Comparison

SunLocation vs Shadowmap

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

Head to head
About

SunLocation

This app displays the current sun's position and altitude, synchronizing with your device's compass. It also offers an optional add-on to hide ads and view moon positions, phases, and altitude graphs.

Highlights
  • Current sun position and altitude
  • Compass synchronization
  • Moon position and phases display
  • Altitude graphs for sun and moon
  • Distance graph for the moon
  • Ad-free option with add-on
Features
Read full description

SunLocation is an app that lets you know the current sun location and altitude. If there is a compass, the directions are synchronized. You might want to watch the Super Moon, take a photo, move, go out or look at the sky. If the position is different, the compass is interfering. Please adjust the position with the compass app and try again. The altitude is displayed in the center. Add-on (Add moon position and phases and hide ads) - The ad will be hidden. - You can display the month position and age. - Tap the center to switch between sun and moon altitudes at any time. - You can see the altitude graph of the sun and the moon. - You can see the distance graph of the moon. Enjoy !

About

Shadowmap

Analyze sunlight and shadows for any location worldwide. Optimize solar energy, assess real estate, plan photography, and find ideal outdoor spots. Offers advanced 3D editing and data export capabilities.

Highlights
  • Sun and shadow simulation
  • Solar energy optimization
  • Real estate and architecture analysis
  • Photography and cinematography planning
  • 3D world editing
  • Solar data export to CSV
Features
Read full description

Shadowmap shows where the sun shines and where shadows fall – for any rooftop, street, or garden on Earth. Built on global building, tree, and terrain data, it simulates sunlight down to the minute, on any date. Trusted by realtors, solar professionals, photographers, and anyone planning life around the sun. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Find the sunniest home, apartment, or plot • Optimize solar panel placement & yield • Scout photo & film locations remotely • Plan gardens, terraces & outdoor spaces • Time your day around natural light WHAT'S NEW • Major performance update: increased stability and improved UX • Edit the 3D World – place objects, adjust buildings, share your scene (free) • Export Solar Data to CSV – run analytics in your spreadsheet or tool of choice GET STARTED FOR FREE • Simulate sunlight & shadows • Explore the global 3D map • Edit existing 3D buildings and trees • Place basic 3D objects (cuboids, cylinders, trees) •. Share your edited 3D scene Explorer (In-App Purchase): • Unlock 3D camera view of the Sun • Change date & time in the future or the past for precise planning Home (In-App Purchase): • All Explorer features • Extended 3D objects (freeform, roofs, trees) • 14-day global weather and UV forecast, along with historical data • High-quality 3D maps & extra base maps • Adjust default building height • Visualize floor levels on facades Studio (In-App Purchase): • Our most advanced offering • All Explorer + Home features • Interactive 3D Solar Analytics • High resolution textured 3D digital twin • Edit existing 3D buildings and trees • Create individual shapes & use prefabs • Upload your own 3D models • Share & embed your projects anywhere Shadowmap is an award-winning app: • APTI Award Winner 2024 • Golden Kitty Awards Finalist 2021 • #3 Product of the Day – Product Hunt – Download Shadowmap today and connect with the Sun in unprecedented ways. – Technical support: support@shadowmap.org You can purchase "Shadowmap Home" and "Shadowmap Studio" as monthly or yearly subscription. You can subscribe and pay through your iTunes account. Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will automatically renew unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You may manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renew after purchase by going to the ‘Manage Subscription’ page in settings. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited if you purchase a subscription, where applicable. All subscriptions will renew at their respective cost. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://shadowmap.org/privacy-policy

Screenshots

SunLocation4 screens
Shadowmap4 screens

Verdict

The call

SunLocation and Shadowmap both sit at 3.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 45% of Shadowmap's written reviews are positive against 12% of SunLocation's. Shadowmap also leads on chart position (#109 vs unranked) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). SunLocation's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. SunLocation sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Shadowmap sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shadowmap holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of SunLocation's written reviews are positive against 45% of Shadowmap's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
SunLocation versus Shadowmap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSunLocationShadowmap
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)3.2 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews12.0% of reviews45.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings26 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#109 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYoshitaka WatanabeShadowmap Technologies GmbH

Customer experience

SunLocation

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive12.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative84.0%

Shadowmap

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral6.1%
Negative48.5%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SunLocation

One-time1
  • Moon position and age, etc.$0.99
10 purchases

Shadowmap

Subscriptions10
  • Shadowmap Home – Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Shadowmap Home – Monthly Trial3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Shadowmap Explorer – Yearly$29.991 Year
Show 7 more
  • Shadowmap Explorer – Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Shadowmap Studio – Monthly$59.991 Month
  • Shadowmap Studio – Yearly3 Days trial$59.991 Month
  • Shadowmap Home – Yearly$99.991 Year
  • Shadowmap Home – Yearly Trial3 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Shadowmap Studio – Yearly$599.991 Year
  • Shadowmap Studio – Yearly3 Days trial$599.991 Year

Questions

Is SunLocation free?
SunLocation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shadowmap free?
Shadowmap is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SunLocation or Shadowmap?
Shadowmap is rated higher. SunLocation averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Shadowmap averages 3.2 from 6 ratings.
Do SunLocation or Shadowmap have ads?
Neither SunLocation nor Shadowmap shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SunLocation or Shadowmap?
SunLocation ships an update every 6 weeks, and Shadowmap every 6 weeks. Most recently, SunLocation was updated on October 29, 2026 and Shadowmap on October 27, 2026.

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