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Energy · head to head

Helioscope vs Sunrun EnergyBase

Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Energy

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
$159/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sunrun EnergyBase logo

Sunrun EnergyBase

Energy

Residential solar and energy management 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; Sunrun EnergyBase no specific pricing published on website; mentions locked-in rates but does not disclose dollar amounts
  • They diverge on capability: Helioscope covers PV system design, Sunrun EnergyBase covers Solar design and simulation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helioscope and Sunrun EnergyBase actually diverge.

Attributes where Helioscope and Sunrun EnergyBase differ
AttributeHelioscopeSunrun EnergyBase
Starting price$159/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Mobile
Founded20122007

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 Sunrun EnergyBase

  • Solar design and simulation
  • Project management
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Customer portal
  • Financial analysis
  • Google Maps
  • Data encryption
  • Mobile support

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • 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 Sunrun EnergyBase
  • Rooftop, carport, and ground-mount solar system planningnot Sunrun EnergyBase
  • Financial analysis and sales proposal generation for solar installationsnot Sunrun EnergyBase

Sunrun EnergyBase

  • Residential solar salesnot Helioscope
  • Energy managementnot 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

Sunrun EnergyBase

  • No specific pricing published on website; mentions locked-in rates but does not disclose dollar amounts

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

Sunrun EnergyBase

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Sunrun EnergyBase 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 Sunrun EnergyBase if

  • You need solar design and simulation.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want project management.
Sunrun EnergyBase review

Questions people ask

Is Helioscope or Sunrun EnergyBase better?
Neither clearly leads. Helioscope starts at $159/month and Sunrun EnergyBase at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helioscope or Sunrun EnergyBase?
Helioscope starts at $159/month and Sunrun EnergyBase at On request.
Does Helioscope or Sunrun EnergyBase run on more platforms?
Helioscope runs on Web, Api. Sunrun EnergyBase 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 Sunrun EnergyBase is typically brought in for.
What can Helioscope do that Sunrun EnergyBase cannot?
Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. Sunrun EnergyBase covers Solar design and simulation, Project management, Real-time monitoring, Customer portal. Both handle Salesforce, 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
Sunrun EnergyBase: How much does Sunrun EnergyBase cost?

Sunrun does not publish specific pricing for EnergyBase on its website. The company mentions predictable monthly payments with locked-in rates and add-on battery options available for as little as $0 down, but exact costs are not disclosed.

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
Sunrun EnergyBase: How can I get a Sunrun EnergyBase price quote?

To obtain pricing details, interested customers must use the quote request form or contact a Sunrun solar advisor directly through the website.

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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