Best Solar Design Software for UK Installers (2026)

Good solar design software does more than draw panels on a roof. For UK installers, it generates the MCS-compliant performance estimates your certification requires, produces the engineering documentation your DNO needs for a G98 or G99 notification, and turns a site survey into a customer proposal in minutes rather than hours. With several platforms competing for the market, the right choice depends on your installation volume, budget, and how much of the compliance paperwork you want automated.

What UK solar design software must do

UK-specific compliance requirements set the baseline. MIS 3002 (the MCS solar PV installation standard, updated to V6.0 in March 2026) requires every installation to include a documented performance estimate calculated to the MCS methodology. Separately, any system connecting to the grid needs a G98 notification (for systems up to 3.68 kW single-phase) or a full G99 application (for larger systems or most battery-coupled installs). Software that automates these documents saves significant time and reduces the risk of compliance errors.

A capable platform should also handle shading analysis, string sizing, structural load calculations, and financial projections — all tied together so a change to the roof layout ripples through to the customer proposal automatically. UK installers adding battery storage to solar systems will also want a platform that models combined DC and AC outputs, since these affect which grid notification applies.

Easy PV — the UK-native choice

Easy PV (easy-pv.co.uk) is built specifically for the UK and Irish markets by Midsummer, one of the UK’s leading renewable energy distributors. That heritage shows in the feature set: the platform generates MCS-compliant self-consumption models, structural calculations aligned with current standards, and automated DNO application forms for both G98 and G99 — including the paperwork for battery systems that push exports above the G98 threshold.

Over 2,000 companies use Easy PV to design more than 33,000 projects each month, making it the most widely adopted solar design tool in the UK residential market. The installer list includes names like OVO Energy, SO Energy, Bosch, and Westech.

Pricing

• Basic — free. Full 2D and 3D roof design, PV system design with performance calculations, automated DNO forms, structural analysis, customer proposal generation, and one-stop purchasing via a Midsummer trade account. No time limit.
• Pro — £35 / month. Adds unlimited “Magic” auto-design mode, team project sharing, CRM tools, email templates, e-signing, pre- and post-installation documentation, and automatic (rather than manual) DNO application submission.
• Enterprise — bespoke. Multi-user, custom branding, dedicated servers, two-factor authentication, and bespoke integrations. Priced on enquiry.

Verdict: for a sole-trader or small residential installer, Easy PV Basic is an exceptional free tool. Upgrading to Pro at £35 / month is justified once team collaboration or e-signing saves more time than it costs — often from the very first month for a busy firm.

PV*SOL Premium — the 3D simulation specialist

PV*SOL Premium is developed by Valentin Software in Germany and distributed in the UK by The Solar Design Company. It is the go-to tool for detailed 3D shading simulation, making it well suited to complex roof geometries, mixed orientations, and commercial installations where shading analysis materially affects yield projections.

PV*SOL models the full solar path and generates highly detailed simulation reports. It does not, however, automate UK-specific DNO application forms — the compliance documentation must be prepared separately. It is also a desktop application (Windows) rather than a cloud platform, which limits collaboration on shared projects.

Pricing (ex. VAT, via solardesign.co.uk)

• 12-month rental — £250.80. The most cost-effective route for full-time use; renewal eligible for a 5% loyalty discount.
• 3-month rental — £743.60. Higher per-month effective cost; suited to occasional or seasonal use.

Perpetual licences are no longer available; all licences are now rental-based. A free 30-day trial (report printing disabled) is available directly from Valentin Software.

Verdict: PV*SOL Premium earns its place for installers who need rigorous 3D shade modelling on complex sites, or who produce commercial reports where simulation depth is a differentiator. For straightforward residential work, the additional cost and lack of DNO automation make it a harder sell compared with Easy PV.

OpenSolar — free global platform

OpenSolar (opensolar.com) positions itself as 100% free for solar installers, offering design, proposal, and CRM tools in a single cloud platform. Features include Auto Design, single-line diagram generation, e-signature and payment collection, and a built-in marketplace connecting installers to suppliers.

OpenSolar operates in multiple countries and has a UK user base, but it is designed for a global market rather than the UK specifically. There is no automated generation of G98/G99 DNO application forms, and MCS-compliant performance estimates are not a built-in output. UK installers typically use OpenSolar for the sales and proposal workflow, then handle compliance documentation separately.

Verdict: a strong choice for installers who want a free, polished proposal and CRM platform, and who already have a separate workflow for compliance paperwork. Not a standalone UK compliance tool.

Aurora Solar — enterprise-grade with US roots

Aurora Solar (aurorasolar.com) is the dominant professional platform in North America and has expanded to the UK and EU market through a dedicated regional site. It offers LIDAR-assisted 3D modelling, battery storage simulation, and a sophisticated sales proposal engine.

UK pricing is not publicly listed and requires a sales conversation, but the US pricing tiers (Basic at $159 / month, Premium at $259 / month for up to 50 projects) give a broad indication of the cost level. The platform does not include UK-specific regulatory outputs — there is no automated DNO form generation or MCS-specific documentation. Like PV*SOL, compliance work sits outside the tool.

Aurora is best suited to larger commercial installers or businesses already familiar with its workflow from international markets, where the advanced design features justify the price and the compliance gap can be absorbed into an existing back-office process.

Verdict: powerful for scale, but overkill and expensive for residential UK installers. The absence of built-in UK compliance tools is a material weakness for MCS-certified businesses.

Side-by-side comparison

Which tool is right for you?

For most UK residential installers, Easy PV is the clear starting point. The free Basic tier covers everything a sole trader needs from day one — design, compliance, proposals, and DNO forms — with no upfront cost. The £35/month Pro upgrade pays for itself quickly in time saved on documentation and client communications. The platform’s deep integration with MCS requirements and automated G98/G99 forms reflects the fact that it was built by people who understand UK solar installation from the ground up.

Add PV*SOL Premium if you regularly work on complex commercial or multi-orientation roofs where detailed shade simulation is commercially necessary. Use OpenSolar as a complementary sales and CRM tool if its proposal workflow suits your team. Consider Aurora Solar only if you are scaling a commercial operation and have resource to handle UK compliance documentation independently.

Join our vetted installer network

If you are a UK solar installer looking to grow your customer pipeline, Smart Solar Homes connects qualified homeowners with vetted MCS-certified installers. Our customers are researched buyers actively planning a solar or battery installation — not cold enquiries. To find out more and apply to join the network, visit smartsolarhomes.co.uk.

Software pricing comparison

MCS MIS 3002 does not mandate a specific software package, but requires that yield estimates are produced using recognised irradiation data and documented methodology. PVGIS datasets meet this requirement and are widely used in MCS submissions.