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Energy & Utilities · head to head

Helioscope vs SMA Energy

Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Energy & Utilities

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SMA Energy

Energy & Utilities

Inverter monitoring and cloud portal

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Helioscope licences are single user, so each designer needs their own; SMA Energy requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
  • They diverge on capability: Helioscope covers PV system design, SMA Energy covers Real-time monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helioscope and SMA Energy actually diverge.

Attributes where Helioscope and SMA Energy differ
AttributeHelioscopeSMA Energy
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Mobile
Founded20121981

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Energy & Utilities).

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 SMA Energy

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Battery management
  • Energy analytics
  • Mobile portal
  • System optimization
  • Mobile support
  • English language support
  • German language support

Both cover

  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Helioscope

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

SMA Energy

  • System monitoringnot Helioscope
  • Battery optimizationnot 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

SMA Energy

  • Requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
  • SMA Sunny Portal monitoring has data delays and does not guarantee real-time updates
  • Limited scalability for larger residential or commercial installations beyond 18.9 kWh
  • Requires all devices to have latest software versions and compatible communication protocols

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

SMA Energy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SMA Energy review.

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 SMA Energy if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want battery management.
SMA Energy review

Questions people ask

Is Helioscope or SMA Energy better?
Neither clearly leads. Helioscope starts at Free and SMA Energy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helioscope or SMA Energy?
Helioscope starts at Free and SMA Energy at Free.
Does Helioscope or SMA Energy run on more platforms?
Helioscope runs on Web, Api. SMA Energy runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Helioscope for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 SMA Energy is typically brought in for.
What can Helioscope do that SMA Energy cannot?
Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. SMA Energy covers Real-time monitoring, Battery management, Energy analytics, Mobile portal. Both handle SSL encryption, Cloud deployment, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SMA Energy: Is SMA Energy Maximizer free?

No. SMA Energy Maximizer requires an SMA Premium subscription. However, there is a 90-day free trial period. After the trial, the service requires a paid subscription to access automated optimization features. The SMA Premium digital service is built into SMA devices powered by ennexOS.

Source
SMA Energy: What are the system requirements for SMA Energy?

SMA Energy requires compatible SMA inverters, SMA Energy Meter for consumption tracking, and communication protocols like Modbus or Speedwire for connectivity. All devices must have the latest software version, and a network connection is required for remote monitoring through SMA Sunny Portal.

Source
SMA Energy: Does SMA Energy work offline?

SMA Energy systems can continue generating electricity offline, but remote monitoring and cloud-based optimization through SMA Sunny Portal require internet connectivity. If communication fails between devices, inverters reduce output power to 0 percent as a safety fallback.

Source
SMA Energy: What is the maximum system size for residential installations?

SMA systems typically support a maximum residential configuration of 18.9 kWh battery storage, which is suitable for most single-family homes but may be insufficient for larger properties or commercial applications.

Source
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