The U.S. HVAC industry is predicted to become a $35.8 billion industry by 2030.
With more businesses elbowing each other to get a slice of the pie, you need HVAC service software to give yours a competitive edge. With this software, you’ll finally be able to ditch pen and paper and efficiently serve your commercial, residential, or industrial clientele from your phone or computer.
In this article, we’ll delve into the top HVAC field service software options so you can save time on research and get straight to optimizing your business.
Here are our six top choices:
Top Picks
Below, you’ll find a summary of each app we’ve reviewed, with our scores, each app’s ideal use cases, its pricing, the availability of any free trials or free tiers, and the platforms on which the app is available. Each app has been thoroughly investigated and analyzed for users like you, with pros and cons, key features, integrations, and real user reviews.
Let’s take a look…
EDITOR’S NOTE: We created Workyard – the first app reviewed here – to address issues we encountered while struggling to track and manage construction payrolls for over 700 workers in over 50 construction businesses. We built the Workyard app from the ground up to support construction companies like yours, with industry-essential features like the industry’s most accurate time clock app with GPS and geofencing, intuitive contractor scheduling, construction cost tracking tools, and more.
Learn more about how Workyard works on our main website, or sign up for a 14-day free trial today to see what Workyard can do for your business.
Key Features
-
Precise job progress tracking and labor cost analysis
-
High-accuracy GPS time clock for real-time technician tracking
-
Drag-and-drop scheduling based on availability and proximity
-
Insightful reports on revenue, job costing, and productivity
-
Integrations with accounting, payroll, and invoicing systems
Offline-capable mobile app
Update task status with notes and photos
Work order files easily stored and retrieved
Real-time tracking of time, location, and mileage
No native CRM integrations
Need to educate some workers about location tracking
No forever-free plan
No optional SMS alerts for scheduled tasks
Highlights
Workyard leads our list with its robust workforce management features tailored for HVAC businesses.
Its industry-leading GPS time clock tracks technicians’ time, location, and driving mileage even in areas with poor reception, allowing them to work in the field uninterruptedly.
Each time clock entry syncs automatically with the team’s timesheet, giving managers accurate data needed for smoother payroll processing.
Workyard’s visual calendar simplifies task scheduling and ensures field techs know their assignments and locations.
Its job-tracking tool allows technicians to provide real-time updates while helping HVAC admins calculate costs and generate reports essential to making data-driven decisions.
Let’s take a quick dive into Workyard’s core HVAC service management features.
Convenient HVAC Work Order Management
Workyard’s job progress tracker is smoothly incorporated into each scheduled task. This enables managers and service technicians to view and reply to task-specific updates without the distraction and chaos of a separate group chat feature.
Workyard enables users to add checklists, notes, photos, or attachments to the activity stream within each task to keep everyone informed.
All project files and communication are safely stored and never lost. Workyard’s smart detection feature identifies inactive projects and automatically archives them. As soon as activity resumes, Workyard takes this as a cue to restore the project immediately.
Live Labor Expense Tracking
Workyard’s construction costing software breaks projects into detailed segments, showing where time and money are spent.
Technicians tag tasks to specific projects and cost codes at clock-in, automatically allocating hours and costs accordingly. Managers can see how labor costs are distributed, compare expenses against revenue, and pinpoint overspending or budget overruns.
The Job Costing section consolidates data by project, providing a live view of total costs and their distribution across tasks. This detailed view helps managers identify high and low earners, improve future estimates, and make budget adjustments as needed.
With accurate job costing captured in each time card, Workyard can easily feed billable hours into your invoicing system.
Simply go to Workyard’s Time Cards section, export the timesheet data to your accounting system, and everything will be processed instantly without paperwork.
See why 50,000+ workers and over 10,000 contractors use Workyard (and why field service managers like you gave it a stellar score of 4.9 / 5 on Capterra). Explore Workyard and start a 14-day free trial today to see how we can speed up your field-based business and workforce management.
High-Accuracy GPS Tracking
Workyard’s GPS time clock facilitates onsite check-in/out for service technicians, providing reliable proof if clients question the time spent completing the work order.
Using Workyard, technicians can clock in or out with a tap on their phones. Geofences can automatically log their hours as they arrive and leave job sites, eliminating worries about forgetting to clock in or out.
Unlike typical vehicle GPS trackers, Workyard’s HVAC service software continuously tracks locations, even when workers leave the job site for supplies or client meetings. This ensures accurate time tracking and payroll, no matter where work happens.
Even if the technicians are assigned to low- or no-reception areas, Workyard is robust enough to continue recording data in the background. For service technicians, it’s business as usual as the app works in offline mode, keeping all data intact until it’s ready to sync when the connection is restored.
All time entries are instantly reflected in the team’s timesheet, making it easy for managers to review, edit, or approve them. The map-based view shows each technician’s location, aiding in accurate dispatching and scheduling decisions.
Workyard’s advanced GPS tracking can also:
- Send push notifications to remind workers about required meal breaks
- Insert meal breaks into time cards automatically in case the workers forgot
- Monitor travel times, routes, and mileage for reimbursements
Optimized Field Service Scheduling and Dispatching
Workyard’s scheduling software helps managers organize tasks in a visual calendar. Adding new tasks is easy, and they can be assigned to individual techs or teams. A task watcher can also oversee assignments to ensure deadlines are always met.
Managers can dispatch one-off jobs or set recurring tasks for routine maintenance. They can leverage Workyard’s flexible scheduling calendar and the live map-based team view to assign jobs based on technician availability and proximity to the customer’s location.
Digital access to scheduling details allows for quick revisions without starting from scratch. Rescheduling tasks only takes simple dragging and dropping, while duplicating them only requires a few clicks.
Bulk editing of multiple scheduled jobs is also available, helping managers save time and effort.
Workyard’s field service scheduling can also:
- Organize tasks using color-coded custom labels
- Help with route optimization through a “road map” view of the location
- Designate geofenced project location for each task
- Prepare technicians for each task through notes, checklists, etc.
- Send automatic notifications when tasks are added or updated
Customizable Reports and Dashboard
Workyard automatically generates reports from the data entered into the system. These reports help managers keep their fingers on the pulse of the business’s profitability and make data-driven decisions accordingly.
The dashboard provides a summary of active projects and labor costs, allowing managers to monitor profitability at a glance.
Meanwhile, time card reports offer insights into technician productivity and compliance with company policies. Reports can be customized by person, time format, or date range.
The Project Hub also offers detailed data for each project, including hours, labor costs, and mileage. This helps managers keep budgets on track, streamline billing, and improve future estimates.
Reviews
While Workyard’s mobile app experiences occasional bugs and glitches, they’re often resolved immediately. As a result, field techs have given it good ratings, almost as high as the score in Capterra, where users are mostly office-based admins.
Let’s see what some select users have to say about Workyard’s features.
Proper documentation protects HVAC businesses from customer disputes.
As the iOS user below shared, Workyard can automatically log workers’ hours upon entering or leaving the job location. This assures they’ll always get paid, even if they forget to clock in/out.
iOS Review:
Accurate employee time cards – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“One of the biggest problems we have is that our employees forget to clock in when they arrive on site. Workyard allowed us to set the addresses for all of our job sites so that when an employee arrives to the project Workyard uses GPS to capture their actual arrival time. If they forgot to clock in and do it say an hour later we have that audit trail to compare to. We can see that they arrived on site at 7 AM vs an 8:15 AM clock in. Our workers love it because when they forget to clock in it’s almost always an honest mistake. This way they feel confident their time card is going to be accurate and they’ll get paid what they deserve.”
Workyard can also be configured to allow workers like the Android user below to manually enter their hours in case they forget to clock in/out.”
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I love it. Even when I would forget to clock in work yard always makes it easy to update and correct my hours. Very easy, very reliable. ”
While the Capterra user review below loves how Workyard shows employees’ real-time locations, the app constantly sends automatic clock-in reminders even if the worker is off work. However, it’s important to note that Workyard won’t track location unless the worker is clocked in.”
Capterra Review:
This app has been super helpful with time tracking and job costing – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Overall: Very helpful
Pros: That I can see where my employees are at all times.
Cons: That if you are near a job site even if you are not working it constantly launches to try and get you to clock in. There should be a way to tell it that you are off that day. Might be there also and I don’t know I haven’t asked yet.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
14-day trial with no credit card required
Time Tracking
Annual: $6 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Monthly: $8 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Workforce Management
Annual: $13 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Monthly: $16 / mo. per user + $50 base fee
Try the most accurate workforce tracker for HVAC businesses
See how it worksKey Features
-
Client database with complete job and communication history
-
Booking app automatically converts appointments to scheduled jobs
-
Built-in invoicing with templates and automated follow-ups
-
Mobile app with real-time push notifications
Email, chat, and phone support available
Extensive integrations
Accept payments at the job site
Send “on my way” alerts to customers
Generated reports are too basic
No forever-free version
Marketing tools only available as add-ons
Highlights
Jobber’s impressive built-in CRM streamlines HVAC businesses’ management of customer interactions. It neatly organizes emails, text messages, and automated notifications, such as on-my-way texts and booking confirmations, in one place.
Whether recalling past service details or following up on a recent job, Jobber’s CRM ensures every customer interaction is professional and attentive. Additionally, tagging contacts as leads allows businesses to prioritize and convert potential customers efficiently.
However, Jobber’s reporting features leave much to be desired.
The reports generated are often too basic, requiring extensive modifications in Excel to extract valuable insights. This can be particularly frustrating when you need to analyze business performance quickly.
Moreover, the lack of customization options, such as creating custom fields or job-specific fields, limits the reports’ usefulness.
For instance, if you want detailed metrics on emergency HVAC repairs versus regular maintenance jobs, Jobber’s reporting capabilities might fall short.
Reviews
Jobber’s CRM feature and customer support give it an edge over its competitors. However, its lackluster reporting feature needs more improvement if it intends to build a solid reputation as an all-around field service management software.
Let’s check some of the reviews from verified Jobber users.
HVAC businesses are often crunched for time, so generating reports that require time-consuming adjustments (like what the iOS user below experienced with Jobber) can cause the team to fall behind schedule.
iOS Review:
Great organization tool – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We love Jobber for logistics, organizing routes, setting up and keeping track of one-off and recurring jobs, materials, chemical services, etc, also the ability to upload pics and notes and to make changes to routes or job details without having to track down crews working on loud equipment. The reports are very basic and have a lot of room for improvement – hence 4 stars. When we download reports we have to heavily edit them in excel to be useful. That gets annoying bc of time required which no landscaper has to spare.”
Jobbers’ accommodating agents and multiple customer support channels give Android users like the person below something to look forward to, despite experiencing technical issues.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Responsive support, they’re helping me work through issues with the new version..”
As the Capterra user review below shared, Jobber is easy to use and implement, but its reporting features lack the customizability and robustness to give users the data they need every single time.”
Capterra Review:
Jobber – My Business OSS – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Pros: Having a system that can be quickly and easily implemented and used by small business that incorporates features including integrates that addresses ‘quote to cash’ work flow was essential. Jobber does the job nicely, quickly, easily and is quite affordable for any small business. It integrates nicely with financial systems such as QuickBooks too.
Cons: Reporting is weak with the version I currently have. There are some standard reports that provide some fair data qualities but to customize reports using custom fields or job fields is quite weak. Exporting any report to Excel does not work well. I dont get the attachment file when attempting.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
14 days (no credit card required)
Core
$69/mo.
Connect
$169/mo.
Grow
$349/mo.
Key Features
-
Scheduling tool available in calendar, dispatch, or map view
-
Customer database with status, service, and communication history
-
Timesheet with clock-in/clock-out feature
-
Auto-generated and custom invoicing features
-
Estimates organized by current status and in e-signable format
Straightforward pricing
Integrates with QuickBooks
Create jobs from estimates (and vice versa)
Convert estimates into invoices on job completion
Unintuitive reporting feature
Pricing inflexible for small businesses
Limited out-of-the-box integrations
No designated section for unassigned jobs
Highlights
With FieldPulse’s pre-made estimate templates, you can quickly import customer information from your records and auto-fill common jobs. This lets you spend less time on administrative tasks and more time taking on new work.
Additionally, the “Good, Better, Best” feature enables you to offer service bundles in three tiers, making it easier to upsell with high-end materials and premium features.
FieldPulse’s price book, complete with simple task descriptions and images, helps your techs communicate the value of services clearly to customers, which is invaluable for closing deals.
On the flip side, generating reports in FieldPulse can be cumbersome and unintuitive compared to the rest of the program.
Simple reports like payment totals or marketing/lead reports often feel overwhelming due to the numerous steps and filters required. Many users find themselves creating templates to simplify the process, indicating a need for a more streamlined approach.
Accessing saved or custom report templates also involves several steps, which can be frustrating when you need quick access to data. A dedicated category for these templates would significantly enhance usability, making it easier to manage and utilize reports effectively.
Reviews
Overall, FieldPulse has a good reputation across all three platforms below. Users praise the app for its functionality but find its pricing structure too rigid, with various add-ons available to further increase its monthly fees.
So far, the app has gained the following reviews:
Most users have positive experiences with FieldPulse’s customer support. Unfortunately, for the iOS user below, the support wasn’t enough to fix the problem, leading to a regret and loss of customer data.
iOS Review:
Poor customer service and software – ⭐
“Software has many bugs. Always crashing and losing customer data. Support team never responds and offers any help. For the inflated price they charge it is not worth it. Many other great software system out there. I would recommend Housecall Pro or Jobber over FieldPulse. I should have known not to use this software when I had to beg their sales team to setup a demo. They always made meetings then cancelled them with no notice or explanation. It was as if I was too small of a business for them to care. MAJOR red flag I should have listened to.”
The Android user below found FieldPulse highly customizable for their needs but was not happy with its onboarding assistance which is apparently offered separately at a high cost.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Reasonably priced app, does what our business needs! I especially like the integration with things I already use like Google Calendar and Quickbooks. This is by far the most customizable software I’ve found, and the team feels considerably more honest than similar services. Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is that the “onboarding bundle” they upsold us on to get an agent to help us set everything up isn’t really necessary and is sort of overpriced.”
In addition to its expensive monthly fee per user, FieldPulse also upsells various add-ons. The Capterra user review below used FieldPulse’s phone system–which is available as a core feature in other apps, by the way–and wasn’t glad about the pricing strategy.”
Capterra Review:
Outstanding customer support and easy to use – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I guess one negative would be having to purchase add-ons to utilize the system fully. Having a business phone number tied into the system is a necessity. For that to happen with FieldPulse, you must purchase the Engage add-on, increasing the monthly cost. But with that said, they give you 5 new phone numbers and unlimited minutes and texts. Every correspondence is attached to the client dashboard. So now I use only one phone number to communicate with my clients instead of using FB Messenger, Instagram DMs, and personal text messages. It is much easier to keep track of everything this way. You can also port your existing phone number into the system if needed.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
No free trial available
Tier
$99/mo. per user
Key Features
-
Drag-and-drop scheduling and dispatching with real-time updates
-
Customer database with complete service history and contact info
-
Auto-generated invoices from completed jobs
-
Flexible and e-signable estimates for customers
-
Seamless integration with QuickBooks and other business systems
U.S.-based phone support
Easily add notes and photos for job updates
Converts estimates to jobs in one click
Tracks call sources and links them to jobs or estimates
Unlimited users on all pricing tiers
Limited out-of-the-box integrations
Interrupting mobile app bugs and glitches
No free trial available
No after-hours customer support
Highlights
One of Service Fusion’s most compelling features is its integrated voice and text communication, tailored specifically for service contractors.
By leveraging VoIP solutions, HVAC businesses can manage the entire customer lifecycle, from initial inquiries to repeat service calls, without the need for expensive hardware.
Service Fusion’s VoIP phone system offers call and text phone numbers and includes functionalities like auto-routing calls to the appropriate contractors, tracking call reasons and outcomes, and recording and transcribing conversations.
On the other hand, Service Fusion lacks a free trial. Instead, only a free demo is offered, which can be a deterrent for HVAC companies wanting to test the software before committing.
Service Fusion’s mobile app, another crucial tool for field service management, has been reported to frequently crash and suffer from bugs and glitches, disrupting the workflow for technicians in the field.
Reviews
Service Fusion fares better on iOS devices. Frequent bugs and glitches have led to its Android app crashing to the point that it’s almost unusable, hence its low rating on the Google Play Store.
Overall, Service Fusion has an above-average performance based on the following reviews:
The iOS user below found Service Fusion’s mobile app as a mere shadow of its desktop counterpart.
Worse, bug reports can only be submitted through the desktop version, making it difficult for service technicians to report technical issues as they happen.
iOS Review:
Really good, but definite room for improvement – ⭐⭐⭐
“The whole Service Fusion desktop program and mobile app are great, overall. But I’m in a position where I need many of the desktop browser features, while on the road, and it’s just not made for this. There is no Mobile Browser usability to speak of, and the app features are so restricted (even with full permissions) that it’s literally only suitable for the technician to get the job at hand done. Any feature requests or general bug reporting can only be submitted from the desktop browser, making it impossible for the field technician to submit them with an accurate description. For the stereotypical service manager chained to the office, and mindless worker-bee field techs, this is golden. But things can definitely be improved for more adaptability.”
Service Fusion’s Android app crashes so often that users like the one below can’t seem to accomplish any task without encountering a problem.
Google Play Review:
⭐⭐⭐
“Does what i need it to…….. EVENTUALLY. It feels like every time i go to do ANYTHING in the app i have to wait 30 sec to a minute for it to load. Gets frustrating when you have to use the app every single day.”
The Capterra user review below also complained of Service Fusion’s instability, only to be met by unreliable customer service.
Capterra Review:
Good software, terrible customer support (software goes down regularly) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Pros: It’s a great tool, very intuitive with significant flexibility. It has the potential to be great if the company would invest in the infrastructure flaws that make the software continue to go down/fail. Customer service is basically non-existent. They have absolutely no interest/motivation to speak to someone and individually address your needs – even if you offer to pay for it! Very poorly run company in that respect.Cons: The customer service is just terrible. The software goes down for hours and hours leaving you in a lurch. They have no after hours support. It’s not uncommon for the software to go down at 6pm and then will stay down until someone gets into the office at 8am. What happens to those of us that work in the evenings? This is highly disruptive to the businesses using the tool. There is a strong indication the company is not vested in the long run.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
No free trial available
Starter
$195/mo. (unlimited users)
Plus
$295/mo. (unlimited users)
Pro
$495/mo. (unlimited users)
Key Features
-
Project cost analysis for maintaining profit margin
-
Billing triggers for automatic invoice creation
-
Resource calendar to assign jobs to technicians or subcontractors
-
Preventive maintenance manager for customized maintenance plans
-
Integrations with CRM, ERP, and accounting systems
Drag-and-drop scheduling interface
Assign jobs based on skills or location
Approved quotes quickly convert into work orders
Complex interface requires a learning curve
Limited out-of-the-box integrations
Undisclosed pricing
Highlights
FieldPoint’s custom quoting feature allows users to generate multiple spending plans within a single quote, allowing them to offer various service tiers to customers.
For instance, you can create distinct spending plans for standard maintenance, premium repairs, and emergency services, letting clients choose the package that best fits their budget. Once a plan is selected, it seamlessly converts into a work order, ensuring that service can commence without delay.
FieldPoint also simplifies profit calculations by allowing you to set desired gross profit or mark-up percentages. As you add parts and labor to the spending plan, the software accurately computes the final price, guaranteeing that every quote remains profitable.
However, FieldPoint’s complex interface can be a significant barrier, especially for technicians who might not be very tech-savvy.
Additionally, the app’s stability is a concern; users have reported frequent crashes, leading to repeated uninstallation and reinstallation, which is both time-consuming and frustrating.
Reviews
With its mobile app (MobilePro) having a completely different name, users may have a hard time finding it in app stores.
But its name isn’t the most significant issue driving its mobile app ratings down. The app has been reported to be unstable, randomly crashing while the technicians are in the middle of completing their work.
As expected, mobile app users have rated MobilePro poorly. Things might improve in the future, but here’s an overview of FieldPoint’s user experience so far:
According to the iOS user below, FieldPoint’s app often crashed randomly, prompting technicians–some of whom are not tech-savvy–to repeatedly uninstall and reinstall the app on their phones. This inconvenience interrupted their workflow significantly, proving the importance of robust and stable HVAC service software.
iOS Review:
Good features, lacks robustness – ⭐⭐
“We have been using the app for about 6 weeks with about 15 technicians. Features are good, but app has been randomly crashing and users need to uninstall and reinstall the app. Some users are not “tech savvy”, which creates additional unnecessary overhead work to make sure the technicians stay using the app and focused on their work. I am pretty sure FieldPoint will eventually figure it out, but given the monthly subscription fee price they need to step their game up considerably quicker.”
The Android user didn’t report any crashing issues but found the app too cumbersome to use due to its faulty features.
Google Play Review:
⭐
“Updated app still doesn’t auto capitalize when you are typing in any of the fields. This is a basic function found in all software for well over a decade. Update requires MORE button presses to do the same function in previous version (ex. changing status in an appointment). I constantly have to reset my client profile to get tickets accepted by other techs to drop out of my queue. “Refresh” on the ticket queue doesn’t do it. Overall, very cumbersome app to use.”
While the Capterra user review below found redeemable qualities in FieldPoint’s work order management and scheduling features, the app was still very difficult to use overall.
Capterra Review:
FieldPoint Review – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Pros: What I like the most about this software is how easy it is to track jobs using the work order system. Field point makes it easy to track labor and material on work orders. The resource calendar is also a very useful tool when used, to schedule appointments for the techs throughout the week. The invoice preview feature was very useful in also tracking the progress of a job.Cons: For me personally I found it to be a little frustrating at the beginning to get used to the program and fully implement it. In certain situations, the software can also be somewhat restrictive, especially when mistakes are made and need to be corrected. I found data entry in the software to be tedious at times.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
No free trial available
Tiers/Pricing
Must contact sales for pricing
Key Features
-
Self-service portals for customers, vendors, and candidates
-
Native CRM tools to help the sales team manage prospects
-
Fully integrated accounting and inventory management
-
Job scheduling with Google Calendar integration
-
Automated email campaigns to market HVAC business
Comprehensive management features
Real-time tracking and scheduling of work orders
Custom alerts warn of potential budget overruns
Phone and email support available
Complex and bloated interface requires a learning curve
No mobile app
No native integration with QuickBooks
Confusing DIY scheduling calendar
Highlights
With Striven’s cloud-based ERP software, you get everything from fully integrated accounting to inventory management, enabling you to run your HVAC business seamlessly.
Striven’s full-service portals provide real-time updates and streamline interactions with customers, vendors, subcontractors, and candidates.
These portals are particularly useful for HVAC businesses, as they simplify invoice payments and help manage staffing efficiently, ensuring you always have the right person for the job.
With Striven’s portals, you can enable your customers to pay invoices online without hassle or give subcontractors direct access to your scheduling system so they know exactly when and where they need to be.
However, Striven’s interface, while robust, can be overwhelming due to the sheer number of features packed into the software. This complexity can be a hurdle for users who prefer a more straightforward tool, especially those who might be transitioning from simpler HVAC field service software.
Additionally, Striven includes its own accounting software, which might not appeal to businesses accustomed to using QuickBooks.
Another significant downside is Striven’s lack of a mobile app for both iOS and Android, which can be a dealbreaker for HVAC technicians who need to access the system on the go.
Reviews
Striven is an ERP software designed to help businesses accomplish multiple tasks and track multiple metrics in one place. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a mobile app yet, which explains its lack of presence on mobile app marketplaces.
The Capterra user review below proved that the downside of using an all-in-one business solution is a steep learning curve, which may not end soon, depending on the number of features you need to streamline your business.
Capterra Review:
Excellent, comprehensive ERP – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This software does everything, really. With that comes at a price of getting familiar with the system. It took our staff some time to learn where everything is. The menu is well thought out, but when you have a high amount of features, you have to learn where everything is at before you can zoom around the system with speed.”
Pricing
Free Trial?
7 days (No credit card needed)
Standard
$35/mo. per user
Enterprise
$70/mo. per user
The Bottom Line
With HVAC businesses racing against the clock (and each other) to get a share of this multibillion-dollar industry, it’s becoming more difficult to stand out.
At this point, simply getting the job done is not enough.
Using HVAC service software, businesses can dispatch the right techs to the right customers quickly and efficiently, helping them forge long-term customer relationships and create more upselling opportunities.
As one of the top HVAC field service software options available, Workyard can help your service technicians reduce paperwork and focus more on providing excellent customer service. Its robust service scheduling guided by real-time technician tracking can help HVAC managers make accurate dispatching decisions every single time.
Explore Workyard’s features and see how they can help scale your HVAC business without losing its personal touch. Or, sign up for a 14-day free trial so you can start testing its features at no cost.
Our Scoring System Explained
Our 8-part scoring system was created to help you understand the potential value of any software we review simply and fairly.
We created it after reviewing dozens of software products, which we covered in depth, but without providing a direct and simple way for readers to compare products on their merits – without spending a lot of time looking through our articles for the information they needed to make an informed decision.
Every app we review will include Customer Support and Company scores, which we’ll explain in more detail below. Many of the factors reviewed in this article will also be consistent across most (or all) of our software reviews, with some differences:
The 8 factors assessed and their contribution to a product’s overall score may differ slightly from product to product based on various factors, such as the use case we’re reviewing for, the type of business these products are tailored to, and other considerations. However, all reviews will feature an 8-part score, weighted and combined to calculate each product’s overall score.
How We Score Software
All factors in our reviews are scored on a 10-point scale – technically 11 points – from 0-10. However, we only give products a score of 0 if it does not include an essential feature at all, and we try to avoid giving out 0 scores if a product can demonstrate any functionality in line with the specific factor being reviewed.
In general, the 0-10 range translates as:
- 9.0 – 10 – One of the absolute best in its category (amazing).
- 7.5 – 8.9 – Very good, but with some minor issues (very good).
- 6.0 – 7.4 – Mediocre performance with notable shortcomings (average).
- 3.0 – 5.9 – This feature is not ready for prime time (borderline).
- 1.0 – 2.9 – This feature actually makes its product worse (unacceptable).
- 0 – The product doesn’t include this important feature at all.
How We Calculate Overall Scores
The 8 factors reviewed are weighted based on an overall total of 100%:
- Ease of Use: 20%
- Time Tracking Accuracy: 20%
- Scheduling Features: 15%
- Job Tracking: 15%
- Integrations: 10%
- Customer Support: 15%
- Company: 5%
Methodology for Each Factor
Ease of Use
We evaluate a product’s ease of use based on three main considerations:
- How easy is it to set up this app?
- How easy is it for managers to use the backend dashboard?
- How easy is it for frontline workers to use the (mobile) app?
These three considerations cover the main ways you and your team would use the software being reviewed – when you first obtain it, when someone (a manager, executive, team leader, or similar role) needs to use it to manage people, money, data, and other things, and when workers you’re tracking use the app (usually a mobile version of the software designed for frontline and/or field team members) to clock in, clock out, record time worked, or address other day-to-day needs.
Time Tracking Accuracy
Every minute matters when you’re trying to control payroll costs. This factor accounts for various features and common needs in time-tracking apps, such as…
- How accurate or precise is its GPS tracking capability?
- How accurate – and how customizable – is its geofencing feature?
- How accurate is its travel and mileage tracking (if available)?
- Can it automatically clock workers in and out based on the above?
- Can you set and/or restrict rules for clocking in and out?
- Can the app continue tracking workers while offline?
- How easy is its mobile app and/or kiosk for frontline workers?
Scheduling Features
Many construction businesses prefer to manage as many aspects of employee labor activity as possible in a single app, which is why many time-tracking apps also include worker scheduling as a core feature.
When we consider a product’s scheduling features, we look at:
- Its dashboard customizability (daily, weekly, or monthly views).
- Its project-based scheduling and visibility.
- Its real-time updates and notifications for workers.
- Its real-time map views of worker locations for best-fit scheduling.
- Its recurring schedule (copies to subsequent weeks, etc.) functionality.
Job Tracking
This factor helps you understand if the software can also provide insight into specific projects, which is particularly handy when your business deals with many customers or clients who generally need shorter-term work. Effective job tracking typically also includes accurate job costing functionality for construction companies.
We assess several things when calculating a product’s job tracking score:
- Its project-based tracking for multiple projects per day/week/etc.
- Its ability to track multiple / many projects simultaneously.
- Its use of (and your ability to customize) construction cost codes.
- Any built-in job costing views.
- Any integrations for cost coding (QuickBooks etc.)
Integrations
No business can operate on a single app, which is why integrations with other apps and tools are such important aspects of modern business software.
To calculate a product’s integration score, we’ll examine:
- How many native integrations (the simplest connection) does it offer?
- How effective and easy-to-use are its integrations with payroll software?
- Does it have robust data import and export features?
Customer Support
Learning how to use a new app can be frustrating, even if it’s meant to be the most user-friendly app around. That’s why great customer support is so essential when considering which time-tracking app to use.
Customer support scores are calculated based on:
- Live support channels available (phone, email, chat, etc.).
- Live support hours (business hours only, 24/7, etc.).
- The strength of the product’s online help center and/or FAQs.
- What other users say about support in online reviews.
Company
A great company with a highly customer-friendly approach can often make up for shortcomings in their software products – at least up to a point.
When assessing this score, we’ll examine:
- Transparency (easy-to-find pricing, etc.)
- Trial period (duration, feature availability, credit card requirements, etc.).
- Subscription flexibility (contracts, required durations, etc.).
- Ease of cancellation or pausing subscriptions.
- Customer perceptions (online product reviews).
- Website (a minor consideration, but great companies tend to have great websites).
Any questions about our scoring system? Have any suggestions on how we could make it even better? Click here to send us your feedback – we’d love to hear from you!
HVAC service software is a specialized software solution designed to streamline the operations of businesses providing HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) installation, repair, and maintenance services.
By automating admin tasks, HVAC field service software solutions improve the company’s workflow, reduce paperwork, and enhance the customer service provided by service technicians.
HVAC service software solutions like Kickserv offer a free plan. However, the features are extremely limited and only accessible to a few users.
Instead of looking for a forever-free plan, you can opt for HVAC field service software with a free trial period. Of the software solutions reviewed above, Workyard, Jobber, and Striven are the only ones offering a free trial period.
By signing up for a trial period, you will be able to test their premium features and accurately gauge whether it’s the right solution for your HVAC business needs.
The majority of HVAC service software solutions in the market play well with QuickBooks to take care of your business accounting needs. From the list of software products in this article, Workyard, Jobber, Service Fusion, and FieldPulse integrate seamlessly with QuickBooks.
On the other hand, Striven doesn’t have native QuickBooks integration as it’s an all-in-one business management solution with its own accounting system.