# Gridwatch vs Polar

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gridwatch at none against Polar's 1. Gridwatch also leads on device support (5 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.4). Polar's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Polar sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $25.00 per year. Gridwatch asks for nothing beyond the download.

Gridwatch ships an update every 3 months, Polar every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gridwatch | Polar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 8 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Carl de Wiele](https://appshunter.io/developer/1463272988) | [GivEnergy Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711761312) |

## What reviewers say

### Gridwatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gridwatch/id1553702520)

Monitor real-time energy demand and electricity supply sources for the UK. Track current and past consumption levels to understand grid performance.

**Highlights:** Live UK energy demand metrics, Electricity supply source breakdown, Current consumption levels, Historical consumption data, Grid performance insights

**In-app purchases:** none


### Polar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polar-ess/id6478309215)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Subscription | $25.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gridwatch free?

Gridwatch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Polar free?

Polar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Gridwatch or Polar have ads?

Neither Gridwatch nor Polar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gridwatch or Polar?

Gridwatch ships an update every 3 months, and Polar every 5 weeks. Most recently, Gridwatch was updated on October 17, 2026 and Polar on October 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*