Softwr

Software · head to head

Helioscope vs Bidgely UtilityAI

Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Software

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Bidgely UtilityAI logo

Bidgely UtilityAI

Software

AI-powered energy disaggregation and customer engagement

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Helioscope has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own; Bidgely UtilityAI sold to utilities rather than to energy consumers, so an individual cannot buy it
  • They diverge on capability: Helioscope covers PV system design, Bidgely UtilityAI covers Energy disaggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helioscope and Bidgely UtilityAI actually diverge.

Attributes where Helioscope and Bidgely UtilityAI differ
AttributeHelioscopeBidgely UtilityAI
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Mobile, Api
Founded20122011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Helioscope

  • PV system design
  • 3D shade modeling
  • Performance simulation
  • Single-line diagrams
  • BOM generation
  • Proposal templates
  • Component database
  • Financial modeling

Only in Bidgely UtilityAI

  • Energy disaggregation
  • AI-powered analytics
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Customer segmentation
  • Home energy reports
  • Program enrollment
  • Mobile app platform
  • Behavioral insights

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Helioscope

  • Simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yieldnot Bidgely UtilityAI
  • Laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reportsnot Bidgely UtilityAI

Bidgely UtilityAI

  • Disaggregating household energy use to appliance level from meter datanot Helioscope
  • Targeting energy efficiency programmes at the right customersnot Helioscope
  • Detecting EV ownership for utility programmesnot Helioscope
  • Demand response and load flexibility planningnot Helioscope
  • Identifying customers for affordability programmesnot Helioscope

Where each one falls short

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

Helioscope

  • Licences are single user, so each designer needs their own
  • Projects are capped at 10 a month on both Basic and Pro
  • System size is capped by plan, at 1.25 MW DC on Basic and 5 MW on Pro, so a larger array forces an upgrade regardless of project count
  • Trackers, LIDAR modelling and API access sit on the higher tiers
  • Enterprise is priced per project with no published figure

Bidgely UtilityAI

  • Sold to utilities rather than to energy consumers, so an individual cannot buy it
  • Pricing is not published
  • Value depends on access to meter data, so it needs the utility's own data pipeline

Pricing, plan by plan

Helioscope

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 projects
    • Basic design tools
    • Shade analysis
  • Professional$95/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Advanced shading
    • Custom reports
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • API access
    • Custom integrations

Bidgely UtilityAI

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bidgely UtilityAI review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Helioscope if

  • You need pv system design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want 3d shade modeling.

Choose Bidgely UtilityAI if

  • You need energy disaggregation.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want ai-powered analytics.

Questions people ask

Is Helioscope or Bidgely UtilityAI better?
Neither clearly leads. Helioscope starts at Free and Bidgely UtilityAI at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helioscope or Bidgely UtilityAI?
Helioscope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helioscope and On request for Bidgely UtilityAI.
Does Helioscope or Bidgely UtilityAI run on more platforms?
Helioscope runs on Web, Api. Bidgely UtilityAI runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
Can I use Helioscope for free?
Yes. Helioscope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bidgely UtilityAI starts at On request.
What is Helioscope best used for?
Helioscope is most often used for simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yield, laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reports. Of those, simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yield and laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reports are not what Bidgely UtilityAI is typically brought in for.
What can Helioscope do that Bidgely UtilityAI cannot?
Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. Bidgely UtilityAI covers Energy disaggregation, AI-powered analytics, Personalized recommendations, Customer segmentation. Both handle SOC2, Cloud deployment, Web support.

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