Comparison

GridCarbon vs Inverter

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

Head to head
About

GridCarbon

Monitor the real-time carbon intensity of the UK electricity grid. Understand how electricity generation sources change and identify times when using power is more environmentally friendly. Reduce your carbon footprint by shifting energy consumption to periods of lower grid emissions.

Highlights
  • Real-time carbon intensity updates
  • Traffic light indicator for intensity levels
  • Generation mix summary
  • 24-hour carbon intensity plot
  • Interactive generation mix chart
Features
Read full description

Track the carbon intensity of the GB electricity grid on your iPhone or iPad Demand for electricity varies throughout the day, and thus, the mix of generators supplying this electricity continually changes. As a result, the carbon intensity of the electricity – the quantity of CO2 produced for 1 kWh of electricity consumed – also varies continually. Deferring your use of electricity to off-peak times, when the carbon intensity is low, can help reduce your carbon footprint. Features: - Data updated every 5 minutes. - Display of instantaneous carbon intensity (gCO2/kWh). - Traffic light indicator to highlight period of low and high carbon intensity. - Generation mix summary showing total and percentage supply by type. - Line plot showing carbon intensity over the previous 24 hours. - Interactive bar chart showing the generation mix over the previous 24 hours.

About

Inverter

Monitor and manage your GivEnergy inverter(s) with this straightforward application. It allows for independent control of up to three connected inverters. Resetting IP addresses is easily managed through the iOS Files app.

Highlights
  • Monitor inverter status
  • Control inverter settings
  • Connect up to three inverters
  • Independent inverter management
  • IP address reset via Files app
Features
Read full description

This simple app allows you to monitor and control your GivEnergy inverter(s). They should have static IP addresses, set either in the inverter itself or in your router. Up to four inverters may be connected, but the app treats them entirely independently, not as a 'plant'. To force the app to request the IP address(es) again open the iOS 'Files' app, select 'On your iPad/iPhone' then 'Inverter' and delete the file inverter.dat. For more information visit https://www.bbcbasic.co.uk/inverter/

Screenshots

GridCarbon3 screens
Inverter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Inverter at every 10 days against GridCarbon's every 4 months. Inverter also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 76%). GridCarbon's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

GridCarbon ships an update every 4 months, Inverter every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
GridCarbon versus Inverter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGridCarbonInverter
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.7% of reviews92.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlex RogersRichard Russell

Customer experience

GridCarbon

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive75.7%
Neutral10.8%
Negative13.5%

Inverter

Written reviews27 reviews
Positive92.6%
Neutral3.7%
Negative3.7%

In-app purchases

None

GridCarbon

No in-app purchases

None

Inverter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GridCarbon free?
GridCarbon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Inverter free?
Inverter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do GridCarbon or Inverter have ads?
Neither GridCarbon nor Inverter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GridCarbon or Inverter?
GridCarbon ships an update every 4 months, and Inverter every 10 days. Most recently, GridCarbon was updated on October 7, 2026 and Inverter on October 13, 2026.

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