There is no single winning product, and any page that names one is usually selling it. What matters is whether the tool fits how a claim actually moves from your ute to the registry. This page covers the three jobs people usually mean by “STC form app”: forms, photos and CRM.
Forms: assignment and installer statement
A claim needs a signed STC assignment form from the system owner and an installer written statement for the job. A good app lets the customer sign on a phone, pre-fills the address, system size and serial numbers, and refuses to close the job with a blank field. Compare it against our assignment form template to confirm it captures what the Clean Energy Regulator expects. See also what the installer written statement must say.
Photos: the part that decides rejections
Evidence is where most claims fail. The CER photo rules call for clear images of the array, inverter, labels, switchboard and serial numbers, and since 1 March 2026 there are extra requirements for critical labelling on batteries. Look for an app that:
- stamps each photo with date, time and GPS
- gives the installer a checklist per system type (solar, battery, hot water)
- flags a missing or blurry shot before the crew leaves site
- exports photos in a folder structure your trader accepts
Our photo requirements checklist and battery submission guide are good yardsticks. Rejections for weak evidence are covered in top STC claim rejection reasons.
CRM: a different question
A solar CRM tracks enquiries, quotes, deposits, site inspections and follow-up. The features worth paying for are quote templates that show the STC discount correctly, stage reminders and a clean hand-off to job scheduling. If a CRM claims to “do STCs”, ask what it actually does: calculate the discount on the quote, or collect compliant evidence and lodge claims. They are different things.
How to pick
- List what your trader needs for a clean claim, then test whether the app produces it.
- Run a trial on three real jobs, including a battery job.
- Check that exports are yours to keep if you leave the app.
- Ask whether the price rises with job count.
What this means for installers
Your trader’s compliance desk is the cheapest second opinion you have. Energy Merchants pre-checks photos, forms and serials before lodging, so a gap is caught before it costs you days; you can see how that works on how it works. For the wider picture on running the paperwork side of the business, see the installer business topic hub and STC trading.