--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "SunCalc.net" developer_entity: "Oleg Shanyuk" bundle_id: "com.obrij.SunCalc-net" app_store_id: "761295311" google_play_id: "com.talha.suncalc" category: "Navigation" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2026-03-22" report_date: "2026-05-21" last_verified: "2026-05-21T01:35:21.751Z" report_version: "1.21" total_reviews: 62 overall_rating: 4.82 sentiment: "Thrilled" sentiment_score: 85 confidence: "low" confidence_score: 0.55 top_praise_theme: "Simple and focused interface design allows quick access to solar positioning data for professional tasks" top_complaint_theme: "Missing numerical data for sun azimuth and elevation forces users to manually interpret graphical representations" top_request_theme: "Integration of additional solar metrics like moon position and sun altitude for professional use cases" review_sample_size: 84 total_review_count: 84 analyzed_review_count: 65 data_age_days: 43 momentum_velocity: "maintenance" intelligence_version: 4 nemesis: "Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker" competitor_count: 8 tags: ["navigation", "free", "thrilled sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "users", "interested", "astronomy,"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/suncalc-net" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # SunCalc.net App Audit ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Navigation · Free - **Signal**: Rating 4.82 · Sentiment Thrilled - **Recent focus**: Missing numerical data for sun azimuth and elevation forces users to manually interpret graphical representations (top complaint) · Simple and focused interface design allows quick access to solar positioning data for professional tasks (top praise) · Integration of additional solar metrics like moon position and sun altitude for professional use cases (top request) > **TL;DR:** SunCalc.net is a navigation app by Oleg Shanyuk, rated 4.82/5 by 62 users, with Thrilled user sentiment (85/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** — Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** SunCalc.net maintains Thrilled user sentiment (4.82/5 from 62 reviews), with users consistently praising simple and focused interface design allows quick access to solar positioning data for professional tasks. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.82/5 (62 reviews) | | **User Mood** | Thrilled | | **Category** | Navigation | | **Developer** | Oleg Shanyuk | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | Low (0.55/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 43d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Oleg Shanyuk - **Category:** Navigation - **Target Audience:** Users interested in astronomy, solar tracking, and global time zone monitoring for navigation or educational purposes. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Audited:** 1.21 - **Audit Date:** 2026-05-21 - **Signal Count:** 84 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Low (0.55/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 761295311 - **Bundle ID:** com.obrij.SunCalc-net - **Google Play ID:** com.talha.suncalc - **Performance Trend:** Mixed - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-05-21 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** SunCalc.net is a solar and lunar positioning utility for photographers and outdoor planners on iOS and Android. **Why users hire it:** Users hire the app for quick, reliable solar timing to plan outdoor site preparation without the complexity of professional-grade tools. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Solar and Lunar Positioning:** Calculates sun, moon, and solar planet positions for any location and time - **[Standard] Integrated Weather Data:** Provides weather information via external open-source web links * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. - **[Standard] Global Time Zone Tool:** Displays time across different global locations combined with compass functionality - **[Differentiator] Solar Function Plotting:** Visualizes day length, sun declination, distance, and right ascension ## Market Position {#market-position} SunCalc.net maintains a niche presence in the Navigation category, but its lack of ranking stability across multiple markets signals limited discovery compared to established prosumer tools. The absence of a paid tier prevents the app from scaling revenue alongside its high user satisfaction. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Free version with ad support - **Analysis:** Monetization relies entirely on ad-supported inventory within a free-to-use utility model. ## 🟢 User Sentiment (Low Confidence: 65 of 84 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4.82/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 4.8/5 (62 ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Thrilled ### Top Praises - **Simple and focused interface design allows quick access to solar positioning data for professional tasks** - **High accuracy in calculating sunrise and sunset times supports precise planning for outdoor activities** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Missing numerical data for sun azimuth and elevation forces users to manually interpret graphical representations** - **Inability to adjust time independently of date restricts the ability to simulate specific lighting conditions** ### Top Requests (What Users Want) - **Integration of additional solar metrics like moon position and sun altitude for professional use cases** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Minimalist interface design sustains high user satisfaction - Focused utility avoids feature bloat of legacy trackers **Critical Frictions:** - Missing numerical azimuth and elevation data limits utility - Ad-supported model lacks premium tier for power users **Growth Levers:** - Integration of moon position and sun altitude metrics - Untapped potential for wearable device integration **Market Threats:** - Augmented reality tools in rival apps siphon users - High-velocity competitors outpace current update cadence ## Recent Changes (v3 → v4) {#recent-changes} The app is facing increased pressure from professional users who require precise numerical data, prompting a shift in strategy toward a potential freemium model. **Overall trend**: Mixed **Compared at**: 2026-05-21 ### High-impact changes - **[Declined] Emergence of Technical Complaints** (sentiment) — Users now report frustration with the lack of numerical azimuth and elevation data, which was not previously identified as a top complaint. - **[Shifted] Freemium Model Consideration** (pricing) — The PM action items shifted from maintaining the ad-supported model to pivoting toward a freemium model to capture power-user value. ### Medium-impact changes - **[Added] Technical Weakness Identified** (swot) — Added 'Missing numerical azimuth and elevation data' to the weakness profile, replacing previous concerns about cloud-save functionality. - **[Shifted] Opportunity Prioritization** (swot) — Opportunities shifted from 'B2B partnerships' to 'Integration of moon position and sun altitude metrics'. ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### SunCalc.net vs Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker — Head to Head - **[Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker](https://marlvel.ai/apps/sun-seeker-sunlight-tracker)** by ozPDA: With over 12,000 reviews and a long-standing market presence in the Navigation category, this app is the direct functional equivalent to SunCalc.net. - **Key differences:** - Provides an augmented reality camera view to visualize solar paths over the physical landscape - Offers a comprehensive 3D view of the sun's path throughout the entire calendar year - Includes detailed hourly solar position data specifically optimized for navigation and outdoor planning - **Where SunCalc.net wins:** - ✅ Maintains a simpler, lightweight interface that avoids the feature bloat found in legacy trackers - ✅ Focuses on a streamlined, single-purpose utility that appeals to users seeking immediate sunset information - **Where Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker wins:** - ❌ Leverages augmented reality to provide a superior visual experience for tracking solar movement - ❌ Offers a more robust set of professional-grade tools for long-term solar path planning - **Verdict:** The target app must decide between maintaining its minimalist utility or adding visual AR features to compete with the depth of Sun Seeker. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-sunsurveyor-sunsurveyor)** by Adam Ratana: A direct competitor in the photo-utility space that focuses on 3D compass and map views for solar tracking. - Features a 3D compass and map view that provides more spatial context than a simple list - Targets the specific pain point of finding the exact golden hour for photography sessions - **[The Photographer's Ephemeris](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-crookneckconsulting-tpe)** by Crookneck Consulting LLC: A specialized tool that serves the exact same 'sun and moon' planning use case for professional photographers. - Focuses exclusively on map-based visualization of light for specific geographic locations and times - Provides a specialized desktop-to-mobile workflow that caters to professional planning requirements - **[PhotoPills](https://marlvel.ai/apps/photopills)** by PhotoPills S.L.: A dominant force for prosumer photographers that captures the same audience interested in precise sun and moon positioning. - Integrates complex planning tools for Milky Way and celestial alignment alongside standard solar tracking - Maintains a high-velocity update cadence with two releases in the last six months ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[Stellarium Mobile - Star Map](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-noctuasoftware-stellarium-mobile-plus)** by Noctua Software Ltd: While primarily for astronomy, it overlaps with the target app's audience interested in celestial positioning. - Offers a high-fidelity, real-time map of the entire night sky and celestial objects - Provides a significantly deeper educational database of stars and constellations than solar-only tools - **[Golden Hour](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-rjourde-goldenhour)** by Applorium Ltd: An adjacent utility that focuses on the specific timing of daylight quality rather than general solar navigation. - Simplifies the user experience by focusing solely on the timing of the golden hour - Provides push notifications for specific light conditions, a feature missing from the target app ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **[Windy.com](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-windytv-ios)** by Windyty, SE: Rapidly expanding its feature set to include solar and environmental data, threatening single-purpose apps. - Integrates complex weather visualization layers that make simple solar trackers feel like legacy tools - Provides a massive, data-rich ecosystem that keeps users within the app for all outdoor planning - **[Tides Near Me](https://marlvel.ai/apps/me-tidesnear-free)** by Shelter Island Mapping Company, LLC: High-velocity development with 13 releases in six months indicates a very active, responsive product team. - Aggressive release cadence ensures constant adaptation to new iOS platform capabilities and user feedback - Focuses on hyper-local environmental data, demonstrating a successful model for niche navigation utilities ## What's New - **Latest (v23.3.1, 1 months ago):** Updated map data. ## App Momentum (Maintenance) {#momentum} - Implemented map updates in latest build - Refreshed icon to match design standards > **Cadence:** 2 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 51 days since last update · 551 days avg between updates ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} SunCalc.net is a market-leading navigation app that is completely free. With a 4.82/5 rating from 62 reviews, it delivers strong user satisfaction. > **Bottom Line:** SunCalc.net wins on simplicity but loses on technical depth, because the lack of numerical data forces professional users to switch to rivals like Sun Seeker, so the PM must prioritize adding technical readouts to retain the prosumer base. **Best for:** Users interested in astronomy, solar tracking, and global time zone monitoring for navigation or educational purposes. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [INVEST] [HIGH IMPACT] Ship numerical azimuth and elevation readouts because users cite this as the top missing technical feature → increase professional utility — *Sentiment analysis identifies this as the #1 complaint theme among professional users.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Pause the UI icon refresh cycle — technical data has higher impact on user retention.)_ - [ ] [PIVOT] [HIGH IMPACT] Pivot to a freemium model because the current ad-only model fails to capture power-user value → increase ARPU — *Competitors like Sun Seeker successfully monetize professional-grade features that this app currently lacks.* _(trade-off: deprioritize Deprioritize new map-layer integrations — revenue diversification is critical for long-term viability.)_ ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Augmented reality solar path visualization (available in Sun Seeker) - Numerical azimuth and elevation readouts (available in Sun Surveyor) - 3D compass and map views (available in Sun Surveyor) ### Outlook: Stable The solar tracking market is consolidating around prosumer-grade tools that offer augmented reality and precise numerical data. SunCalc.net remains exposed to these high-velocity rivals, as its current maintenance-mode posture fails to address the technical requirements of its most valuable user segment. - 🔴 The lack of numerical data readouts forces professional users to migrate to competitors, which erodes the app's long-term retention potential. - ⚪ Recent updates focused on minor visual refreshes and map stability, indicating the product remains in maintenance mode rather than active feature expansion. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.82/5 | | Total Reviews | 62 | | Sentiment | Thrilled (85/100) | | Confidence | Low | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 4 analyzed | | Trend | Mixed | | Outlook | Stable | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **SunCalc.net** (this app) | 4.82/5 | Thrilled | Oleg Shanyuk | | [Stellarium Mobile - Star Map](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-noctuasoftware-stellarium-mobile-plus) | 4.8/5 | N/A | Noctua Software Ltd | | [Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-sunsurveyor-sunsurveyor) | 4.8/5 | N/A | Adam Ratana | | [The Photographer's Ephemeris](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-crookneckconsulting-tpe) | 4.7/5 | N/A | Crookneck Consulting LLC | | [Tides Near Me](https://marlvel.ai/apps/me-tidesnear-free) | 4.8/5 | N/A | Shelter Island Mapping Company, LLC | | [Windy.com](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-windytv-ios) | 4.8/5 | Thrilled | Windyty, SE | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Oleg Shanyuk ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/suncalc-net/id761295311?uo=4) - **Google Play:** [View on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talha.suncalc&hl=en&gl=us) - **Sources:** App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Stellarium Mobile - Star Map*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-noctuasoftware-stellarium-mobile-plus) (Noctua Software Ltd) — 4.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-sunsurveyor-sunsurveyor) (Adam Ratana) — 4.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*The Photographer's Ephemeris*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-crookneckconsulting-tpe) (Crookneck Consulting LLC) — 4.7/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Tides Near Me*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/me-tidesnear-free) (Shelter Island Mapping Company, LLC) — 4.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Windy.com*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-windytv-ios) (Windyty, SE) — 4.8/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment - [*PhotoPills*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/photopills) (PhotoPills S.L.) — 4.7/5 Rating | Mixed Sentiment - [*Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/sun-seeker-sunlight-tracker) (ozPDA) — 4.8/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment - [*Golden Hour*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-rjourde-goldenhour) (Applorium Ltd) — 4.7/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment - [*Google Maps*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/google-maps) (Google) — 4.0/5 Rating | Negative Sentiment - [*Petro Path*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-petropath-first) (Petro Path) — 3.8/5 Rating | N/A Sentiment ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** — Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** — Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** — Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction and evidence quoting. 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** — Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** — Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.55/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 84 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 43 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/suncalc-net) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.