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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Google Home vs Helioscope

Google Home logo

Google Home

IoT & Smart Home

Google's smart home platform with Google Assistant

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Energy & Utilities

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Home web version (home.google.com) has limited controls compared to the mobile app; Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own
  • They diverge on capability: Google Home covers Google Assistant, Helioscope covers PV system design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Home and Helioscope actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Home and Helioscope differ
AttributeGoogle HomeHelioscope
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, ChromeOSWeb, Api
CategoryIoT & Smart HomeEnergy & Utilities
Founded20162012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Google Home

  • Google Assistant
  • Voice Control
  • Routines
  • Multi-Room Audio
  • 10,000+ devices
  • Nest products
  • Chromecast
  • Third-party apps

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.

Google Home

  • Controlling and automating smart home devicesnot Helioscope
  • Viewing Nest camera feedsnot Helioscope
  • Creating automation routinesnot Helioscope
  • Managing household device settingsnot Helioscope
  • Voice control via Google Assistantnot Helioscope

Helioscope

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

Where each one falls short

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

Google Home

  • Web version (home.google.com) has limited controls compared to the mobile app
  • Battery-camera live streams on the web app auto-stop after 5 minutes
  • Requires compatible Google/Nest or third-party smart-home hardware - it is a control app, not a standalone product

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

Google Home

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Home review.

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 Google Home if

  • You need google assistant.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS.
  • You also want voice control.
Google Home 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 Google Home or Helioscope better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Home 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, Google Home or Helioscope?
Google Home starts at Free and Helioscope at Free.
Does Google Home or Helioscope run on more platforms?
Google Home runs on iOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS. Helioscope runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Google Home for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Home best used for?
Google Home is most often used for controlling and automating smart home devices, viewing nest camera feeds, creating automation routines, managing household device settings. Of those, controlling and automating smart home devices and viewing nest camera feeds are not what Helioscope is typically brought in for.
What can Google Home do that Helioscope cannot?
Google Home covers Google Assistant, Voice Control, Routines, Multi-Room Audio. Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. Both handle Web support.
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