Jolly Lights Alternative: Why 1,600+ Contractors Use Strandr Instead

If you are a Christmas light installer comparing your software options, you have probably come across Jolly Lights. It is one of several design tools available to contractors in the holiday lighting space.

This post is not here to tear Jolly Lights down. Instead, we want to give you an honest look at Strandr — what it does, what it does not do, and why over 1,600 contractors have chosen it for their lighting design work.

What Strandr Actually Is (And Is Not)

Before we get into any comparison, let us be upfront about what Strandr is.

Strandr is a browser-based lighting design tool. You upload a photo of a house, building, or landscape, and then draw lights along rooflines, windows, trees, and bushes using drag-and-drop tools. You can customize colors, bulb sizes, spacing, and add decorations like wreaths, bows, and garland. When you are done, you export a high-resolution image with no watermarks to show your client.

That is the core of what Strandr does. It does one thing and does it well.

What Strandr is NOT:

It is not a CRM or project management tool
It is not an accounting platform
It does not generate quotes or material lists automatically
It does not have 3D modeling or AI-powered features
It does not work on mobile phones (tablets, laptops, and desktops only)

We believe in being honest about our product. If you need an all-in-one business management suite, Strandr is not that. But if you need a fast, simple way to create professional lighting mockups that help you close more jobs, keep reading.

Why Contractors Look for Alternatives

Every contractor has different reasons for exploring their options. Here are the most common ones we hear:

Pricing That Fits a Seasonal Business

Christmas lighting is seasonal work for many contractors. Paying a high price for software you use heavily for a few months can be tough to justify. Contractors want pricing that makes sense relative to what they earn per job.

Simplicity Over Complexity

Not every contractor wants a feature-heavy platform with a steep learning curve. Many just want to upload a photo, draw some lights, and hand a clean mockup to a homeowner. The faster you can do that, the more consultations you can run in a day.

Browser-Based Access

Downloading and installing desktop software is a hassle, especially when you work across multiple devices. A browser-based tool means you can log in from your iPad on a job site, your laptop at home, or a desktop at the office — no installations, no updates to manage.

Works for Permanent Lighting Too

The permanent lighting market is growing fast. Contractors want a design tool that handles both holiday and permanent lighting projects without needing separate software.

How Strandr Compares

Rather than making claims about Jolly Lights that we cannot verify, here is what we can tell you about Strandr with complete honesty.

Design Tools

Upload any photo: Take a picture of a property and upload it directly. Works with houses, commercial buildings, landscapes, trees — anything you can photograph.
Drag-and-drop light placement: Draw lights along rooflines, windows, gutters, trees, and bushes. No complicated 3D modeling to learn.
Custom colors: Choose from warm white, cool white, multicolor, or set up to 5 custom colors per design.
Adjustable bulb size and spacing: Fine-tune how your lights look so the mockup matches what you will actually install.
Decorations: Add wreaths, bows, garland, or upload your own custom decoration images.
Holiday AND permanent lighting: Design for Christmas installs or year-round permanent lighting — same tool, same workflow.

Platform and Access

100% browser-based: No software to download. No updates to install. Just open your browser and start designing.
Works on tablets, laptops, and desktops: Use it on an iPad during a site visit, on your laptop at home, or on a desktop at the office.
Does NOT work on mobile phones: The design canvas needs a larger screen. Phones are not supported.
Any web browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge — if it runs a modern browser, it runs Strandr.

Export and Sharing

High-resolution exports: Download your finished design as a clean, high-resolution image.
No watermarks: Every export is watermark-free, even during your trial.
Ready for client presentations: Hand your client a professional mockup they can see and get excited about.

Measurement Tool

INCHR measurement tool included free: Every Strandr subscription includes the INCHR tool, which lets you take measurements from property photos. This helps with estimating linear footage for your bids. Note that INCHR handles measurements — it does not generate quotes or material lists.

Pricing

$197 per year: Flat annual price. No tiers, no per-user fees, no hidden charges.
Unlimited designs: Create as many mockups as you need. There is no cap.
7-day free trial: Test everything before you pay a cent.
30-day money-back guarantee: If you are not happy after subscribing, you get a full refund within 30 days.

For context, if you charge $1,500 or more for a typical lighting install, Strandr pays for itself if it helps you close just one extra job per year.

What About Jolly Lights?

Jolly Lights is another option in the lighting design space. Rather than making claims about their features or pricing that may not be accurate, we encourage you to check their website directly for current details.

What we can say is this: every tool has its strengths. If you are comparing options, here are the questions worth asking about any lighting design software:

Is it browser-based or does it require a download?
What devices does it work on?
What is the total annual cost?
Can you export designs without watermarks?
Is there a free trial so you can test before committing?
Does it handle both holiday and permanent lighting?
How long does it take to learn?

We built Strandr to have strong answers to every one of those questions. We encourage you to hold every competitor — including us — to the same standard.

Who Strandr Works Best For

Strandr is not for everyone, and that is okay. Here is who gets the most value from it:

Great fit:

Christmas light installers who need fast, professional mockups
Permanent lighting contractors who want to show clients exactly what their house will look like
Small to mid-size operations that do not need CRM or project management built into their design tool
Contractors who work across multiple devices (tablet on-site, laptop at home)
Anyone frustrated with downloading and maintaining desktop software

Not the best fit:

Contractors who need integrated quoting, invoicing, or project management (Strandr is design-only)
Anyone who needs to design exclusively from a mobile phone
Teams that need real-time collaboration on the same design simultaneously

Getting Started with Strandr

There is no complicated setup process:

Go to strandr.com and sign up for a free trial
Upload a property photo from your phone or computer
Draw lights and add decorations using the drag-and-drop tools
Export your design as a high-resolution image
Show it to your client and close the job

Most contractors create their first design in under 15 minutes. There are no downloads, no installations, and no lengthy onboarding process.

The Bottom Line

We are not going to tell you Strandr is the best at everything. It is not an all-in-one business platform, it does not use AI, and it will not manage your projects or send invoices.

What Strandr does is give you a simple, affordable, browser-based way to create professional lighting mockups that help you win more jobs. At $197 per year with unlimited designs, a free measurement tool, and no watermarks, it is built for contractors who value their time and want a tool that just works.

Over 1,600 contractors use Strandr to design holiday and permanent lighting installations. If you are exploring alternatives in the lighting design space, we think it is worth a look.

Start your free 7-day trial — no credit card pressure, no commitment. See if it fits your workflow.

For a broader look at all the lighting design tools available to contractors, check out our complete lighting design software comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does Strandr do?

Strandr is a browser-based lighting design tool for contractors. You upload a photo of a property, draw lights along rooflines, windows, trees, and bushes using drag-and-drop tools, customize colors and decorations, and export a high-resolution image with no watermarks. It works for both Christmas and permanent lighting designs.

How much does Strandr cost compared to other design tools?

Strandr costs $197 per year with unlimited designs included. There are no tiers or per-user fees. A 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee are included. For current pricing on Jolly Lights or other competitors, we recommend checking their websites directly for the most accurate information.

Does Strandr work on iPads and tablets?

Yes. Strandr works on tablets (including iPads), laptops, and desktop computers through any modern web browser. It does not work on mobile phones — the design canvas requires a larger screen to be usable. Many contractors use their iPad during on-site consultations and their laptop for more detailed design work.

Does Strandr generate material lists or quotes?

No. Strandr is a design mockup tool, not a quoting or estimating platform. It includes the INCHR measurement tool for free, which helps you take measurements from property photos to assist with estimating linear footage. However, it does not automatically generate material lists, quotes, or proposals.

Can I use Strandr for permanent lighting design, not just Christmas?

Yes. Strandr handles both holiday and permanent lighting designs. The same tools work for either type of project. With the permanent lighting market growing rapidly, many contractors use Strandr year-round rather than just during the holiday season.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. Strandr offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features, including watermark-free exports. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee after you subscribe, so you have over a month to make sure it works for your business.

Do I need to download any software?

No. Strandr is entirely browser-based. You access it through Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, or any other modern web browser. There is nothing to download, install, or update. This also means you can use it on any compatible device without worrying about operating system requirements.

Jolly Lights Alternative: A Simpler, More Affordable Option for Lighting Contractors