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Energy & Utilities · head to head

Helioscope vs SunPower Monitoring

Helioscope logo

Helioscope

Energy & Utilities

Accurate solar design for commercial projects

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SunPower Monitoring logo

SunPower Monitoring

Energy & Utilities

Solar monitoring and performance management system

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; SunPower Monitoring parent company underwent bankruptcy reorganization in 2024, creating uncertainty about long-term product support
  • They diverge on capability: Helioscope covers PV system design, SunPower Monitoring covers Real-time monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helioscope and SunPower Monitoring actually diverge.

Attributes where Helioscope and SunPower Monitoring differ
AttributeHelioscopeSunPower Monitoring
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiiOS, Android, Web
Founded20121985

Identical on both: 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 SunPower Monitoring

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Performance analytics
  • Alert system
  • Mobile app
  • Energy production tracking
  • Tesla
  • Enphase
  • Mobile 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 SunPower Monitoring
  • Laying out commercial solar arrays and producing design reportsnot SunPower Monitoring

SunPower Monitoring

  • Solar monitoringnot Helioscope
  • Performance 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

SunPower Monitoring

  • Parent company underwent bankruptcy reorganization in 2024, creating uncertainty about long-term product support
  • Monitoring features previously free are now being moved behind premium subscription tiers
  • Limited integration with non-SunPower solar hardware

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

SunPower Monitoring

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the SunPower Monitoring 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 SunPower Monitoring if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want performance analytics.
SunPower Monitoring review

Questions people ask

Is Helioscope or SunPower Monitoring better?
Neither clearly leads. Helioscope starts at Free and SunPower Monitoring at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helioscope or SunPower Monitoring?
Helioscope has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helioscope and On request for SunPower Monitoring.
Does Helioscope or SunPower Monitoring run on more platforms?
Helioscope runs on Web, Api. SunPower Monitoring runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Helioscope for free?
Yes. Helioscope has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SunPower Monitoring 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 SunPower Monitoring is typically brought in for.
What can Helioscope do that SunPower Monitoring cannot?
Helioscope covers PV system design, 3D shade modeling, Performance simulation, Single-line diagrams. SunPower Monitoring covers Real-time monitoring, Performance analytics, Alert system, Mobile app. Both handle SSL encryption, Cloud deployment, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SunPower Monitoring: What happened to SunPower's monitoring software?

SunPower Corporation filed for bankruptcy on August 5, 2024. Complete Solaria acquired key SunPower assets in September 2024 and continues operations under the SunPower name as a publicly traded company in 2026.

Source
SunPower Monitoring: Is the mySunPower app still available?

Yes. The mySunPower app was rebranded to SunStrong Connect after SunStrong acquired SunPower's app suite. The app provides real-time solar production monitoring and battery management.

Source
SunPower Monitoring: What features does SunStrong Connect provide?

SunStrong Connect provides real-time views of solar production, home consumption, and battery power flows. It includes historical performance data, battery controls, live weather data, and system alerts.

Source
SunPower Monitoring: Is SunPower monitoring available for commercial systems?

Yes. SunPower offers Energy Intelligence Software and Monitoring System applications for commercial and utility-scale solar installations with real-time data collection and performance analysis.

Source
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