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Energy & Utilities · head to head

Aurora Solar vs Matter

Aurora Solar logo

Aurora Solar

Energy & Utilities

The leading solar design and sales platform

From
$250/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Matter logo

Matter

IoT & Smart Home

Unified smart home connectivity standard

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Matter has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Aurora Solar both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence; Matter the Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Matter page on 1 January 2023 confirmed Matter itself is a free, open IP-based connectivity standard with no license fee to implement; manufacturers instead pay a separate certification fee to certify individual devices.
  • They diverge on capability: Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Matter covers Unified Standard.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aurora Solar and Matter differ
AttributeAurora SolarMatter
Starting price$250/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, ApiMatter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control
CategoryEnergy & UtilitiesIoT & Smart Home
Founded20132021

Identical on both: 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 Matter

  • Unified Standard
  • Multi-Admin
  • Secure Communication
  • Interoperable
  • All major ecosystems
  • HomeKit
  • Google Home
  • Alexa

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

Matter

  • Cross-ecosystem compatibilitynot Aurora Solar
  • Future-proof devicesnot Aurora Solar
  • Simplified setupnot Aurora Solar
  • Local 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

Matter

  • The Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Matter page on 1 January 2023 confirmed Matter itself is a free, open IP-based connectivity standard with no license fee to implement; manufacturers instead pay a separate certification fee to certify individual devices.

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

Matter

Free
  • Open StandardFree
    • Unified connectivity
    • Cross-platform
    • Local control

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 Matter if

  • You need unified standard.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Matter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control.
  • You also want multi-admin.
Matter review

Questions people ask

Is Aurora Solar or Matter better?
Neither clearly leads. Aurora Solar starts at $250/month and Matter at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aurora Solar or Matter?
Matter has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $250/month for Aurora Solar and Free for Matter.
Does Aurora Solar or Matter run on more platforms?
Aurora Solar runs on Web, Api. Matter runs on Matter-enabled devices, All major hubs, Cloud, Local control.
Can I use Matter for free?
Yes. Matter has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aurora Solar starts at $250/month.
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 Matter is typically brought in for.
What can Aurora Solar do that Matter cannot?
Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Shade analysis, LIDAR integration, Performance simulation. Matter covers Unified Standard, Multi-Admin, Secure Communication, Interoperable.
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