Comparison

Ref Tools vs ExView®

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

Head to head
About

Ref Tools

This app provides HVACR technicians with essential tools and information for field service. It includes refrigerant calculators, troubleshooting guides, product finders, and access to spare parts. Listen to educational podcasts to enhance your knowledge on the go.

Highlights
  • Refrigerant Slider for P/T calculations
  • Solenoid valve coil testing tool
  • Refrigeration system troubleshooting guide
  • Product data finder
  • Spare parts ordering
  • Low-GWP refrigerant comparison
  • TXV Superheat optimization
  • Educational podcasts
Features
Read full description

Get the guidance, support, information, and tools you need—on the job and in the field. Ref Tools is a free, powerful app that contains essential tools every HVACR technician needs in their digital toolbelt. Ref Tools offers a collection of useful air conditioning and refrigeration tools: Refrigerant Slider As a featured part of Ref Tools, you get all the features and functionality that made Refrigerant Slider a hit with millions of installers around the world. Quickly calculate pressure/temperature ratios and find essential information on over 80 refrigerants. Magnetic Tool Test and troubleshoot solenoid valve coils quickly and easily. Troubleshooter Get help diagnosing issues in refrigeration systems, so you can quickly identify symptoms and find recommended solutions. Product Finder Find extensive product-related data in one place. Search by product code number or product category to access and share product specifications, documentation, visuals, and more. Spare Parts Access and order an extensive list of Danfoss spare parts and service kits for air conditioning and refrigeration applications. Low-GWP Tool Find and compare climate-friendly refrigerants for retrofitting by checking compatibility with the TXV. TXV Superheat Tuner Optimize superheat in less than 15 minutes. Using advanced algorithms, TXV Superheat Tuner provides valve-specific adjustment recommendations. Podcasts The workday can be full and the road long, so Ref Tools also provides you with some educational entertainment. You can listen to podcasts, including the popular Chilling with Jens podcast, directly in the app. So, take a break and chill out a bit while learning something new about refrigeration. More about Refrigerant Slider Refrigerant Slider, now a part of Ref Tools, helps you quickly calculate the pressure-to-temperature ratio for more than 80 refrigerants, including natural refrigerants such as ammonia and transcritical CO2. Refrigerant Slider also provides you with information about each refrigerant, including Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP). You can switch between the IPCC AR4 and AR5 values, where AR4 values are used in relation to the European F-Gas regulations. Refrigerant Slider’s P/T calculations use extended curve–fitting models based on Refprop 10 results. You can also see both dew and bubble point for refrigerants with glide. Streamline your workflow Ref Tools goes beyond just providing quick access to helpful tools; it helps you save time by allowing you to track your most visited service sites and save unique settings for each one. Simplify each service call with ease. Feedback Your input matters – we would love to hear it from you. We're committed to continuously improving Ref Tools to meet your needs. If you encounter a bug or have a feature suggestion, please use the in-app feedback function available in Settings. Alternatively, you can reach us via email at coolapp@danfoss.com. Danfoss Climate Solutions At Danfoss Climate Solutions, we engineer energy-efficient solutions to help the world get more out of less. Our innovative products and solutions enable a decarbonized, digital, and more sustainable tomorrow, and our technology supports a cost-efficient transition to renewable energy sources. With a strong foundation in quality, people, and the climate, we drive the energy, refrigerant, and food system transitions needed to achieve climate goals. Read more about us at www.danfoss.com. Terms and Conditions apply for use of the app.

About

ExView®

This app connects to compatible meters to collect, trend, and analyze environmental data remotely. It allows for real-time monitoring, setting alarms, and generating custom PDF reports with photos. Data can be easily shared with team members.

Highlights
  • Remote data collection and trending
  • Real-time dashboard view
  • Bluetooth connectivity up to 90m
  • Programmable high/low alarms
  • Export data as CSV
  • Generate custom PDF reports
  • Attach photos to reports
Read full description

About the ExView® The EXTECH 250W Series compatible with the ExView® Mobile App. Connect up to 8 meters of any combination to measure and trend various parameters to help accurately diagnose environmental conditions and inspect/maintain HVAC and rotating equipment. The ExView® Mobile App is an easy-to-use powerful mobile data collection and reporting app. The dashboard provides a quick at-a-glance view of real-time data being collected from all of your EXTECH 250W connected meters. Users can monitor and collect data remotely from the meter(s), this is especially useful when you need to collect data in difficult to access areas. The meter(s) will communicate with the app via Bluetooth® up to a distance of 90 m (295 ft). In addition, you can set min/max alarms to improve response times to potential issues. The app enables you to quickly share data with team members either as a quick .CSV file or a comprehensive PDF report that can include photos of the impacted area/equipment. App Highlights Include: • Portable data collection, trending, analysis and reporting • Visualize Data and trends on your mobile device • Programmable High/Low audible alarms • Export data in .CSV file format • Generate Custom report in PDF • Take snapshots of the measurement area with your smart device • Day mode/Dark mode screen feature • Share data files directly from your mobile device • Connect up to 8 EXTECH 250W meters, any combination • AN250W Anemometer • LT250W Light Meter • SL250W Sound Level Meter • RH250W Hygro-Thermometer • RPM250W Laser Tachometer Please supply all feedback to: feedback@extech.com Thank you. EXTECH Digital Solutions Team

Screenshots

Ref Tools4 screens
ExView®4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ExView® at 5.0 against Ref Tools's 3.9. ExView® also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Ref Tools's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (52 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

ExView® holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ref Tools has 52 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ref Tools ships an update every 5 weeks, ExView® every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Ref Tools versus ExView®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRef ToolsExView®
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (52 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings52 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDanfoss A/SExtech Instruments Corporation

Customer experience

Ref Tools

All ratings52 ratings
Positive73.1%
Neutral3.8%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive57.6%
Neutral7.6%
Negative34.8%

ExView®

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

Bugs and requests

Ref Tools

Reported bugs

27 issues
  • CRASHED instantly on Mac Mini M4
  • App won’t open on iPhone
  • App flashes up and disappears
  • Cannot open app
  • Immediately shuts off since recent release
Show 22 more
  • Crash au lancement since update
  • Will not save to Home Screen
  • Incorrect PT Charting for r134a
  • Information doesn’t slide down
  • Crashes on iOS12.1.4
  • App won’t open since previous update
  • List of refrigerants shifted upwards on iPhone 10
  • Stuck on R134a, needs update for current iOS
  • R744A only goes to 60 psi
  • Scale did not go low enough for deep vacuum
  • Missing R22 on Apple version
  • Missing R717 (Ammonia)
  • Missing R-22
  • Missing R124a
  • No longer lists Ammonia
  • Missing Refrigerants since app update
  • Missing Ammonia and CO2
  • r410a is missing since update
  • Removed r22, 410a, and 407c
  • Refrigerants missing now
  • Removed slider for ammonia
  • Scale doesn't go into vacuum

Requested features

18 requests
  • More residential AC information
  • Troubleshooter for Residential & Commercial
  • Add SP22 refrigerant
  • Add R-11 refrigerant
  • Add R-123 range down to 40 degrees
Show 13 more
  • Add R744 and R744A to 0 psia
  • Scale to go lower for R-123 vacuum
  • Add R410a
  • Add R407c
  • Add R404A
  • Add R22
  • Add R124a
  • Add Ammonia
  • Add CO2
  • Add R717 (Ammonia)
  • Scale going higher on CO2
  • Setting for high altitude
  • Scale to go into vacuum

ExView®

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ref Tools

No in-app purchases

None

ExView®

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ref Tools free?
Ref Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ExView® free?
ExView® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ref Tools or ExView®?
ExView® is rated higher. Ref Tools averages 3.9 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while ExView® averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Ref Tools or ExView® have ads?
Neither Ref Tools nor ExView® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ref Tools or ExView®?
Ref Tools ships an update every 5 weeks, and ExView® every 6 months. Most recently, Ref Tools was updated on September 26, 2026 and ExView® on September 8, 2026.

Other comparisons