Scanifly
Pros
- Significantly reduces field time, with some drone surveys completed in approximately five to ten minutes.
- Improves safety by minimizing or eliminating the need for surveyors to climb onto roofs.
- Provides accurate measurements and shading data, helping reduce installation-stage change orders.
- Combines remote preliminary designs with detailed drone-based post-sale designs.
- Offers extensive training and certification resources through Scanifly Academy.
- Includes a mobile application that digitizes field data collection and site survey checklists.
Cons
- Requires an initial investment in drone hardware and qualified or certified pilots.
- Pricing is not fully transparent and generally requires contact with the sales team.
- Drone surveys depend on suitable weather and may not be possible during heavy rain or strong winds.
- Teams must learn drone flight procedures and photogrammetry-based design workflows.
- Total ownership costs can be high when equipment, maintenance, insurance, and pilot labor are included.
Solar contractors often face significant challenges during the site survey and design phases, including inaccurate manual measurements, safety risks from climbing roofs, and time-consuming design revisions. Scanifly addresses these issues by integrating drone technology with specialized software to automate the data collection and modeling process. By using drones to capture site data, teams can significantly reduce their time in the field while improving the precision of their solar layouts and production estimates.
This software is primarily used by solar installers, engineers, and sales teams that require high-quality, real-time data for residential and commercial projects. Scanifly provides a bridge between the initial site assessment and the final engineering package, ensuring that the office design matches the physical characteristics of the roof. This integrated approach helps companies minimize change orders and streamline the project lifecycle.
What Is Scanifly?
Scanifly is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform classified as solar design and field operations software. It modernizes the solar workflow by replacing traditional tape measures and handheld shading tools with drone-based photogrammetry. Users can fly a drone over a property, upload the captured images, and generate a dimensionally accurate 3D model of the site.
The platform serves users ranging from small residential installers to large commercial EPCs. Its primary use cases include preliminary sales designs, detailed post-sale site surveys, shading analysis, and the generation of professional permit plan sets.
Scanifly supports drones equipped with GPS and high-resolution cameras, making drone-based surveying accessible to solar companies. The platform emphasizes site safety, measurement accuracy, and faster project delivery.
Scanifly Features
Drone-Based 3D Modeling
Converts drone imagery into accurate 3D site models, allowing designers to inspect properties from different angles and measure roof surfaces and obstructions with high precision.
Automated Shading Analysis
Produces bankable shading reports based on actual site conditions rather than relying exclusively on satellite imagery. This helps improve the reliability of solar production estimates.
PrelimDesign and DroneDesign
Provides a two-stage design process. Teams can begin with a remote satellite-based design during the sales phase and then update the project using drone data after the customer signs the contract.
AI Obstruction Detection
Automatically identifies and maps roof obstructions such as vents, chimneys, and roof equipment, reducing manual design work and potential human error.
Mobile App for Field Data
Allows field technicians to complete digital checklists, annotate photographs, and upload electrical and structural information directly from the project site.
Automated CAD Exports
Enables users to export site models and solar layouts to CAD applications for the preparation of engineering drawings and permit documentation.
Scanifly Academy
Provides training materials and certification programs, including the Surveyor Associate Certificate, to help teams learn drone operation, site data collection, and Scanifly workflows.
Screenshots
Scanifly Pricing
Scanifly uses a subscription-based pricing model. Exact pricing may depend on the selected features, number of users, and volume of projects processed.
Free Trial and Demo
No public free trial is advertised, but prospective users can request a personalized demonstration through the Scanifly website.
Subscription Plans
Industry reports indicate that Scanifly subscriptions may range from approximately $150 to $450 per user per month. Actual costs vary according to the included functionality and project volume.
Per-Project Fees
Some plans may include a specific number of projects within the base subscription. Projects exceeding the included allowance may be billed separately.
Enterprise Plans
Custom Enterprise subscriptions are available for larger teams. These plans may include bulk project processing, advanced integrations, customized workflows, and dedicated support.
Additional Drone Costs
Companies should account for expenses beyond the Scanifly subscription, including drone hardware, maintenance, insurance, pilot training, certification, and employee time.
Scanifly Mobile and Academy
Access to the mobile application and training resources is generally included with an active Scanifly subscription.
Scanifly Integrations
Scanifly is designed to work within existing solar technology stacks and supports connections with sales, financial modeling, engineering, and project management tools.
CRM and Proposal Tools
The platform can connect with solar sales and CRM applications to streamline the transition from lead generation and preliminary design to detailed engineering.
Energy Toolbase Integration
Scanifly integrates with Energy Toolbase to support commercial solar project development and financial modeling workflows.
Drone Hardware Compatibility
The platform supports compatible drones equipped with GPS and a suitable camera, including popular DJI models such as the Mavic 3 Enterprise.
CAD and Engineering Exports
Users can export project data to CAD applications and compatible racking tools for engineering, permitting, and construction preparation.
API Access
Higher-tier plans may provide API access for custom data synchronization and automated internal workflows. Availability should be confirmed during the Enterprise sales process.
How to Set Up Scanifly
- Book a demonstration through the Scanifly website to discuss your project volume and workflow requirements.
- Select a subscription plan and configure your company workspace and user accounts.
- Ensure that the field team has compatible drone equipment and any required pilot certifications.
- Download the Scanifly Mobile application to the field team’s devices.
- Configure custom site survey forms and digital checklists.
- Complete the relevant Scanifly Academy training programs.
- Connect compatible CRM, financial modeling, CAD, or engineering tools.
How to Use Scanifly
A typical Scanifly workflow begins with a field technician visiting the project location and completing a drone flight to photograph the roof and surrounding obstructions. Depending on the property, the drone survey may take approximately five to ten minutes.
The technician also uses the mobile application to complete a digital checklist and record structural, roofing, and electrical information. The drone images and field data are then uploaded to the Scanifly platform.
Scanifly processes the images to create a dimensionally accurate 3D model. An office-based designer uses this model to position modules, configure fire setbacks, map obstructions, and perform shading analysis.
Because the model is based on current site photographs, the design team can verify that the proposed layout fits the actual roof. After completing the design, users can export the data to CAD software or prepare a permit-ready plan set.
The final design may then be presented to the customer for approval before the equipment is ordered and the installation begins.
What You Can Manage with Scanifly
- 3D Site Models: Create dimensionally accurate representations of residential and commercial properties.
- Shading Reports: Generate production estimates based on actual roof conditions and surrounding obstructions.
- Permit Plan Sets: Prepare professional documentation for construction and permitting.
- Field Data Records: Store site photographs, annotations, structural information, and digital checklists.
- Design Throughput: Track project statuses, assignments, and team productivity from a centralized dashboard.
- CAD Exports: Prepare project files for use in engineering, permitting, and racking applications.
Scanifly FAQs
What does Scanifly do?
Scanifly combines drone photogrammetry with solar design tools. It allows contractors to create accurate 3D site models, module layouts, and shading reports using drone imagery instead of relying exclusively on manual roof measurements or satellite data.
Who is Scanifly best for?
Scanifly is best suited to solar installers, surveyors, designers, engineers, and EPC companies that prioritize measurement accuracy and field safety. It is particularly useful for companies seeking to reduce survey time and avoid design revisions caused by inaccurate site data.
Is Scanifly free?
No. Scanifly is a paid subscription service. Although training resources may be available through Scanifly Academy, the primary design, processing, and project management tools require an active subscription.
How much does Scanifly cost?
Reported subscription prices generally range from approximately $150 to $450 per user per month. Exact pricing depends on the features, number of users, project volume, and contract terms. Drone equipment and pilot-related expenses should also be included in the total cost calculation.
What are the main limitations of Scanifly?
The primary limitations are the need for drone hardware and qualified pilots, as well as the inability to complete flights during unsuitable weather. Teams transitioning from manual surveys must also learn new drone operation and photogrammetry workflows.
What are the best alternatives to Scanifly?
Common Scanifly alternatives include Aurora Solar, HelioScope, and OpenSolar. These platforms place greater emphasis on remote satellite-based design, while Scanifly distinguishes itself through drone-based site data and post-sale design accuracy.
