Comparison

Solar Cloud vs GSL Smart ESS

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

Head to head

About

Solar Cloud

Features

Read full description

Zhilian Photovoltaic Cloud, a set of platform for life-cycle management of new energy power stations, can effectively help customers grasp the operation status of power stations in real time and take timely management and operation and maintenance measures. In addition, APP also supports alarm setting, power generation analysis and report functions, effectively meeting the operation monitoring needs of various household photovoltaic power stations, helping you better manage your own household photovoltaic power generation operation, saving energy and protecting the environment!

About

GSL Smart ESS

Features

Read full description

GSL Energy provides monitoring solutions for various high and low voltage battery system devices, supporting battery systems, residential energy storage, and commercial and industrial energy storage systems.

Screenshots

Solar Cloud4 screens

GSL Smart ESS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Solar Cloud at every 4 weeks against GSL Smart ESS's every 19 months. Solar Cloud also leads on iOS requirement (13.3 vs 15.6). 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

Solar Cloud ships an update every 4 weeks, GSL Smart ESS every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level

Solar Cloud versus GSL Smart ESS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter	Solar Cloud	GSL Smart ESS
Price	Free	Free
Update frequency	Every 4 weeks — better	Every 19 months
Ads	No	No
In-app purchases	No	No
Devices	iPhone, iPod	iPhone, iPod
Requires iOS	13.3 — better	15.6
Further details — not scored
Size	116 MB	39 MB
Age rating	4+	4+
Developer	Shenzhen Sofarsolar Company Limited	永敬邓

In-app purchases

None

Solar Cloud

No in-app purchases

None

GSL Smart ESS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Solar Cloud free?

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

Is GSL Smart ESS free?

GSL Smart ESS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

Do Solar Cloud or GSL Smart ESS have ads?

Neither Solar Cloud nor GSL Smart ESS shows ads.

Which is updated more often, Solar Cloud or GSL Smart ESS?

Solar Cloud ships an update every 4 weeks, and GSL Smart ESS every 19 months. Most recently, Solar Cloud was updated on June 11, 2026 and GSL Smart ESS on September 9, 2026.