Ratchly vs FieldPulse for HVAC contractors
Where each platform fits, what to check before you sign, and the cases where FieldPulse is the better answer.
FieldPulse and Ratchly compete for the same small-contractor buyer. Both cover scheduling, estimates, invoicing and a mobile technician experience, so the decision usually comes down to how HVAC-shaped the defaults are and how quickly a job turns into cash.
Run both trials on the same real week of work. Whichever one gets an approved estimate to a paid invoice in fewer taps is the one your technicians will keep using in February.
The short answer
Choose Ratchly if
- Built for 1–10 technician HVAC shops, not enterprise contractors
- Estimate → signature → invoice → payment on the technician's phone
- Drag-and-drop dispatch board with live technician locations
- Maintenance agreements that auto-generate their visits
- Flat, published pricing with no implementation fee
Choose FieldPulse if
- You run multiple trades and want shared templates across them
- You need a specific integration Ratchly does not offer yet
Ratchly vs FieldPulse, side by side
We only describe our own product in specifics. For the other column we tell you what to verify, because competitor plans change and we will not publish numbers we cannot stand behind.
| What to compare | Ratchly | FieldPulse |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is designed around | Owner-operators and shops with up to about ten technicians. | A field-service management product serving contractors across multiple trades. |
| Setup effort | Self-serve. Import customers, add techs, dispatch the same day. | Varies by plan and company size — confirm onboarding scope with FieldPulse before you commit. |
| Field workflow | One job record carries notes, photos, parts, estimate, signature, invoice and payment. | FieldPulse covers the field workflow; compare how many taps it takes to get from arrival to a paid invoice. |
| Dispatch | Drag-and-drop board, live map, drive-time aware suggestions. | Check whether dispatch and live technician tracking are on the plan you are quoted. |
| Maintenance agreements | Plans generate their own recurring visits and renewal reminders. | Confirm whether agreement visits auto-schedule or have to be booked by hand. |
| Pricing model | Published flat pricing, monthly, cancel any time. | Ask for the all-in number including onboarding, add-on modules and payment processing. |
| Best question to ask on the demo | “Show me arrival to paid invoice on a phone.” | “Show me arrival to paid invoice on a phone.” |
Questions contractors ask
- Which is better for a two-technician HVAC shop?
- Both are viable. Ratchly's advantage at that size is that maintenance agreements, unit history and on-site invoicing come preconfigured for HVAC rather than needing setup.
- Do I need a contract?
- Ratchly is month to month with published pricing and no implementation fee.