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Energy · head to head

Helioscope vs Johnson Controls Metasys

Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Energy

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
$159/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Johnson Controls Metasys logo

Johnson Controls Metasys

Energy

Building management and control system platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own; Johnson Controls Metasys a Metasys server supports 1,300 devices and 65,000 objects, so larger estates require additional servers
  • They diverge on capability: Helioscope covers PV system design, Johnson Controls Metasys covers HVAC control.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helioscope and Johnson Controls Metasys actually diverge.

Attributes where Helioscope and Johnson Controls Metasys differ
AttributeHelioscopeJohnson Controls Metasys
Starting price$159/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Mobile
Founded20121885

Identical on both: 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 Helioscope

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

Only in Johnson Controls Metasys

  • HVAC control
  • Building automation
  • Energy management
  • Security integration
  • Analytics dashboard
  • On-premise deployment
  • Mobile support
  • English language support

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Helioscope

  • Solar project design and modelingnot Johnson Controls Metasys
  • Rooftop, carport, and ground-mount solar system planningnot Johnson Controls Metasys
  • Financial analysis and sales proposal generation for solar installationsnot Johnson Controls Metasys

Johnson Controls Metasys

  • Building automation for offices, data centres, hospitals and universitiesnot Helioscope
  • Managing multi site campuses from one building management systemnot Helioscope
  • Meeting compliance and reporting requirements for regulated facilitiesnot 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

Johnson Controls Metasys

  • A Metasys server supports 1,300 devices and 65,000 objects, so larger estates require additional servers
  • No hardware requirement, licensing model, subscription term or price is published on the product page; the routes offered are a demo booking and a contact form

Pricing, plan by plan

Helioscope

$159/month
  • Basic$159/month
    • 1 user per license
    • 10 projects per month (120 per year)
    • 15% discount for annual billing ($1,620/year)
  • Pro$259/month
    • 1 user per license
    • 10 projects per month (120 per year)
    • 15% discount for annual billing ($2,640/year)
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited projects
    • Custom pricing

Johnson Controls Metasys

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Johnson Controls Metasys review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Helioscope if

  • You need pv system design.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want 3d shade modeling.
Helioscope review

Choose Johnson Controls Metasys if

  • You need hvac control.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want building automation.
Johnson Controls Metasys review

Questions people ask

Is Helioscope or Johnson Controls Metasys better?
Neither clearly leads. Helioscope starts at $159/month and Johnson Controls Metasys at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helioscope or Johnson Controls Metasys?
Helioscope starts at $159/month and Johnson Controls Metasys at On request.
Does Helioscope or Johnson Controls Metasys run on more platforms?
Helioscope runs on Web, Api. Johnson Controls Metasys runs on Web, Mobile.
What is Helioscope best used for?
Helioscope is most often used for solar project design and modeling, rooftop, carport, and ground-mount solar system planning, financial analysis and sales proposal generation for solar installations. Of those, solar project design and modeling and rooftop, carport, and ground-mount solar system planning are not what Johnson Controls Metasys is typically brought in for.
What can Helioscope do that Johnson Controls Metasys cannot?
Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. Johnson Controls Metasys covers HVAC control, Building automation, Energy management, Security integration. Both handle SOC2, SSL encryption, Cloud deployment, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Helioscope: What is the starting price for HelioScope?

HelioScope Basic plan costs $159 per month per license with annual billing at $1,620/year (15% discount). The Pro plan is $259/month or $2,640/year. Each license covers 1 user. Source: https://helioscope.aurorasolar.com/pricing

Source
Johnson Controls Metasys: How much does Johnson Controls Metasys cost?

Johnson Controls Metasys pricing is not published online. Contact Johnson Controls directly for enterprise building automation system pricing and licensing.

Source
Helioscope: How many projects can I design monthly with HelioScope Basic and Pro?

Both Basic and Pro plans include 10 projects per month, equaling 120 projects per year. The project allocation is the same across both tiers; the difference is in design capability (1.25 MW for Basic vs. 5 MW for Pro). Source: https://helioscope.aurorasolar.com/pricing

Source
Johnson Controls Metasys: What licensing models does Metasys offer?

Specific Metasys licensing models and pricing are available through Johnson Controls sales team. Contact Johnson Controls for custom quotes based on building management requirements.

Source
Helioscope: What is the maximum solar design capacity by HelioScope tier?

HelioScope Basic supports designs up to 1.25 MW DC, Pro supports up to 5 MW DC, and Enterprise supports unlimited designs up to 30 MW DC. Accuracy within 1% of PVsyst modeling is maintained across tiers. Source: https://helioscope.aurorasolar.com/pricing

Source
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