Comparison
SolvSolar vs OpenSolar
Free-to-use but monetised through hardware channel margins and limited regional coverage. SolvSolar replaces it with a $0-seat Solar Operating System that designs, prices, finances and closes in 45 seconds — on web, WhatsApp and Telegram.
Price in real currency
OpenSolar: ₹0 licence, recovered through hardware channel margins (typically 3–8% on equipment)
SolvSolar: ₹0 per seat, ₹10 per kW designed — first 100 kW free
Proposal turnaround
OpenSolar: 10–20 min
SolvSolar: 45 seconds, end to end
India regulatory fit
OpenSolar: Limited / US-only
SolvSolar: Global DISCOM & net-metering rulesets
SolvSolar differs from OpenSolar because OpenSolar charges $0 + hardware markups (₹0 licence, recovered through hardware channel margins (typically 3–8% on equipment)), while SolvSolar charges ₹0 per seat, ₹10 per kW designed — first 100 kW free with no per-seat licence. The second measurable difference is turnaround: OpenSolar typically needs 10–20 min to produce a proposal, against 45 seconds, end to end on SolvSolar. On India-specific compliance, OpenSolar provides Limited / US-only, whereas SolvSolar provides Global DISCOM & net-metering rulesets.
| Capability | OpenSolar | SolvSolar OS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per seat | $0 + hardware markups | $0 / seat — pay per kW designed |
| Cost in INR | ₹0 licence, recovered through hardware channel margins (typically 3–8% on equipment) | ₹0 per seat, ₹10 per kW designed — first 100 kW free |
| Proposal turnaround | 10–20 min | 45 seconds, end to end |
| Mobile speed | Partial | Mobile-first PWA, sub-second loads |
| WhatsApp integration | Not supported | Native WhatsApp + Telegram bots |
| Global DISCOM / net metering | Limited / US-only | Global DISCOM & net-metering rulesets |
5 concrete differences between SolvSolar and OpenSolar
- OpenSolar's software is free but the business model depends on distributor margin, so your procurement choices are part of the price; SolvSolar takes ₹10 per kW designed and never touches your supply chain.
- OpenSolar quotes take 10–20 minutes; SolvSolar returns the same output in about 45 seconds.
- OpenSolar's Indian DISCOM and PM Surya Ghar handling is generic; SolvSolar ships state-level DISCOM data for 16 Indian states.
- SolvSolar generates proposals over WhatsApp and Telegram bots; OpenSolar is browser-only.
- SolvSolar's four-page PDF includes an editable bill of materials and an editable central/state subsidy line; OpenSolar's template edits are limited to its own builder.
SolvSolar vs OpenSolar: which is better for Indian installers?
SolvSolar vs OpenSolar: which is better for Indian installers? OpenSolar is genuinely free at the licence level, and if you are happy to buy hardware through its partner channel that is a fair trade. The catch is that 'free' is funded by equipment margin, so the cost lands in your BOM rather than your software bill, and the India-specific layer — DISCOM rules, PM Surya Ghar slabs, GST treatment — is thin. SolvSolar keeps your procurement independent, charges ₹10 per kW designed with the first 100 kW free, cuts the quote from 10–20 minutes to 45 seconds, and closes on WhatsApp. Choose OpenSolar if channel buying suits you; choose SolvSolar if you want procurement freedom and Indian compliance baked in.
Related reading
Before you switch tools, read the Solar Proposal Software Buyer's Guide for India (2026) for the full evaluation framework, check the exact PM Surya Ghar subsidy slabs that OpenSolar does not compute for you, and compare the payback numbers in Solar ROI benchmarks by system size. Our own numbers are published in full on the pricing page, and state-level rules live on the Maharashtra and Gujarat DISCOM guides.
Migrate from OpenSolar in 60 seconds
Import your panel and inverter catalogue, keep your pricing, and issue your first SolvSolar proposal on the 100 kW free trial — no card, no per-seat fees.