Comparison

Inverter vs Pool Buddy

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

Head to head
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/

About

Pool Buddy

Features
Read full description

Pool Buddy is the all-in-one swimming pool water chemistry app designed to make maintaining perfectly balanced pool water simple, accurate and professional. Whether you're a pool owner, service engineer or maintenance professional, Pool Buddy gives you the tools you need to test, calculate and understand your water chemistry with confidence. No more guesswork. Simply enter your water test results and let Pool Buddy do the calculations for you. FEATURES • Professional water chemistry calculations. • Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) calculator. • Multiple pool type support. • Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) calculations. • Conductivity calculations. • Easy-to-use water balance tools. • Fast and accurate results. • Designed for both professionals and home users. • Clean and intuitive interface. • Works anywhere without complicated setup. WATER BALANCING MADE SIMPLE Maintaining the correct water balance is essential for swimmer comfort, equipment protection and overall pool performance. Incorrect water chemistry can lead to scale formation, corrosion, cloudy water and inefficient sanitiser performance. Pool Buddy helps remove the complexity by providing professional calculations in seconds, helping you make informed decisions when adjusting your pool water. LSI CALCULATIONS The Langelier Saturation Index is one of the most important indicators of water balance. Pool Buddy calculates your LSI value using key water parameters to help determine whether your water is balanced, scale forming or corrosive. Understanding your LSI has never been easier. Pool Buddy helps you identify potential issues before they become costly problems. DESIGNED FOR EVERY POOL OWNER Whether you maintain: • Domestic swimming pools • Commercial swimming pools • Indoor pools • Outdoor pools • Spa pools • Hot tubs Pool Buddy provides reliable calculations to support your regular water testing routine. FOR PROFESSIONALS Pool Buddy has been developed with swimming pool service engineers and maintenance professionals in mind. The app provides quick calculations whilst on-site, helping save time and improve accuracy when servicing pools. Perfect for: • Swimming pool engineers • Pool maintenance professionals • Service technicians • Domestic pool owners • Commercial pool operators • Anyone wanting better water quality WHY CHOOSE POOL BUDDY? • Simple and easy to use. • Professional-grade calculations. • Fast results whenever you need them. • Suitable for beginners and experienced users alike. • Designed specifically for swimming pool water chemistry. • No unnecessary complexity – just the information you need. Pool Buddy has been created to make swimming pool water balancing easier, faster and more accurate, helping you maintain safer, cleaner and better-balanced water every day. Take the guesswork out of water chemistry and let Pool Buddy become your trusted pool maintenance companion.

Screenshots

Inverter4 screens
Pool Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Inverter at none against Pool Buddy's 1. Inverter also leads on ads (none vs shown). Pool Buddy's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 10 days). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Pool Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Inverter asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Inverter ships an update every 10 days, Pool Buddy every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Inverter versus Pool Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInverterPool Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews92.6% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRichard RussellDarran Horan

In-app purchases

None

Inverter

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Pool Buddy

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is Inverter free?
Inverter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pool Buddy free?
Pool Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Inverter or Pool Buddy have ads?
Pool Buddy shows ads; Inverter does not.
Which is updated more often, Inverter or Pool Buddy?
Inverter ships an update every 10 days, and Pool Buddy every 2 days. Most recently, Inverter was updated on October 13, 2026 and Pool Buddy on September 24, 2026.

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