Comparison

SMTEN vs Balcony Solar optimizer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SMTEN

Monitor your photovoltaic plant's performance remotely. Access real-time data on energy yield, income, and system status from anywhere. Requires registration with the SMTEN PV Data Center.

Highlights
  • Remote monitoring of photovoltaic plants
  • Access energy yield data
  • Track income generation
  • View system status
  • Wireless data access
  • Requires SMTEN PV Data Center registration
Features
Read full description

A client software for monitoring the photovoltaic plant; it can collect the plant running info from SMTEN PV Data Center, such as energy yield, income and system status, which can be remotely and wirelessly accessed by the user. At present it supports plant which is registered in SMTEN PV Data Center(server.smten.com)

About

Balcony Solar optimizer

Features
Read full description

Balcony Solar helps you get the most out of your balcony or plug-in solar panels: measure how your panels are placed, find out how to place them better, and know what they will produce. MEASURE YOUR PANELS WITH YOUR IPHONE • Lay your iPhone on the panel – the app reads tilt, direction and GPS in one stable reading • A step-by-step guide shows exactly where and how to place the phone • Your measurement is saved and used for every forecast OPTIMIZE THE PLACEMENT • The Optimizer compares your setup with better tilts and directions for the coming days • Clear advice like "Lower the tilt by about 30°" – together with the extra kWh it gives • Get a placement certificate as a PDF when your panel is placed close to optimal FORECAST FOR YOUR PANELS • Daily kWh estimate based on live Apple Weather data and the sun's real path for your date and location • Accounts for your panel's exact tilt and direction – and for how clouds turn direct sun into diffuse light • Four-day outlook so you can plan the sunny days ahead BEST TIME TO USE POWER • See the strongest hours of the day for your exact panel direction • Run the dishwasher, washing machine or charging when the sun is on your side • Optional evening alert when tomorrow looks sunny SEE WHAT YOU SAVE • Enter your electricity price and see today's savings, the next four days and a yearly estimate FORECAST VS. REALITY • Compare the forecast with what your panels really produced, day by day • Enter the day total from your inverter app, or read it automatically from a Shelly plug or meter or an OpenDTU (Hoymiles) on your Wi-Fi • Readings stay on your home network WIDGETS • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets with today's production and the best time to use power FREE TO TRY Today's forecast, the best hours and the panel measurement are free. Balcony Solar Pro unlocks the Optimizer, the 4-day outlook, savings, forecast vs. reality, widgets, sunny-day alerts and the placement certificate – a one-time purchase, no subscription. Your location is only used to fetch local weather and the sun's angle. Weather data provided by Weather.

Screenshots

SMTEN4 screens
Balcony Solar optimizer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Balcony Solar optimizer at every 3 weeks against SMTEN's every 5 months. SMTEN's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMTEN ships an update every 5 months, Balcony Solar optimizer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SMTEN versus Balcony Solar optimizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMTENBalcony Solar optimizer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews10.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size230 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShenzhen Growatt New Energy Technology Co.,LtdPatrick Christensen

In-app purchases

None

SMTEN

No in-app purchases

None

Balcony Solar optimizer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SMTEN free?
SMTEN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Balcony Solar optimizer free?
Balcony Solar optimizer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SMTEN or Balcony Solar optimizer have ads?
Neither SMTEN nor Balcony Solar optimizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMTEN or Balcony Solar optimizer?
SMTEN ships an update every 5 months, and Balcony Solar optimizer every 3 weeks. Most recently, SMTEN was updated on November 2, 2026 and Balcony Solar optimizer on October 24, 2026.

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