Comparison

Carel Applica vs CaptiveAire Toolbox

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

Head to head
About

Carel Applica

This app allows users to interact with CAREL's new generation of parametric and programmable controllers. It offers a simplified user experience for managing functions, parameters, and data trends with access control based on user type.

Highlights
  • Parameter management with descriptions
  • Local and remote configuration management
  • Live and historical data trend management
  • Exportable data trends
  • Controller documentation access
  • Device information retrieval
Features
Read full description

APPLICA is the CAREL app for interacting with the new generation of parametric controllers and programmable controllers, offering an all-new user experience and ensuring simple configuration. Functions and parameters are managed via profiles so as to ensure the correct access level based on the type of user. The main features are: - Parameter management with descriptions in different languages, maximum/minimum values with consistency control, advanced search capabilities and categorisations; - Management of local and remote configurations, both default and personal; - Management of data trends, both live and historical, with option to export the displayed data; - Up-to-date documentation relating to the connected controller; - Device information (serial number, software version, etc.)

About

CaptiveAire Toolbox

This app provides over 40 HVAC and building-systems engineering calculators. It's designed for field use, offering standard industry formulas for cooling, heating, ventilation, electrical sizing, and more. Access detailed formula definitions and reference data.

Highlights
  • 40+ HVAC engineering calculators
  • Cooling and heating load calculations
  • Ventilation and airflow tools
  • Electrical sizing and motor circuits
  • Duct and piping pressure drop
  • Reference data and psychrometric chart
Features
Read full description

The CaptiveAire Toolbox puts 40+ HVAC and building-systems engineering calculators in your pocket. Designed for engineers, contractors, and technicians, every formula uses standard industry references (ASHRAE, AMCA, NEC), sized so you can run sanity checks in the field instead of pulling out a laptop. Cooling: Total Cooling Load (enthalpy-based with humidity), Sensible Cooling Load, Latent Cooling Load, SEER, Cost of Cooling, Tons to BTU/hr conversions, DX/MPU Cooling, Evaporative Cooling, DMUA mode logic, Cooling Density Factor. Heating: BTU output for direct and indirect fired heaters, Input and Output BTU/hr for IBT systems, Temperature Rise from BTU and CFM, Heat Pump capacity with airflow and outdoor temperature adjustment, Reheat Coil leaving conditions, Manifold Pressure for natural gas and LP, Heating Density Factor. Ventilation and Airflow: Room Volume CFM, Sensible Heat CFM, Cooling Load CFM, Duct Velocity CFM, Outdoor Air Load (sensible plus latent), Psychrometric properties from dry bulb plus RH or wet bulb, Fan Energy Index per AMCA 208, Motor Adjusted Frequency for VFDs, ERV ROI Calculator with degree-day economics. Electrical Sizing: Wire Size per NEC Table, MCA and MOCP for motor circuits, Amperage from horsepower. Piping and Structural: Round Duct Sizing using Darcy-Weisbach and Colebrook-White, Duct Velocity and Friction, Piping Pressure Drop with fittings equivalent length, Pitched Roof curb height variation. Valve and Flow Sizing: Kv from flow rate, flow rate from Kv, pressure drop from Kv, Cv to Kv conversion, Heat Load to Flow Rate for water and glycol. Reference: ASHRAE Weather Station data with autocomplete address search, returning heating and cooling design temperatures, solar irradiance, wind speeds, and monthly design-day temperatures. Interactive Psychrometric Chart with property calculations. Modern HVAC versus Traditional Rooftop Unit comparison. Each calculator includes the formula and variable definitions accessible from the title bar. Tap the info icon to see exactly what equation drives the result. Built by the engineering team at CaptiveAire Systems. No tracking, no ads, no account required.

Screenshots

Carel Applica4 screens
CaptiveAire Toolbox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CaptiveAire Toolbox at 5.0 against Carel Applica's 1.0. CaptiveAire Toolbox also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

CaptiveAire Toolbox holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Carel Applica ships an update every 3 months, CaptiveAire Toolbox every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Carel Applica versus CaptiveAire Toolbox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCarel ApplicaCaptiveAire Toolbox
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCAREL INDUSTRIES S.p.A.CaptiveAire Systems, Inc.

Customer experience

Carel Applica

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive21.4%
Neutral7.1%
Negative71.4%

CaptiveAire Toolbox

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Carel Applica

No in-app purchases

None

CaptiveAire Toolbox

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Carel Applica free?
Carel Applica is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CaptiveAire Toolbox free?
CaptiveAire Toolbox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Carel Applica or CaptiveAire Toolbox?
CaptiveAire Toolbox is rated higher. Carel Applica averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while CaptiveAire Toolbox averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Carel Applica or CaptiveAire Toolbox have ads?
Neither Carel Applica nor CaptiveAire Toolbox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Carel Applica or CaptiveAire Toolbox?
Carel Applica ships an update every 3 months, and CaptiveAire Toolbox every 6 days. Most recently, Carel Applica was updated on October 13, 2026 and CaptiveAire Toolbox on October 22, 2026.

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