PVsyst
PVsyst is a specialized solar design software used by engineers and researchers to accurately simulate, model, and analyze the energy production of photovoltaic systems for various weather conditions.
Pylon
Pylon is a specialized solar design and CRM software that provides solar installers with high-resolution aerial imagery, 3D shading analysis, and financial modeling tools to create professional quotes.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | PVsyst | Pylon |
|---|---|---|
| Website | pvsyst.com | pylon.com.au |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $55/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1992 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Satigny, Switzerland | Sydney, Australia |
Overview
PVsyst
PVsyst is a technical modeling tool designed to help you predict the energy yield of solar photovoltaic systems. You can import meteorological data from various sources and define specific system components like modules, inverters, and cabling to create a highly accurate digital twin of your project. The software handles everything from small residential setups to massive utility-scale power plants, providing you with the detailed reports needed for financial planning and technical validation.
You can perform complex shading analysis using a 3D CAD environment to see exactly how nearby objects impact your energy production. It allows you to account for thermal losses, horizon shading, and spectral effects to ensure your simulations match real-world performance. Whether you are an engineer designing a grid-connected system or a researcher studying stand-alone installations, you get the precision required for bankable solar energy assessments.
Pylon
Pylon is an all-in-one solar design and management platform built specifically to help you grow your solar installation business. You can design complex solar systems using high-resolution aerial imagery and advanced 3D shading analysis without ever leaving your desk. The platform integrates your entire workflow, from initial lead capture and site design to generating professional, high-converting digital proposals that your customers can sign instantly.
You can manage your entire sales pipeline and project lifecycle through its built-in CRM and project management tools. By centralizing your data, you eliminate the need for multiple disconnected subscriptions. Whether you are a solo installer or managing a large team, you can track every stage of your installations, manage inventory, and process payments through a single, streamlined interface designed for the solar industry.
Overview
PVsyst Features
- System Simulation Model your entire PV system by defining modules, inverters, and strings to calculate hourly energy distribution and losses.
- 3D Shading Tool Build a 3D representation of your installation site to visualize and calculate the impact of shadows on your panels.
- Meteo Data Management Import weather data from Meteonorm, NASA, or your own sensors to simulate performance under specific local climate conditions.
- Grid-Connected Modeling Design large-scale solar farms and calculate the injected energy while accounting for grid limitations and ohmic losses.
- P50/P90 Analysis Evaluate the financial risk of your project by generating probability reports that show expected yields under different scenarios.
- Bifacial Modeling Calculate the additional energy gain from bifacial modules by simulating ground reflections and back-side irradiance accurately.
- Pumping & Stand-alone Design off-grid systems and solar water pumping stations with specialized tools for battery storage and hydraulic needs.
- Detailed Loss Tree Identify exactly where you are losing energy with a comprehensive breakdown of thermal, wiring, and mismatch losses.
Pylon Features
- High-Resolution Imagery. Access premium aerial maps to design accurate solar layouts with centimeter-level precision for your customer proposals.
- 3D Shading Analysis. Calculate solar access and shading losses accurately using 3D modeling to give your clients realistic performance expectations.
- Digital Proposals. Create stunning, interactive web-based proposals that allow your customers to accept and sign digitally from any device.
- Solar CRM. Track your leads and customers through a dedicated pipeline designed specifically for the solar sales cycle.
- Financial Modeling. Generate detailed ROI reports and financial breakdowns including government incentives to prove the value of your systems.
- E-Signatures & Payments. Close deals faster by collecting digital signatures and processing initial deposits directly through your proposal links.
- Project Management. Move won deals into production and track installation milestones, documents, and photos in one central location.
- Inventory Management. Keep track of your stock levels for panels, inverters, and batteries to ensure you always have gear ready.
Pricing Comparison
PVsyst Pricing
- Full simulation capabilities
- Unlimited project modeling
- Access to PV component database
- 3D shading analysis
- Technical support included
- Software updates for one year
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- Discounted rate for educational use
- Restricted to non-commercial research
- Full feature set access
- Annual renewal required
Pylon Pricing
- Unlimited users and seats
- Unlimited solar designs
- Built-in Solar CRM
- Project management tools
- Inventory management
- Mobile app access
- Everything in Subscription, plus:
- Pay only when you create a project
- High-resolution imagery access
- Advanced shading analysis
- Digital proposal generation
- E-signature capabilities
Pros & Cons
PVsyst
Pros
- Industry standard for bankable solar energy reports
- Extensive database of global solar modules and inverters
- Highly accurate shading and loss calculations
- Regular updates to include new solar technologies
- Detailed PDF reports ready for project investors
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to modern web apps
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Requires Windows environment or virtual machine
- 3D CAD tool can be difficult to master
Pylon
Pros
- No monthly per-user fees saves significant overhead
- High-resolution imagery is often clearer than competitors
- Intuitive design interface is very easy to learn
- All-in-one nature eliminates the need for extra CRMs
- Fast proposal generation helps beat competitors to the lead
Cons
- Project-based fees can add up for high-volume teams
- Mobile app features are more limited than desktop
- Limited third-party integrations compared to generic CRMs