Branch vs PVComplete (PVCAD)
Both tools automate solar drafting inside AutoCAD. Both have been around long enough for engineers to form opinions. Here is how the day-to-day experience actually differs.
How the Experience Differs
Getting Started
Branch installs in minutes. Download the plugin, open AutoCAD, and start your 14-day free trial — no credit card, no sales call. PVCAD requires navigating sales-gated procurement, and engineers consistently report a steep learning curve before they can use the tool productively.
Speed Per Project
A typical commercial rooftop takes about 3 minutes in Branch once you know the workflow. The learning curve is days, not weeks. PVCAD users report weeks-to-months of onboarding before reaching productive speed, with more manual steps required per project.
Automation Quality
Branch's solver produces clean, CD-ready output that engineers can use directly. PVCAD reportedly gets about 60-70% of the way there, requiring significant manual cleanup and adjustment before the output meets construction document standards. That cleanup time adds up fast across projects.
SolarEdge Designer Integration
Only Branch imports SolarEdge Designer PDFs directly into AutoCAD. If your workflow involves SolarEdge hardware, you know the pain: design the system in SolarEdge Designer, export the layout, then manually copy every string assignment from the PDF into your drawings. Branch eliminates that entire step and produces the same CD-ready output it produces on any other workflow.
Homerun Routing
Branch uses K-means optimization for homerun path planning, producing efficient routes that minimize cable lengths and follow logical groupings. This is not just automated path drawing — the algorithm optimizes which strings connect to which combiners and how paths are routed across the layout.
Rework Tolerance
Design changes are a fact of life. When a layout changes in Branch, you delete the existing output and rerun — 3 minutes, done. That speed means engineers stop dreading revision requests. Need quick numbers for an estimate? Run it, get the cable lengths, and if the design evolves, run it again. Heavier tools make that rework cycle painful enough that engineers start resisting changes.
Pricing
Branch is $299/user/month or $3,299/user/year — published and transparent. No sales call required. PVCAD uses opaque, sales-gated pricing (estimated $2,000-5,000/year based on industry reports). You can evaluate Branch for 14 days before spending anything.
What PVCAD Does That Branch Doesn't
- •Single-line diagram generation — PVCAD can produce SLDs. Branch focuses exclusively on drafting automation (stringing, routing, circuit lengths) and leaves SLD production to dedicated electrical tools.
- •Carport-specific features — PVCAD has dedicated carport design workflows. Branch handles carport stringing but does not have carport-specific structural features.
- •Available on Autodesk App Store — PVCAD is listed on the Autodesk App Store, which simplifies procurement for some organizations.
What Branch Does That PVCAD Doesn't
- •SolarEdge Designer PDF import — Import SolarEdge stringing plans directly. No other AutoCAD plugin offers this.
- •K-means homerun optimization — Algorithmic path optimization that produces efficient, logical homerun routes.
- •Transparent published pricing — $299/user/month. No sales calls, no negotiation, no surprises.
- •14-day free trial — No credit card required. Evaluate on your own projects before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Branch a direct replacement for PVComplete PVCAD?
Branch and PVCAD both automate solar drafting inside AutoCAD, but they differ in scope. Branch focuses on stringing automation, homerun routing, and circuit length export. PVCAD includes additional features like single-line diagram generation and carport-specific workflows. Branch is a replacement for PVCAD's stringing and routing capabilities, not for its full feature set.
How does Branch's stringing speed compare to PVComplete?
Branch completes stringing for a typical commercial rooftop project (~30-40 string groups) in approximately 3 minutes. PVCAD users report weeks-to-months of onboarding before reaching productive speed, with more manual steps required per project and an estimated 30-40% manual cleanup rate on output.
Can Branch import SolarEdge Designer files like PVCAD?
Branch is the only AutoCAD plugin that imports SolarEdge Designer PDFs directly. PVCAD does not offer SolarEdge Designer PDF import. With Branch, you can import SolarEdge string assignments from the PDF and produce construction-document-ready output without manually copying string data.
What happened to PVComplete after the Enact Solar acquisition?
PVComplete was acquired by Enact Solar (a SolarEdge subsidiary) in January 2026. The product is now part of the Enact Solar platform. Users evaluating alternatives should consider that pricing, support, and product direction may change under new ownership.
How does pricing compare between Branch and PVComplete?
Branch is $299/user/month or $3,299/user/year with transparent, published pricing and a 14-day free trial requiring no credit card. PVComplete uses sales-gated pricing estimated at $2,000-5,000/year based on industry reports, with no publicly available pricing or free trial.
See the Difference for Yourself
14-day free trial. No credit card required. Run it on your own projects and decide.