Comparison

PV Master vs PV Optimizer & Solar compass

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

Head to head
About

PV Master

This app helps you harness solar energy by providing accurate solar data, weather integration, and tools to optimize your solar panel setup. It offers comprehensive calculators for energy needs, panel requirements, and battery storage, along with guides and a glossary for informed decisions.

Highlights
  • Accurate solar data based on location
  • Weather data integration
  • Solar potential insights
  • Panel positioning tool
  • Comprehensive energy calculators
  • Guides, FAQs, and glossary
Features
Read full description

Thinking about going solar, or trying to get more out of the panels you already have? PV Master turns confusing solar numbers into clear decisions, so you spend less on power and waste less of the sun. Using just your location, PV Master shows you what your roof can really do, when to rely on your own panels, and when to lean on the grid. Whether you are planning your first system or fine tuning an existing one, you get answers you can act on. What PV Master helps you do: Plan with real numbers, not guesses. Get accurate, location based solar data plus a live grid forecast, so you know the best times to use your own power and when cheaper grid power makes sense. Position your panels for maximum output. The built in compass and tilt tool helps you find the angle that captures the most sun all year long. Size your system with confidence. Simple calculators work out how much energy you need, how many panels and batteries it takes, and what it will cost, so you can weigh the ROI before you spend a cent. Get more from every sunny day. Local weather is built in, so you can see how conditions affect production and plan around them. Learn as you go. Clear guides, FAQs, and a plain language glossary explain every solar and photovoltaic term, so nothing holds you back. It all lives in one friendly app, from first idea to finished install, with information that is genuinely easy to read. Download PV Master today and start making smarter, greener energy decisions. Privacy Policy: https://BigBalli.com/privacy Terms of Use: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula Payment will be charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions in your Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when purchasing a subscription. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://BigBalli.com/privacy

About

PV Optimizer & Solar compass

Maximize your solar panel output with this tool. It guides you to adjust your panels' azimuth and tilt based on real-time solar data. The app also provides a solar compass and forecasts your potential monthly energy generation.

Highlights
  • Solar panel output maximization
  • Azimuth and tilt adjustment guidance
  • Real-time solar compass
  • Solar panel output forecast
  • Adjustable time frames for optimization
Features
Read full description

PV Optimizer & Solar compass is a tool intended to maximise the output of your solar panels. To use the optimiser you only need to choose between one of the 4 time frames available (if you pretend to adjust your panels for the moment, every 3 months, 6 months or yearly), place your device above your panels, and adjust its azimuth and tilt according with the values given by the app. PV optimizer's algorithm will make sure you get the most from your panels and don't waste any opportunity to increase your output. This app also comes with a solar compass which you might find useful for optimizing your panels or for other activities, with plenty of real time data regarding solar position and radiation. In version 2.0 we are proud to present you a forecast for your solar panels output. Just input your panel capacity, tilt and azimuth angles, and you'll get a forecast for the monthly energy you might generate in theory. All the functionalities of this app are completely free.

Screenshots

PV Master4 screens
PV Optimizer & Solar compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PV Optimizer & Solar compass at 54% against PV Master's 17%. PV Optimizer & Solar compass also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (247 vs 23). PV Master's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months). 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. PV Master sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PV Optimizer & Solar compass sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PV Optimizer & Solar compass holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PV Optimizer & Solar compass has 247 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of PV Master's written reviews are positive against 54% of PV Optimizer & Solar compass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PV Master ships an update every 8 days, PV Optimizer & Solar compass every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PV Master versus PV Optimizer & Solar compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPV MasterPV Optimizer & Solar compass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (23 ratings)4.5 (247 ratings) — better
Positive reviews17.1% of reviews53.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings23247 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.014.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBigBalli Consulting llcJoao Caetano

Customer experience

PV Master

All ratings23 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive17.1%
Neutral11.4%
Negative71.4%

PV Optimizer & Solar compass

All ratings247 ratings
Positive88.3%
Neutral5.3%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive53.6%
Neutral7.1%
Negative39.3%

Bugs and requests

PV Master

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

PV Optimizer & Solar compass

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Guide feature doesn't show on opening page
  • Pop-up ads do not close
  • Error: iPhone gyroscope off
  • Error: Downloading relevant data
  • Graph scale breaks down for yearly output
Show 4 more
  • Over 7MWH graph shows 1s and 0s
  • Crashes on iOS 8.4
  • Crashes instantly after opening
  • Crashes a few seconds after startup

Requested features

7 requests
  • More guidance and clarity
  • Option for shorter time periods (day/week)
  • Adjustment for time settings (night alignment)
  • Loss calculation for incorrect orientation
  • Option to reverse phone orientation
Show 2 more
  • Ability to get azimuth/tilt for arbitrary date/time
  • Setting for inverter clipping

In-app purchases

4 purchases

PV Master

Subscriptions2
  • Full Unlock$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • Location Solar Panel Data$0.99
  • Lifetime$59.99
1 purchases

PV Optimizer & Solar compass

One-time1
  • Remove ads$0.99

Questions

Is PV Master free?
PV Master is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PV Optimizer & Solar compass free?
PV Optimizer & Solar compass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PV Master or PV Optimizer & Solar compass?
PV Optimizer & Solar compass is rated higher. PV Master averages 4.3 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while PV Optimizer & Solar compass averages 4.5 from 247 ratings.
Do PV Master or PV Optimizer & Solar compass have ads?
Neither PV Master nor PV Optimizer & Solar compass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PV Master or PV Optimizer & Solar compass?
PV Master ships an update every 8 days, and PV Optimizer & Solar compass every 2 months. Most recently, PV Master was updated on October 16, 2026 and PV Optimizer & Solar compass on October 13, 2026.

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