Key Takeaways
- SurgePV is a full-stack platform: design, simulation, proposals, engineering, and financial modeling
- HelioScope excels at fast commercial PV design with simulation accuracy within 1% of PVsyst
- SurgePV has no project size limits and supports residential, commercial, and utility-scale work
- HelioScope has no proposal generation, no SLD generation, and no residential features
- HelioScope is owned by Aurora Solar, which may create competitive conflicts
- SurgePV costs significantly less while including more capabilities
- Both are web-based platforms with modern interfaces
Quick Comparison
Our Verdict
For teams that want one platform for residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects — with proposals, SLDs, and financial modeling built in — SurgePV is the better choice at a lower price point. If you only do commercial/industrial PV design and already have separate tools for proposals, engineering, and sales, HelioScope is a capable design and simulation tool.
Project Size and Scale
SurgePV
Founded
2025
Headquarters
London, UK (Global)
Focus
All-in-one solar platform
Best For
Global residential, commercial & utility
Project Size Limit
No cap
Pricing Starts
$1,499/yr
HelioScope
Founded
2014 (Folsom Labs, acquired by Aurora)
Headquarters
San Francisco, USA
Focus
Commercial & industrial PV design
Best For
C&I solar design & simulation
Project Size Limit
Built for C&I; limited residential/utility
Pricing Starts
$159–259/month
Pricing Comparison
HelioScope’s monthly pricing adds up quickly, especially when you factor in the additional tools needed for a complete workflow.
| Plan | SurgePV | HelioScope |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | $1,499/year (3 users) | $159/month ($1,908/yr) |
| Premium | $1,299/user/year (5 users) | $259/month ($3,108/yr) |
| Proposal Tool Needed? | No (built-in) | Yes (+$600–2,000/yr) |
| CAD for SLDs Needed? | No (native SLDs) | Yes (+$1,800/yr) |
| Total Year 1 Cost (1 user) | $1,499 | $4,308–6,908+ |
| Per-Project Limits | Unlimited projects | Yes (varies by plan) |
| Features Included | All features, all plans | Design + simulation only |
SurgePV $1,499 vs HelioScope + proposals + CAD: $4,308–6,908 — SurgePV saves 65–78%Design Accuracy
Both SurgePV and HelioScope are web-based platforms with modern interfaces. The core difference is scope: SurgePV is a solar design software platform that covers the full project lifecycle, while HelioScope focuses on commercial design and simulation.
SurgePV Design Strengths
SurgePV matches HelioScope’s commercial design capabilities and extends well beyond them. The platform features AI-powered auto-design that generates optimized layouts, 8760-hour shade simulation with monthly granularity, and native support for residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects with no project size cap.
Where SurgePV pulls ahead is in the complete workflow. After designing in SurgePV, you can generate SLDs, three-line diagrams, wire sizing calculations, BOM with pricing, permit packages, and customer proposals — all without switching tools. For teams that currently pair HelioScope with AutoCAD and a separate proposal tool, SurgePV consolidates that entire stack.
HelioScope Design Strengths
HelioScope built its reputation on fast commercial PV design. The platform lets you draw a field segment, select your module and inverter, and get a fully simulated layout in minutes. Its simulation engine produces results within 1% of PVsyst on commercial rooftop and ground-mount projects, making it a trusted tool for C&I developers.
HelioScope also offers a 45,000+ component library and straightforward string sizing. The interface is clean and focused — there is minimal learning curve for anyone with basic solar design knowledge.
The limitations are clear: HelioScope does not generate proposals, does not produce SLDs or electrical engineering documents, and has limited residential features. It is a design and simulation tool, not a full workflow platform. Since the Aurora Solar acquisition, some users have raised concerns about data privacy and competitive conflicts, since Aurora now owns both a competing design platform and HelioScope’s user data.
Feature Comparison
Here’s a detailed feature-by-feature breakdown of SurgePV vs HelioScope across the capabilities that matter most to solar design teams.
| Feature | SurgePV | HelioScope |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Based Design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Satellite Imagery | ✓ (Google & Nearmap) | ✓ (Google Maps) |
| Commercial PV Design | ✓ (No project size cap) | ✓ (Core strength) |
| Residential Design | ✓ | Limited |
| Energy Yield Simulation | ✓ (8760-hour simulation) | ✓ (Within 1% of PVsyst) |
| Shade Analysis | ✓ (8760-hour shade maps) | ✓ |
| Auto Panel Layout | ✓ (AI-powered) | ✓ |
| String Sizing | ✓ (Auto-stringing) | ✓ |
| Component Library | ✓ | ✓ (45,000+ components) |
| Single-Line Diagrams (SLD) | ✓ (Native) | ✗ |
| Three-Line Diagrams | ✓ (Native) | ✗ |
| Permit Package Generation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Proposal Generation | ✓ (Web + PDF) | ✗ |
| Financial Modeling | ✓ (Global, multi-currency) | Basic |
| Bill of Materials | ✓ (Detailed with pricing) | ✓ |
| Battery Storage Design | ✓ | Limited |
| Utility-Scale Design | ✓ | Limited |
| API Access | ✓ (All plans) | ✓ |
| CRM Integration | API-based | ✗ |
| White-Label Reports | ✓ | ✓ |
Workflow Speed
SurgePV Workflow
SurgePV is built to shorten the full project lifecycle. Design, shadow analysis, simulation, proposal generation, and engineering documents all live in one tool. AI auto-design recreates site layouts in minutes, and one-click proposals connect design data directly to sales documents. Teams do not need to export to CAD or a separate proposal builder.
HelioScope Workflow
HelioScope is fast for commercial layout and simulation. The bottleneck comes after design: teams must export data to another tool for proposals, SLDs, and permit packages. That handoff adds hours per project and increases the risk of errors when data is copied between systems.
Best For
The right choice depends on your team’s workflow and project types. Use this decision matrix to find the best fit.
| Your Situation | Choose SurgePV | Choose HelioScope |
|---|---|---|
| Need proposals + design in one tool | ✓ | |
| Residential + commercial mix | ✓ | |
| Need electrical engineering (SLDs) | ✓ | |
| Budget-conscious teams | ✓ | |
| International / European market | ✓ | |
| Utility-scale projects | ✓ | |
| Concerned about Aurora ownership | ✓ | |
| Need permit package generation | ✓ | |
| C&I-only team with separate proposal tool | ✓ | |
| Need only design + simulation | ✓ |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is SurgePV better than HelioScope?
For most teams, yes. SurgePV offers design, simulation, proposals, and electrical engineering in one platform. HelioScope is strong for commercial design and simulation but lacks proposals, residential features, and native SLD generation.
Can SurgePV replace HelioScope?
Yes. SurgePV covers everything HelioScope does — commercial design, simulation, shade analysis — and adds proposals, financial modeling, SLD generation, permit packages, and residential support.
Which has more accurate simulation, SurgePV or HelioScope?
Both deliver high-accuracy simulation. HelioScope is known for results within 1% of PVsyst on commercial projects. SurgePV uses an 8760-hour engine with P50/P75/P90 confidence levels. For most projects, both are comparable.
Is HelioScope cheaper than SurgePV?
No. HelioScope costs $159–259/month ($1,908–3,108/year) and covers only design and simulation. SurgePV starts at $1,499/year for 3 users with design, simulation, proposals, engineering, and financial modeling included.
Does HelioScope work for residential projects?
HelioScope was designed primarily for commercial and industrial projects. It lacks residential-specific features like consumer-facing proposals, residential financing models, and permit package generation. SurgePV handles both residential and commercial.
Is HelioScope owned by Aurora Solar?
Yes. Folsom Labs, the maker of HelioScope, was acquired by Aurora Solar. This creates a potential conflict for teams that compete against Aurora-powered installers, as Aurora has access to HelioScope’s product roadmap and user data.
Does SurgePV have a project size limit?
No. SurgePV supports residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects with no 15MW cap. HelioScope is built for commercial and industrial projects and has limited support for very large or residential systems.
Which is faster for solar design, SurgePV or HelioScope?
Both are fast for commercial layouts. SurgePV adds AI-powered auto-design and one-click proposals, which shortens the full workflow from site assessment to sales handoff. HelioScope requires separate tools for proposals and engineering.
Can I import HelioScope projects into SurgePV?
There is no direct HelioScope import. Most teams recreate active projects in SurgePV using satellite imagery and AI auto-design, then configure proposal and SLD templates. The migration typically takes 1–2 days.
Does SurgePV include shadow analysis?
Yes. SurgePV includes 8760-hour shade simulation with monthly granularity. You can also explore dedicated shadow analysis capabilities on the shadow analysis page.
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