Builder comparison
Electional vs SolarFire
SolarFire is the desktop standard for deep chart work. Electional turns the timing workflow into ranked electional windows, multi-year transit scans, and an API your code can call. Many practitioners run both.
Public source checked
Solar Fire's official product page (Astrolabe) positions the software as the professional desktop standard — deep chart types, dignities, electional Time Search, and predictive tools.
Official sourceSide-by-side
| Dimension | Electional | SolarFire |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Web + API + MCP | Windows desktop |
| Ephemeris | Swiss Ephemeris | Swiss Ephemeris |
| Transit scanning | Automated, full-year in < 1 min | Desktop search/report workflow |
| Electional scoring | 72 intents, ranked automatically | Time Search (manual criteria config) |
| Transit-to-transit | Built-in, scored | Available through desktop tools |
| API access | REST API + MCP | None |
| Chart rendering | Not yet | Full visual charts |
| Natal chart features | Transit-focused only | Full chart suite |
| Pricing | Credits and memberships | One-time desktop license |
| Updates | Continuous (cloud) | Paid version upgrades |
Who should pick what
Electional is best for
- People who want ranked timing without configuring a desktop Time Search
- Practitioners who need automated electional timing
- Developers building astrology into their own apps via REST API + MCP
SolarFire is best for
- Astrologers who need full visual chart rendering
- Practitioners who use progressions, returns, and composites
- Windows users who prefer one-time licensing over usage pricing
Honest fit
Use SolarFire for hands-on chart rendering, progressions, returns, and composites.
Use Electional when you want ranked election windows in seconds or a Swiss Ephemeris API your apps and AI agents can call.
Many practitioners run both — SolarFire for deep chart work, Electional for fast scanning.
FAQ
Is Electional a SolarFire replacement?
Not entirely. SolarFire still covers chart rendering, progressions, composites, and desktop Time Search workflows that Electional does not. Electional adds web/API ranked timing results for people who do not want to configure each search manually.
Does Electional use the same ephemeris as SolarFire?
Yes. Both use Swiss Ephemeris. Electional delivers that precision through a web product and API instead of a desktop app.
Can I use both tools together?
Yes. Many people use Electional for fast scanning and SolarFire for deeper visual chart work.
Need ranked electional windows, not another content feed?
Try the web surface first, or build directly against the API and MCP tools when your product needs repeatable astrology timing.