Branch vs Virto.CAD
Both plugins automate solar drafting inside AutoCAD for commercial and industrial projects. They take different approaches to the same problem — here is how the day-to-day experience compares.
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. Virto.CAD requires contacting their sales team for pricing and licensing before you can evaluate the tool on your own projects.
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. Virto.CAD offers a broader feature set covering both rooftop and ground mount, which adds interface complexity. Speed per project depends on which features you use and how your projects are configured.
Automation Approach
Branch focuses exclusively on stringing, homerun routing, circuit lengths, and tagging — the drafting grind that engineers repeat on every project. This narrow focus means the automation is deep in those areas, with K-means optimized homerun routing and voltage window compliance built in. Virto.CAD covers a wider range of design and drafting functions, which can be an advantage if you need breadth over depth in any single area.
SolarEdge Designer Integration
Only Branch imports SolarEdge Designer PDFs directly into AutoCAD. If your workflow involves SolarEdge hardware, this eliminates the most tedious step: manually copying every string assignment from a PDF on your second monitor into your CAD drawings. Virto.CAD does not currently offer SolarEdge Designer PDF import.
Platform Support
Virto.CAD supports both AutoCAD and BricsCAD — a genuine advantage if your firm uses BricsCAD. Branch is built specifically for AutoCAD 2018-2026 on Windows (including Architecture, MEP, and Electrical editions). If BricsCAD support is a requirement, Virto.CAD is one of the few solar plugins available for that platform.
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.
Pricing
Branch is $299/user/month or $3,299/user/year — published and transparent. No sales call required. Virto.CAD uses sales-gated pricing (estimated around $5,100/year based on industry reports, which may include an AutoCAD license bundle). You can evaluate Branch for 14 days before spending anything.
What Virto.CAD Does That Branch Doesn't
- •BricsCAD support — Virto.CAD runs on both AutoCAD and BricsCAD. If your firm standardizes on BricsCAD, Branch is not an option.
- •Broader design scope — Virto.CAD covers a wider range of PV design functions beyond stringing and routing, including layout tools and additional ground mount capabilities.
- •European market presence — Virto Solar has stronger presence in European markets and may better support European standards and conventions.
What Branch Does That Virto.CAD Doesn't
- •SolarEdge Designer PDF import — Import SolarEdge stringing plans directly. No other AutoCAD solar plugin offers this.
- •K-means homerun optimization — Algorithmic path optimization that produces efficient, logical homerun routes with minimized cable lengths.
- •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.
Virto.CAD's SEO Presence vs. Branch's Product Focus
Virto Solar publishes aggressively across Medium, WordPress, and their own blog, often ranking at the top of searches for "AutoCAD solar plugin." Their marketing reach is undeniable.
Branch has taken a different approach: product-first. We built the plugin, shipped it, and let engineers evaluate it on their own projects. The 14-day free trial with no credit card exists because the product should sell itself — not a blog post.
If you are evaluating both tools, the real test is simple: download the trial, run your next project through it, and compare the experience. Marketing content can tell you about features. Only a real project on your own drawings can tell you if the tool fits your workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Branch a direct alternative to Virto.CAD?
Yes. Both Branch and Virto.CAD automate solar drafting inside AutoCAD for commercial rooftop and ground mount projects. They differ in pricing model, automation approach, and platform support — Virto.CAD supports BricsCAD in addition to AutoCAD, while Branch is AutoCAD-only with features like SolarEdge Designer PDF import that Virto.CAD does not offer.
How does Branch pricing compare to Virto.CAD?
Branch is $299/user/month or $3,299/user/year with transparent, published pricing and a 14-day free trial requiring no credit card. Virto.CAD uses sales-gated pricing — industry estimates place it around $5,100/year including an AutoCAD license bundle. Contact Virto directly for current pricing.
Does Branch support BricsCAD like Virto.CAD?
No. Branch is built specifically for AutoCAD 2018-2026 on Windows (including Architecture, MEP, and Electrical editions). If your firm uses BricsCAD instead of AutoCAD, Virto.CAD is one of the few solar plugins available for that platform.
Can Branch import SolarEdge Designer files?
Yes. Branch is the only AutoCAD solar plugin that imports SolarEdge Designer PDFs directly — converting stringing plan data into CAD-ready output without manually copying string assignments from a PDF. Virto.CAD does not offer SolarEdge Designer PDF import.
Which tool has a shorter learning curve?
Branch is designed to be productive within days. The full workflow — panel groups, strings, inverters, homeruns, cable export — takes about 3 minutes per project once learned. Virto.CAD offers a broader feature set which may require more onboarding time, though learning curve depends on prior experience and project complexity.
See the Difference for Yourself
14-day free trial. No credit card required. Run it on your own projects and decide.