Key Takeaways
- Aurora Solar acquired HelioScope (Folsom Labs) — both are now under the same parent company
- Aurora excels at residential design and visual proposals; HelioScope is built for C&I projects
- HelioScope achieves within 1% of PVsyst accuracy for commercial energy yield
- Neither tool includes native electrical engineering — both require AutoCAD for SLDs
- Teams doing both residential and C&I pay for two tools from the same company
- SurgePV covers residential through commercial in one platform, and includes SLD generation in its own licence
Quick Verdict
Our Verdict
Aurora Solar and HelioScope are sister products under the same company, each optimized for a different market segment. Aurora wins for residential sales workflows with polished proposals. HelioScope wins for C&I design accuracy and detailed commercial layouts. If your team handles both residential and commercial, that means two separate subscriptions from the same parent company, and neither one generates single-line diagrams. SurgePV covers both segments in one platform and includes SLD generation in its own licence.
Company Overview
Aurora Solar
Founded
2013
Headquarters
San Francisco, USA
Focus
Residential solar design & proposals
Best For
US residential installers
Pricing Starts
$159/user/mo, or $135/user/mo billed annually ($1,620/yr)
HelioScope
Founded
2013 (Folsom Labs)
Headquarters
San Francisco, USA (Aurora subsidiary)
Focus
C&I solar design & simulation
Best For
Commercial & industrial EPCs
Pricing Starts
$159/mo ($1,620/yr) per licence
Feature Comparison
Both platforms are cloud-based and use satellite imagery, but they optimize for different project sizes and workflows.
| Feature | Aurora Solar | HelioScope |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Based Design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Satellite Imagery | ✓ (Google & Nearmap) | ✓ (Google Maps) |
| Residential Optimization | ✓ (Primary focus) | Basic support |
| Commercial/Industrial Design | Supported | ✓ (Primary focus) |
| PVsyst-Comparable Accuracy | ✗ | ✓ (Within 1%) |
| Multi-Inverter Configuration | Basic | ✓ (Advanced) |
| Wire Run Calculations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Visual Proposals | ✓ (Best-in-class) | Basic reports |
| CRM Integration | ✓ (Salesforce native) | ✗ |
| E-Signature | ✓ (DocuSign) | ✗ |
| Single-Line Diagrams (SLD) | ✗ (Needs AutoCAD) | ✗ (Needs AutoCAD) |
| LIDAR Data | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ground-Mount Design | Basic | ✓ |
| Shade Analysis | ✓ (LIDAR + solar access) | ✓ (Component-level) |
| Financial Modeling | Basic (US-focused) | Basic |
| Battery Storage | ✓ | Limited |
| API Access | Enterprise only | ✓ (Pro plan) |
Design Capabilities
Aurora Solar and HelioScope both run in the browser, but their design philosophies target different project types.
Aurora Solar Design Strengths
Aurora was built for speed on residential rooftops. LIDAR data creates accurate 3D roof models without manual measurements. NearMap HD imagery lets designers place panels with precision. The auto-layout engine handles complex roof geometries — valleys, hips, dormers — and generates a clean layout in seconds.
For residential workflows, Aurora is hard to beat. The platform connects design directly to proposals and e-signatures, so a sales rep can go from lead to signed contract in a single appointment. The downside: Aurora’s commercial capabilities feel bolted on rather than native. Large flat-roof arrays with multiple inverter zones and detailed DC wiring layouts are where HelioScope takes over.
HelioScope Design Strengths
HelioScope was purpose-built for commercial and industrial solar. The platform handles large rooftop and ground-mount arrays with multi-inverter configurations, automatic string sizing, and detailed wire run calculations. Its simulation engine produces energy yield predictions within 1% of PVsyst — a claim validated by independent testing.
For C&I EPCs who need accurate production estimates to close deals with building owners, HelioScope’s accuracy is a real competitive advantage. The trade-off: HelioScope’s proposals are basic PDF reports. There’s no interactive proposal builder, no CRM integration, and no e-signature workflow. For residential sales, it falls short.
Proposal & Sales
Aurora Solar Proposals
Aurora produces polished, interactive proposals that work well on mobile devices. Homeowners can toggle financing options, view their system in 3D, and sign contracts through DocuSign — all from a single link. Combined with Salesforce and HubSpot CRM integration, Aurora is a complete residential sales platform.
The limitation is on the commercial side. Aurora’s proposals are designed for homeowner conversations, not for commercial procurement processes that require detailed technical specifications, accurate yield reports, and engineering documentation.
HelioScope Reports
HelioScope generates technical design reports with system specifications, energy production estimates, and layout drawings. These reports are functional for internal use and client presentations, but they lack the visual polish and interactive elements that Aurora’s proposals deliver.
HelioScope has no built-in CRM, no e-signature integration, and no financing workflow. Commercial sales teams typically pair HelioScope with separate proposal and CRM tools, adding cost and complexity.
Pricing Comparison
Both products publish list pricing on their own sites, and on the published tiers the two line up closely. What separates them is what each tier includes.
Aurora Solar’s published pricing is $159/user/month, or $135/user/month billed annually ($1,620/year), for Basic and $259/user/month, or $220/user/month billed annually ($2,640/year), for Premium, per Aurora’s pricing page (checked 21 September 2026). Enterprise is quoted per project.
HelioScope lists Basic at $159/month ($1,620/year) and Pro at $259/month ($2,640/year) per licence, each including one user, per HelioScope’s pricing page (checked 21 September 2026). Enterprise is custom.
| Cost Item | Aurora Solar | HelioScope |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | $159/user/mo, or $135/user/mo billed annually ($1,620/year) | $159/mo ($1,620/year) per licence |
| Pro / Premium | $259/user/mo, or $220/user/mo billed annually ($2,640/year) | $259/mo ($2,640/year) per licence |
| Enterprise | Custom per project | Custom |
| AutoCAD for SLDs? | Yes (licensed separately from Autodesk) | Yes (licensed separately from Autodesk) |
| Both Tools (resi + C&I) | Two separate subscriptions, plus a separate CAD licence for SLDs | |
| CRM Included? | ✓ | ✗ |
| Interactive Proposals? | ✓ | ✗ |
A team covering both residential and C&I therefore licenses Aurora and HelioScope separately, and still licenses a CAD tool for single-line diagrams, because neither product generates them. SurgePV includes design, simulation, proposals, and SLD generation in one licence at $1,499/year, so that step does not need a separate CAD subscription.
Looking for a Better Alternative? Try SurgePV
Handle residential and commercial projects in one platform — with native electrical engineering, proposals, and financial modeling included.
Start Free TrialNo credit card required · Residential + commercial in one tool · All features included
Pros & Cons Side-by-Side
Aurora Solar
Pros
Cons
HelioScope
Pros
Cons
Who Should Choose What?
The right tool depends on your primary project type and whether you need a sales workflow or a design engine.
| Your Situation | Choose Aurora | Choose HelioScope |
|---|---|---|
| High-volume residential installer | ✓ | |
| Commercial & industrial EPC | ✓ | |
| Need interactive proposals | ✓ | |
| Need PVsyst-level accuracy | ✓ | |
| Salesforce/CRM workflow | ✓ | |
| Ground-mount commercial projects | ✓ | |
| Both residential AND commercial | Consider SurgePV | |
| Need native electrical engineering | Consider SurgePV | |
Best Alternative: SurgePV
If neither Aurora Solar nor HelioScope fully meets your needs, SurgePV combines the best of both worlds. You get residential design speed with commercial-grade accuracy, plus native electrical engineering that neither Aurora nor HelioScope offers. Instead of paying two subscriptions to the same parent company, you get one cloud solar design software platform that spans residential through 5MW commercial.
SurgePV delivers design, simulation, proposals, electrical engineering, and financial modeling in one cloud platform starting at $1,499/year, with all features included on every plan. It replaces the structure of an Aurora plus HelioScope plus CAD stack: one subscription instead of two design subscriptions and a separate CAD licence for single-line diagrams.
Start your free SurgePV trial and handle every project type from one dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HelioScope owned by Aurora Solar?
HelioScope was created by Folsom Labs, which Aurora Solar acquired. Both products continue to operate separately — Aurora targets residential installers while HelioScope focuses on commercial and industrial design.
Which is more accurate, Aurora Solar or HelioScope?
HelioScope claims energy yield predictions within 1% of PVsyst for commercial systems. Aurora’s accuracy is strong for residential but not independently benchmarked against PVsyst. For C&I projects, HelioScope has the edge.
Can I use Aurora Solar for commercial projects?
Yes, Aurora handles commercial design. But HelioScope was purpose-built for C&I with features like multi-inverter configurations, detailed wire run calculations, and PVsyst-comparable accuracy that Aurora’s residential-first design doesn’t match.
Is HelioScope cheaper than Aurora Solar?
HelioScope lists Basic at $159/month ($1,620/year) and Pro at $259/month ($2,640/year) per licence, each including one user, per HelioScope’s pricing page (checked 21 September 2026). Enterprise is custom. Aurora Solar’s published pricing is $159/user/month, or $135/user/month billed annually ($1,620/year), for Basic and $259/user/month, or $220/user/month billed annually ($2,640/year), for Premium, per Aurora’s pricing page (checked 21 September 2026), with Enterprise quoted per project. On the published tiers the two line up; what differs is what each tier includes.
What’s a better alternative to both Aurora Solar and HelioScope?
SurgePV handles both residential and commercial projects in one platform with native electrical engineering, proposals, and financial modeling, at $1,499/year with all features included. Aurora and HelioScope each publish a Basic tier at $1,620/year, and neither generates single-line diagrams without a separate CAD tool.
Should I use both Aurora Solar and HelioScope?
Since Aurora owns HelioScope, using both means paying the same parent company twice. SurgePV covers residential through commercial up to 5MW in a single platform, eliminating the need for separate tools.
