PVsyst and Aurora Solar both simulate solar energy production, so buyers often compare them as rivals. They are built for different moments in a project: one is a desktop engineering simulator. The other is a cloud platform for designing and selling systems.
Quick answer. PVsyst vs Aurora Solar comes down to the job. PVsyst is a desktop simulation tool for detailed energy yield studies, with built-in P50/P90 estimates, used on commercial and utility projects. Aurora Solar is a cloud design and sales platform for rooftop installers, with 3D roof modeling, proposals and permit tools. Many teams use Aurora to sell and PVsyst when a financier asks for a yield report.
TL;DR
- PVsyst: desktop, engineering-grade yield simulation, P50/P90 tool, CHF 700 per year (checked 6 October 2026).
- Aurora: cloud, rooftop design and proposals, from $159 per user per month (checked 6 October 2026).
- Aurora's simulation engine was reviewed by NREL in 2015 against three operating systems.
- Choose by deliverable: a sales proposal, a permit set, or a yield report for a lender.
- Small installers rarely need PVsyst in-house. Outsourcing the occasional report is an option.
This comparison is for installers, EPCs and developers choosing a tool, or deciding whether they need both. For deeper single-tool reviews, see the Aurora Solar review and the PVsyst review.
What is the core difference between PVsyst and Aurora Solar?
PVsyst is a Swiss desktop program for designing and simulating PV systems in detail. Its users are mostly design engineers working on commercial, industrial and utility projects.
Aurora Solar is a US cloud platform. Its plans center on 3D roof modeling, performance simulation, proposals and, at higher tiers, LIDAR and battery modeling (Aurora pricing page).
| Factor | PVsyst | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Desktop software | Cloud platform |
| Main user | Design and yield engineers | Installer sales and design teams |
| Typical project | C&I, utility, ground mount | Residential and small commercial rooftops |
| Core output | Simulation report with loss diagram | Design, proposal, shade and production estimate |
| Probabilistic yield | Built-in P50/P90 tool | Not listed on the pricing page |
| Sales proposals | Not a proposal tool | Core feature |
How do they compare on energy simulation?
Both tools estimate annual production. The difference is how much of the model the engineer controls and documents.
PVsyst exposes each loss step, from irradiance on the array to the grid. The PVsyst loss diagram is the page reviewers read first. Engineers set the weather source, module model, shading scene, wiring and soiling losses.
Aurora focuses on speed for rooftop work. NREL reviewed its engine in a 2015 technical report that compared Aurora’s predictions for three operating systems with measured data and other tools (Freeman and Simon, NREL/TP-7A40-64213, 2015). That study is over ten years old, so treat it as history, not as proof of the current engine.
Fast tip. Before you choose a tool for a financed project, ask the lender or independent engineer which simulation report they accept. That answer decides the tool faster than any feature list.
How do they handle P50 and P90?
PVsyst has a built-in P50/P90 evaluation. Its documentation says the tool assumes annual yields follow a normal distribution around the simulated result. It also says P50/P90 values only make sense for annual totals, not monthly or hourly ones (PVsyst documentation).
A P50 is the annual yield with a 50 percent chance of being exceeded. A P90 has a 90 percent chance. Financing reviews often treat P90 as the downside case.
Aurora’s public pricing page does not list a P50/P90 exceedance report. If you need one, confirm with Aurora directly or plan for a separate yield study.
How do they compare on shading and site modeling?
Aurora models roofs and trees in 3D from imagery. Its Premium plan adds LIDAR-assisted modeling and what Aurora calls “bankable shade reports”, according to its pricing page.
PVsyst builds a 3D near-shading scene that the engineer draws or imports. It suits ground mounts, trackers and large roofs where row-to-row shading matters. The PVsyst 3D near-shading guide shows the workflow.
PVsyst vs Aurora Solar pricing
Both vendors publish prices. Both change them, so recheck before you buy.
| Plan | Price | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|
| PVsyst 8 Professional | CHF 700 per year, per license | PVsyst shop, 6 Oct 2026 |
| PVsyst volume discount | 5% (2 to 4), 15% (5 to 9), 20% (10+) | PVsyst shop, 6 Oct 2026 |
| Aurora Basic | $159 per user per month, or $135 billed annually | Aurora pricing page, 6 Oct 2026 |
| Aurora Premium | $259 per user per month, or $220 billed annually | Aurora pricing page, 6 Oct 2026 |
| Aurora Enterprise | Custom | Aurora pricing page, 6 Oct 2026 |
Aurora lists a 50-project monthly limit on Basic and Premium. License cost is only part of the total. Labor, weather data and review time often matter more, as our PVsyst license vs outsourcing guide shows. The Aurora pricing guide covers add-ons.
Which tool fits which job?
Pick by the deliverable you need to produce, not by the brand.
| Your job | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Residential sales proposal | Aurora | Fast 3D design and customer-facing proposal |
| Residential permit set | Aurora, or a permit design partner | Design data flows into plan sets |
| C&I rooftop yield estimate | PVsyst | Detailed losses and documented assumptions |
| Utility or ground-mount yield study | PVsyst | Trackers, shading scenes, P50/P90 |
| Report for a lender or independent engineer | Whichever they accept, often PVsyst | Reviewer requirement drives the choice |
| Occasional yield report, no in-house engineer | Outsourced study | Avoids a license and training cost |
Watch out. A sales-stage production estimate and a financing-stage yield report answer different questions. Do not send a proposal estimate to a lender as if it were a yield study.
Should you use both?
Many teams do. A common split is Aurora for residential sales and design, and PVsyst for commercial projects and financed work.
If you use both, keep the inputs aligned. Use the same module and inverter models, the same weather source where possible, and record why the two estimates differ. Unexplained gaps between a proposal number and a yield report cause questions from customers and reviewers.
For other tool pairings, see Helioscope vs PVsyst and Aurora vs Helioscope.
How Heaven Designs helps
Heaven Designs runs PVsyst studies through its engineering reports service and produces sales-stage layouts through solar 3D pre-design. Teams that only need a yield report now and then can skip the license and training cost.
To see a full PVsyst report with P50/P90 and shading analysis, download design samples. To scope a study, get a quote. We reply within one business day.
FAQ
Is PVsyst better than Aurora Solar?
Neither is better overall. PVsyst suits detailed yield studies, and Aurora suits rooftop design and sales. Choose by the deliverable you need.
Can Aurora replace PVsyst?
For residential sales and design, it often can. For a yield report that a lender or independent engineer will review, ask them which tool they accept first.
How much does PVsyst cost compared to Aurora?
PVsyst Professional lists at CHF 700 per year. Aurora Basic lists at $159 per user per month. Both prices were checked on 6 October 2026 and can change.
Does Aurora Solar produce P50/P90 reports?
Aurora’s pricing page does not list a P50/P90 exceedance report. Confirm with Aurora. PVsyst includes a P50/P90 evaluation tool.
Is PVsyst cloud-based?
No. PVsyst is desktop software for Windows, sold as an annual license.