Comparison

BluVac vs IHWAP Diagnostics

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BluVac

Connect to compatible vacuum gauges via Bluetooth to perform detailed system evacuations. Features timed tests, decay tests, and data recording. Offers advanced reporting, multiple gauge connections, and geolocation for enhanced screenshots.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth gauge connection
  • Timed evacuation tests
  • Decay test functionality
  • Detailed results viewing
  • mQ Assist integration
  • Pro Report feature
  • Connect up to 6 gauges
Features
Read full description

Easily connect and perform detailed system evacuations with your BluVac+ Pro, BluVac+ LTE, and BluVac+ Micro vacuum gauges via Bluetooth. With the BluVac+ Pro, you can perform timed evacuation and decay tests, set target times, and view detailed results. For BluVac+ LTE and Micro, quickly record and display essential data. The app now features mQ Assist integration for evacuation guidance, an improved interface, and geolocation tracking for enhanced screenshots. Additional upgrades include a new Pro Report feature, the ability to connect up to 6 BluVac gauges simultaneously, and the option to rename gauges by their function (e.g., Pump, Core Tool, System). Plus, the decay test will now only start once the evacuation rate hits zero.

About

IHWAP Diagnostics

This application assists with home weatherization by quantifying air leakage, calculating ventilation needs, and assessing duct system pressure against program standards. It helps prioritize air sealing and ensures compliance with energy efficiency guidelines.

Highlights
  • Zone Pressure Diagnostics (ZPD)
  • Total External Static Pressure (TESP) calculation
  • ASHRAE ventilation requirements
  • Leakage reduction potential estimation
  • ENERGY STAR compliance checks
Features
Read full description

Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) Diagnostics application for the University of Illinois. This app is the product of a collaboration between the Indoor Climate Research & Training Center’s Senior Weatherization Trainer, Nate Price, and me. The Zone Pressure Diagnostics (ZPD) function will quantify the connection between the house and a zone and between that zone and the outdoors. It will also estimate the total leakage reduction potential in the zone, which should assist with prioritizing air sealing measures. The Total External Static Pressure (TESP) function will calculate total pressure and the pressure caused by the various components of a duct system and compare them to Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) standards for recommended replacement options. The American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) function will calculate home ventilation requirements ensuring proper pollutant control and ENERGY STAR compliance.

Screenshots

BluVac4 screens
IHWAP Diagnostics4 screens

Verdict

The call

BluVac and IHWAP Diagnostics both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of IHWAP Diagnostics's written reviews are positive against 36% of BluVac's. BluVac's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for BluVac against 5.0 for IHWAP Diagnostics. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 5 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of BluVac's written reviews are positive against 100% of IHWAP Diagnostics's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BluVac ships an update every 2 months, IHWAP Diagnostics every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
BluVac versus IHWAP Diagnostics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBluVacIHWAP Diagnostics
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews36.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperManifold Cloud Services Ltd.Travis Jenkins

Customer experience

BluVac

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral4.5%
Negative59.1%

IHWAP Diagnostics

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

BluVac

No in-app purchases

None

IHWAP Diagnostics

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BluVac free?
BluVac is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is IHWAP Diagnostics free?
IHWAP Diagnostics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BluVac or IHWAP Diagnostics?
BluVac and IHWAP Diagnostics are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 5 ratings respectively.
Do BluVac or IHWAP Diagnostics have ads?
Neither BluVac nor IHWAP Diagnostics shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BluVac or IHWAP Diagnostics?
BluVac ships an update every 2 months, and IHWAP Diagnostics every 5 months. Most recently, BluVac was updated on September 9, 2026 and IHWAP Diagnostics on June 5, 2026.

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