SunCalc.net is a navigation utility for solar and lunar tracking, used by photographers and outdoor professionals on iOS and Android.
Product velocity
Maintenance
Daily rank 🇺🇸
—
Navigation
Sentiment
4.8
62 reviews
Nemesis
Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app removes the connectivity dependency required by map-heavy rivals, allowing users to scout locations in remote, signal-free environments.
For Photographers, hikers, and real estate professionals requiring precise solar data for location planning.
What does it look like?
Key features
Calculates sun and moon positions for any location, driving daily usage and ad-inventory.
Displays sunrise and sunset times with global time zones, increasing session frequency.
Plots daylength and declination, serving as a retention hook for niche users.
How much does it cost?
Monetization relies entirely on ad-supported traffic with no paid tiers or in-app purchases observed.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentperformanceShow more...
SunCalc.net is currently in a maintenance phase, with only two releases identified in the analyzed window. The latest release occurred 129 days ago, and the iOS platform has not seen an update in 680 days. Development is currently limited to minor map adjustments, with no evidence of new features or active live operations. The current cadence is insufficient to suggest active development or ongoing feature expansion.
Who built it?
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads thrilled. Users appreciate simple and focused interface design allows users to quickly determine sun position for photography and planning and offline functionality provides reliable solar tracking for outdoor activities like camping and hiking in remote areas, but report missing numerical data for azimuth and elevation forces users to manually translate graphical representations into usable metrics.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- 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
- Missing numerical data for azimuth and elevation forces users to manually translate graphical representations into usable metrics
65 of 84 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Thrilled overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes and 2 user requests, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for SunCalc.net
How's the Navigation market?
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.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
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.
- 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
Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for SunCalc.net
Where is it heading?
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.
The SWOT
- Offline-first architecture ensures utility in remote areas
- Minimalist interface reduces cognitive load for quick scouting
- Wearable device integration for hands-free outdoor scouting
- Addition of moon phase data for night photography
Next best moves
Ship numerical azimuth and elevation readouts because it is the top-requested professional feature → increase retention among prosumer photographers.
The counter-intuitive read
The app's minimalist, ad-supported model is a competitive advantage, not a weakness…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Augmented reality solar path visualization (available in Sun Seeker but absent here) +2
Since the last report: 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.
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.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 2 market threats and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is SunCalc.net suitable for professional photography planning?
How does SunCalc.net compare to Sun Seeker?
Does SunCalc.net work without an internet connection?
What are some free alternatives to SunCalc.net?
Sources
Report last updated