# SolarEdge Mapper vs PV Optimizer & Solar compass

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.

Both are free to download. PV Optimizer & Solar compass sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SolarEdge Mapper asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SolarEdge Mapper | PV Optimizer & Solar compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (651 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solaredge-mapper/id432768469/reviews) | **[4.5 (247 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pv-optimizer-and-solar-compass/id971828374/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **651** | 247 |
| Positive reviews | 29.6% of reviews | **53.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SolarEdge Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/384374350) | [Joao Caetano](https://appshunter.io/developer/828553753) |

## What reviewers say

### SolarEdge Mapper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solaredge-mapper/id432768469)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### PV Optimizer & Solar compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pv-optimizer-and-solar-compass/id971828374)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*