Best HVAC Software
HVAC software helps field service businesses optimize field operations and provide exceptional customer service. There are numerous platforms available today, and selecting the best one for your business can be difficult. We tested some of the most popular HVAC solutions available on the market, and listed the five best tools below.
Table of Contents
- What is HVAC Software?
- What Are the Benefits of HVAC Software?
- HVAC Software Features
- Best HVAC Software
What is HVAC Software?
HVAC software helps you manage your HVAC business. These platforms can improve sales, optimize operations, and automate common tasks. As we explore later in this article, HVAC software includes a variety of useful features that increase the productivity of each member of your team, from office staff to field technicians.
What Are the Benefits of HVAC Software?
When implemented correctly, HVAC software can significantly help service businesses grow. Here are three benefits of using HVAC software:
- Increases job volume: HVAC software offers a variety of tools that help service businesses book more jobs. These platforms can help attract new customers, track customer relationships, and manage recurring work.
- Fosters communication: HVAC software acts as a central communication hub that connects your office staff and field technicians, streamlining scheduling and dispatch. The best HVAC solutions offer multiple communication channels, like phone, text, and in-app messaging, to give businesses the flexibility to connect however they like.
- Improves customer experience: HVAC software helps service businesses provide customers with exceptional service before, during, and after jobs. Features like on-my-way tracking and two-way text messaging allow field technicians to easily communicate with customers. Many HVAC solutions include call booking features to help CSRs provide high quality customer service over the phone.
HVAC Software Features
Features found in HVAC software can range widely depending on the sophistication of the solution. However, there are a core set of features that all good HVAC solutions have, and we have listed them in the table below.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Online Booking | This feature allows your customers to book jobs on your company website, or through other channels like Google My Business listings and Facebook. Online booking makes your business easily accessible to new customers, and reduces administrative workload for your office staff. |
| Quote Management | HVAC software allows you to create, send, track, and manage quotes. The best solutions have customizable quote templates with your own company branding. |
| Scheduling and Dispatching | HVAC software helps your office staff schedule upcoming jobs and quickly dispatch technicians. |
| Online Client Portal | Many HVAC solutions offer an online client portal, where your customers can approve quotes, check appointment details, and pay invoices. Online client portals are a nice perk that can differentiate your business from your competitors. Also, this feature reduces the need for customers to contact your business directly, lowering the administrative workload of your office staff. |
| Mobile App | A well-built mobile app can significantly help technicians when they are in the field. Mobile apps allow technicians to create quotes & invoices, communicate with customers, view job details, and manage timesheets. |
| Invoicing | HVAC software allows you to create and send electronic invoices to your clients. A feature to look out for is batch invoicing, which allows you to quickly generate invoices for multiple jobs simultaneously. |
| Payment Processing | HVAC software helps you get paid for your work. Good HVAC solutions offer flexible payment processing options that allow customers to pay however they like, whether it's in-person through a credit card scanner or online through a payment gateway. |
| Reporting | HVAC software allows you to generate reports that help you visualize data and track your business’s performance. Good HVAC software offers a high volume of built-in reports. |
| QuickBooks Integration | Every HVAC solution on our list is compatible with QuickBooks. |
Best HVAC Software
Here are our top five picks for HVAC software. We will discuss each solution’s pricing & features, and explain why it made our list. Also, we include links to our full reviews of each product.
Jobber: If You Want a Good Balance Between Price and Features
Jobber is not the most robust nor the most affordable solution on our list. However, we found Jobber to be a well-balanced, competitively-priced solution that does not come at the expense of the platform's functionality. Jobber includes all of the features that you would expect in HVAC software such as online booking, scheduling & dispatching, quote management, and payment processing.
Although not deal breakers, Jobber has a couple of drawbacks that you should consider before making your purchase. Jobber does not support two-way text messaging through its mobile application, and does not offer an open API.
Ideal Company Size: Jobber is best for small to medium size HVAC businesses. Jobber’s most popular subscription plan supports up to 7 users.
ServiceTitan: If You’re Looking for Something Advanced
ServiceTitan is one of the most sophisticated solutions on our list. This platform comes with a variety of advanced features such as:
- Call booking
- Contract management
- Labor and material cost tracking
- Memberships
- Open API
- Pricebook and multiple quote options
- Route optimization
- Two-way texting
One drawback is that these advanced features come with a hefty price tag. ServiceTitan pricing starts at $398 per month, and increases with the needs of individual contractors. The cost of this solution makes it better suited for large businesses that can fully leverage ServiceTitan’s features.
Ideal Company Size: ServiceTitan is best for large HVAC businesses. Most ServiceTitan customers have 30 to 35 contractors.
FieldEdge: If You Are Willing To Invest In a Robust Solution
FieldEdge is one of the most robust solutions on our list. FieldEdge includes many advanced features such as:
- Automated service agreements
- Call booking
- Custom forms
- Inventory management
- Mobile CRM
- Pricebooks with good-better-best price presentations
One of FieldEdge’s weaknesses is that this solution does not offer an open API. This restricts third-party integrations and prevents you from creating custom workflows. If this is a must-have feature, ServiceTitan is functionally the closest solution to FieldEdge on our list.
Ideal Company Size: FieldEdge is typically used by medium to large HVAC businesses that have 3 to 15 trucks.
Housecall Pro: If You Want Marketing Automation Features
Housecall Pro is a solid option for many small to medium size HVAC businesses. We found that this solution includes more marketing automation features than many other solutions in its price range. Housecall Pro automatically sends emails before and after each job, and you can create ongoing email and postcard marketing campaigns on this platform.
One of Housecall Pro’s weaknesses is its lack of an online client portal, a common feature found in many of its competitors. Also, Housecall Pro does not offer automated quote follow-ups. If these are must-have features, Jobber is functionally the closest solution to Housecall Pro on our list.
Ideal Company Size: Housecall Pro is best for small to medium size HVAC businesses. Housecall Pro’s most popular subscription plan supports up to 5 users.
ServiceM8: If Affordability Is Your Primary Concern
ServiceM8 pricing starts at $9 per month, making this solution the least expensive option on this list. If pricing is the most important criteria for you, ServiceM8 is certainly worth looking into. Also, unlike the other solutions we mentioned, ServiceM8 allows you to add an unlimited number of users to your account.
However, ServiceM8 has several significant drawbacks that may be deal breakers for you. Here are the main ones you should consider:
- ServiceM8 limits the number of jobs you can book per month. ServiceM8’s most basic plan has a limit of 15 jobs per month.
- ServiceM8 does not support Android devices.
- ServiceM8 does not allow customers to save credit card information, making invoicing for recurring jobs a hassle.
- Online client portal costs an additional $15.99 per month.
Ideal Company Size: ServiceM8 is best for small to medium size HVAC businesses. ServiceM8’s Starter Plan includes 50 jobs per month.