Comparison

Ref Tools vs Ductwise

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

Ductwise

Features
Read full description

Ductwise sizes ductwork the way the standards do — and shows you the numbers behind the answer. Type the airflow and the friction rate you design to. Ductwise gives you the exact round duct, the next size you can actually buy, the resulting velocity, and the rectangular equivalent for the same friction and flow. No chart, no cardboard slide rule, no guessing. BUILT FOR THE JOB • Big, high-contrast numbers you can read on a roof in daylight • Large touch targets that work with gloves on • Dark mode for plant rooms and night shifts • Every calculation works offline — no account, no sign-in • Metric and imperial, switched with one tap WHAT IT CALCULATES • Equal-friction and velocity duct sizing • Next manufactured size, so the answer is something you can order • Rectangular and flat-oval equivalents, with an aspect-ratio warning • Friction rate, velocity, velocity pressure, Reynolds number, friction factor • Total pressure loss: straight run plus fitting loss coefficients • Free area, hydraulic diameter, circular equivalent, surface area for insulation • Airflow from room volume and air changes per hour • Airflow from a sensible heating or cooling load THE METHOD, IN THE OPEN Friction comes from the Darcy–Weisbach equation, with the friction factor solved iteratively from Colebrook–White using the hydraulic diameter and the actual mean velocity. Circular equivalents use the Huebscher relation for rectangular duct and the ASHRAE relation for flat oval. Duct roughness follows the standard material categories, from smooth PVC to flexible duct. With Pro, air density and viscosity are computed from your air temperature and site altitude instead of being assumed. That matters: a mile above sea level, air is about 17 % lighter, and every rule-of-thumb constant quietly drifts with it. The app always shows you the density it used. You can read the full method inside the app. A calculator that will not tell you what it is doing does not deserve your trust. FREE AND PRO Round duct sizing, airflow from air changes and the core analysis are free and complete — no time limit, no nag screens. The free version keeps three saved calculations and shows a small banner advert on the Projects screen. Ductwise Pro is a single one-time purchase. No subscription. • Rectangular and flat-oval ducts • Fitting losses and total system pressure • Airflow from heating and cooling loads • Real air density — altitude and temperature • Unlimited saved projects • Share a clean report with your client • No ads PRIVACY Nothing you type into Ductwise leaves your device. The advert in the free version is served by Google AdMob, which receives device and advertising data to show it. In the EEA, the UK and Switzerland you are asked for consent first. Ductwise then asks, through Apple's tracking prompt, whether ads may be personalised: if you allow tracking, Google may use your device's advertising identifier; if not, every ad is non-personalised. The app works exactly the same either way. Pro removes advertising entirely. Ductwise is an engineering aid. It does not replace the designer's judgement or the codes that apply to your project — always check results against the standard in force.

Screenshots

Ref Tools4 screens
Ductwise4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ref Tools at none against Ductwise's 1. Ref Tools also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Ductwise sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ref Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Ref Tools versus Ductwise: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRef ToolsDuctwise
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (52 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings52 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDanfoss A/SBEK Service LTD

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

Ductwise

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ref Tools

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Ductwise

One-time1
  • Ductwise Pro$7.99

Questions

Is Ref Tools free?
Ref Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ductwise free?
Ductwise is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ref Tools or Ductwise have ads?
Ductwise shows ads; Ref Tools does not.
Which is updated more often, Ref Tools or Ductwise?
Ref Tools ships an update monthly, and Ductwise monthly. Most recently, Ref Tools was updated on November 5, 2026 and Ductwise on November 6, 2026.

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