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Energy · head to head

Aurora Solar vs HOMER Energy

Aurora Solar logo

Aurora Solar

Energy

The leading solar design and sales platform

From
$135/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HOMER Energy logo

HOMER Energy

Energy

Microgrid and distributed energy optimization software

From
$187.5/month
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; HOMER Energy now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • They diverge on capability: Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aurora Solar and HOMER Energy actually diverge.

Attributes where Aurora Solar and HOMER Energy differ
AttributeAurora SolarHOMER Energy
Starting price$135/month$187.5/month
PlatformsWeb, ApiWindows, Web
Founded20132009

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

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 HOMER Energy

  • Microgrid optimization
  • Techno-economic analysis
  • Component library
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Energy storage sizing
  • Renewable integration
  • Load profile analysis
  • Financial modeling

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 HOMER Energy
  • Producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projectsnot HOMER Energy

HOMER Energy

  • Sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systemsnot Aurora Solar
  • Modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinationsnot Aurora Solar
  • Electric bill optimisation for grid-connected sites and EV chargingnot Aurora Solar
  • Utility-scale storage investment analysisnot Aurora Solar
  • Comparing least-cost configurations against load and resource datanot 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

HOMER Energy

  • Now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • Split into three separate products, HOMER Pro for off-grid and microgrids, HOMER Grid for bill optimisation and HOMER Front for utility-scale, so the right one depends on project type
  • Pricing is not shown on the product pages

Pricing, plan by plan

Aurora Solar

$135/month
  • Basic$159/month
    • Tablet-friendly sales proposals
    • Industry-leading design accuracy
    • HD imagery
  • Premium$259/month
    • Tablet-friendly sales proposals
    • Industry-leading design accuracy
    • HD imagery
  • Enterprise$null/project
    • All Premium features
    • AI-assisted site models
    • APIs and integrations

HOMER Energy

$187.5/month
  • Base$187.5/month
    • No modules included; add individually
    • Basic support
    • Software updates
  • Professional$373.5/month
    • Any 4 modules included (Biomass Generation, Run of River Hydro, Advanced Grid, Advanced Load, etc.)
    • Basic support
    • Software updates
  • Expert$568.5/month
    • All modules included: Biomass, Hydro, Hydrogen, Advanced Grid/Load/Storage, Combined Heat & Power, Multi-Year, MATLAB Link
    • Basic support
    • Software updates

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 HOMER Energy if

  • You need microgrid optimization.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want techno-economic analysis.
HOMER Energy review

Questions people ask

Is Aurora Solar or HOMER Energy better?
Neither clearly leads. Aurora Solar starts at $135/month and HOMER Energy at $187.5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aurora Solar or HOMER Energy?
Aurora Solar starts at $135/month and HOMER Energy at $187.5/month.
Does Aurora Solar or HOMER Energy run on more platforms?
Aurora Solar runs on Web, Api. HOMER Energy runs on Windows, Web.
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 HOMER Energy is typically brought in for.
What can Aurora Solar do that HOMER Energy cannot?
Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Shade analysis, LIDAR integration, Performance simulation. HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization, Techno-economic analysis, Component library, Sensitivity analysis.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Aurora Solar: How much does Aurora Solar cost per month?

Aurora Solar Basic costs $159/month billed monthly or $135/month billed annually (save $288/year). Premium costs $259/month monthly or $220/month annually (save $468/year). Enterprise pricing is custom per project. Monthly plans have no minimum commitment and can be cancelled at any billing period end. Annual plans require a one-year commitment.

Source
HOMER Energy: What are the pricing options for HOMER Energy?

HOMER Energy pricing information is not publicly available on their website. Customers must contact the vendor directly to obtain pricing information, trial access, and licensing options.

Source
Aurora Solar: What features does Aurora Solar Premium add over Basic?

Premium adds LIDAR-assisted modeling, bankable shade reports, and battery modeling for backup, self-consumption, and arbitrage scenarios. Both tiers include 50 projects per month and support 1 user.

Source
HOMER Energy: Does HOMER Energy offer a free trial or demo?

Trial or demo availability cannot be confirmed from publicly accessible pages. Visit the main website or contact HOMER Energy sales directly to inquire about evaluation options.

Source
Aurora Solar: How many users and projects can I have on Aurora Solar?

Basic and Premium plans support 1 user with a 50-project monthly limit. Enterprise plans support unlimited users and custom project limits; Enterprise pricing and terms are custom and determined through sales.

Source
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