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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

August Smart Lock vs Helioscope

August Smart Lock logo

August Smart Lock

IoT & Smart Home

Smart locks that work with your existing deadbolt

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Energy & Utilities

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Helioscope has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: August Smart Lock entry-level August Smart Lock ($149.99) has no built-in Wi-Fi and requires a separate Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for remote functionality; Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own
  • They diverge on capability: August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, Helioscope covers PV system design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which August Smart Lock and Helioscope actually diverge.

Attributes where August Smart Lock and Helioscope differ
AttributeAugust Smart LockHelioscope
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, Android, WebWeb, Api
CategoryIoT & Smart HomeEnergy & Utilities

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), founded (2012).

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 August Smart Lock

  • Retrofit Design
  • Auto-Unlock
  • Guest Access
  • Activity Log
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • HomeKit
  • SmartThings

Only in Helioscope

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

August Smart Lock

  • Keyless entrynot Helioscope
  • Guest accessnot Helioscope
  • Remote unlocknot Helioscope
  • Activity monitoringnot Helioscope

Helioscope

  • Simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yieldnot August Smart Lock
  • Laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reportsnot August Smart Lock

Where each one falls short

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

August Smart Lock

  • Entry-level August Smart Lock ($149.99) has no built-in Wi-Fi and requires a separate Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for remote functionality

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

August Smart Lock

On request
  • Smart Lock$149/month
    • Auto-lock
    • Auto-unlock
    • Guest access
  • WiFi Smart Lock$249/month
    • Built-in WiFi
    • Remote access
    • DoorSense

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 August Smart Lock if

  • You need retrofit design.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want auto-unlock.
August Smart Lock 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 August Smart Lock or Helioscope better?
Neither clearly leads. August Smart Lock starts at On request and Helioscope at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, August Smart Lock or Helioscope?
Helioscope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for August Smart Lock and Free for Helioscope.
Does August Smart Lock or Helioscope run on more platforms?
August Smart Lock runs on IOS, Android, Web. Helioscope runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Helioscope for free?
Yes. Helioscope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. August Smart Lock starts at On request.
What is August Smart Lock best used for?
August Smart Lock is most often used for keyless entry, guest access, remote unlock, activity monitoring. Of those, keyless entry and guest access are not what Helioscope is typically brought in for.
What can August Smart Lock do that Helioscope cannot?
August Smart Lock covers Retrofit Design, Auto-Unlock, Guest Access, Activity Log. Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. Both handle Web support.
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