--- 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: "2026-07-30" last_verified: "2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "1.21" total_reviews: 62 overall_rating: 4.8 sentiment: "Thrilled" sentiment_score: 85 confidence: "medium" confidence_score: 0.55 top_praise_theme: "Simple and focused interface design allows users to quickly determine sun position for photography and planning" top_complaint_theme: "Missing numerical data for azimuth and elevation forces users to manually translate graphical representations into usable metrics" review_sample_size: 84 total_review_count: 84 analyzed_review_count: 65 data_age_days: 18 momentum_velocity: "maintenance" intelligence_version: 5 nemesis: "Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker" competitor_count: 8 tags: ["navigation", "free", "thrilled sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "photographers,", "hikers,", "estate"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/suncalc-net" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # SunCalc.net Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Navigation · Free - **Signal**: Rating 4.82 · Sentiment Thrilled - **Recent focus**: Missing numerical data for azimuth and elevation forces users to manually translate graphical representations into usable metrics (top complaint) · Simple and focused interface design allows users to quickly determine sun position for photography and planning (top praise) > **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 users to quickly determine sun position for photography and planning. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.82/5 (62 reviews) | | **User Mood** | Thrilled | | **Category** | Navigation | | **Developer** | Oleg Shanyuk | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | Medium (0.55/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 18d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Oleg Shanyuk - **Category:** Navigation - **Target Audience:** Photographers, hikers, and real estate professionals requiring precise solar data for location planning. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Reviewed:** 1.21 - **Report Date:** 2026-07-30 - **Signal Count:** 84 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** Medium (0.55/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 761295311 - **Bundle ID:** com.obrij.SunCalc-net - **Google Play ID:** com.talha.suncalc - **Performance Trend:** Declining - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-07-30 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** SunCalc.net is a navigation utility for solar and lunar tracking, used by photographers and outdoor professionals on iOS and Android. **Why users hire it:** The app removes the connectivity dependency required by map-heavy rivals, allowing users to scout locations in remote, signal-free environments. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Solar and Lunar Positioning:** Calculates sun and moon positions for any location, driving daily usage and ad-inventory. * *User Intent:* Users are motivated by consistent progression and daily incentives. - **[Standard] Integrated Compass and Time:** Displays sunrise and sunset times with global time zones, increasing session frequency. - **[Differentiator] Solar Data Visualization:** Plots daylength and declination, serving as a retention hook for niche users. ## Market Position {#market-position} SunCalc.net maintains a presence across 30+ international markets, currently holding chart positions in the Navigation category. The lack of a paid tier contrasts with prosumer rivals, positioning the app as a lightweight, ad-supported alternative. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Free with ad support - **Analysis:** Monetization relies entirely on ad-supported traffic with no paid tiers or in-app purchases observed. ## 🟢 User Sentiment (Medium 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 users to quickly determine sun position for photography and planning** - **Offline functionality provides reliable solar tracking for outdoor activities like camping and hiking in remote areas** - **High accuracy in calculating sunrise and sunset times supports professional planning for landscape and interior design** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Missing numerical data for azimuth and elevation forces users to manually translate graphical representations into usable metrics** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Offline-first architecture ensures utility in remote areas - Minimalist interface reduces cognitive load for quick scouting **Growth Levers:** - Wearable device integration for hands-free outdoor scouting - Addition of moon phase data for night photography ## Recent Changes (v4 → v5) {#recent-changes} Development cadence has slowed significantly, with the time since the last update increasing from 1 month to 4 months, further cementing the app's maintenance-mode trajectory. This lack of progress on user-requested technical features now includes emerging complaints regarding outdated satellite imagery. **Overall trend**: Declining **Compared at**: 2026-07-30 ### High-impact changes - **[Declined] Extended Update Gap** (features) ### Medium-impact changes - **[] New Technical Complaint** (sentiment) - **[] Weakness Identification** (swot) ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### SunCalc.net vs Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker - **[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 ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[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 - **[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 - **[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 ### 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 this 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 this app ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **[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 - **[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 ## What's New - **Latest (v23.3.1, 4 months ago):** Updated map data. ## App Momentum (Maintenance) {#momentum} - Ships minor map data updates. - Quiet 4 months, feature development stalled. > **Cadence:** 2 total versions · 0 majors in last 6 months · 129 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:** The app's offline-first utility retains core users, but the lack of professional-grade data limits its growth. Investing in raw numerical readouts would unlock the prosumer segment, preventing churn to feature-rich competitors that currently dominate the photography planning space. **Best for:** Photographers, hikers, and real estate professionals requiring precise solar data for location planning. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [INVEST] Ship numerical azimuth and elevation readouts because it is the top-requested professional feature → increase retention among prosumer photographers. ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Augmented reality solar path visualization (available in Sun Seeker but absent here) ### Outlook: Stable The solar-tracking market is consolidating around apps that offer integrated AR and multi-celestial planning. SunCalc.net remains stable due to its offline-first reliability, but the lack of feature expansion will likely lead to churn among power users as competitors like Windy.com continue to integrate solar data into broader environmental suites. - 🔴 Stalled development cadence (no major releases in 4 months) leaves the app vulnerable to feature-rich rivals eroding its niche user base. - 🟢 High user satisfaction (4.8 stars) confirms the core offline utility remains a strong retention hook for outdoor professionals. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.82/5 | | Total Reviews | 62 | | Sentiment | Thrilled (85/100) | | Confidence | Medium | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Declining | | 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 - [*Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-sunsurveyor-sunsurveyor) (Adam Ratana) · 4.8/5 Rating - [*The Photographer's Ephemeris*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-crookneckconsulting-tpe) (Crookneck Consulting LLC) · 4.7/5 Rating - [*Tides Near Me*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/me-tidesnear-free) (Shelter Island Mapping Company, LLC) · 4.8/5 Rating - [*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 | Positive 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 - [*Google Maps*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/google-maps) (Google) · 4.0/5 Rating - [*전국 시외버스 승차권 통합 예매(버스타고)*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-ebcard-bustago) (EZL Corp.) · 1.6/5 Rating ## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq} ### Is SunCalc.net suitable for professional photography planning? While the app provides accurate sunrise and sunset data, professional photographers often find it limited by the lack of raw numerical azimuth and elevation readouts, which are available in more specialized tools. ### How does SunCalc.net compare to Sun Seeker? SunCalc.net focuses on a lightweight, offline-capable interface for solar tracking, whereas Sun Seeker offers an augmented reality camera view that provides a more immersive visual experience for solar path planning. ### Does SunCalc.net work without an internet connection? Yes, the app is designed for offline functionality, making it a reliable tool for solar tracking in remote locations without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. ### What are some free alternatives to SunCalc.net? Users interested in solar and light planning might consider apps like Golden Hour for daylight quality or various map-based celestial trackers, though many alternatives include more aggressive monetization or feature-gating. ## 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 into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes). 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:** 18 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.