Softwr

Energy & Utilities · head to head

Helioscope vs LIFX

Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Energy & Utilities

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LIFX logo

LIFX

IoT & Smart Home

WiFi-enabled smart lights with no hub required

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Helioscope has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own; LIFX the Internet Archive's capture of LIFX's products page on 19 July 2016 priced the White 800 bulb at $39.99 USD (890 lumens) and the Color 1000 bulb at $59.99 USD (1,055 lumens); this is a 2016 capture and current prices likely differ.
  • They diverge on capability: Helioscope covers PV system design, LIFX covers No Hub Required.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helioscope and LIFX actually diverge.

Attributes where Helioscope and LIFX differ
AttributeHelioscopeLIFX
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiIOS, Android, Windows, MacOS
CategoryEnergy & UtilitiesIoT & Smart Home

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 Helioscope

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

Only in LIFX

  • No Hub Required
  • 16 Million Colors
  • WiFi Direct
  • High Brightness
  • HomeKit
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings

What people use each for

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

Helioscope

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

LIFX

  • Ambient lightingnot Helioscope
  • Gaming setupnot Helioscope
  • Photography lightingnot Helioscope
  • Smart homenot Helioscope

Where each one falls short

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

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

LIFX

  • The Internet Archive's capture of LIFX's products page on 19 July 2016 priced the White 800 bulb at $39.99 USD (890 lumens) and the Color 1000 bulb at $59.99 USD (1,055 lumens); this is a 2016 capture and current prices likely differ.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

LIFX

On request
  • LIFX Bulb$40/month
    • 16M colors
    • WiFi direct
    • No hub required

Which should you pick?

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

Choose LIFX if

  • You need no hub required.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS.
  • You also want 16 million colors.
LIFX review

Questions people ask

Is Helioscope or LIFX better?
Neither clearly leads. Helioscope starts at Free and LIFX at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helioscope or LIFX?
Helioscope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helioscope and On request for LIFX.
Does Helioscope or LIFX run on more platforms?
Helioscope runs on Web, Api. LIFX runs on IOS, Android, Windows, MacOS.
Can I use Helioscope for free?
Yes. Helioscope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LIFX starts at On request.
What is Helioscope best used for?
Helioscope is most often used for simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yield, laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reports. Of those, simulating photovoltaic system performance and energy yield and laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reports are not what LIFX is typically brought in for.
What can Helioscope do that LIFX cannot?
Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. LIFX covers No Hub Required, 16 Million Colors, WiFi Direct, High Brightness.
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