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Energy & Utilities · head to head

Aurora Solar vs Ecobee

Aurora Solar logo

Aurora Solar

Energy & Utilities

The leading solar design and sales platform

From
$250/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ecobee logo

Ecobee

IoT & Smart Home

Smart thermostats with room sensors for whole-home comfort

From
$139.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Aurora Solar both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence; Ecobee installation requires a C-wire in most cases, necessitating professional installation for some users unfamiliar with HVAC wiring
  • They diverge on capability: Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Ecobee covers Room Sensors.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aurora Solar and Ecobee actually diverge.

Attributes where Aurora Solar and Ecobee differ
AttributeAurora SolarEcobee
Starting price$250/month$139.99/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryEnergy & UtilitiesIoT & Smart Home
Founded20132007

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Aurora Solar

  • 3D solar design
  • Shade analysis
  • LIDAR integration
  • Performance simulation
  • Sales proposals
  • Financing options
  • Permit packages
  • NEC code compliance

Only in Ecobee

  • Room Sensors
  • Built-in Alexa
  • Energy Reports
  • Smart Recovery
  • HomeKit
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings
  • IFTTT

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Aurora Solar

  • Designing and simulating residential and commercial solar installationsnot Ecobee
  • Producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projectsnot Ecobee

Ecobee

  • Energy savingsnot Aurora Solar
  • Multi-room comfortnot Aurora Solar
  • HVAC optimizationnot Aurora Solar
  • Remote climate controlnot Aurora Solar

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Aurora Solar

  • Both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence
  • Projects are capped at 50 a month on both Basic and Premium, so the tiers differ on features rather than volume
  • LIDAR assisted modelling, shade reports and battery storage modelling all require Premium at $259 a month
  • API access and integrations are Enterprise only, which is priced per project rather than per month
  • Paying monthly rather than annually costs $288 more a year on Basic and $468 on Premium

Ecobee

  • Installation requires a C-wire in most cases, necessitating professional installation for some users unfamiliar with HVAC wiring
  • Not compatible with line-voltage baseboard heating systems without additional specialized controllers
  • Touchscreen display is prone to fingerprints and cannot be adjusted from the mobile app
  • Advanced settings interface can feel complex and technical for non-technical users
  • Display settings and customization options are limited to on-device configuration only

Pricing, plan by plan

Aurora Solar

$250/month
  • Starter$250/month
    • Basic design tools
    • Sales mode
    • Shade analysis
  • Pro$500/month
    • Advanced LIDAR integration
    • Performance simulation
    • Custom branding
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Advanced analytics
    • Custom integrations

Ecobee

$139.99/one-time
  • Smart Thermostat Essential$139.99/one-time
    • Up to 23% energy savings
    • ENERGY STAR certified
    • Remote app control
  • Smart Thermostat Enhanced$199.99/one-time
    • Up to 26% energy savings
    • Built-in Alexa voice control
    • HomeKit compatible
  • Smart Thermostat Premium$259.99/one-time
    • Up to 26% energy savings
    • Built-in radar occupancy sensor
    • Indoor air quality monitoring

Which should you pick?

Choose Aurora Solar if

  • You need 3d solar design.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want shade analysis.
Aurora Solar review

Choose Ecobee if

  • You need room sensors.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want built-in alexa.
Ecobee review

Questions people ask

Is Aurora Solar or Ecobee better?
Neither clearly leads. Aurora Solar starts at $250/month and Ecobee at $139.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aurora Solar or Ecobee?
Aurora Solar starts at $250/month and Ecobee at $139.99/one-time.
Does Aurora Solar or Ecobee run on more platforms?
Aurora Solar runs on Web, Api. Ecobee runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is Aurora Solar best used for?
Aurora Solar is most often used for designing and simulating residential and commercial solar installations, producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projects. Of those, designing and simulating residential and commercial solar installations and producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projects are not what Ecobee is typically brought in for.
What can Aurora Solar do that Ecobee cannot?
Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Shade analysis, LIDAR integration, Performance simulation. Ecobee covers Room Sensors, Built-in Alexa, Energy Reports, Smart Recovery.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ecobee: How much can I save with an Ecobee thermostat?

Ecobee thermostats can save up to 26% on annual heating and cooling costs according to manufacturer claims. However, independent ENERGY STAR data shows average savings of around 8%, equating to $50-$100 annually for typical U.S. homes.

Source
Ecobee: Does Ecobee work with HomeKit?

Yes, Ecobee is HomeKit-enabled and was the first to introduce a HomeKit-compatible smart thermostat. The Premium and Enhanced models support Apple HomeKit and allow control via Siri from any Apple device.

Source
Ecobee: What is a SmartSensor and what does it do?

Ecobee SmartSensors are wireless remote temperature and occupancy sensors that detect which rooms are occupied. They allow the thermostat to balance heating and cooling to occupied rooms and ignore empty spaces, improving both comfort and efficiency.

Source
Ecobee: Do I need a C-wire to install Ecobee?

Most installations require a C-wire for reliable operation. Ecobee includes a Power Extender Kit to help with installations lacking a C-wire, but some DIYers may still need professional installation assistance.

Source
Ecobee: What voice assistants does Ecobee support?

Ecobee supports Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings for voice control. The Premium model has built-in Alexa and Siri, while Enhanced and Essential models support all platforms via integration.

Source
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