Bluon
Free / freemiumEquipment data and live expert support for HVAC technicians
Best for: HVAC companies developing less experienced technicians
Software directory · 6 tools
🤖 Field Tech AI & Diagnostics
The newest and least mature part of the stack, aimed at the technician rather than the office. These tools pull equipment data from a nameplate photo or a serial number, walk a less experienced tech through a diagnostic, capture guided video that an experienced hand can review remotely, read instrument data to verify a system is actually performing, and turn a messy site visit into a written finding the office can quote from. Expect real time savings on documentation and uneven accuracy on diagnosis.
Before you buy in this category
- Treat diagnostic output as a second opinion, never as an authority. A wrong call in the field is expensive.
- The honest win here is documentation speed — measure that, and let diagnosis be a bonus.
- Check it works offline or degrades gracefully; mechanical rooms are signal dead zones.
- Ask what happens to your job video and customer footage, and who can access it.
- Adoption is the whole game. If your best tech will not use it, nobody will.
Working with no budget? 2 tools here have a free or freemium tier: Bluon, Trade Hounds.
4 tools for this job
Listed alphabetically. We do not rank — the right pick depends on your trade, your headcount, and what you already run.
Reads your instruments and tells you how the system is performing
Best for: HVAC companies serious about verified system performance and commissioning
Trade Hounds
Free / freemiumProfessional network and job board for tradespeople
Best for: Contractors recruiting skilled trade workers, and tradespeople building a profile
XOi
Quote onlyGuided job documentation with equipment recognition
Best for: Mechanical service companies wanting consistent documentation and remote expert support
Also covers this
Tools from other categories that do this job as part of a wider platform. Often the cheaper answer, because you are already paying for them.
Rilla
Quote onlyRecords and analyses in-home sales conversations for coaching
Best for: Companies with multiple in-home sales reps or selling technicians to coach
Togal.AI
Quote onlyAutomated plan takeoff using machine learning
Best for: Estimators doing high volumes of plan-based takeoff who want a faster first pass
What the price bands mean
Free / freemium
Free / freemium A usable free tier, or free with payment processing
$
$ — under ~$100/mo Solo operators and very small teams
$$
$$ — ~$100–400/mo Small teams, usually priced per user
$$$
$$$ — ~$400+/mo Multi-crew shops with office staff
Quote only
Quote only No public pricing — expect a sales call
Pay per use
Pay per use Per lead, per measurement, or per transaction
Bands are our judgement of what a small team actually ends up paying, not the headline price on a pricing page. Always confirm current pricing with the vendor.
Get one actionable tip every week
Join contractors getting practical advice on winning more jobs, running tighter operations, and picking the right tools — free, no fluff, unsubscribe anytime.