Comparison

Ref Tools vs HVAC Tools PT Chart

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

HVAC Tools PT Chart

Features
Read full description

Gauge is a field toolkit for HVAC and refrigeration technicians: a pressure-temperature chart for 10 refrigerants, superheat and subcooling calculators, troubleshooting checklists and a service call log with PDF reports. PT CHART - R-410A and R-22 free; R-134a, R-407C, R-404A, R-32, R-454B, R-290, R-438A and R-422D with Pro - Look up the saturation temperature for a pressure, or the pressure for a temperature - Scroll the full table from -40°F, with safety notes for the A2L (R-32, R-454B) and A3 (R-290) refrigerants CALCULATORS - Superheat: suction pressure and suction line temperature give the saturation temperature and the superheat - Subcooling: liquid line pressure and liquid line temperature - Temperature split: return and supply air - Ohm's Law: enter any two of volts, amps, ohms and watts - Pro: airflow (required CFM from BTU/h or tons and the temperature split), duct sizing (round and rectangular sizes from CFM and air velocity), capacitor check (measured against rated µF) and voltage drop (copper wire by AWG, one-way length, amps and supply voltage) Superheat, subcooling, temperature split, capacitor and voltage drop results are color-coded against typical ranges, with what to check next. SERVICE CALL LOG - Customer or address, complaint, system type, make and model - Suction and liquid pressure, superheat, subcooling, suction line, liquid line, supply and return air temperatures, compressor amps - Your diagnosis, the work performed, refrigerant type and amount, parts, notes, cost and time on the job - Free: up to 10 service calls. Pro: unlimited calls, search, and a PDF service report with your name and certification that you can share with the customer REFERENCE - Step-by-step checklists: AC not cooling (free), furnace not heating and heat pump not heating (Pro) - Typical ranges for superheat, subcooling, temperature split and compressor amps - Refrigerant facts: GWP, A2L or A3 safety class and phase-down status - System types, a copper wire ampacity table and an EPA 608 overview (certification types and key rules) AI ADVISOR (PRO) Describe a symptom or a set of readings and get a short written answer from an AI model. It sends only the message you type and needs an internet connection. AI answers can be wrong: check them against your own readings and the equipment manufacturer's data. GOOD TO KNOW - Gauge works in US units: °F, psig, CFM, inches, feet, AWG and pounds - The PT chart, calculators, reference and service log work without a connection GAUGE PRO Free: the PT chart for R-410A and R-22, the superheat, subcooling, temperature split and Ohm's Law calculators, up to 10 service calls, the AC checklist and the reference tables. Pro adds the other 8 refrigerants, the airflow, duct sizing, capacitor and voltage drop calculators, unlimited service calls with search and PDF reports, the furnace and heat pump checklists and the AI Advisor. In the US, Gauge Pro is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year (US prices; other countries see their own price in the app). Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage them in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Ref Tools4 screens
HVAC Tools PT Chart4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ref Tools at none against HVAC Tools PT Chart's 3. Ref Tools also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price 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. HVAC Tools PT Chart sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Ref Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ref Tools ships an update every 5 weeks, HVAC Tools PT Chart every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Ref Tools versus HVAC Tools PT Chart: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRef ToolsHVAC Tools PT Chart
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (52 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings52 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDanfoss A/SKarol Jaworski

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

HVAC Tools PT Chart

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ref Tools

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

HVAC Tools PT Chart

Subscriptions3
  • Gauge Pro$4.991 Month
  • Gauge Pro1 Year trial$39.991 Year
  • Gauge Pro$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Ref Tools free?
Ref Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HVAC Tools PT Chart free?
HVAC Tools PT Chart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ref Tools or HVAC Tools PT Chart have ads?
Neither Ref Tools nor HVAC Tools PT Chart shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ref Tools or HVAC Tools PT Chart?
Ref Tools ships an update every 5 weeks, and HVAC Tools PT Chart every 3 months. Most recently, Ref Tools was updated on October 17, 2026 and HVAC Tools PT Chart on October 14, 2026.

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