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.
PV*SOL
PV*SOL is a dynamic simulation program for the design and optimization of photovoltaic systems, allowing you to calculate yields and perform high-precision financial analysis for solar energy projects.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Pylon | PV*SOL |
|---|---|---|
| Website | pylon.com.au | valentin-software.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | One_time |
| Starting Price | Free | $??/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 30 days 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 | 2017 | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Berlin, Germany |
Overview
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.
PV*SOL
PV*SOL provides you with a comprehensive environment for designing and simulating photovoltaic systems of all sizes. You can create detailed 3D models of buildings, visualize shading from nearby objects, and accurately predict energy yields based on global climate data. The software handles everything from small rooftop installations to large-scale solar farms, helping you determine the most efficient module coverage and inverter configurations for any site.
You can generate professional reports that include technical specifications and detailed economic forecasts to present to your clients. By simulating battery storage systems and electric vehicle charging integration, you can optimize self-consumption and prove the long-term viability of solar investments. It simplifies complex engineering calculations into a manageable workflow, ensuring your solar projects are both technically sound and financially profitable.
Overview
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.
PV*SOL Features
- 3D Visualization. Create detailed 3D models of buildings and terrain to visualize exactly how your solar modules will fit on any surface.
- Shading Analysis. Calculate the specific impact of shadows from trees, chimneys, or neighboring buildings on your system's annual energy yield.
- Climate Data Integration. Access high-quality global climate data to ensure your simulations reflect the actual weather conditions of your project site.
- Battery Storage Simulation. Model lead-acid and lithium-ion battery systems to calculate how much solar energy you can store and use later.
- Electric Vehicle Charging. Integrate electric vehicles into your system design to see how solar power can meet modern transportation energy demands.
- Financial Forecasting. Generate detailed economic reports including pay-back periods, cash flow, and return on investment for your solar projects.
- Extensive Component Database. Choose from over 20,000 solar modules and 5,000 inverters that are updated regularly by the software manufacturers.
- BIM Export. Export your 3D models and technical data to BIM-compatible formats for seamless integration into larger construction projects.
Pricing Comparison
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
PV*SOL Pricing
- 2D design and simulation
- Climate data for any location
- Detailed economic efficiency analysis
- Battery storage system modeling
- Electric vehicle integration
- Professional project reports
- Everything in PV*SOL, plus:
- Full 3D visualization and modeling
- Detailed 3D shading analysis
- Import of 3D floor plans and maps
- BIM interface for data export
- Automatic module coverage on 3D objects
Pros & Cons
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
PV*SOL
Pros
- Extremely accurate shading calculations for complex roofs
- Massive database of modules and inverters updated regularly
- Professional reports that help close sales with clients
- Reliable simulation of battery and EV charging systems
Cons
- Significant learning curve for the 3D modeling interface
- High upfront cost for the permanent license
- Requires a powerful computer for smooth 3D rendering