Comparison

SolarEdge Mapper 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

SolarEdge Mapper

Streamline new system registration for installers by mapping physical layouts directly within the cloud monitoring platform. Create, edit, and verify system layouts on-site, and easily scan and assign power optimizer serial numbers to their correct locations.

Highlights
  • Onsite system registration
  • System physical layout creation
  • Onsite layout editing
  • Onsite layout verification
  • Power optimizer serial number scanning
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

The site mapper allows SolarEdge installers to streamline the registration of a new system by mapping its physical layout in the SolarEdge cloud-based monitoring platform. This application is integrated with the SolarEdge monitoring platform and enables the following functionality: • Simple onsite registration of new systems. • Creation, editing and on-site verification of system physical layout. • Scanning and assigning SolarEdge power optimizer serial number to the right location in the system physical layout. • The scanning can be done by utilizing the mobile device’s integrated camera or with an external Bluetooth connected scanner. • Working off-line with no data connection. The data is stored locally on the mobile device and allows data synchronization with the SolarEdge monitoring platform when data connection is available.

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

SolarEdge Mapper4 screens
PV Optimizer & Solar compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SolarEdge Mapper at none against PV Optimizer & Solar compass's 1. PV Optimizer & Solar compass's advantage is review sentiment (54% vs 30%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Optimizer & Solar compass sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SolarEdge Mapper asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for SolarEdge Mapper against 4.5 for PV Optimizer & Solar compass. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 651 and 247 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of SolarEdge Mapper's written reviews are positive against 54% of PV Optimizer & Solar compass's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SolarEdge Mapper ships an update every 5 weeks, PV Optimizer & Solar compass every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SolarEdge Mapper versus PV Optimizer & Solar compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSolarEdge MapperPV Optimizer & Solar compass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (651 ratings)4.5 (247 ratings) — better
Positive reviews29.6% of reviews53.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings651 — better247
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.1
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSolarEdge TechnologiesJoao Caetano

Customer experience

SolarEdge Mapper

All ratings651 ratings
Positive86.6%
Neutral4.9%
Negative8.4%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive29.6%
Neutral3.7%
Negative66.7%

PV Optimizer & Solar compass

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

User reviews

SolarEdge Mapper

From 651 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✅ Seamless integration with Designer and monitoring apps
  • 📱 Functional for onsite work
  • 🎯 QR code scanning works well
  • ⚡ Improved functionality in recent updates

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Excessive bugs and glitches throughout app
  • ⏱️ Extremely slow loading times for sites
  • 😕 Unintuitive and complicated user interface
  • 🔧 Difficult setup and configuration process
  • 📸 Camera/barcode scanning unreliable

PV Optimizer & Solar compass

From 247 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Works well once figured out
  • 👍 Simple, reliable, practical
  • 👍 Useful for PV panel inclination
  • 👍 Great for RV and overland solar
  • 👍 Awesome for maximizing solar power

Room to improve

  • 🐛 No instructions provided
  • 🐛 Ads are annoying
  • 🐛 Pop-up ads prevent use
  • 🐛 Gyroscope not working
  • 🐛 PV alignment not working

Bugs and requests

SolarEdge Mapper

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Error 1001 when loading sites
  • Site creation fails with errors
  • Camera stops working for barcode scanning
  • Endless loading screens when creating sites
  • Invalid state validation errors in dropdown menus
Show 5 more
  • Satellite image portion not working properly
  • Login failures
  • App crashes constantly
  • Unable to upload site data
  • Unexpected behaviors and finicky scanner

Requested features

9 requests
  • iPad/tablet version of the app
  • Ability to delete old sites and declutter home screen
  • Array number option in array builder
  • Easier scanning and array building process
  • Customer/owner read-only access to mapper functions
Show 4 more
  • Download/export data to spreadsheet format
  • Traditional barcode scanning support
  • Simplified module moving and deletion workflow
  • Developer responses to user reviews

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

None

SolarEdge Mapper

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PV Optimizer & Solar compass

One-time1
  • Remove ads$0.99

Questions

Is SolarEdge Mapper free?
SolarEdge Mapper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PV Optimizer & Solar compass free?
PV Optimizer & Solar compass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SolarEdge Mapper or PV Optimizer & Solar compass?
PV Optimizer & Solar compass is rated higher. SolarEdge Mapper averages 4.5 out of 5 from 651 ratings, while PV Optimizer & Solar compass averages 4.5 from 247 ratings.
Do SolarEdge Mapper or PV Optimizer & Solar compass have ads?
Neither SolarEdge Mapper nor PV Optimizer & Solar compass shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SolarEdge Mapper or PV Optimizer & Solar compass?
SolarEdge Mapper ships an update every 5 weeks, and PV Optimizer & Solar compass every 2 months. Most recently, SolarEdge Mapper was updated on October 9, 2026 and PV Optimizer & Solar compass on October 13, 2026.

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