Updated August 12, 2025
After doing some research online about solar panels, inverters, microinverters, and solar batteries, you might discover quite a bit of chatter about something called consumption monitoring.
Consumption monitoring (or energy use monitoring for non solar industry people) is a process by which you get data from your solar system and apply that data to reduce your energy bills. It saves you money.
You’ll need an app to monitor your energy use. But which one should you get?
At PSC Energy, we’ve got our ear to the ground when it comes to tracking energy production and use. It’s what we do. The following six apps are the best ones for different solar systems and technologies.
In this article, you will learn about:
- Features of Consumption Monitoring Apps
- Enphase Enlighten App
- Fronius
- mySigen App
- Solar Analytics
- Sungrow
- Tesla App
- FAQ: Energy Use Monitoring
By the end of this article, you’ll understand the importance of these apps and how they can help you produce, store, and consume your solar energy.
Features of Consumption Monitoring Apps
While energy monitoring apps all claim to be as unique as your fingerprint, the reality is that they all do the same thing: they monitor your solar production so you can make informed choices about your energy use.
We’ll look at features for our top six apps, but before we do, we’ll look at what they all have in common.
Real-time Monitoring:
Consumption monitoring apps provide you with real-time data on your energy usage. This feature allows homeowners to track energy usage in real time. This immediate awareness of usage patterns gives you the ability to make instant adjustments to save energy.
Historical Data and Analytics:
These apps store historical data, allowing you to analyse past energy usage trends in your home. This feature helps in understanding long-term energy patterns, making it easier to change your habits. It’s easy to see the impact of changes in energy consumption behaviour over time with any of these apps.
Looking at your historical data is particularly helpful when planning for seasonal changes. How long the sun is up in the winter will affect how much energy you get from solar. The time of year also affects your energy use, whether it’s air conditioning in the summer or heating in the winter.
Alerts and Notifications:
These apps include customisable alerts and notifications that inform you about unusual energy patterns, potential issues with the system, or when energy use exceeds programmed limits. These apps are on your smartphone and notify you instantly.
This helps you manage your energy use more effectively and avoid unexpected spikes in energy costs. You need to know as soon as possible if your system is misfiring for any reason. After all, you don’t want to revert to expensive grid-supplied electricity.
User-Friendly Interface:
These apps are designed with user-friendly interfaces that are easy to navigate. They provide clear and concise information, making it accessible even for users who are not tech-savvy. The interface usually includes multi-coloured graphs and charts that visually represent energy consumption and production data.
They’re designed to be intuitive to use, simplifying the monitoring process. We also like it when the dashboards are customisable, so you can program the metrics that matter the most to you.
Manage System Backup:
Your consumption monitoring app is where you program your solar battery to hold energy in reserve for blackouts. Without a consumption monitoring app, you can’t program the equipment to perform the way it’s supposed to.
If you’re interested in a deep dive into the importance of monitoring and programming your energy, you might want to check out the following article titled, What is Consumption Monitoring?
Enphase Enlighten by Enphase
The Enphase Enlighten app is a powerful tool for managing and monitoring your solar energy system. It provides real-time data on energy production, consumption, and system performance.
Unlike its competitors, the Enphase Enlighten App can provide data for each individual panel. That’s something a monitoring app is unable to do for a central inverter system (without DC optimisers; more on those in a bit).
Panel-Level Monitoring:
- Monitors each solar panel individually, providing detailed performance data.
- This identifies underperforming panels for repair or replacement, helping to increase overall system efficiency.
Integration with Enphase Systems:
- Seamless integration with Enphase microinverter systems.
- Supports other Enphase products like IQ Batteries, creating a complete energy management solution for your family’s future.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about IQ Batteries from Enphase, you might want to check out the following article titled, Pros and Cons of the Enphase IQ Battery 5P Solar Battery.
Solarweb by Fronius
We highly recommend test-driving the app yourself at solarweb.com. It’s a fantastic demo. Click on any of the thumbnail solar system examples and you’ll see how each system behaves at different times of day.
The Solarweb app is only available for use with Fronius components. You’ll need a Fronius inverter and a Fronius Smart Meter to use the app if you want consumption monitoring, of course. If you just want the app, you don’t need a Smart Meter. We recommend consumption monitoring in every situation.
Premium Membership:
- Fronius offers a premium membership option that upgrades the app with more features.
- From their FAQ, these are what those features are: “a clear overview and evaluation of current and archived data and future forecasts, comprehensive self-consumption analysis, a permanent power consumption overview for cost control, individual reporting, visualisation and analysis of storage systems.”
- There’s a Public Display Mode that offers customers the ability to visualise their system on a large screen.
If you’re interested in solar batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, Are Solar Batteries Worth It in NSW? PSC’s Ultimate Guide for 2025.
mySigen by Sigenergy
The mySigen app is the control centre for Sigenergy SigenStor solar and battery systems. It offers real-time monitoring, battery management, and advanced automation features.
One of the standout elements of mySigen is its built-in AI, which can take over the day-to-day programming of your solar system to maximise efficiency and savings without constant manual adjustments.
AI-Powered Energy Management:
- The app’s AI learns your household’s energy patterns, weather forecasts, and tariff schedules, then automatically adjusts how your solar and battery are used.
- It can choose the best times to store energy, feed power back to the grid, or run appliances, aiming to reduce costs while keeping backup reserves ready.
Battery Backup Control:
- Lets you set and adjust your battery reserve levels for blackouts, with the option for the AI to manage this automatically based on local conditions.
Customisation and Manual Override:
- While the AI can run things in the background, you can still fine-tune settings, set personal preferences, and change modes with a few taps.
Integration with SigenStor Systems:
- Works seamlessly with Sigenergy’s modular battery units and inverters, creating a unified platform for energy management.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about the cost of SigenStor, we recommend you check out the following article titled, How Much Does the Sigenergy SigenStor Cost?
Solar Analytics
Because central inverter systems cannot be monitored at the panel level, the monitoring app monitors the whole string. And as we mentioned above, there’s no way to diagnose malfunctioning panels in a string system.
Solar Analytics gets around this by providing real-time data, but also includes how much your solar system should be producing. If you’re not reaching that target, you know there’s something that needs to be checked out.
It’s a simple matter of subtracting your actual output from your estimated output, depending on weather conditions. If the math doesn’t add up, your solar system needs some attention.
Weather and Solar Forecasting:
- Integrates weather data to predict solar production.
- Helps users plan energy usage and storage for their expected solar output.
Comparative Analytics:
- Provides a comparative analysis with similar systems in the area to benchmark performance.
Energy Savings Calculations:
- Calculates potential savings based on current solar production and energy consumption.
- Uses that calculation to recommend energy retailers or solar batteries.
- Offers other recommendations for optimising energy use.
Integration with Solar Systems:
- Compatible with a wide range of solar energy systems and inverters. It is the only independent monitoring app on our list, so it’s brand-agnostic.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the price of solar batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Much Are Solar Batteries? A Full Breakdown of Prices, Rebates, and Value in 2025.
iSolarCloud by Sungrow
The Sungrow iSolarCloud monitoring app is designed to provide users with insights into their solar installations.
One of the standout features of the iSolarCloud app is its data security and compliance with GDPR standards, ensuring that all user data is securely stored on European servers.
This focus on privacy and data protection is a significant advantage if you’re concerned about how your information is handled.
Ultra-fast Commissioning and Configuration:
- The iSolarCloud app features a commissioning wizard that simplifies the initial setup process. You can even download a commissioning report as a PDF for your records.
If you’re interested in learning more about sizing solar batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, What Size Solar Battery Do You Need?
Tesla App
The Tesla Mobile App is designed to manage Powerwalls. It provides real-time monitoring for the power coming and going from your solar battery system.
With the app, you can track energy consumption, control your Powerwall, and receive instant notifications for system performance.
Integration with the Tesla Ecosystem:
- Seamless integration with Tesla Electric Vehicles and Powerwall systems.
- Enhances the efficiency and reliability of Tesla solar energy systems.
- Supports other Tesla products, creating a comprehensive energy management solution.
Control and Customisation:
- Users can control their Tesla Powerwall settings directly from the app.
- Allows customisation, such as setting backup reserves and choosing between self-powered or cost-saving modes.
- Enables remote control of system settings, even when users are away from home.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about how to set up and use the Tesla App, you might want to check out the following article titled, How to Set Up and Use the Tesla Powerwall App.
Power You Going to Monitor Your Solar Without One of These Apps?
Now you know more about the options available for consumption monitoring apps and software. While they’re all very similar in principle, the interfaces and features of each app are specific to their corresponding products.
At PSC Energy, we understand how overwhelming it can be to look at different statistics online for various technologies. We’re here to guide you through that process with articles like this one or in a one-on-one consultation. Helping you get the most out of your system is what we do.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about solar panels and energy systems, you might want to check out the following article titled, Are Solar Panels Worth It in NSW, Australia? A Price Breakdown for 2025.
FAQ: Energy Use Monitoring
What is a solar consumption monitoring app?
A solar consumption monitoring app tracks your home’s solar energy production, usage, and sometimes battery performance in real time. These apps help you understand where your energy is going, identify savings opportunities, and keep your system working at its best.
Why should I use a solar monitoring app?
Using a solar monitoring app lets you:
- See exactly how much solar power you’re producing and using.
- Spot issues before they cost you money.
- Adjust energy habits to use more solar and less grid electricity.
- Program battery backup settings for blackouts.
How does real-time monitoring save money on energy bills?
Real-time monitoring shows your current power use and production instantly. By matching high-energy activities like running the washing machine to times of high solar output, you can reduce grid imports and lower bills.
What is historical data in a solar monitoring app?
Historical data is a record of past solar production and energy use. It helps you:
- Compare seasonal performance.
- Track the impact of behaviour changes.
- Plan for higher summer cooling or winter heating loads.
What alerts and notifications do solar apps send?
Most apps send smartphone alerts for:
- Unusual spikes in usage.
- Drops in solar production.
- Potential faults in your system.
- Energy use exceeding set limits.
What is panel-level monitoring in a solar system?
Panel-level monitoring shows the performance of each solar panel individually. It’s available with Enphase microinverters, DC optimisers, and some other systems. This helps identify underperforming panels for repair or replacement.
Which solar app works with Enphase systems?
The Enphase Enlighten app works with Enphase microinverters and Enphase batteries. It offers real-time data, panel-level monitoring, and integration with other Enphase products.
Which solar app works with Fronius systems?
The Fronius Solarweb app works with Fronius inverters and, for consumption monitoring, a Fronius Smart Meter. A premium membership adds features like advanced analysis, cost control, and public display mode.
Which solar app works with SolarEdge systems?
The mySolarEdge app works with SolarEdge inverters and DC optimisers. It offers panel-level monitoring, performance tracking, and integration with smart home devices for automated energy use.
What makes Solar Analytics different from other apps?
Solar Analytics is brand-agnostic and works with many inverter types. It compares your actual output to expected production based on weather. It recommends energy retailers or battery options for further savings.
Which solar app works with Sungrow systems?
The Sungrow iSolarCloud app provides performance data, secure data storage on European servers, and a commissioning wizard that speeds up setup. It’s designed for Sungrow inverters.
Which app do Tesla Powerwall owners use?
The Tesla App is used for managing Tesla Powerwall batteries. It tracks solar and battery performance, lets you set backup reserves, and integrates with Tesla EVs for a complete energy ecosystem.
Can I use one solar app for different inverter brands?
Most apps are brand-specific, meaning they only work with matching inverters or batteries. Solar Analytics is an exception, as it works with a range of brands.
How can a solar app help manage battery backup?
Solar monitoring apps let you set how much battery charge is reserved for blackouts. This ensures your home still has power during outages while maximising solar use for daily needs.
What features should I look for in a solar monitoring app?
Look for:
- Real-time monitoring.
- Historical data storage.
- Custom alerts and notifications.
- User-friendly dashboards.
- Battery backup control.
- Compatibility with your system.
