# Ref Tools vs Equipment Service Tool

The clearest difference is rating: Equipment Service Tool at 5.0 against Ref Tools's 3.9. Equipment Service Tool also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 58%). Ref Tools's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Equipment Service Tool sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Ref Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

Equipment Service Tool 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 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Ref Tools's written reviews are positive against 100% of Equipment Service Tool's.

Ref Tools ships an update every 5 weeks, Equipment Service Tool every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and July 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ref Tools | Equipment Service Tool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-tools/id472312541/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/equipment-service-tool/id6473715814/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **52** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 57.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 98 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Danfoss A/S](https://appshunter.io/developer/423984644) | [Kaleb Simpson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1719568849) |

## What reviewers say

### Ref Tools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ref-tools/id472312541)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Equipment Service Tool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/equipment-service-tool/id6473715814)

This utility app helps heavy equipment professionals diagnose issues with fault code searches and perform essential calculations. It includes tools for Ohm's Law, unit conversions, and refrigerant charging, supporting numerous manufacturers.

**Highlights:** Fault code search (J1939 SPN/FMI), Ohm's Law calculator, Unit conversion tool, Refrigerant charge calculator, Support for multiple heavy equipment manufacturers, Regular updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro - One Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ref Tools free?

Ref Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Equipment Service Tool free?

Equipment Service Tool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ref Tools or Equipment Service Tool?

Equipment Service Tool is rated higher. Ref Tools averages 3.9 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Equipment Service Tool averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Ref Tools or Equipment Service Tool have ads?

Equipment Service Tool shows ads; Ref Tools does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ref Tools or Equipment Service Tool?

Ref Tools ships an update every 5 weeks, and Equipment Service Tool every 2 months. Most recently, Ref Tools was updated on September 26, 2026 and Equipment Service Tool on July 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*