Choose OpenSolar if you want a genuinely free, capable platform for straightforward residential jobs and are comfortable with its partner-funded model. Choose Solar Proof if Australian compliance is central to your work: built-in STCs, the Federal Battery Rebate, and a browser-based AS/NZS 5033 single-line diagram editor. Both are strong; the deciding factor is usually whether you need Australian-specific compliance and SLDs, or simply the lowest possible cost.
At a glance
| Solar Proof | OpenSolar | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AU compliance & quoting | Free, global residential |
| Pricing | From ~$4/project; Pro ~$99/mo | Free (partner-funded) |
| Australian focus | Built for Australia | Global |
| SLD editor | Browser-based, AS/NZS 5033 | Not native; often needs CAD |
| Battery rebate | Federal Battery Rebate built in | Partial |
| STC handling | Automatic | Limited |
| User base | Growing, Australian | Very large, global |
Where OpenSolar wins
- Price. The core platform is genuinely free, with no per-seat fees or design caps. Nothing here beats free.
- Global user base. With well over 25,000 users worldwide, it is hugely proven and well supported.
- Hardware ecosystem. Deep integrations with hardware and finance partners.
Where Solar Proof wins
- Single-line diagrams. A browser-based SLD editor built around AS/NZS 5033, where OpenSolar users often fall back on separate CAD software.
- Australian compliance. STCs and the Federal Battery Rebate are applied inside quotes automatically.
- Proposal flexibility. The AI Template Builder generates a branded template from your website in about a minute.
Pricing compared
OpenSolar's core platform is free, funded through hardware and finance partners; note that external API access became a paid feature from April 2026. Solar Proof uses pay-as-you-go pricing from around four dollars per project (first projects free), with Pro plans from about ninety-nine dollars per month for higher volume and unlimited SLDs.
What installers say
"Solar Proof has taken our solar layouts and proposals to a professional level. The accuracy with providing solar layouts has been a game changer in our efficiency."
When you should NOT switch to Solar Proof
If you are a one-person residential operation doing simple grid-tied jobs, you are happy with OpenSolar's free tier, and you do not need AS/NZS 5033 SLDs or battery-rebate accuracy, there is little reason to move. Free and familiar is hard to beat when the compliance gap does not affect you.
FAQ
Is Solar Proof better than OpenSolar?
Neither is universally better. Solar Proof is stronger on Australian compliance and SLDs; OpenSolar wins on being free with a huge global community. It depends on whether compliance or cost matters more to you.
Can I migrate from OpenSolar to Solar Proof?
Yes. Most installers run both briefly, rebuild their proposal template in Solar Proof, then move new leads across while existing OpenSolar deals close.
Verdict
OpenSolar is the best free choice and ideal for simple residential work. Solar Proof is the better fit when Australian compliance, single-line diagrams and battery rebates are central to how you quote. Match the tool to your work, not the logo.
