Comparison

RRTool vs BaseCalc HVAC Calculator

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

Head to head
About

RRTool

Features
Read full description

RRTool is the extended features companion app to your RR1090 digital refractometer and similar Bay Area Instruments devices. It communicates via encrypted BLE with your device, mirroring its buttons and providing extended functionalities such as: cloud spreadsheet logging of your measurements, enabling of ATC for Brix, QR code generation and device firmware upgrades.

About

BaseCalc HVAC Calculator

This professional tool offers 18 HVAC calculators for field use, including BTU, CFM, duct sizing, and psychrometrics. It saves calculation history, job records, and allows PDF export of worksheets. The app works offline and features a high-contrast interface for job sites.

Highlights
  • 18 HVAC calculators
  • BTU/CFM/Duct sizing
  • Psychrometric calculations
  • Refrigerant checks
  • Job records and worksheets
  • PDF export
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

BaseCalc HVAC Calculator is an HVAC calculator for field math, worksheets, materials, and saved calculation history. Run BTU, CFM, duct sizing, airflow, psychrometrics, manufacturer-data refrigerant checks, planning load, hydronics, and other HVAC calculator arithmetic on site, then save the result for the job. 18 CALCULATORS FOR DAILY FIELD WORK • BTU ↔ Tons — convert between BTU/hr and refrigeration tons. • CFM from BTU — airflow from load and temperature rise/drop. • BTU from CFM — load from airflow and temperature difference. • Duct Sizing — round and rectangular duct from CFM and velocity. • Air Velocity — velocity from CFM and cross-sectional area. • Psychrometrics — total, sensible, and latent BTU/hr estimates at standard atmospheric pressure. • Refrigerant Lines — check entered manufacturer line data against an entered equivalent-length limit. • Superheat / Subcooling — record the exact target supplied by the equipment manufacturer. • Room Load — preliminary area-factor planning math using your supplied factor; not Manual J. • Heat Pump Balance — interpolate a bracketed balance point from entered manufacturer capacity data. • Hydronics — BTU, GPM, and ΔT relationships. • Mixed Air — mixed-air temperature from outdoor and return air. • Air Changes — ACH from CFM and room volume. • Evaporative Cooling — supply temperature and sensible air-side estimate. • Filter Velocity — filter face velocity; use manufacturer data for pressure drop. • O₂ Excess Air — theoretical dry-flue-gas dilution estimate from measured O₂; not a safety result. • Refrigerant Weight — additional charge from an entered manufacturer allowance and rate. • Outdoor Airflow — breathing-zone airflow arithmetic from user-supplied per-person and per-area rates. EVERY RESULT IS EXPLAINED • Explicit input validation, assumptions, and calculation boundaries. • Final arithmetic and a calculation breakdown where the supplied data supports one. • Saved local history so you keep a job-site record. JOB RECORDS, MATERIALS, AND WORKSHEETS • Save job contacts with site notes. • Build job worksheets with scope, quantities, and site notes. • Export worksheet PDFs for internal handoff or customer context. • Plan common pull-list items before rough-in, service, and closeout. • Send the finished billing handoff to SpeakSheet for the final invoice. DEVICE-LOCAL FOR THE FIELD • Works offline by default. • No BaseCalc account or cloud sync. • Job contacts, worksheets, settings, and calculation history use the app's local storage. • Subscription status is checked through RevenueCat; exports leave the app only when you choose to share them. • No third-party advertising SDK or third-party ads in this release. • Dark and light themes with a high-contrast job-site interface. BaseCalc HVAC is a professional reference tool. Always verify against current industry standards, manufacturer data, and local codes. The authority having jurisdiction has the final say. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

RRTool4 screens
BaseCalc HVAC Calculator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RRTool at none against BaseCalc HVAC Calculator's 2. RRTool also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.4). BaseCalc HVAC Calculator's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ads and device support 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. BaseCalc HVAC Calculator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.00 per month. RRTool asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RRTool ships an update every 4 months, BaseCalc HVAC Calculator every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
RRTool versus BaseCalc HVAC Calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRRToolBaseCalc HVAC Calculator
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBay Area Instruments Inc.BASEMAPPED LLC

In-app purchases

None

RRTool

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

BaseCalc HVAC Calculator

Subscriptions2
  • HVAC Pro Monthly$7.001 Month
  • HVAC Pro Yearly$50.001 Year

Questions

Is RRTool free?
RRTool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BaseCalc HVAC Calculator free?
BaseCalc HVAC Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do RRTool or BaseCalc HVAC Calculator have ads?
Neither RRTool nor BaseCalc HVAC Calculator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RRTool or BaseCalc HVAC Calculator?
RRTool ships an update every 4 months, and BaseCalc HVAC Calculator every 6 weeks. Most recently, RRTool was updated on October 3, 2026 and BaseCalc HVAC Calculator on October 6, 2026.

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