# Sun Mapper vs Shade Analyzer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shade Analyzer at none against Sun Mapper's 6. Shade Analyzer also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sun Mapper sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Shade Analyzer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sun Mapper ships an update every 3 weeks, Shade Analyzer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sun Mapper | Shade Analyzer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sun-mapper/id6475697058/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 119 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Ceryak](https://appshunter.io/developer/1719839845) | [Step Robotics](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099235709) |

## What reviewers say

### Sun Mapper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sun-mapper/id6475697058)

Easily track sunlight in your garden by creating detailed sun maps. Upload photos or take new ones at intervals to visualize light patterns throughout the day. Trace sunlight areas to understand daily exposure for optimal gardening.

**Highlights:** Add and manage multiple gardens, Create sun maps with timed photo intervals, Upload photos or use in-app camera, View sun maps as a slideshow, Trace sunlight areas for detailed analysis, Compare multiple sun maps side-by-side

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free Rein | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1 Sunlight Tracing | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3 Sunlight Tracings | $1.99 | one-time |
| 6 Sunlight Tracings | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10 Sunlight Tracings | $3.99 | one-time |


### Shade Analyzer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shade-analyzer/id6740156160)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sun Mapper free?

Sun Mapper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shade Analyzer free?

Shade Analyzer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Sun Mapper or Shade Analyzer have ads?

Neither Sun Mapper nor Shade Analyzer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sun Mapper or Shade Analyzer?

Sun Mapper ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shade Analyzer fortnightly. Most recently, Sun Mapper was updated on June 4, 2026 and Shade Analyzer on September 14, 2026.

---

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