Branch vs Solar Proposal Tools
Different stage of the workflow, different tool for the job. Proposal tools help win the project. Branch helps build it.
Where Each Tool Fits
Solar projects move through distinct stages. Proposal tools and Branch serve different stages with different deliverables for different people.
Stage 1
Site Assessment
Scanifly, DroneDraft
Drone surveys, 3D roof models, site measurements
Stage 2
Proposals & Sales
Aurora, Helioscope, Solargraf, OpenSolar
Energy modeling, shading analysis, customer proposals, financing
Stage 3
Construction Documents
Branch
Stringing, homerun routing, circuit lengths, tags in AutoCAD
Stage 4
Installation
Field crews
Building what the construction documents specify
Proposal tools help win the job. Branch helps build it. Someone at the same company may use both, but they are typically different people working at different stages.
How Each Proposal Tool Compares
Brief, honest assessments. These are good tools for what they do. Branch does something different.
Aurora Solar
The dominant residential proposal platform. Aurora provides shading analysis, energy modeling, and polished customer proposals. Their "Plan Sets" feature produces basic permit output for simple residential AHJs, but lacks the conduit routing and construction-level detail that commercial projects require. Aurora serves a different market (residential sales) with a different output (proposals) for a different user (sales teams and project managers).
Branch + Aurora Solar: Aurora helps win residential jobs. Branch produces commercial and industrial construction documents. Many companies use Aurora for sales, then export the panel layout to AutoCAD and use Branch for construction document drafting.
Helioscope
Respected for energy modeling quality, especially on commercial projects. Helioscope was beloved for its affordability and straightforward interface. Aurora's acquisition drove prices up significantly, creating frustration among longtime users. Despite the ownership change, Helioscope remains strong for energy production estimates and preliminary commercial layouts.
Branch + Helioscope: Helioscope models energy production. Branch produces construction drawings. Engineers who use Helioscope for modeling still need to produce construction documents separately. Export your Helioscope layout to DWG, open in AutoCAD, and use Branch for stringing and routing.
Solargraf
Enphase's design and proposal platform, tightly integrated with Enphase equipment ordering. Primarily serves residential solar installers who need to generate proposals, manage permits, and order Enphase hardware in one workflow. The tight Enphase ecosystem integration is its strength and its limitation.
Branch + Solargraf: Solargraf serves residential Enphase installers. Branch serves commercial and industrial engineering teams working in AutoCAD. If you are producing construction documents for commercial projects, Solargraf's proposal-focused output is not sufficient.
OpenSolar
A free proposal tool backed by Schneider Electric. OpenSolar has the strongest SolarAPP+ integration of any proposal tool, making it popular for residential installers in jurisdictions that accept automated permit applications. Its template-based permit output works for simple residential projects but falls short for commercial work or strict AHJs.
Branch + OpenSolar: OpenSolar's free pricing makes it accessible for residential installers. Branch is built for commercial and industrial engineering teams who need construction-document-quality AutoCAD output, not template-based permits.
What Branch Actually Does
Branch is a drafting automation tool for solar construction documents in AutoCAD. It does not generate proposals, model energy production, or perform engineering calculations.
Panel Stringing
Automated string placement with voltage window compliance
Homerun Routing
K-means optimized path routing across your layout
Circuit Length Export
Cable and circuit lengths exported to CSV for engineering analysis
Tag Generation
Automated labels and tags on your construction drawings
SolarEdge PDF Import
Import SolarEdge Designer PDFs directly into AutoCAD-ready format
We do the drafting. You do the engineering. Branch accepts your engineered inputs and produces construction-document-ready output in minutes.
Using Both Together
The most common workflow we see from commercial and industrial EPCs.
Win the project
Use your proposal tool of choice (Aurora, Helioscope, Solargraf, OpenSolar) for energy modeling, shading analysis, and customer proposals.
Export the layout
Export your panel layout to DWG or bring your own layout from any source into AutoCAD.
Run Branch
Branch automates stringing with voltage window compliance, routes homeruns with K-means optimization, exports circuit lengths, and generates tags. About 3 minutes per project.
Deliver construction documents
Your engineers finalize the construction documents with their engineering judgment, review, and stamp. Branch handled the drafting; they handle the engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between solar proposal tools and solar drafting tools?
Solar proposal tools (Aurora Solar, Helioscope, Solargraf, OpenSolar) are used by sales teams to generate energy models, shading analysis, and customer proposals to win projects. Solar drafting tools like Branch are used by engineers to produce construction documents in AutoCAD — stringing, homerun routing, circuit lengths, and tags. Proposal tools operate before the project is won; drafting tools operate after.
Can proposal tools like Aurora produce construction documents?
Aurora's Plan Sets feature produces basic permit output for simple residential projects, but it lacks the conduit routing and construction-level detail that commercial and industrial projects require. Helioscope, Solargraf, and OpenSolar have similar limitations. For full construction documents, engineers bring layouts into AutoCAD and use drafting tools like Branch.
Which solar proposal tool works best with Branch?
Branch works with any panel layout in AutoCAD, regardless of which proposal tool created it. The most common workflows are Helioscope-to-Branch for commercial projects and Aurora-to-Branch for companies using Aurora's DWG export. Export your layout to DWG, open in AutoCAD, and run Branch.
Do I need both a proposal tool and Branch?
If you produce construction documents for commercial or industrial solar projects, yes. Proposal tools help win the project. Branch helps build it. They serve different stages of the workflow for different users — sales teams use proposal tools, engineers use Branch.
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