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Energy & Utilities · head to head

Aurora Solar vs ETAP

Aurora Solar logo

Aurora Solar

Energy & Utilities

The leading solar design and sales platform

From
$250/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ETAP logo

ETAP

Energy & Utilities

Electrical power system design and analysis software

From
$5000/year
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; ETAP no pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form
  • They diverge on capability: Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, ETAP covers Load flow analysis.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aurora Solar and ETAP differ
AttributeAurora SolarETAP
Starting price$250/month$5000/year
PlatformsWeb, ApiWindows, Api
Founded20131986

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Energy & Utilities).

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 ETAP

  • Load flow analysis
  • Short circuit analysis
  • Arc flash analysis
  • Protective device coordination
  • Harmonics analysis
  • Transient stability
  • Cable sizing
  • Panel schedule design

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 ETAP
  • Producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projectsnot ETAP

ETAP

  • Electrical power system modelling, simulation and analysisnot Aurora Solar
  • Arc flash, load flow and protection coordination studiesnot 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

ETAP

  • No pricing is published, and reaching a figure requires completing a multi step quote form
  • Subscription durations offered are 3 years and 5 years, so there is no short commitment option
  • Licences are banded by user count rather than sold individually, in brackets of 1, 5 to 15, 15 to 25, 25 to 50 and over 50
  • National and international network licences are priced separately

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

ETAP

$5000/year
  • Standard$5000/year
    • Load flow analysis
    • Short circuit analysis
    • Arc flash analysis
  • Professional$15000/year
    • Advanced analysis
    • Protective device coordination
    • Harmonics analysis
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Real-time monitoring
    • SCADA integration
    • Custom modules

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 ETAP if

  • You need load flow analysis.
  • You work on Windows, Api.
  • You also want short circuit analysis.
ETAP review

Questions people ask

Is Aurora Solar or ETAP better?
Neither clearly leads. Aurora Solar starts at $250/month and ETAP at $5000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aurora Solar or ETAP?
Aurora Solar starts at $250/month and ETAP at $5000/year.
Does Aurora Solar or ETAP run on more platforms?
Aurora Solar runs on Web, Api. ETAP runs on Windows, Api.
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 ETAP is typically brought in for.
What can Aurora Solar do that ETAP cannot?
Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Shade analysis, LIDAR integration, Performance simulation. ETAP covers Load flow analysis, Short circuit analysis, Arc flash analysis, Protective device coordination.
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