The solar industry doesn't suffer from a shortage of tools. It suffers from fragmentation: one platform for design, another for proposals, a third for permit packages, and a spreadsheet to hold it all together. That patchwork costs your team time, introduces errors, and makes scaling a real operational challenge.
Solargraf, backed by 20 years of Enphase industry expertise, is purpose-built to eliminate that fragmentation. Here's an honest look at how it stacks up against the field
The core problem: Switching costs are hidden but real
Most solar contractors don't calculate the true cost of their tool stack. Every hand-off between platforms — design to proposal, proposal to permit — is a moment where data can be entered wrong, files can be lost, and hours can disappear. When a competing platform charges less per seat but forces you to export, reformat, and re-import data between stages, you're not saving money. You're spending it on labor.
Solargraf consolidates the full workflow in a single platform: roof modeling, shade analysis, battery and appliance recommendations, proposal generation, and permit-ready documentation — without toggling between tabs or tools.
Feature-by-feature: Where Solargraf pulls ahead
When evaluating platforms, it helps to think in terms of impact and complexity. Some features are table stakes — every serious platform has them. Others are high-complexity differentiators that take real engineering to get right. Here's where the gaps become consequential for contractors:
| Capability | Solargraf | Other Competitors |
| Auto roof layout & panel placement | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Shade report | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Customized proposal | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Completely automated obstruction detection | ✓ Automated | ⚬ Manual or partial |
| Battery recommendation + appliance backup modeling | ✓ 78+ manufacturers | ⚬ Limited support |
| DIY SLD & permit creation (Propel) | ✓ Built-in | ✗ External service |
| Wall elevation canvas + virtual site assessment | ✓ Integrated | ✗ Not available |
| Sectional visibility control (PDF vs web quote) | ✓ Included | ✗ Not available |
| AHJ, utility & NEC database | ✓ Included | ⚬ Add-on or external |
| TPO & financing integrations | ✓ Built-in | ⚬ Varies by plan |
| Premium features on base plan | ✓ No paywalls | ✗ Tiered feature locks |
The permit bottleneck — and how to eliminate it
For most installers, the permit stage is where projects stall. Coordinating with a third-party permit service, re-drawing single-line diagrams, and waiting days for approval creates backlogs that compress your install calendar and frustrate clients.
Solargraf's Propel feature gives contractors the ability to generate DIY SLDs and permit packages directly inside the platform. For those who prefer fully managed permitting, the 24-hour turnaround service — covering both solar and battery storage — is available without leaving the workflow.
Battery storage: A growing requirement, not an add-on
Storage is no longer optional for competitive solar proposals. Homeowners expect backup recommendations; utilities increasingly require them for net-metering applications. Platforms that treat battery design as an afterthought force your sales team to rely on manufacturer tools or external calculators.
Solargraf integrates battery recommendation and appliance backup modeling natively, with support for 78+ battery manufacturers. That means your system design accounts for storage from the start — not bolted on at the end when a client asks.
- 78+ Battery Manufacturers
- Appliance backup modeling
- Integrated with system design
- No external calculator needed
Pricing transparency: What you see is what you get
Hidden paywalls are a quiet tax on your operations. Several competing platforms lock key capabilities — advanced battery design, branded proposals, TPO integrations — behind higher tiers. You onboard your team on one feature set and discover you need the enterprise plan to actually run your business.
Solargraf's model is built differently: full capabilities start at the base plan, priced per project rather than inflating per seat. For contractors with seasonal volume fluctuation, annual project-based pricing provides the flexibility to scale without penalty.
Solargraf vs other solar design tools
The competitive positioning below maps every key capability by impact and complexity — showing exactly where Solargraf outperforms the market and where the field is level. Use it when evaluating your current stack or presenting a platform decision to your leadership team.
The bottom line for installers
The question isn't whether Solargraf has the features — the matrix above makes that case clearly. The real question is whether your current tool stack is costing you time you haven't accounted for: time spent switching platforms, fixing proposal exports, chasing permits, and manually tracking which plan tier unlocks which capability.
For solar installers and contractors running real volume, the platform decision is a throughput decision. Solargraf is built to move your projects faster, from first design to final permit, without the operational drag of a fragmented tool stack.
Ready to see it in action?
Get access to the full platform — including battery design, permit services, and branded proposals — starting from day one. No feature locks, no hidden tiers.
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Join our upcoming webinar to dive deeper into our enhancements.
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