Comparison

Solar Compass Pro vs Home Solar System

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

Head to head
About

Solar Compass Pro

This app provides real-time sun direction and solar path visualization to aid in planning solar projects, panel placement, and understanding solar movement. It offers daily solar outlooks, production estimates, and installation guidance for various outdoor planning needs.

Highlights
  • Live solar compass
  • Sun path visualization
  • Daily solar outlooks
  • Solar output estimation
  • Install guidance
  • Golden hour timing
  • Saved places and setups
Features
Read full description

Solar Compass Pro helps you plan with the sun instead of just looking at it. See the sun’s direction in real time, compare Today and Tomorrow, estimate daily solar output, and use install guidance to align your setup with confidence. Whether you are planning a solar project, checking panel placement, scouting light, or learning how the sun moves, Solar Compass Pro turns solar data into practical decisions. With live solar positioning, daily outlooks, best production windows, and system-based output estimates, the app makes it easy to understand what the sun is doing now, what it will do next, and what that means for your location. Features: • Live solar compass with real-time sun direction • Sun elevation and daily solar path visualization • Today and Tomorrow solar outlooks • Best production window and solar noon planning • Golden hour, sunrise, and sunset timing • Weather-aware solar conditions for your selected place • Estimated daily solar output based on your system size • Output-by-hour curve for the selected day • Saved places, setups, and solar system profiles • Install Mode with live alignment and tilt guidance • True north and magnetic north support • Easy sharing of solar outlook cards • Optional alerts for peak solar windows and tomorrow changes Solar Compass Pro works without accounts, ads, or tracking. Your location is used only to calculate solar position and local conditions for the places you choose. Supporter unlock Solar Compass Pro remains genuinely useful for free. A one-time Supporter unlock adds deeper planning tools, expanded time exploration, and more advanced ways to evaluate solar positioning. Designed for: • Homeowners exploring solar • Solar installers and planners • Off-grid and RV users • Gardeners and outdoor planners • Photographers and filmmakers • Architects, builders, and designers • Anyone who wants to understand the sun better Privacy first Solar Compass Pro does not collect personal data, include third-party analytics, or track users. Plan the sun with confidence using clear solar guidance, practical install tools, and fast daily insight for any location.

About

Home Solar System

Features
Read full description

Welcome to Home Solar System, featuring our exclusive Solar Smash technology—the definitive tool for optimizing solar energy systems before the first panel is even installed. Our app simplifies the complex process of designing rooftop solar arrays by combining advanced geospatial data with intuitive engineering tools to smash through inefficiency and maximize your energy yield. SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Please note: Home Solar System requires a paid auto-renewable subscription to access its core features and tools. Free app downloads do not include full access without an active subscription. What We Do: Home Solar System allows users to create high-precision layouts for solar panels directly on digital roof models. By integrating real-time sunlight trajectory and local weather data, the app calculates the exact energy potential of any surface. Key Features (Requires Active Subscription): Intelligent Solar Tracking: Analyze the sun’s path throughout the year to identify "sweet spots" on any roof, ensuring maximum exposure. The "Solar Smash" Advantage: Eliminate design inefficiencies and optimize energy yield to maximize return on investment. Efficiency Analytics: Instant calculations on projected energy yield, performance ratios, and potential ROI based on panel models and tilt angles. Custom Project Design: Drag, drop, and rotate panels to fit unique architectural constraints while automatically avoiding shaded areas. Automated Reporting: Generate comprehensive PDF proposals including 3D visualizations, material lists, and estimated carbon savings. Subscription & Purchase Details: Access Model: All features (3D design tools, solar tracking algorithms, ROI calculations, and PDF reporting) are unlocked via a weekly, monthly, or annual subscription. Payment: Payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account at confirmation of purchase. Auto-Renewal: Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Management: You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store Account Settings after purchase. Whether you are a professional installer looking to streamline your workflow or a homeowner planning your transition to clean energy, Home Solar System provides the data-driven confidence you need to go solar. Empower your roof. Maximize your energy. Build the future. Legal Links: Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Solar Compass Pro4 screens
Home Solar System4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Home Solar System at every 5 days against Solar Compass Pro's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Solar Compass Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Home Solar System sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Solar Compass Pro ships an update every 2 months, Home Solar System every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Solar Compass Pro versus Home Solar System: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSolar Compass ProHome Solar System
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperC. Ray Carroll LLCSavio Colombo

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Solar Compass Pro

One-time1
  • Supporter Mode$0.99
2 purchases

Home Solar System

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Solar Compass Pro free?
Solar Compass Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Home Solar System free?
Home Solar System is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Solar Compass Pro or Home Solar System have ads?
Neither Solar Compass Pro nor Home Solar System shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Solar Compass Pro or Home Solar System?
Solar Compass Pro ships an update every 2 months, and Home Solar System every 5 days. Most recently, Solar Compass Pro was updated on October 30, 2026 and Home Solar System on October 31, 2026.

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