Softwr

Maritime & Shipping · head to head

ChartCo vs Helioscope

ChartCo logo

ChartCo

Maritime & Shipping

Integrated maritime compliance platform

From
$300/month
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: ChartCo requires specialized maritime knowledge to fully utilize features; Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own
  • They diverge on capability: ChartCo covers Chart management, Helioscope covers PV system design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChartCo and Helioscope actually diverge.

Attributes where ChartCo and Helioscope differ
AttributeChartCoHelioscope
Starting price$300/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, DesktopWeb, Api
CategoryMaritime & ShippingEnergy & Utilities
Founded19982012

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 ChartCo

  • Chart management
  • Publication updates
  • Compliance tracking
  • Fleet administration
  • ECDIS
  • Fleet management systems
  • Procurement
  • Windows support

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.

ChartCo

No use cases recorded yet. See the ChartCo review.

Helioscope

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

Where each one falls short

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

ChartCo

  • Requires specialized maritime knowledge to fully utilize features
  • High cost for maritime-specific software

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

ChartCo

$300/month
  • OneOcean$600/month
    • Chart management
    • Publications
    • Compliance tracking

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 ChartCo if

  • You need chart management.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want publication updates.
ChartCo 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 ChartCo or Helioscope better?
Neither clearly leads. ChartCo starts at $300/month and Helioscope at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChartCo or Helioscope?
Helioscope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/month for ChartCo and Free for Helioscope.
Does ChartCo or Helioscope run on more platforms?
ChartCo runs on Web, Desktop. Helioscope runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Helioscope for free?
Yes. Helioscope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ChartCo starts at $300/month.
What can ChartCo do that Helioscope cannot?
ChartCo covers Chart management, Publication updates, Compliance tracking, Fleet administration. Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ChartCo: What does ChartCo OneOcean provide?

ChartCo OneOcean is an integrated maritime software platform that combines electronic navigational charts, publications, weather data, and compliance tools for voyage planning and maritime safety.

ChartCo: How many vessels use ChartCo PassageManager?

ChartCo's PassageManager software is used by approximately 6,500 vessels worldwide for passage planning and navigational chart management.

ChartCo: Does ChartCo help with environmental compliance?

Yes, ChartCo OneOcean includes EnviroManager for compliance with MARPOL and regional environmental regulations, helping crews manage waste and minimize discharge risks.

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