Diaz Editor vs Helioscope — honest 2026 comparison

TL;DR

Helioscope is strong at field-segment design for ground-mount commercial (100 kW - 5 MW). Diaz Editor is built for residential + small commercial (0-100 kW), with lifetime license and local UI (NL/ES). Mostly doing residential? Diaz Editor saves €4,000-€9,000 over 5 years.

When Helioscope is the right choice

You do ground-mount C&I projects in the 100 kW - 5 MW range.
You need advanced field-segment tools for irregular site shapes.
You work with SAM-grade simulation models for PPA negotiations.
Your team has 5+ engineers with centralised project accounts.

For those use-cases, Helioscope is industry-standard. Good tool, fair price for what you get.

When Diaz Editor fits better

You do residential + small commercial (0-100 kW) — not ground-mount C&I.
You work solo or in a 2-5 person team.
You want to design battery systems — Helioscope's battery tools are limited.
You don't want to pay $948-$1,908/year per seat.
Your market is EU/NL/ES (Helioscope lacks local UI and EU permit formats).

Side-by-side: features that matter

Feature	Diaz Editor	Helioscope
3D roof design	✓	✓
Field segments (ground-mount)	— (limited)	✓ (advanced)
Battery system design	✓ (full)	— (basic)
Single-line diagrams	✓ (built-in)	✓ (paid add-on)
Panel + inverter library	3,200+ (EU-focus)	22,000+ (US-focus)
PVWatts simulation	✓	✓ + SAM
Works offline	✓ (desktop)	— (cloud)
Local language UI (NL/ES)	✓	— (EN only)
No subscription	✓	—

Source: Helioscope public documentation + Diaz Editor v0.3 changelog. Updated May 2026.

Pricing over 5 years

Helioscope Standard

$79/mo

≈ $948/year per seat

5-year total: $4,740

Diaz Editor — Founding Beta€99
one-time · 100 spots · was €1,000
5-year total: €99

Helioscope Advanced ($159/mo) comes to $9,540 over 5 years. Diaz Editor stays at €99 — or €1,000 after the founding cap.

Migrating from Helioscope to Diaz Editor — 3 steps

Export your Helioscope projects as PDF + CSV (Project → Export → Report PDF + Bill of Materials CSV).
Re-create the system in Diaz Editor — typical residential 5-15 minutes, commercial 30-45 minutes.
Generate your permit pack with the built-in PDF export. Includes layout, SLD, BOM, and performance report.

Honest verdict

For solo + SMB residential installers

Diaz Editor wins on price and battery design. Helioscope's strong point — field segments — you don't need for roof work. Battery tools are missing in Helioscope. €99 founding versus $4,740-$9,540 over 5 years = simple math.

For C&I + ground-mount

Helioscope remains the right choice. SAM simulation and field segments are industry-standard for utility-scale up to 5 MW. Diaz Editor doesn't target this segment.

Frequently asked questions

How does Diaz Editor compare to Helioscope on price?

Helioscope starts at $79/month per user (Standard) or $159/month for Advanced. Over 5 years that is $4,740-$9,540 per seat. Diaz Editor founding lifetime is €99 once.

Does Diaz Editor have field segments like Helioscope?

Diaz Editor uses a roof-zone tool that fills similar functionality for residential and small commercial work. Helioscope's field segments are more refined for large ground-mount C&I projects.

Can I do single-line diagrams in Diaz Editor?

Yes. Diaz Editor exports single-line diagrams as part of the PDF permit pack. Helioscope offers SLDs as a paid add-on.

Is Helioscope better for commercial projects?

Helioscope is strong for ground-mount C&I (100 kW - 5 MW). Diaz Editor targets residential and small commercial (0-100 kW). For utility-scale, Helioscope or Aurora are the right tools.

Does Diaz Editor work in EU markets?

Yes. Diaz Editor has NL/ES UI, EU-standard PDF permit formats, and a panel/inverter database covering EU brands (Sungrow, Growatt, SMA, Victron, Sigenergy).

What you get for €99

One-time. Lifetime. 3 seats. No subscription.

Diaz Editor Pro — lifetime license for your full workday ~~€1.000~~
3 seats — you + your foreman + your work-prep ~~+€600~~
All trades in one tool — building, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, solar 4 tools saved
DXF + IFC import — works with any architect, contractor, or installer Included
1-click PDF export — quote, work-drawing, and BOM in one pack Included
DXF + CNC export for the workshop — cut lists, sheet layouts, mill paths Included
All future updates — v0.4, v0.5, v0.6... Included
Founding-member feedback board — your voice on the roadmap Exclusive

Built for self-employed tradespeople + small teams (1-10 people). Not for architects or utility-scale engineering — AutoCAD and Aurora are better at those.

Regular price (after founding):

~~€1.000~~ €99 today

Become a founding member — €99 →

100 spots total. Stripe checkout. Instant download after payment.

Diaz Editor vs Helioscope
$4,740 over 5 years — or €99 once.