Today are searched simple and effective techniques that do not require expensive infrastructure and spend a little energy to obtain thin films for different purposes – harvesting energy from renewables, removing pollution from environment etc. Two such simple techniques are compared in our work - spray pyrolysis and electrodeposition methods. Hematite thin films are obtained and their structure, morphology, photo-electrochemical properties investigated. Results showed that material with same crystalline structure but distinctly different surface architecture can be obtained using both methods. Photo-electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the photocurrent is two times grater for electrodeposited thin film comparing with film prepared by spray pyrolysis method.