Solar Proof vs GreenSketch: Free and Tied, or Paid and Independent?

The short version: GreenSketch is free because it's funded by distributor OSW Group through hardware sales, not software fees; Solar Proof is paid but independent of any supplier. So Solar Proof vs GreenSketch isn't really a feature fight, it's a question of business model.

Both tools design solar and batteries capably, so comparing Solar Proof vs GreenSketch on features alone misses the point. The decision that actually matters is whether you want a free tool tied to a hardware distributor, or a paid tool that stays independent of one. Here's the honest breakdown.

What is the real difference between GreenSketch and Solar Proof?

The real difference is the business model behind each. GreenSketch is owned by OSW Group, an Australian solar distributor, and is free because it's funded through the hardware installers buy, not software fees. Solar Proof, founded in 2017 and used by over 1,000 solar professionals, is funded by subscriptions, so it earns nothing from hardware and is tied to no supplier's catalogue. That single difference shapes everything else.

Solar Proof vs GreenSketch: the facts

Why is GreenSketch free?

GreenSketch is free because OSW Group funds it through hardware sales rather than software fees, the company states plainly that it doesn't earn revenue from subscriptions. It's a legitimate, increasingly common model (OpenSolar works the same broad way), and it genuinely removes the software cost. The trade is that the platform is aligned with one distributor: it's most seamless when you procure through OSW, and its development naturally serves that ecosystem.

What does Solar Proof offer that GreenSketch's model doesn't?

Solar Proof offers independence and a longer track record. Because it's funded by subscriptions, it isn't tied to any supplier's product range, your design tool and your hardware buying stay separate decisions. It also brings STCs and the tiered Federal Battery Rebate calculated in-quote, browser-based AS/NZS 5033 SLDs, flexible NETCC-compliant proposals via the AI Template Builder, and the track record of a platform used by over 1,000 solar professionals since 2017.

Is GreenSketch or Solar Proof better for batteries?

Both are genuinely strong on batteries, so this rarely decides it. GreenSketch is battery-led, with battery wall templates, a battery-only mode and AI 3D design. Solar Proof applies the tiered Federal Battery Rebate inside the quote and turns the design into a compliant proposal. If battery design quality is your only criterion, it's close; the tiebreaker is usually independence and proposals.

What do installers say about Solar Proof?

"As someone who's been in the solar business for over a decade, I've tried plenty of design tools, but Solar Proof is a game-changer. The custom proposal designs are spot on."

When should you NOT switch from GreenSketch to Solar Proof?

Don't switch if a free tool is your priority and the OSW model genuinely suits you, paying for independence you don't value would be a poor trade. If you already procure through OSW, like GreenSketch's AI and battery design, and the distributor-funded model doesn't concern you, staying free is the rational choice. Solar Proof's case rests on independence and proposal flexibility, which only matter if those things matter to you.

Verdict: which should you choose?

In Solar Proof vs GreenSketch, choose GreenSketch if free is the priority and you're comfortable in the OSW ecosystem that funds it; choose Solar Proof if you want a tool independent of any hardware supplier, with flexible compliant proposals and AU rebates built in. It's free-but-tied versus paid-but-independent, decide which the way you run your business calls for.

Related comparisons & reading

• GreenSketch alternative for Australian installers
• GreenSketch review
• GreenSketch pricing in Australia
• Switching from GreenSketch
• Solar Proof vs OpenSolar (another free, partner-funded tool)