Comparison

Breaker Box vs SEM

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

Head to head
About

Breaker Box

Easily create custom electrical panel legends. Label phases with colors, tandem breakers, and 3-pole breakers. Print legends in exact sizes for sleeves or door taping.

Highlights
  • Create custom panel legends
  • Label phases with color
  • Support for tandem breakers
  • Support for 3-pole breakers
  • Print legends in exact sizes
  • Print for sleeves or door taping
Features
Read full description

Stop guessing which breaker controls what. Whether you're a homeowner mapping a single panel or an electrician documenting multiple buildings, Breaker Box gives you a complete directory for every circuit — and lets you print a professional legend to match. LABEL EVERY CIRCUIT Assign notes, rooms, and fixtures to each breaker. Tandem splits, multi-pole circuits, GFCI outlets, and HACR systems all supported. Track wire gauge and size. Use custom phase colors for 1-, 2-, and 3-phase panels. ORGANIZE BY ROOM Link circuits to the rooms and fixtures they control — so you always know which breaker to flip, in seconds. PDF LEGENDS Export to PDF, sized to fit a panel sleeve or tape to the door. Adjust font scale per label for a professional result. MULTI-PANEL SUPPORT Manage multiple panels across one or more properties. Link breakers to sub-panels. PRO FEATURES • Unlimited panels • PDF export with custom print sizes • Cloud sync across all your devices • Custom fixture types and unlimited rooms • Import and export for client handoffs and device transfers BACKUP & RESTORE Automatic backups and cloud management keep your data safe. Every circuit, documented.

About

SEM

This utility app monitors your household power consumption in real-time, providing historical data and comparisons to help you save on electricity bills. It supports managing multiple devices and customizing electricity fee calculations.

Highlights
  • Real-time power usage monitoring
  • Historical energy use tracking
  • Second-to-second, day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month, and year-to-year comparisons
  • Electricity fee gradient calculation
  • Customizable fee templates
  • Multiple device management
Read full description

SEM‑Meter is a smart energy monitor that installs directly in your power distribution box. It continuously tracks your household electricity consumption and delivers real‑time usage data straight to you—so you always know exactly what’s drawing power. Beyond live monitoring, SEM‑Meter offers powerful insights to help you manage energy more intelligently: Historical analysis – Review past usage patterns and identify conservation opportunities. Multi‑timeframe comparisons – Compare consumption second by second, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year over year. Bill savings – With clear visibility into your habits, you can make informed changes that lower your monthly electricity costs. Customizable tariff calculator – Includes a built‑in electricity fee gradient template, fully adjustable to match your local rate structure. Multi‑device management – Add and bind multiple SEM‑Meters to a single account, enabling unified monitoring and control across multiple properties or expanded setups. Whether you're an eco‑conscious homeowner or managing a growing portfolio, SEM‑Meter gives you the data and flexibility to take full command of your energy future.

Screenshots

Breaker Box4 screens
SEM3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Breaker Box at 4.4 against SEM's 3.4. Breaker Box also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 38%) and ratings volume (100 vs 11). SEM's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Breaker Box sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SEM asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Breaker Box holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Breaker Box has 100 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Breaker Box's written reviews are positive against 38% of SEM's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Breaker Box versus SEM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBreaker BoxSEM
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (100 ratings) — better3.4 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews — better37.5% of reviews
Number of ratings100 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrett PappasHangzhou Dashi Wisdom Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Breaker Box

All ratings100 ratings
Positive82.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative6.0%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral17.5%
Negative4.8%

SEM

All ratings11 ratings
Positive54.5%
Neutral18.2%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative37.5%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Breaker Box

One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro License$9.99
None

SEM

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Breaker Box free?
Breaker Box is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SEM free?
SEM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Breaker Box or SEM?
Breaker Box is rated higher. Breaker Box averages 4.4 out of 5 from 100 ratings, while SEM averages 3.4 from 11 ratings.
Do Breaker Box or SEM have ads?
Neither Breaker Box nor SEM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Breaker Box or SEM?
Breaker Box ships an update every 2 weeks, and SEM every 2 weeks. Most recently, Breaker Box was updated on September 28, 2026 and SEM on September 9, 2026.

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