# PV Optimizer & Solar compass — user reviews > 28 indexed App Store user reviews of PV Optimizer & Solar compass by Joao Caetano, rated 4.50/5 from 247 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pv-optimizer-and-solar-compass/id971828374/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pv-optimizer-and-solar-compass/id971828374.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 187 · 4★ 31 · 3★ 13 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 12 ## Newest reviews (8 of 28) ### 4/5 — No instructions and no rotation *2025-11-11, version 2.44* Once you’ve worked out how to use it, it works pretty well. But it took me quite a while to work if out and to make sure the phone’s calibration was set properly. There could be more guidance and it could be more obvious where to find it, as the guide feature doesn’t show on the opening page. ### 3/5 — Nice but could be better. *2022-06-22, version 2.43* I use this every so often to align my panels. It would be nice though if the alignment tool adjusted to the time setting that you have set up. Sometimes it would be nice to adjust the panels at night. ### 2/5 — Forecast agorithm incorrect? *2019-02-06, version 2.33* Put in 1000W panel. Fixed, zero tilt (ie horizontal) and zero azimuth (North). Forecast output is 1771 kWh/yr (I’m in Spain). Changing the azimuth to 180 (but still horizontal) yields a forecast of 1513. Something’s wrong in the way it’s calculating? Makes me distrust it Is this a bug Jaoe? ### 5/5 — Works great *2018-08-25, version 2.33* Using the free version ### 5/5 — Thanks *2018-05-14, version 2.32* I use this all the time ### 4/5 — Good but... *2017-03-25, version 1.2* Would be better if there was a 'reverse' option to allow the iPhone to be pressed up against the underside of the panel, so the display pointed down. My panel is mounted so that without scaffolding I can't see the iPhone screen when it is sat on the front of the panel ### 3/5 — Great app. Useful but crashes on IOS 8.4 *2016-10-19, version 1.2* Great app. Useful but crashes on IOS 8.4 ### 4/5 — Useful and unique *2016-03-17, version 1.2* Extremely useful for tuning your solar panels. Two feature requests: Tips for how to use the solar compass Ability to get azimuth/tilt for an arbitrary date/time. Often I'd like to know where to set my panels for the next morning. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Seulement de la pub *2024-10-20* Impossible de l’utiliser, des popup de publicité ne se ferment pas. J’ai essayé d’attendre, de relancer. Je n’avais jamais vu cela avant. On clique en bas, direction un sponsor. À droite direction un sponsor, et seulement après plusieurs redémarrage pour se débarrasser du bandeau qui prend tout l’écran. Avec la rédaction de cet avis, c’est mon oscar annuel, même à vie, de perte de temps! ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work anymore Useless *2023-10-20, version 2.44* Can’t use angle solar panel option anymore. Error- iPhone gyroscope off. My gyroscope works with other apps My iPhone is updated & app is updated. I tried deleting app & reinstall, still not working. Any help to resolve would be appreciated ### 1/5 — No gyro connection problem *2020-01-03, version 2.33* I use to love and use the app. But it has problems connecting with the gyroscope now. Maybe from an iOS update? Please update the app! Thanks ### 1/5 — Crashes *2019-10-15, version 2.33* Repeatedly crashes after opening. ### 1/5 — Incorrect results? *2018-05-30, version 2.32* This app is telling me that here in the Bay Area my optimal azimuth is 306 degrees and optimal tilt is -79 degrees. Huh? ### 1/5 — Crap. Crashes instantly! *2016-01-03, version 1.1* Crap. Crashes instantly! ### 1/5 — Looks good but crashes *2015-11-29* The app looks good. It has all the info I would like to get at - but it crashes a few seconds after startup making it unusable. Only 1 star rating because of crashing problem. ### 1/5 — Crashes instantly - worthless *2015-08-25, version 1.1* If you are looking for an app that crashes faster than any other app, look no further. I'm impressed with how fast the app crashes. It barely loads the splash screen before failing. The developers have really outdone themselves with the speed of this app failing. Kudos to the QA team for ensuring rapid failure. ### 2/5 — PV Alignment not working *2022-08-07, version 2.44* I tried to use the Align function and keep getting an error “There was an error downloading relevant data….”. This could be a great app if all functions are working! (iphone 13, iOS 15.6) ### 2/5 — Issue with the graph *2019-07-09* Over 7MWH graph shows 1’s and 0’s. Below that seems to be ok. Descriptions need work and there should be a setting for inverter clipping. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Pour orienter les panneaux *2024-12-29, version 2.44* Simple fiable pratique !!! ### 5/5 — Utile pour incliner les panneaux photovoltaïques *2024-10-30, version 2.44* Je cherchais une application capable de donner l’inclinaison optimale des panneaux PV par mois. Celle-ci propose par an, 6 ou 3 mois mais aussi l’inclinaison optimale actuelle ce qui me suffit finalement. Les publicités sont pénibles mais j’ai payé pour les enlever et surtout récompenser le développeur : l’alignement optimal (azimut et inclinaison) se fait en une fois en posant le téléphone sur les panneaux. ### 5/5 — Great must have app *2024-02-25, version 2.44* I wish I got this months ago. It’s excellent. I’ve spent weeks writing a similar program (though it does all my panels and takes shading in account) but I have to commend the accuracy and simplicity of this app. Worth paying the trivial 99p to go ad free. Well done. ### 5/5 — Great for RV and Overland portable solar panel setup *2022-12-13, version 2.44* This is the best app I have used for finding optimal setup angles for our portable solar suitcases. The location and irradiance info help in estimating power generation so we can better budget usage. The position optimizer feature takes out most of the guesswork out of setup. A selection for a shorter time period like a day or week would make this app perfect for portable panel setup. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2022-07-26, version 2.44* This honestly get any Solar panel more power!!! I used a small 28w panel and was trying to get the best angle and this was it! I got the most out of it and now got a 100w panel which is working amazing with it too! Thank you! ### 5/5 — Great for DIY Solar Installations *2022-03-07, version 2.43* This is a great app to optimize solar installations and compute ROI. ### 5/5 — Lebanon *2021-09-05, version 2.43* There was an error downloading relevant data for PV Optimizer to work. We are very sorry for the inconvenient. Please try again later. ### 5/5 — Amazing app *2021-04-03, version 2.43* As a one man PV install business, I find this app extremely useful. And it’s free. The only bug I have found is that when getting your yearly output in MWh, the scale on the graph breaks down. The values are rounded without decimals. And also one feature request - some sort of loss calculation (% or $) for incorrect PV orientation. Would be helpful to consider how far off can it be to have reasonable payoff time Anyway, thank you ### 5/5 — Wigbert *2019-05-22, version 2.33* Excellent app for alignment solar panels ### 5/5 — Very good *2019-02-01, version 2.33* This is a great quick PV calculator and even better, free. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-31.*