Ref Tools vs GarageBook
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
GarageBook
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GarageBook is the easiest way to keep every vehicle you own maintained, organized, and running right — without a spreadsheet. Log a service in seconds, track your real fuel economy, and get a clear heads-up before maintenance is due. Everything lives on your device and works offline. Turn on cloud sync to keep it in step across your devices. WHY DRIVERS LOVE GARAGEBOOK • Local-first and private — your data is yours, and the app works with no account and no signal. • Built for people who actually wrench, and for anyone who just wants to stay ahead of the shop. • A clean, dashboard-inspired design that reads at a glance. TRACK EVERY SERVICE • Log oil changes, brakes, tires, fluids, and any custom service with cost, date, odometer, shop or DIY, and notes. • Snap receipt photos and attach them to the record. • Decode your VIN to auto-fill year, make, model, and engine (via NHTSA). NEVER MISS MAINTENANCE • Smart reminders track both distance and time and flag each item as on-track, coming up, due, or overdue. • See your whole garage's health at a glance. FUEL & ECONOMY • Log fill-ups and see true MPG or L/100km, cost per mile, and trends. • Full-to-full calculation means a forgotten receipt never throws off your numbers. MODS, WEAR & RECALLS • Track modifications and your total build investment, and export a polished PDF build sheet. • Monitor wear items like tires and brake pads against their replacement thresholds. • Check open recalls for your exact year, make, and model (via NHTSA). GO FURTHER WITH PRO • Unlimited vehicles • Cloud sync across your devices • Find nearby repair shops and fuel or EV charging stations • Save where you parked and walk back to your car • Export a PDF build sheet FREE FOREVER Up to 2 vehicles and all local tracking, including CSV export. GARAGEBOOK PRO $3.99/month, $19.99/year, or a $39.99 one-time lifetime purchase. GarageBook Pro is an auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at purchase confirmation. It renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Account settings. The Lifetime option is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://getgaragebook.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://getgaragebook.com/privacy.html A home-screen widget keeps your most urgent maintenance one glance away. Questions or feedback? support@getgaragebook.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ref Tools at none against GarageBook's 3. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. GarageBook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Ref Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Ref Tools | GarageBook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (52 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 52 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 98 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Danfoss A/S | DtimesTwo Technologies LLC |
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
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- 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
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- 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
GarageBook
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Ref Tools
No in-app purchases
GarageBook
- GarageBook Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
- GarageBook Yearly Subscription$19.991 Year
- GarageBook Lifetime$39.99









