OpenSolar is one of the most popular solar platforms in the world, and free, but popular and free don't automatically mean right for your business. This is an honest, balanced look at the pros and cons of OpenSolar for Australian installers in 2026, so you can decide whether its strengths matter more to you than its gaps.
What are the main pros of OpenSolar?
OpenSolar's biggest advantage is being genuinely free at global scale. The headline pros:
- It's free. Core design, CRM and proposal tools cost nothing, with no per-seat fees or design caps, removing a real barrier for smaller and growing installers.
- Fast, capable 3D design. Designs load quickly, shading and production estimates are solid, and proposals generate in minutes.
- All-in-one workflow. Since version 3.0, design, CRM, proposals, e-signatures and payments live in one platform.
- Huge, proven community. Well over 25,000 businesses across 160-plus countries, so it's well supported and continually developed.
- No lock-in. No long contracts, so trying it carries little risk.
What are the main cons of OpenSolar for Australian installers?
OpenSolar's cons cluster around being global-first rather than Australia-specific:
- No built-in compliant SLDs. It doesn't generate AS/NZS 5033 single-line diagrams natively, so many installers need separate CAD software.
- Not Australia-specific. STC, Federal Battery Rebate and AS/NZS documentation aren't the central focus they are in a purpose-built local tool.
- Partner-funded model. Because hardware and finance partners fund it, project data flows to them by design and the roadmap serves that ecosystem.
- Paid API. External API access became a paid feature from April 2026, which matters for integration-heavy businesses.
Who do the pros suit, and who do the cons rule out?
The pros suit residential installers who want a capable, no-cost platform and are comfortable with the partner-funded model, for them OpenSolar is genuinely hard to beat. The cons mostly bite installers for whom compliant SLDs, precise rebate handling, or Australian compliance documentation are central. If that's your work, the gaps cost real time; if it isn't, they may never affect you.
Do the cons have a fix?
Yes, the cons are exactly what a purpose-built Australian tool addresses. Solar Proof's browser-based SLD editor and built-in STC and Federal Battery Rebate handling close the compliance gaps directly, founded in 2017 and used by over 1,000 solar professionals. It isn't free, so the fix only makes sense if the gaps are costing you. For a feature-by-feature view, see the Solar Proof vs OpenSolar comparison.
The bottom line
OpenSolar's biggest pro is that it's free and capable; its biggest con for Australian installers is the gap around SLDs and local compliance. Weigh those against each other for your own mix of work, and read our full OpenSolar review if you want the detail.
