If you are looking to learn or test the software without a full immediate investment, PVsyst offers several official paths:

Sites offering "free downloads" of paid software are primary sources for ransomware, keyloggers, and spyware that can compromise your entire system [1, 3].

You lose access to official updates, bug fixes, and the PVsyst support team, which is vital for complex solar modeling [4].

to get the most out of your 30-day trial. Information on academic eligibility for discounts.