Trace Software (Archelios) Review: Features, Pricing & Pros vs Cons (2026)

TL;DR: Trace Software’s archelios PRO is a French PV simulation platform that has served European solar installers and engineering firms since 1987. Pricing runs from free (up to 9 kWp) to €1,990/year for unlimited projects. Public review data is almost nonexistent — zero G2 reviews as of January 2026 — making independent user validation difficult. For European design offices working within NF and IEC compliance frameworks, archelios PRO covers the full workflow from 3D modeling to bankable reports. For cloud-based teams needing integrated proposal generation and automated SLD output, SurgePV — the leading solar design software for installers — provides a faster end-to-end workflow without desktop installation.

Author: Keyur Rakholiya Title: Contributing Writer, SurgePV | MD & CEO, Heaven Green Energy Limited Expertise: 1+ GW solar projects delivered, 20+ design software platforms tested, 10+ years EPC operations Published: 2026-03-08 Last Updated: 2026-03-08 Review Methodology: Official Trace Software documentation and website, SourceForge user reviews, Springer peer-reviewed accuracy study, competitive testing, European market expertise

Who This Review Is For

This complete Trace Software review helps:

• Solar EPCs in France, Spain, Italy, or Germany evaluating archelios PRO or archelios CALC
• Design offices and engineering consultancies needing IEC/NF standards compliance
• Teams comparing trace software vs PVsyst or HelioScope for simulation depth
• Architects and BIM-focused firms looking for Revit or SketchUp solar integration
• Budget-conscious teams exploring the free archelios PRO tier for small projects

Who should skip this review:

• US-only installers with no European operations (limited localization outside EU)
• Teams needing month-to-month billing flexibility (archelios is annual-only)
• Residential sales-focused installers who need a built-in proposal tool and CRM

What Is Trace Software?

Trace Software International is a French engineering software company founded in 1987 by Pedro Puig. Originally a general electrical design software firm, it pivoted fully to photovoltaic software after selling its elecworks product line to Dassault Systèmes in 2019. A 2024 merger with Green Systems expanded its energy management capabilities.

Headquartered in Saint-Romain-de-Colbosc, France, Trace Software operates subsidiaries in Morocco, Germany, China, Spain, Italy, Brazil, and the USA. It distributes to 50+ countries and is part of Groupe Trace, which also includes TraceParts, Cythelia Energy, and BIM&Co.

Company Profile

The archelios Product Suite

Trace Software markets two main products under the archelios brand:

archelios PRO handles the design, simulation, and financial analysis side: 3D modeling, shading analysis, yield forecasting, self-consumption studies, and economic reports. It covers projects from small residential rooftops up to utility-scale solar farms at 100 MWp.

archelios CALC is a separate electrical engineering product. It handles cable sizing, protection device selection, earthing system design, switchboard configuration, and grid connection design, all in compliance with NF C15-712, IEC 60364, and IEC 62446.

The two products are sold separately. Teams wanting a complete design-to-electrical workflow need both subscriptions.

Trace Software Pricing & Cost

Trace Software uses annual subscription pricing exclusively. No monthly billing option is available. All prices are in EUR, excluding tax.

archelios PRO Pricing Tiers

Note: Some official sources indicate a 36 kWp free limit. Verify the current threshold directly with Trace Software before relying on it for project decisions.

archelios CALC Pricing

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

If you need both simulation and electrical sizing, both products are required:

Teams coming from a design-only context who also need compliant electrical documents face a combined spend of €3,000–€3,500/year before adding training, support contracts, or renewal fees.

What Silver and Gold Service Contracts Include

Silver and Gold service contracts include software updates, patches, and component catalog refreshes. This matters because component databases (modules, inverters) go stale quickly in a market with constant new hardware launches.

Is Trace Software Free? Free Trial

The Free Tier

archelios PRO has a legitimate free tier at €0 with no trial expiration. The limitation is project size — capped at 9 kWp (or possibly 36 kWp per some sources). This is enough for:

• Single-family home residential systems
• Small self-consumption installations
• Student training and university coursework
• Startups doing feasibility studies before committing to a paid plan

No other major PV simulation platform in this category offers a permanent free tier. PVsyst, HelioScope, and PV*SOL are paid-only. This is a genuine differentiator for educational and budget-constrained users.

Free Trial for Paid Plans

Trace Software’s website does not prominently advertise a time-limited free trial for paid tiers. Contact their team directly ([email protected] or +33 (0)2 32 79 44 24) to ask about evaluation access before committing to an annual subscription.

Core Features & Capabilities

3D Design and Modeling

archelios PRO’s design environment handles the full visual modeling workflow:

• Automatic environment generation using IGN and Google Solar data, pulling in terrain and building geometry without manual import
• 3D MAP functionality builds remote site models without a physical site visit, which reduces budget proposal turnaround time for preliminary feasibility work
• SketchUp and Revit plugins allow architects and engineers to start from their existing BIM model rather than rebuilding geometry
• Import compatibility with K2 Base mounting system data and SMA Sunny Design inverter configurations

The 3D MAP feature is the most practically useful differentiator here. Teams that routinely produce budget proposals before any site visit gain real time savings — you can model a site, run a quick simulation, and estimate yield from an office without scheduling a field assessment first.

Shading Analysis

Shading is calculated using automatic horizon mask computation. The platform pulls weather and irradiance data from METEONORM (default) or Solargis for production calculations.

One critical data point: an independent Springer peer-reviewed study found that archelios delivered the most accurate energy generation results among tools tested, but the error rate still exceeded 5.1% MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error). For bankable projects where lenders typically want accuracy within 3–5%, a 5.1% MAPE sits at the edge of acceptable. This does not mean the tool is inaccurate in absolute terms — it means teams pursuing project finance should verify that their lender accepts this accuracy level.

Self-Consumption and Battery Storage

archelios PRO includes a consumption profile manager that accepts multiple data formats. Teams can model self-consumption scenarios, run battery storage analysis, and optimize tariff profiles for economic outcomes. This is a full-featured module, not a lightweight add-on — it handles real consumption data rather than requiring simplified load assumptions.

Economic Analysis

The financial modeling covers:

• LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) calculations
• Cash Generation Analysis
• ROI and payback period calculations
• Bank indicators for financing presentations
• Installation cost modeling

These outputs are sufficient for project finance presentations to European lenders familiar with archelios reports. The Platinum tier includes the complete financial reporting suite.

Electrical Design (archelios CALC)

archelios CALC is the electrical engineering companion product. It handles:

• Single-line diagram generation
• Cable sizing per NF C15-712 and IEC 60364
• Protection device selection
• Earthing system design
• Switchboard configuration
• AC and DC network design
• Grid connection design

This is where Trace Software has a structural advantage over simulation-only tools like PVsyst: archelios CALC provides a code-compliant electrical design output, not just an energy yield report. The trade-off is cost — CALC adds €1,350/year or more on top of the PRO subscription.

Component Database

The component database spans 50+ manufacturers. Automatic filtering removes incompatible devices based on project parameters, reducing manual error in component selection. Service contract subscribers get catalog updates when new modules and inverters are added.

Reporting

Professional reports export to PDF, Word, and Excel. Templates are customizable. Reports cover technical performance outputs and economic analysis, suitable for client delivery and permit submission.

Trace Software BIM Integration: Revit and SketchUp

BIM integration is where archelios PRO stands apart from most PV simulation tools.

The Revit plugin allows architects and structural engineers to take an existing building information model and overlay solar layout directly — with accurate geometry, without re-drawing the roof. The SketchUp plugin serves the same purpose for teams using SketchUp for building modeling.

This matters because most PV simulation tools require you to re-create building geometry from scratch or import satellite imagery and trace manually. If your workflow starts from an architectural BIM model (common in commercial and industrial projects where the architect hands you a Revit file), the archelios plugin saves hours of modeling time.

The practical use case: an engineering consultancy working on a commercial rooftop installation receives the architect’s Revit model, imports it into archelios PRO via the plugin, places panels on the roof geometry, and runs yield simulations — without rebuilding the building model.

For residential installers who don’t work with BIM, this feature has no practical value. For design offices and EPCs doing commercial or industrial work with architectural collaborators, it is a genuine time-saver.

User Reviews and Feedback

This is the most significant gap in the archelios PRO evaluation: public user review data is nearly absent.

Five total public reviews across all platforms is not enough data to draw meaningful conclusions about user satisfaction, support quality, or reliability.

What this means practically: you cannot validate archelios PRO through the same peer review process you would apply to Aurora Solar (with hundreds of G2 reviews) or PVsyst (with an established academic and industry track record). You are relying on official Trace Software marketing materials, a small number of SourceForge ratings, and independent studies like the Springer accuracy analysis.

What the Limited Reviews Say

The SourceForge data:

• The newer archelios PRO version scored 4.0/5 from one reviewer
• An older version scored 2.9/5 from four reviewers

The improvement between versions is encouraging. A single review is not a statistically meaningful sample, but the trend is positive.

Official Case Studies

Trace Software’s website references customer case studies, including EQUANS (a major European energy services company). This is the highest-quality independent validation available: real project results from a named customer. Case studies are curated by the vendor and should be interpreted accordingly.

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Free Tier for Small Projects

No other professional PV simulation tool in this category offers a permanent free tier. Students, educational institutions, and teams doing preliminary residential feasibility work can use archelios PRO without any subscription cost.

2. BIM Integration (Revit and SketchUp)

Native plugins for both Revit and SketchUp make archelios PRO one of the few simulation tools that integrates directly into architectural workflows. For commercial and industrial projects where the architect provides a Revit model, this eliminates redundant geometry modeling.

3. Full Electrical Sizing via archelios CALC

The CALC module provides code-compliant cable sizing, protection device selection, and single-line diagrams per NF C15-712 and IEC 60364. Teams operating in markets where these standards apply get a complete electrical design output without requiring a separate tool.

4. Multi-Scale Platform

One license covers the full project scale range from small residential to 100 MWp utility. Teams that mix residential and large commercial or utility work do not need separate tools for different project types.

5. 3D MAP Remote Modeling

Remote site modeling using IGN and Google Solar data reduces or eliminates the need for a physical site visit during feasibility and budgeting phases. For installers covering large geographic territories, this is a real operational time-saver.

6. European Standards Depth

Deep compliance with French NF standards and international IEC standards. For teams operating in markets where these standards are mandatory for permit submission, archelios PRO and CALC together cover the compliance requirement natively.

7. Established Company with Long Track Record

Founded in 1987 and actively maintained for decades. This is not a startup risk. The company has subsidiaries across multiple continents and a long history of product updates.

Cons

1. Near-Zero Public Reviews

Zero G2 reviews and no Capterra presence as of January 2026. Independent peer validation is not available. Purchasing decisions must rely on official materials and direct customer references.

2. Annual-Only Billing

No monthly option. Committing to €990–€1,990/year (plus CALC if needed) without a trial period or monthly flexibility is a significant procurement risk for teams new to the platform.

3. Manual Renewal Process

Renewals require contacting customer service by email. This is avoidable operational friction in 2026, when most SaaS platforms handle renewals automatically.

4. Accuracy at the Edge for Bankable Projects

The Springer study found archelios exceeded 5.1% MAPE. Teams pursuing project debt financing need to verify their lender’s accuracy requirements against this figure before selecting archelios as the primary simulation tool.

5. Separated Product Stack Cost

Getting both simulation (PRO) and electrical sizing (CALC) requires two separate subscriptions totaling €3,000–€3,500/year. For teams used to platforms that include electrical design in a single subscription, this adds unexpected cost.

6. European Market Focus

Primary localization, support infrastructure, and standards coverage target France and broader Europe. Teams working in non-European markets may encounter gaps in local utility data, regulatory templates, or time-zone-appropriate support.

7. Free Tier Limit Ambiguity

Official documentation shows conflicting limits (9 kWp vs 36 kWp). You cannot confidently plan around the free tier without direct confirmation from Trace Software.

Trace Software vs SurgePV

Both Trace Software’s archelios suite and SurgePV target solar EPCs and installers needing professional design and simulation, but they approach the problem differently.

Head-to-Head Feature Comparison

Workflow Time Comparison (100 kW Commercial Project)

When archelios Wins

The archelios suite makes the most sense when:

• Your projects require French NF C15-712 compliance documentation
• Your workflow starts from a Revit or SketchUp architectural model
• You operate primarily in France or EU markets where archelios reports are recognized
• Your team delivers technical reports rather than consumer-facing sales proposals
• You want a free simulation tool for residential-scale feasibility

When SurgePV Wins

SurgePV as solar software makes more sense when:

• You need integrated proposals alongside technical simulation
• Automated SLD generation matters — eliminating a separate CALC subscription
• You work globally or outside the EU regulatory framework
• Cloud-based access (no Windows desktop required) is a workflow requirement
• You want a single subscription covering design, simulation, electrical, and proposals

Trace Software Alternatives

If archelios PRO does not fit your workflow, the main alternatives depend on what you need most.

PVsyst

The Swiss simulation tool most commonly cited in bankable energy reports. PVsyst is the industry reference for lenders and investors. It does not include electrical sizing or proposals — it is purely a simulation engine. Pricing starts around €1,200/year. If your lender specifically requires PVsyst output, this may be non-negotiable regardless of other tools.

Read our PVsyst review for a full comparison.

HelioScope

A US-based cloud simulation and design tool, strong for commercial EPCs. HelioScope includes good shading simulation and is widely accepted for US project finance. It does not include electrical sizing or client proposals. Pricing runs around $1,800–$2,400/year.

SurgePV

SurgePV is a cloud-based platform that combines 3D design, shading simulation, automated SLD generation, and branded proposal creation in one subscription. The main advantage over archelios PRO is the integrated workflow — you move from design to simulation to electrical to proposal without switching tools. The main limitation vs archelios is the lack of native Revit plugin and French NF standard compliance depth.

See our full solar design software overview for details.

PV*SOL

A German simulation tool with strong electrical design capabilities, particularly for grid-connected and storage systems. More European-focused than HelioScope. Annual subscription required.

OpenSolar

Free cloud-based design and proposal tool. No dedicated simulation depth on par with archelios or PVsyst, but it covers the full sales workflow at no cost. Suitable for residential-focused installers who do not need bankable energy reports.

Comparison Table

Who Should Use Trace Software?

Best Fit for archelios PRO

French and EU design offices and engineering consultancies: If your projects require NF C15-712 documentation and your clients or permit authorities expect archelios reports, this is straightforward — use the tool your market expects.

BIM-integrated architectural firms: If you routinely receive Revit models from architects and want to overlay solar design without re-modeling, the Revit plugin is a concrete time-saver with no equivalent in most alternatives.

Educational institutions and universities: The free tier is designed for training, and it is the only free professional-grade simulation tool available without a time limit.

Utility-scale developers in Europe: Gold and Platinum tiers handle projects up to 100 MWp. For European developers, archelios PRO’s compliance with IEC 61724 for energy yield assessment means reports are structured per the international bankability standard.

Teams already invested in the archelios ecosystem: Existing users with trained staff, templates, and established workflows should evaluate switching costs carefully before moving to a different platform.

Not a Good Fit

US-based teams with no European operations: Localization, regulatory templates, and support are primarily European. US utility interconnection workflows are not archelios PRO’s strength.

Teams needing integrated client proposals: archelios PRO produces technical and economic reports, not branded sales proposals. If your workflow includes presenting visual proposals to homeowners or commercial clients, you will need a separate proposal tool.

Teams requiring month-to-month billing: Annual-only contracts are the only option.

Teams that need immediate public peer validation: With zero G2 reviews, there is no independent user community to reference for workflow questions or troubleshooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Trace Software?

Trace Software International is a French engineering software company founded in 1987, now focused exclusively on photovoltaic software under the archelios brand. Their two main products — archelios PRO for design, simulation, and financial analysis, and archelios CALC for electrical sizing and compliance — cover projects from small residential systems to 100 MWp utility-scale installations. The company distributes to 50+ countries with subsidiaries across Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

How much does Trace Software cost?

archelios PRO runs from €0 (free, up to 9 kWp) to €1,990/year (Platinum, unlimited). The mid-tiers are Silver at €990/year (up to 100 kWp) and Gold at €1,490/year (up to 1 MWp). archelios CALC, required for electrical sizing and compliance, is sold separately at €1,350/year standard or €1,500–€1,590/year with the high-voltage module. Teams needing both products face a combined annual cost of €2,340–€3,590/year. All prices exclude tax and require annual commitment.

Is archelios free?

archelios PRO has a free tier at €0 with no time limit. It is restricted by project size (9 kWp per some sources, 36 kWp per others — confirm directly with Trace Software). archelios CALC has no free tier. No other major professional PV simulation tool offers a permanent free plan, making this genuinely useful for students, small residential installers, and teams doing initial feasibility work.

What are the best Trace Software alternatives?

For pure simulation accuracy, PVsyst is the industry reference standard and the most widely accepted tool for bankable reports. For cloud-based design plus simulation, HelioScope and SurgePV are the main alternatives. For teams that also need client proposals, SurgePV as solar design software combines design, simulation, automated SLD generation, and branded proposals. For free options, OpenSolar covers basic design and proposals at no cost.

Does archelios PRO work with Revit?

Yes. Trace Software provides a native Revit plugin that allows you to import existing BIM building geometry directly into archelios PRO for solar panel placement and simulation. They also offer a SketchUp plugin. This is one of the few PV simulation tools with genuine BIM workflow integration, making archelios PRO particularly suitable for architectural and engineering firms that work from Revit models on commercial and industrial projects.

Is archelios PRO accurate enough for bankable reports?

An independent Springer peer-reviewed study found archelios delivered accurate energy generation results but with a MAPE exceeding 5.1%. Most project finance lenders want accuracy within 3–5%. A 5.1% figure sits at the edge of this range. Whether it qualifies for your specific project depends on your lender’s stated requirements. Teams pursuing project finance should verify lender acceptance for archelios outputs before committing to it as the primary simulation tool.

What is the difference between archelios PRO and archelios CALC?

archelios PRO handles design and simulation: 3D modeling, shading analysis, yield forecasting, self-consumption studies, and economic analysis. archelios CALC handles electrical engineering: cable sizing, protection device selection, single-line diagrams, earthing design, and switchboard configuration per NF C15-712, IEC 60364, and IEC 62446. They are separate products with separate subscriptions. Most professional teams doing compliant electrical design need both.

Final Verdict

Trace Software’s archelios suite is a legitimate professional PV design and simulation platform with a 35+ year history in European markets. Its BIM integration via Revit and SketchUp, deep EU standards compliance, and free tier for small projects are genuine differentiators that most competitors do not match.

The core limitations are practical, not technical. Near-zero public reviews make independent peer validation nearly impossible. Annual-only billing with manual renewal adds procurement friction. The electrical design capability (archelios CALC) is priced as a separate product, pushing the combined cost to €3,000+/year for teams that need the full workflow. And the 5.1% MAPE finding from the Springer study warrants direct lender verification before using archelios reports in a project finance context.

Rating: 6/10

Strong for European engineering offices that operate within NF and IEC compliance frameworks, work with BIM architectural partners, and already have client relationships that recognize archelios as a credible output format. Not the right starting point for US-based teams, cloud-first workflows, or installers who need integrated client proposals alongside technical simulation.

Decision Summary

Take the Next Step

Evaluating archelios PRO alongside other tools? Here is the fastest path to a decision:

• Book a SurgePV demo — see cloud-based design, automated SLD, and proposals in one 20-minute walkthrough
• Compare platforms — full review library for all major PV software
• SurgePV pricing — transparent per-user pricing, no annual lock-in required
• Contact Trace Software directly for a demo of archelios PRO or pricing confirmation

Related Resources

Platform Comparisons:

• PVsyst Review — industry-standard simulation tool for bankable reports
• HelioScope Review — cloud-based simulation for commercial EPCs
• OpenSolar Review — free design and proposal platform

Feature Deep Dives:

• Solar Design Software — complete guide to solar design platforms
• Shadow Analysis Software — how shading simulation works and what accuracy means for your projects
• Solar Proposal Software — integrated proposal generation explained
• Generation and Financial Tool — financial modeling for solar ROI

This Trace Software review was written by Keyur Rakholiya, Contributing Writer at SurgePV and MD & CEO of Heaven Green Energy Limited, with 1+ GW of solar project experience and hands-on evaluation of 20+ design software platforms. All Trace Software information is sourced from official Trace Software documentation (trace-software.com), SourceForge user reviews, and an independent peer-reviewed Springer study on PV simulation accuracy. We maintain editorial independence and disclose our company affiliation transparently.

Review last updated: March 8, 2026 | Next review: June 2026