Comparison

Solar Live 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 Live

Features
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Solar Live is a dedicated Live Status monitor for metered Enphase® solar systems. When on the same local network as your Enphase IQ® Gateway Metered™ or Envoy S Metered™ gateway, it shows the live status for solar power production, consumption and grid import/export. Solar Live starts up and shows the status in less than a second, and refreshes every second – all via the local network, without any delay. IMPORTANT Solar Live is an independent app and is not created by, commissioned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Enphase. It is intended as a complement to Enphase's own app. LOCAL NETWORK USE ONLY Solar Live only works while on the same network as your Enphase gateway. Unless your Enphase gateway is directly accessible from the internet (not typical), this means it only works when your device is connected to your local (home) network with the Enphase gateway. REQUIREMENTS Solar Live requires a metered Enphase Gateway (Enphase IQ® Gateway Metered™ or Envoy S Metered™ gateway) that provides consumption and grid import/export data as well as solar power production data. Gateway firmware version 7 or higher is required. (Almost all gateways will be running version 7 or 8 by now.) For Solar Live to connect to the Enphase gateway, a local access token needs to be generated by the Enphase account associated with the gateway. The app guides you through that process. COMPATIBILITY Enphase systems that contain battery storage and/or generators are not supported. PRIVACY Solar Live runs completely locally on your device. No registration is needed. No data is collected, transmitted to, or shared with anyone.

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 Live2 screens
Home Solar System4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Solar Live at none against Home Solar System's 2. Home Solar System's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Home Solar System sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Solar Live asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Solar Live ships an update every 4 days, Home Solar System every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Solar Live versus Home Solar System: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSolar LiveHome Solar System
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS26.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCloud App LabsSavio Colombo

In-app purchases

None

Solar Live

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Home Solar System

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

Questions

Is Solar Live free?
Solar Live 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 Solar Live or Home Solar System have ads?
Neither Solar Live nor Home Solar System shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Solar Live or Home Solar System?
Solar Live ships an update every 4 days, and Home Solar System every 5 days. Most recently, Solar Live was updated on October 31, 2026 and Home Solar System on October 31, 2026.

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