integrations with 200+ partners including suppliers, finance providers, and imagery services.
