Easy PV
Midsummer
Design & simulation · Web
Pricing GBP 0 Per seat Free tier, no time limit
Sept 2026
Comparison
DNV SolarFarmer vs SAM (System Advisor Model)
25 differences · 6 identical
DNV SolarFarmerDNV
- Entry price
- Not publicly disclosed
- Charged
- Quote only
- Free tier or trial
- Free trial
- Named integrations
- 3
- Verified data points
- 8
SAM (System Advisor Model)National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) — formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- Entry price
- Free
- Charged
- Free
- Free tier or trial
- Free tier, no time limit
- Named integrations
- 0
- Verified data points
- 6
The differences that matter most
- Price published Not published Published
- Pricing model quote-only free
- Free tier free-trial free-forever
DNV SolarFarmer or SAM (System Advisor Model)?
They differ most on price published. DNV SolarFarmer publishes Not publicly disclosed; SAM (System Advisor Model) publishes Free. They use different pricing models, so those figures do not compare directly.
We do not name a winner. Below are 25 differences drawn from the same sourced dataset that powers both product pages.
Verified against the vendor’s own pages.
Pricing
These cannot be compared on a single number
DNV SolarFarmer is priced quote-only and SAM (System Advisor Model) is priced free. These are different pricing models, so a single side-by-side figure would be misleading. Each is shown as its vendor states it.
DNV SolarFarmer
Not publicly disclosed
Quote only
SAM (System Advisor Model)
Free
0 USD free desktop application
Free
Prices are shown exactly as each vendor writes them and are never converted between currencies.
Where they differ
25 differences, ordered by how much they are likely to matter — pricing transparency first, then capabilities the vendor explicitly confirms or denies.
Legend Verified Vendor claim Not offered Not found Could not read
| Capability | DNV SolarFarmer | SAM (System Advisor Model) |
|---|---|---|
| Solar design & simulation | ||
| Automatic module layout | Advanced Verified | — Not found |
| Battery sizing and modelling | — Not found | Advanced Verified |
| CAD export (DXF/DWG) | Yes Verified | — Not found |
| Ground-mount / tracker layout | Advanced Verified | — Not found |
| Remote site capture from imagery | Advanced Verified | — Not found |
| Shading analysis | Advanced Verified | — Not found |
| Bankable / IE-accepted simulation report | Basic Vendor claim | — Not found |
| Electrical mismatch modelling | Yes Verified | — Could not read |
| Inverter sizing | — Could not read | Basic Vendor claim |
| Loss and uncertainty modelling (P50/P90) | Basic Vendor claim | Advanced Verified |
| Named weather / irradiance data source | basic Vendor claim | advanced Verified |
| Estimation & financial modelling | ||
| ROI / payback calculation | — Not found | Advanced Verified |
| Reporting, data & BI | ||
| Report / deliverable export | Basic Vendor claim | — Not found |
| Integrations & extensibility | ||
| Named, documented integrations | 3 Verified | 0 Verified |
| Public API | Not offered Verified | Advanced Verified |
| Platform & deployment | ||
| Delivery model | software Verified | open-source Verified |
| Desktop OS support | Windows 10, 3GHz+, 16GB RAM, 1920x1200 Verified | not stated beyond 'desktop application' Verified |
| Pricing & commercial terms | ||
| Price published | Not published Verified | Published Verified |
| Pricing model | quote-only Verified | free Verified |
| Free tier | free-trial Verified | free-forever Verified |
| Entry price | — Could not read | 0 USD free desktop application Verified |
| Currency | — Could not read | USD Verified |
| Market fit & availability | ||
| C&I | No Verified | Yes Verified |
| Geographic availability | global Verified | US; global Verified |
| Residential | No Verified | Yes Verified |
Scroll the table sideways to see both products. The capability column stays in place.
Where they are the same 6 data points
- Single-line diagram
- Annual energy yield simulation
- Target buyer
- Product status
- Utility-scale
- Web application
Which might suit you
Framed as requirements, not a verdict. Both descriptions come from the same data.
Consider DNV SolarFarmer if…
- you are comfortable with desktop software and its constraints
- you work at utility scale
For yield engineers and IEs at developers, lenders and EPCs who want a model backed by an assurance firm's operational dataset and are comfortable in a scripted desktop tool. Not for rooftop, residential or C&I sales work, not for macOS, and not for anyone who needs to see a price before talking to someone — the "View pricing" link leads to a JavaScript storefront that serves no product content to a non-JS reader.
Full DNV SolarFarmer profileConsider SAM (System Advisor Model) if…
- you need a price you can plan against before talking to sales
- you want to start without a budget approval
- you are comfortable with desktop software and its constraints
- you work at utility scale
- your work is mostly residential
For analysts, researchers, policy people and developers who need a transparent, auditable, free model and a real financial structure behind the kWh. Not for installers who need a roof capture, a proposal or a plan set — SAM has no satellite imagery workflow, no proposal output and no CRM, and it registers users with a free software key rather than selling a licence.
Full SAM (System Advisor Model) profileRelated comparisons
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SAM (System Advisor Model)
National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) — formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Design & simulation · Desktop
Pricing Free Free Free tier, no time limit
Sept 2026
Frequently asked
What is the main difference between DNV SolarFarmer and SAM (System Advisor Model)?
They differ most on price published. In total we recorded 25 verified differences and 6 points where they are the same.
Which costs more, DNV SolarFarmer or SAM (System Advisor Model)?
DNV SolarFarmer is priced quote-only and SAM (System Advisor Model) is priced free. These are different pricing models, so a single side-by-side figure would be misleading. Each is shown as its vendor states it.
Is DNV SolarFarmer or SAM (System Advisor Model) better?
We do not name a winner. Both are described from the same verified data, and which suits you depends on your requirements — the differences above are the facts; the choice is yours.
Last verified
Vendors change pricing and features without notice. Check the vendor’s own page before deciding.
This comparison is generated from the feature database, not written by hand. A pair is only published when the data holds at least five stateable differences — which is why 281 candidate pairs were refused. How comparisons are built