2026 Software Comparison
Sunbase Solar vs. Aurora Solar: Design Tool or Business Platform?
Solar companies often pick tools based on their most impressive feature. The right choice depends on where your business actually spends its most expensive hours.
Sunbase Solar
All-in-one solar business platform
VS
Aurora Solar
Industry-leading 3D solar design tool
Best for solar-first teams
Sunbase Solar
CRM, solar design, proposals, project management, D2D canvassing, HR, and scheduling — all pre-built in one system. No extra tools needed to run your solar business end-to-end
Ideal for: Solar companies managing both sales and operations who want a single platform from first lead to final install.
Best for design precision
Aurora Solar
The industry standard for 3D roof modeling, LiDAR-based shade analysis, and bankable energy production reports. Unmatched for engineering-grade design — but stops at the design layer.
Ideal for: Design-first solar teams that need engineering-grade precision and already run separate CRM and PM tools.
At a Glance
Platform Snapshot
The core difference isn't which tool is better at design — it's whether you need a design tool or a platform that also handles design.
| Feature | Sunbase Solar | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | All-in-one platform for solar installers — CRM, design, proposals, PM, HR, and field workflows natively included | Industry-standard 3D solar design tool — LiDAR shade analysis, bankable energy reports, engineering-grade precision |
| Best for | Solar companies that want CRM, proposals, operations, and design in a single system | Design-first teams who need engineering-grade layouts and already have separate CRM/PM tools |
| Starting Price | From $59/user/month | From $159/user/month (Basic); $259/user/month (Premium) |
| Solar Design | Built-in design tools, PV layouts, shading, production simulations | Industry-leading — LiDAR, TrueShade, 8,760-hour irradiance simulation |
| D2D Canvassing | Built-in — territory mapping, rep tracking, field lead capture | Not available |
| HR / Workforce | Built-in — attendance, leave, payroll, onboarding | Not available |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
Deep Dive
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
What each platform delivers across the key areas that matter most for a solar installation business.
Core Platform Features
| Feature | Sunbase Solar | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Solar CRM & Lead Management | Native — full pipeline, automations, follow-ups | No |
| 3D Solar System Design | Yes | Yes |
| AI-Powered Roof Modeling | Yes | Yes |
| Shading & Irradiance Analysis | Built-in | Built-in |
| Solar Proposal Generation | Yes | Yes |
| Interactive Customer Proposals | Yes | Yes |
| Financial Modeling & ROI | Yes | Yes |
| Project Management | Built-in | Not availaible |
| Installation Scheduling | Built-in | Not available |
| Crew / Field Team Management | Built-in | Not available |
| Permitting & Milestone Tracking | Built-in | Limited |
| Door-to-Door Canvassing | Built-in — territory mapping, rep tracking | Not available |
| HR & Workforce Management | Built-in | Not available |
| Financial Reporting | Full suite | yes |
| Commercial Solar Projects | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Mode | Yes | No |
Key Integrations
| Integration | Sunbase Solar | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks | Yes | Yes |
| Financing ( GoodLeap, Lightreach) | Native | Native |
| E-Signature | Built-in | Built-in |
| Zapier / Open API | Yes | Yes |
| Enphase / SolarEdge | Supported | Supported |
| Ironridge | Supported | Supported |
| Hailtrace | Supported | Not available |
Support & Onboarding
| Area | Sunbase Solar | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 Support | Phone, chat, email | Phone, chat, email |
| Onboarding Time | 1–2 weeks | 1–2 weeks residential; longer for commercial |
| Training Resources | Video library, live onboarding, dedicated CSM | Help center, webinars, video tutorials |
| Contract Required | Flexible plans | Flexible plans |
Honest Assessment
Pros & Cons
Sunbase Solar - All-in-One
Pros
✓ All-in-one: CRM + design + proposals + PM in one system — no tool-stitching
✓ Significantly lower cost vs. Aurora — starting at $59 vs $159/user/month
✓ Built-in HR, canvassing, and scheduling — features Aurora doesn't offer
✓ Trusted by 8,000+ contractor teams across solar, roofing, and construction
✓ No offline mode limitation — full mobile app for field teams
cons
✕ 3D design precision may not match Aurora for complex commercial engineering
✕ Less adoption in design-first or EPC workflows, where Aurora dominates
Aurora Solar - Design-First
Pros
✓ Unmatched 3D design accuracy — LiDAR, TrueShade, bankable energy modeling
✓ Industry standard for residential solar design — widely adopted across US installers
✓ Best-in-class interactive customer proposals via Sales Mode
✓ 24/7 support with high user satisfaction ratings
cons
✕ No CRM depth — basic pipeline only, no lead scoring or automation
✕ No project management, scheduling, or crew management
✕ $259/user/month on monthly billing — expensive for a design-only scope
Cost Breakdown
Pricing at a Glance
Sunbase Solar
One subscription covers the full business stack
Starting Price - $59 / user / month
What's included - CRM + design + proposals + PM + HR
Free Plan - No
Additional Tools Needed - Minimal — most workflows native
Best value for -
Teams managing sales and ops in one place
Aurora Solar
Design + proposals only — ops tools sold separately
Starting Plan - $159/user/month
Free Plan - No
Additional Tools Needed - CRM, PM, scheduling — all extra
Best value for -
Low-volume teams using Aurora's credit model
Pricing verdict:
With Aurora, design is just one piece. Most teams still need CRM, project management, and scheduling tools — adding hundreds or thousands more per month. Sunbase includes all of that in one subscription. Aurora's credit model can reduce costs for low-volume teams, but becomes expensive at scale.
Decision Guide
Which Platform Is Right for You?
This isn't a close call for most solar companies. Here's the clear framework.
Choose Sunbase Solar if...
You want the full solar workflow in one place
- You want CRM, design, proposals, and PM in one platform — no tool-stitching
- You manage both sales and operations for your solar company
- You have a field sales or D2D canvassing team
- You need QuickBooks/financial integration that works natively
- Budget transparency and predictable per-user pricing matter to leadership
- You're scaling from 5 to 50+ employees and need HR, scheduling, and workforce tools
- You're tired of paying for 3–4 disconnected tools that don't talk to each other
Choose Aurora Solar if...
You want a flexible CRM you build around
- Your primary workflow is design-first and engineers lead the sale
- You work on complex residential or small-to-mid commercial projects
- Engineering accuracy is non-negotiable — bankable shade reports are required
- You need LiDAR-level 3D modeling precision
- You do high-volume residential design and Aurora's credit model is cost-effective
- Your org has dedicated design teams separate from sales and operations
Note on using both:
Sunbase and Aurora are not mutually exclusive. Some companies use Aurora for residential design workflows and Sunbase for everything else — CRM, lead management, proposals, project management, and scheduling. If precision design is a hard requirement and you need operations support, this hybrid approach is worth considering.
Real User Feedback
What Contractors Are Saying
Sunbase Solar
Top Praise
All-in-one simplicity, responsive support, and solar-specific workflows that don't require custom configuration to get running. Teams highlight how much less time they spend context-switching between tools.
Common Complaint
Some users note it's less design-focused than Aurora, and the brand is still building recognition in design-first circles.
Aurora Solar
Top Praise
Users consistently praise design accuracy and the quality of customer-facing proposals. For design-first teams, Aurora sets the benchmark they measure everything else against.
Common Complaint
High price, no PM or CRM depth, electrical tools charged extra, no offline mode. Users frequently note they need multiple tools to run operations alongside Aurora.
See your entire solar workflow
in one platform.
From the first knock on a door to the final sign-off on an install — without patching tools together.
FAQs
Common Questions
Is Sunbase a good alternative to Aurora Solar?
For most solar installation companies, yes. Sunbase replaces multiple tools by combining CRM, proposals, and operations in one platform. Aurora remains the best solar design tool, but teams that also manage operations typically struggle with the gaps Aurora leaves.
Can Sunbase handle solar design as well as Aurora?
Sunbase includes built-in solar design, shading analysis, and energy production estimates that support the full sales workflow. Aurora still leads in highly complex engineering scenarios — but for most solar installations, Sunbase delivers accurate layouts fast enough.
How does pricing compare between Sunbase and Aurora?
Sunbase starts at $59/user/month and includes CRM, PM, and proposals. Aurora starts at $159/user/month for design and proposals only — most teams still need to add CRM, PM, and scheduling tools on top, significantly increasing total cost.
Does Aurora Solar support project management?
No. Aurora focuses on solar design and proposals. Teams managing projects, scheduling, and field workflows typically need to add separate tools — making it harder to run the full business efficiently.
Which platform is better for solar sales teams?
Sunbase — it provides lead capture, territory management, interactive proposals, and automated follow-ups from first contact to signed contract. Aurora is better suited if your focus is purely on high-end design rather than full pipeline management.
Can Sunbase manage the full solar project lifecycle?
Yes. Sunbase handles lead capture through installation, letting installers, project managers, and sales teams collaborate in a single system without manual processes or disconnected apps.
Does Sunbase support global solar businesses?
Yes. Sunbase supports teams across the US, Canada, India, Latin America, the UK, and Ireland — keeping customer jobs and performance data centralized as you expand.
What's the core difference in one sentence?
Aurora Solar is the best tool for designing a solar system. Sunbase Solar is the best platform for running the solar company that sells, installs, and manages it.
