Pulse® vs Powerpal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pulse®
Gain immediate insight and control over your home's solar energy generation and electricity consumption. Track historical data, set energy goals, and forecast your electricity bills in real-time. Remotely manage connected appliances like air conditioning and lights.
- View solar generation and electricity consumption
- Set energy goals
- Track electricity bill forecast
- Receive system notifications and alerts
- Control appliances remotely
- View historical energy data
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Pulse® is the most powerful energy advisor available. Pulse® gives you immediate visibility, advice and control of all of your home's solar generation and electricity consumption. Use the Pulse® app to: ° View current and historic solar generation and electricity consumption (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly…) ° Choose an energy goal: Maximise your solar investment, compare your usage against your previous period, or against similar homes ° Track your electricity bill forecast in real time ° View system notifications and alerts ° Use the app to control your air conditioning, lights and other appliances. For use with an installed Pulse® unit. More information at emberpulse.com
Powerpal
Monitor your home's real-time energy consumption and track historical usage. Set monthly spending targets, receive alerts, and get tips to optimize energy use and save money. Integrates with time-of-use tariffs for further savings.
- Real-time power usage display
- Historical energy consumption tracking
- Monthly spend target setting
- On-target and off-track alerts
- Energy-saving tips
- Time-of-use tariff integration
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Wouldn’t it be great to know how much it costs to run your air conditioning? Or the heater? Or the lights the kids are constantly leaving on upstairs? With Powerpal you can see how your energy use changes when you turn on and off your home appliances, so you can take control of how you want to use energy in your home. The Powerpal app reveals your power usage in real-time and keeps track of your history, helping you to make better decisions about the way you use energy. With Powerpal you can set a monthly spend target and see how you’re tracking in real time. You’ll receive alerts to tell you if you’re on target, and get some tips to get back on track if you’re not. By combining Powerpal with a time of use tariff you could access cheaper energy during off-peak times. Simple changes like running your dishwasher after 10pm can add up to big savings on your bill. For information about how to order your Powerpal in Australia visit https://www.powerpal.net
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Pulse® at free against Powerpal's free with in-app purchases. Pulse® also leads on iOS requirement (11.1 vs 15.1). Powerpal's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Pulse® ships an update every 2 months, Powerpal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pulse® | Powerpal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.6 (24 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 69.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 24 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.1 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 94 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 369 Labs Pty Ltd | Amber Electric Pty Ltd |
Customer experience
Pulse®
Powerpal
Bugs and requests
Pulse®
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Powerpal
Reported bugs
15 issues- Error 403 pairing failures on iOS and Android
- App crashes when entering pairing code
- Forced update screen with no skip/cancel option
- Update failures preventing app launch
- Bluetooth disconnections even when device is nearby
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- Inconsistent readings between paired devices
- LED sensitivity issues after firmware updates
- Remote connection setting being ignored
- Data disappearing after app updates
- App not registering zero usage when devices are off
- Poor Bluetooth signal strength (30% max)
- Navigation loop restricted to sequential movement
- Missing readings and data gaps
- Slow response time to power changes
- Graph display showing incorrect zero values
Requested features
18 requests- Landscape mode support for tablets/iPads
- Custom tariff time configuration
- WiFi connectivity for remote monitoring
- Support for multiple tariff rates (EV plans, super off-peak)
- Solar export/feed-in tracking and monitoring
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- API access for smart home integration
- Home Assistant integration
- Demand pricing structure support
- Customizable peak/off-peak time periods
- Multiple user accounts and sharing
- Extended data history (beyond 60 days)
- Date range selection for data downloads
- Battery replacement option instead of full unit replacement
- Split-view support for iPad
- Controlled load monitoring
- Calendar month matching for bill comparisons
- Alert notifications for high usage
- Spreadsheet export functionality
In-app purchases
Pulse®
No in-app purchases
Powerpal
No in-app purchases









