MAX Daylight vs SunSim Building
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MAX Daylight
Track remaining daylight and receive sunset notifications. Explore solar data globally, compare locations, and generate reports. Calculate distances to the Equator and poles.
- Real-time sunset time
- Sunset notifications
- Global sunrise/sunset monitoring
- Location comparison
- Distance to Equator/Poles
- Solar data reports
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I wrote this app to help me get home before dark while riding my bicycle. You can see at a glance how much time until sunset, and set notifications for when you are running out of sunlight. Your loved ones will no longer worry or complain. Then I added everything solar but the kitchen sink, just for fun. Not only for your current location, you can monitor sunrise, noon, and sunset anywhere on Earth. You can compare locations, make movies, and generate reports comparing a location you select to places around the globe. Check the distance to your location, the Equator, and the North or South Pole from anywhere on Earth. Quick and easy for its headline purpose, but enough detail to satisfy almost any nerd. Most of the USA is far enough north to have little sunlight in mid-winter, rapid changes in the amount of sunlight in spring and fall, and a glorious abundance in summer. You need this app to keep on top of all that.
SunSim Building
This tool helps analyze home sun exposure using 3D modeling and solar trajectory simulation. It visualizes sunlight data, calculates duration, and generates reports for property evaluation. Features include floor plan and map modeling, unit layout simulation, and window view analysis.
- 3D modeling from floor plans or maps
- Solar trajectory simulation
- Sunlight duration statistics
- 3D heatmap display
- Window view simulation
- Report generation (PDF, PNG, CSV)
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【Sunlight Calculator - Home Sun Exposure Analysis Tool】 Sunlight Calculator is a professional home sun exposure analysis tool that helps you objectively evaluate lighting conditions when choosing a property. Through 3D modeling and solar trajectory simulation, it provides visualized sunlight data for your reference. Core Features 【Multiple Modeling Methods】 Floor Plan Modeling: Import residential community floor plans to quickly build a 3D model Map Modeling: Select the community location on a map to automatically obtain geographic coordinates Building Spacing Modeling: Enter building spacing and height parameters to simulate shading conditions Unit Layout Simulation: Simulate sunlight distribution and shadow changes at different times of day on the floor plan Model Editing: Adjust floor height, building orientation, and other parameters Save & Share: Models can be saved locally or shared with family and friends 【Professional Sun Exposure Analysis】 Solar Trajectory Simulation: Display the sun's path at any date and time throughout the year Sunlight Duration Statistics: Calculate cumulative daily sunlight hours at each location Time-Period Analysis: View lighting conditions in the morning, afternoon, and throughout the full day Winter/Summer Comparison: Compare lighting differences on key dates such as the winter and summer solstices Sampling Point Analysis: Select specific locations to view detailed sunlight data Dynamic Playback: Play full-day sunlight change animations to intuitively understand lighting patterns 【3D Heatmap Display】 Color Grading: Red–orange–yellow–green–blue gradient representing lighting from excellent to poor Layer-by-Layer Display: View sunlight distribution for each floor individually Multi-Building Comparison: Display heatmaps for multiple buildings simultaneously for easy side-by-side comparison Precision Settings: Adjust calculation precision to balance speed and accuracy Data Labeling: Display sunlight duration values directly on the 3D model 【Window View Simulation】 Perspective Switching: Simulate the field of view looking outward from different floors Obstruction Analysis: Show the degree to which buildings ahead obstruct the view Landscape Assessment: Determine whether greenery, water features, and other scenic resources are visible Floor Comparison: Compare view differences across different floors Distance Measurement: Calculate the actual distance from a window to the building ahead Height Annotation: Display the relationship between line-of-sight height and the height of obstructing structures 【Report Generation & Export】 Single-Floor Report: Generate a detailed sun exposure analysis report for an individual floor Batch Reports: Generate comparison reports for multiple buildings or floors with a single tap Multiple Formats: Supports export as PDF, PNG image, or CSV data spreadsheet Custom Templates: Choose from different report styles and content modules Print Optimization: PDFs are automatically paginated to fit standard A4 paper Sunlight Calculator is dedicated to providing users with an objective, professional sun exposure analysis tool helping you gather more data-backed insights during the home selection process and make smarter. Download now and start your sunlight analysis. Auto-Renewable Subscription: - Monthly: auto-renews every month - Yearly: auto-renews every year - Lifetime: one-time purchase - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Manage subscriptions in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions Terms of Use: https://jiahe365.top/sunshine-web/legal/membership_agreement_en.html Privacy Policy: https://jiahe365.top/sunshine-web/legal/privacy_en.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MAX Daylight at none against SunSim Building's 3. MAX Daylight also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 61%) and ratings volume (63 vs 3). SunSim Building's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). 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
Both are free to download. SunSim Building sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. MAX Daylight asks for nothing beyond the download.
MAX Daylight holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MAX Daylight has 63 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of MAX Daylight's written reviews are positive against 61% of SunSim Building's.
MAX Daylight ships an update every 2 weeks, SunSim Building every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MAX Daylight | SunSim Building |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (63 ratings) — better | 4.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 93.8% of reviews — better | 60.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 63 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stephen Mykytyn | 立娜 王 |
Customer experience
MAX Daylight
SunSim Building
In-app purchases
MAX Daylight
No in-app purchases
SunSim Building
- Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
- Annual Subscription$12.991 Year
- Permanent membership$24.99









