Comparison

GridCarbon vs GridPulse

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

GridPulse

Features
Read full description

When you plug in an appliance, where is the electricity actually coming from? Most of us never think about it, but the UK electricity grid’s fuel mix changes constantly. One hour it could be 60% wind, and a few hours later it could be mostly gas. The carbon intensity of your electricity can vary drastically depending on exactly when you use it. Same socket, same appliance, very different impact. GridPulse is a simple, no-nonsense utility designed to tell you exactly when the grid is greenest, right down to your local postcode. Whether you are deciding when to put the washing on, run the dishwasher, or plug in the EV, GridPulse gives you the data you need to reduce your personal carbon footprint with just a glance at your phone or watch. Key Features: - Live Local Carbon Intensity: See the exact carbon impact of the grid right now, hyper-localized to your specific UK postcode. - Smart Forecasts: Don't just look at the present. View the daily forecast to see exactly what time the grid will be the greenest so you can plan your heavy appliance usage. - Real-Time Fuel Mix: See exactly what is powering the grid at any given moment—breaking down wind, solar, nuclear, gas, and international interconnectors. - Glanceable Widgets: Includes clean, native iOS Home Screen widgets and Apple Watch complications so you don't even need to open the app to know if it's a good time to use energy. A Few Honest Caveats: - This won't save you money: Unless you are on a highly specific dynamic tariff, your energy provider may charge you the same amount per kWh regardless of whether the grid is running on wind or gas. This app is purely designed to help you reduce your personal carbon footprint. - UK Only: This app uses the live NESO (National Energy System Operator) API, meaning it only provides data for Great Britain. GridPulse is a free, independent project built to solve a simple problem: making the actual cost of our energy usage more transparent.

Screenshots

GridCarbon3 screens
GridPulse3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GridPulse at every 2 days against GridCarbon's every 4 months. GridCarbon's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). 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

GridCarbon ships an update every 4 months, GridPulse every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
GridCarbon versus GridPulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGridCarbonGridPulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlex RogersBence Osvath

In-app purchases

None

GridCarbon

No in-app purchases

None

GridPulse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GridCarbon free?
GridCarbon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GridPulse free?
GridPulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do GridCarbon or GridPulse have ads?
Neither GridCarbon nor GridPulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GridCarbon or GridPulse?
GridCarbon ships an update every 4 months, and GridPulse every 2 days. Most recently, GridCarbon was updated on June 8, 2026 and GridPulse on September 18, 2026.

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