Comparison

Digital ROW Utilities vs Home Solar System

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

Head to head
About

Digital ROW Utilities

Features
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Digital ROW Utilities helps contractors, utility engineers, and inspectors document underground and aboveground utility infrastructure in the field. CAPTURE AND DOCUMENT β€’ Capture point and linear features with location measurements and recorded uncertainty. β€’ Attach field photographs, asset attributes, material certificates, and inspection notes. β€’ Measure visible surfaces and trench geometry with LiDAR on supported devices. β€’ Review on-device infrastructure detection candidates before adding them to your project. MAPS AND REFERENCE DATA β€’ Browse public WFS and ArcGIS reference sources. β€’ Import KML overlays, PDF plan sheets, and georeferenced imagery. β€’ View captured assets and reference overlays in augmented reality. β€’ Review extracted plan-sheet symbols, lines, and tabulations before accepting them. REVIEW AND DELIVER β€’ Record ASCE 75-22-oriented utility attributes and positional accuracy information. β€’ Review data completeness, provenance, and quality-level justification. β€’ Capture collector, reviewer, and professional signature records for your review workflow. β€’ Export GIS and civil-design formats, PDF reports, and deliverable packages with file hashes. β€’ Publish to your own configured ArcGIS destination using your credentials. LOCAL FIELD WORKFLOW β€’ Organize projects, permits, photos, and scans on your device. β€’ Undo edits and recover a previous session snapshot when possible. β€’ Exchange session bundles with another device through a user-selected sharing method. β€’ Prepare permit packets and follow the selected agency's filing instructions. Phone positioning retains the device's measured accuracy. A correction-stream connection alone does not improve phone accuracy or establish an RTK fix. LiDAR and AR availability depend on device hardware. Utility investigation quality and professional compliance require appropriate evidence and review; the app does not certify them automatically from GPS precision. Cloud account synchronization and external accessory GNSS connectivity are not enabled in this release. Permit packet preparation does not constitute agency acceptance or an 811 ticket. Built by Purpose Built Systems for field utility documentation.

About

Home Solar System

Features
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Welcome to Home Solar System, featuring our exclusive Solar Smash technologyβ€”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

Digital ROW Utilities4 screens
Home Solar System4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Digital ROW Utilities at none against Home Solar System's 2. Home Solar System's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Home Solar System sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Digital ROW Utilities asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Digital ROW Utilities ships an update every 3 weeks, Home Solar System every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Digital ROW Utilities versus Home Solar System: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDigital ROW UtilitiesHome Solar System
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 β€” better17.6
Further details β€” not scored
Size51 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPurposeBuilt Systems, LLCSavio Colombo

In-app purchases

None

Digital ROW Utilities

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Home Solar System

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

Questions

Is Digital ROW Utilities free?
Digital ROW Utilities is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Home Solar System free?
Home Solar System is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Digital ROW Utilities or Home Solar System have ads?
Neither Digital ROW Utilities nor Home Solar System shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Digital ROW Utilities or Home Solar System?
Digital ROW Utilities ships an update every 3 weeks, and Home Solar System every 5 days. Most recently, Digital ROW Utilities was updated on October 25, 2026 and Home Solar System on October 31, 2026.

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