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Software · head to head

Arduino Cloud vs Helioscope

Arduino Cloud logo

Arduino Cloud

Software

Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Software

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention; Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own
  • They diverge on capability: Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Helioscope covers PV system design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arduino Cloud and Helioscope actually diverge.

Attributes where Arduino Cloud and Helioscope differ
AttributeArduino CloudHelioscope
PlatformsArduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboardWeb, Api
Founded20052012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arduino Cloud

  • Device Connectivity
  • Cloud Storage
  • Real-Time Sync
  • Security
  • Arduino IDE
  • Mobile app
  • REST API
  • Integration services

Only in Helioscope

  • PV system design
  • 3D shade modeling
  • Performance simulation
  • Single-line diagrams
  • BOM generation
  • Proposal templates
  • Component database
  • Financial modeling

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arduino Cloud

  • Connecting Arduino boards to a cloud dashboardnot Helioscope
  • Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Helioscope
  • Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Helioscope
  • Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Helioscope
  • Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Helioscope

Helioscope

  • Simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yieldnot Arduino Cloud
  • Laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reportsnot Arduino Cloud

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arduino Cloud

  • The free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
  • Free accounts are limited to 25 compilations a day and 10 trigger notifications a day
  • The Maker plan at $72 a year lifts devices to 25 and retention to 3 months, still for a single user
  • Team pricing jumps to $1,000 a year
  • Two years of data retention and unlimited ingestion require Enterprise

Helioscope

  • Licences are single user, so each designer needs their own
  • Projects are capped at 10 a month on both Basic and Pro
  • System size is capped by plan, at 1.25 MW DC on Basic and 5 MW on Pro, so a larger array forces an upgrade regardless of project count
  • Trackers, LIDAR modelling and API access sit on the higher tiers
  • Enterprise is priced per project with no published figure

Pricing, plan by plan

Arduino Cloud

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 2 devices
    • Basic features
    • Cloud access
  • Maker Plus$7/month
    • Up to 10 devices
    • Advanced features
    • Better storage

Helioscope

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 projects
    • Basic design tools
    • Shade analysis
  • Professional$95/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Advanced shading
    • Custom reports
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • API access
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Arduino Cloud if

  • You need device connectivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Arduino Cloud review

Choose Helioscope if

  • You need pv system design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want 3d shade modeling.
Helioscope review

Questions people ask

Is Arduino Cloud or Helioscope better?
Neither clearly leads. Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Helioscope at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arduino Cloud or Helioscope?
Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Helioscope at Free.
Does Arduino Cloud or Helioscope run on more platforms?
Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard. Helioscope runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Arduino Cloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Arduino Cloud best used for?
Arduino Cloud is most often used for connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard, over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices, logging sensor data and charting it over time, triggering notifications from device thresholds. Of those, connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard and over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices are not what Helioscope is typically brought in for.
What can Arduino Cloud do that Helioscope cannot?
Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams.
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