So, one of the fun perks of the work I do is I get to go into service business clients' accounts and take a look at the software they're using firsthand.

I know a lot of products don't let you to test the product with a free trial, just demo it. And even the ones that DO let you trial only let you trial certain features. It's crazy considering most expect you to commit to an annual contract that's hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars per month. You're just supposed to go off a demo and vibes.

I've been working on starting a website that's a "test lab" for these products inspired by Vacuum Wars, a YouTube channel that puts carpet cleaning devices under stress tests to establish which holds up the best under real-world scenarios. For example, with pet hair he tests how vacuums hold up against hard floors vs.  carpet. He even weights how much hair they pick up and tests whether certain lengths of hair break the machine.

Because I don't gaf what people say is the best. I want to see firsthand how software compares.

Instead of following the “happy path” of demos, I directly tests software using real world scenarios to see which software holds up and which breaks. For example, a lot of software says it has maintenance agreements - but what happens when customers move or equipment breaks down mid-agreement? How does it actually hold up for field techs with a poor internet connection - not just office staff?

Is there any software you guys are especially curious about?

So, one of the fun perks of the work I do is I get to go into service business clients' accounts and take a look at the software they're using firsthand.

I know a lot of products don't let you to test the product with a free trial, just demo it. And even the ones that DO let you trial only let you trial certain features. It's crazy considering most expect you to commit to an annual contract that's hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars per month. You're just supposed to go off a demo and vibes.

I've been working on starting a website that's a "test lab" for these products inspired by Vacuum Wars, a YouTube channel that puts carpet cleaning devices under stress tests to establish which holds up the best under real-world scenarios. For example, with pet hair he tests how vacuums hold up against hard floors vs.  carpet. He even weights how much hair they pick up and tests whether certain lengths of hair break the machine.

Because I don't gaf what people say is the best. I want to see firsthand how software compares.

Instead of following the “happy path” of demos, I directly tests software using real world scenarios to see which software holds up and which breaks. For example, a lot of software says it has maintenance agreements - but what happens when customers move or equipment breaks down mid-agreement? How does it actually hold up for field techs with a poor internet connection - not just office staff?

Is there any software you guys are especially curious about?

I've noticed most of us over here on Reddit want more quality of life updates vs. new items. However, if you go on the official DTI discord server's gameplay suggestions channel, you'll see the majority of feedback is asking for new items, which probably makes up the bulk of feedback devs see.

I think it would be great if more of us made our voices heard in there, both by upvoting and contributing suggestions.

Here's how it works for anyone like me who might be super overwhelmed by it because they aren't great at using Discord for anything beyond chatting.

How To Add A Suggestion

1. Go to the #bot channel.

​2. Type the following text:

​

• Category. There are no official categories, so just broadly describe it however you see fit (e.g. toggles).
• Image. Upload an image to imgur and link it, if needed.
• Your Suggestion. This is where you type your suggestion.

So, for example, you might say:

.suggest gameplay toggles none Add toggle to remove strawberries from the Sweet Berry Set's socks so it's more versatile.

or

.suggest gameplay rework https://i.imgur.com/kiMdYMX.png Rework the trench coat so items no longer clip through it.

This is what it will look like:

​3. After you hit send, your suggestion will appear in the #gameplay-suggestions channel. This is where you upvote your suggestion and other people's suggestions.

​How To Upvote/Downvote Suggestions

In the #gameplay-suggestions channel, simply click the thumbs up or thumbs down icons underneath posts to vote on suggestions.

​Pro-Tip: It's helpful if you include why the suggestion is important to you, especially if asks are more labor intensive or expensive to implement. Outline the specific problems you're facing - not just solutions.

For example, instead of saying you want to be able to favorite custom makeup looks you might say:

Give players the ability to favorite custom makeup looks. As players accumulate more saved faces, the list can become cluttered and difficult to navigate, making it time-consuming to locate specific designs each round. A favorites feature would allow players to keep their most-used faces easily accessible, reducing unnecessary scrolling and the need to repeatedly re-save designs to keep them near the top of the list, which can result in designs being accidentally deleted. This would also provide a simple way to manage growing collections of saved faces while serving as a foundation for future organizational features such as folders, sorting options, or search functionality.

Which items would you fix/improve and how, whether it's adding toggles or fixing certain layers of items not accepting patterns / textures?

I'll go first:

• On the Sweet Berry Set, make it possible to toggle off the strawberries on the socks.
• Allow the button of all the women's denim pants to accept patterns and textures.
• On the Angel's Helmet code item, give the option to toggle off ears, allow the second preview to accept patterns and textures, and fix the last preview option so it accepts patterns normally vs. distorting them.
• Add toggle to horns with additional shapes.
• Make non-VIP wings adjustable.
• Let pumpkin accept patterns and textures as well as toggle off stem (so it can be used as round head shape).

I’ve been trying to find good software for an HVAC client going digital and spent the last week testing different options for field service software they were looking at. I figured I’d share my notes because most comparisons online are super generic and clearly written by affiliates that haven’t actually used the systems. But I'd love to hear more about these options from people who have actually used them - especially if there's something I missed!

Main things I cared about:

• custom pricebook flexibility
• ease of use
• ability to handle HVAC-specific workflows
• price

Here’s my breakdown after testing everything:

Software	Best For	Key Strengths
FieldPulse	Small and mid-sized companies wanting full customization to import their existing price book or build one from scratch.	Most customizable by far. Includes custom folders/subfolders, advanced visibility controls, add-ons tied to flat-rate jobs, pre-built pricebooks, and supplier integrations with live pricing support.
Housecall Pro	Small and mid-sized companies that want a simple, visual pricing system with built-in automation without the need for heavy customization.	Optimized for simplicity and speed. Less flexible structure but includes several automation features like AI-generated descriptions, the ability to increase/decrease prices all at once, booking portal integration, custom pricing forms, built-in image library.
ServiceTitan	Enterpise HVAC companies with office staff who want full customization or complex ready-made HVAC databases.	The most complete option. Includes dynamic pricing for after-hours emergency calls or members, commission tracking, warranty descriptions, the most supplier catalog integrations, and pre-built pricebooks.
FieldEdge	Mid-size companies wanting a ready-made HVAC database	The fast and easy option. Includes 25,000+ prebuilt repairs.
Jobber	Solo contractors and very small shops	Simple setup, low learning curve, handles basic pricing/markup/tax management, easy for non-technical teams. No true pricebook.

FieldPulse

FieldPulse is best suited for mid-sized HVAC businesses that want maximum customization and “live” pricing flexibility. It supports both prebuilt databases and fully custom pricebooks, including the ability to import FieldPulse's HVAC pricebook or build your own from scratch.

Unlike many competitors, FieldPulse does not force a rigid structure. Users can create fully customized hierarchies with folders, subfolders, and tags, making it highly adaptable for complex workflows. It also offers advanced privacy controls, allowing you to define exactly who on your team can see pricing—and what customers see on estimates (e.g., service-only pricing vs. full material and labor breakdowns). You can also maintain different descriptions for estimates and invoices, which adds flexibility in presentation.

Another strong feature is its add-on system, where optional services can later be linked to core line items. It is also the only platform in this group offering true real-time pricing integrations with suppliers like Trane and Reece.

However, it does have limitations: it lacks built-in AI tools, and its booking system operates separately from the pricebook, which can create extra administrative work for teams relying heavily on automated scheduling.

Housecall Pro

Housecall Pro has one of the cleanest interfaces but is more structured and opinionated in its setup, requiring users to work within predefined categories and folders. This can be restrictive for HVAC companies with highly customized organization systems, and the platform itself is often more service-business oriented (cleaning, landscaping, etc.).

Its strengths lie in ease of use and automations. Key features include full integration with its booking platform, AI-generated service descriptions that help make estimates more polished and professional, and built-in image libraries. Custom pricing forms also allow for variable-based job calculations, adding flexibility within its structured framework.

It also includes a percentage-based price adjustment tool, which allows businesses to quickly update entire pricebooks—or specific categories like repairs—in response to inflation or supplier cost changes.

ServiceTitan

The most complete option by far. ServiceTitan is built for large HVAC enterprises with dedicated office staff and complex sales workflows, especially companies managing memberships and advanced dispatch operations. It supports both custom pricebooks and prebuilt catalogs such as Pricebook Pro (available as an add-on).

It integrates with a wide range of suppliers, though most integrations do not currently support real-time pricing. Where it stands out is in advanced pricing automation—features like dynamic pricing can automatically apply after-hours surcharges, emergency fees, or membership discounts.

The platform is extremely powerful but also expensive and operationally heavy. It is designed with the assumption that you have administrative staff managing it full-time. For smaller shops, it can feel like buying a semi-truck to deliver a pizza. 

FieldEdge

FieldEdge is designed for small to medium HVAC businesses that prefer not to build a pricebook from scratch. It comes preloaded with a large managed database of over 25,000 repair items and integrates with Profit Rhino, a well-known HVAC flat-rate pricing system.

The main advantage is convenience: businesses can get started quickly with a ready-made pricing structure. However, it is not ideal for highly customized operations. Companies that want to deviate significantly from the built-in structure or build a unique pricing system may find it restrictive.

Jobber

Jobber is a strong entry-level option for HVAC startups or solo operators who do not yet need a complex pricebook system. Instead of a true pricebook, it uses a simple item list, which limits scalability for large or highly detailed inventories.

One notable feature is its AI-assisted writing tools, which can rewrite service descriptions in different tones (friendly, professional, concise, etc.). This helps improve customer communication without requiring manual copywriting effort.

However, as businesses grow, many outgrow Jobber due to its limited pricing structure and lack of deeper inventory and pricing controls.

I’ve been trying to find good software for an HVAC client going digital and spent the last week testing different options for field service software they were looking at. I figured I’d share my notes because most comparisons online are super generic and clearly written by affiliates that haven’t actually used the systems. But I'd love to hear more about these options from people who have actually used them - especially if there's something I missed!

Main things I cared about:

• custom pricebook flexibility
• ease of use
• ability to handle HVAC-specific workflows
• price

Here’s my breakdown after testing everything:

Software	Best For	Key Strengths
FieldPulse	Small and mid-sized companies wanting full customization to import their existing price book or build one from scratch.	Most customizable by far. Includes custom folders/subfolders, advanced visibility controls, add-ons tied to flat-rate jobs, pre-built pricebooks, and supplier integrations with live pricing support.
Housecall Pro	Small and mid-sized companies that want a simple, visual pricing system with built-in automation without the need for heavy customization.	Optimized for simplicity and speed. Less flexible structure but includes several automation features like AI-generated descriptions, the ability to increase/decrease prices all at once, booking portal integration, custom pricing forms, built-in image library.
ServiceTitan	Enterpise HVAC companies with office staff who want full customization or complex ready-made HVAC databases.	The most complete option. Includes dynamic pricing for after-hours emergency calls or members, commission tracking, warranty descriptions, the most supplier catalog integrations, and pre-built pricebooks.
FieldEdge	Mid-size companies wanting a ready-made HVAC database	The fast and easy option. Includes 25,000+ prebuilt repairs.
Jobber	Solo contractors and very small shops	Simple setup, low learning curve, handles basic pricing/markup/tax management, easy for non-technical teams. No true pricebook.

FieldPulse

FieldPulse is best suited for mid-sized HVAC businesses that want maximum customization and “live” pricing flexibility. It supports both prebuilt databases and fully custom pricebooks, including the ability to import FieldPulse's HVAC pricebook or build your own from scratch.

Unlike many competitors, FieldPulse does not force a rigid structure. Users can create fully customized hierarchies with folders, subfolders, and tags, making it highly adaptable for complex workflows. It also offers advanced privacy controls, allowing you to define exactly who on your team can see pricing—and what customers see on estimates (e.g., service-only pricing vs. full material and labor breakdowns). You can also maintain different descriptions for estimates and invoices, which adds flexibility in presentation.

Another strong feature is its add-on system, where optional services can later be linked to core line items. It is also the only platform in this group offering true real-time pricing integrations with suppliers like Trane and Reece.

However, it does have limitations: it lacks built-in AI tools, and its booking system operates separately from the pricebook, which can create extra administrative work for teams relying heavily on automated scheduling.

Housecall Pro

Housecall Pro has one of the cleanest interfaces but is more structured and opinionated in its setup, requiring users to work within predefined categories and folders. This can be restrictive for HVAC companies with highly customized organization systems, and the platform itself is often more service-business oriented (cleaning, landscaping, etc.).

Its strengths lie in ease of use and automations. Key features include full integration with its booking platform, AI-generated service descriptions that help make estimates more polished and professional, and built-in image libraries. Custom pricing forms also allow for variable-based job calculations, adding flexibility within its structured framework.

It also includes a percentage-based price adjustment tool, which allows businesses to quickly update entire pricebooks—or specific categories like repairs—in response to inflation or supplier cost changes.

ServiceTitan

The most complete option by far. ServiceTitan is built for large HVAC enterprises with dedicated office staff and complex sales workflows, especially companies managing memberships and advanced dispatch operations. It supports both custom pricebooks and prebuilt catalogs such as Pricebook Pro (available as an add-on).

It integrates with a wide range of suppliers, though most integrations do not currently support real-time pricing. Where it stands out is in advanced pricing automation—features like dynamic pricing can automatically apply after-hours surcharges, emergency fees, or membership discounts.

The platform is extremely powerful but also expensive and operationally heavy. It is designed with the assumption that you have administrative staff managing it full-time. For smaller shops, it can feel like buying a semi-truck to deliver a pizza. 

FieldEdge

FieldEdge is designed for small to medium HVAC businesses that prefer not to build a pricebook from scratch. It comes preloaded with a large managed database of over 25,000 repair items and integrates with Profit Rhino, a well-known HVAC flat-rate pricing system.

The main advantage is convenience: businesses can get started quickly with a ready-made pricing structure. However, it is not ideal for highly customized operations. Companies that want to deviate significantly from the built-in structure or build a unique pricing system may find it restrictive.

Jobber

Jobber is a strong entry-level option for HVAC startups or solo operators who do not yet need a complex pricebook system. Instead of a true pricebook, it uses a simple item list, which limits scalability for large or highly detailed inventories.

One notable feature is its AI-assisted writing tools, which can rewrite service descriptions in different tones (friendly, professional, concise, etc.). This helps improve customer communication without requiring manual copywriting effort.

However, as businesses grow, many outgrow Jobber due to its limited pricing structure and lack of deeper inventory and pricing controls.

I’ve been trying to find good software for an HVAC client going digital and spent the last week testing different options for field service software they were looking at. I figured I’d share my notes because most comparisons online are super generic and clearly written by affiliates that haven’t actually used the systems. But I'd love to hear more about these options from people who have actually used them - especially if there's something I missed!

Main things I cared about:

• custom pricebook flexibility
• ease of use
• ability to handle HVAC-specific workflows
• price

Here’s my breakdown after testing everything:

Software	Best For	Key Strengths
FieldPulse	Small and mid-sized companies wanting full customization to import their existing price book or build one from scratch.	Most customizable by far. Includes custom folders/subfolders, advanced visibility controls, add-ons tied to flat-rate jobs, pre-built pricebooks, and supplier integrations with live pricing support.
Housecall Pro	Small and mid-sized companies that want a simple, visual pricing system with built-in automation without the need for heavy customization.	Optimized for simplicity and speed. Less flexible structure but includes several automation features like AI-generated descriptions, the ability to increase/decrease prices all at once, booking portal integration, custom pricing forms, built-in image library.
ServiceTitan	Enterpise HVAC companies with office staff who want full customization or complex ready-made HVAC databases.	The most complete option. Includes dynamic pricing for after-hours emergency calls or members, commission tracking, warranty descriptions, the most supplier catalog integrations, and pre-built pricebooks.
FieldEdge	Mid-size companies wanting a ready-made HVAC database	The fast and easy option. Includes 25,000+ prebuilt repairs.
Jobber	Solo contractors and very small shops	Simple setup, low learning curve, handles basic pricing/markup/tax management, easy for non-technical teams. No true pricebook.

FieldPulse

FieldPulse is best suited for mid-sized HVAC businesses that want maximum customization and “live” pricing flexibility. It supports both prebuilt databases and fully custom pricebooks, including the ability to import FieldPulse's HVAC pricebook or build your own from scratch.

Unlike many competitors, FieldPulse does not force a rigid structure. Users can create fully customized hierarchies with folders, subfolders, and tags, making it highly adaptable for complex workflows. It also offers advanced privacy controls, allowing you to define exactly who on your team can see pricing—and what customers see on estimates (e.g., service-only pricing vs. full material and labor breakdowns). You can also maintain different descriptions for estimates and invoices, which adds flexibility in presentation.

Another strong feature is its add-on system, where optional services can later be linked to core line items. It is also the only platform in this group offering true real-time pricing integrations with suppliers like Trane and Reece.

However, it does have limitations: it lacks built-in AI tools, and its booking system operates separately from the pricebook, which can create extra administrative work for teams relying heavily on automated scheduling.

Housecall Pro

Housecall Pro has one of the cleanest interfaces but is more structured and opinionated in its setup, requiring users to work within predefined categories and folders. This can be restrictive for HVAC companies with highly customized organization systems, and the platform itself is often more service-business oriented (cleaning, landscaping, etc.).

Its strengths lie in ease of use and automations. Key features include full integration with its booking platform, AI-generated service descriptions that help make estimates more polished and professional, and built-in image libraries. Custom pricing forms also allow for variable-based job calculations, adding flexibility within its structured framework.

It also includes a percentage-based price adjustment tool, which allows businesses to quickly update entire pricebooks—or specific categories like repairs—in response to inflation or supplier cost changes.

ServiceTitan

The most complete option by far. ServiceTitan is built for large HVAC enterprises with dedicated office staff and complex sales workflows, especially companies managing memberships and advanced dispatch operations. It supports both custom pricebooks and prebuilt catalogs such as Pricebook Pro (available as an add-on).

It integrates with a wide range of suppliers, though most integrations do not currently support real-time pricing. Where it stands out is in advanced pricing automation—features like dynamic pricing can automatically apply after-hours surcharges, emergency fees, or membership discounts.

The platform is extremely powerful but also expensive and operationally heavy. It is designed with the assumption that you have administrative staff managing it full-time. For smaller shops, it can feel like buying a semi-truck to deliver a pizza. 

FieldEdge

FieldEdge is designed for small to medium HVAC businesses that prefer not to build a pricebook from scratch. It comes preloaded with a large managed database of over 25,000 repair items and integrates with Profit Rhino, a well-known HVAC flat-rate pricing system.

The main advantage is convenience: businesses can get started quickly with a ready-made pricing structure. However, it is not ideal for highly customized operations. Companies that want to deviate significantly from the built-in structure or build a unique pricing system may find it restrictive.

Jobber

Jobber is a strong entry-level option for HVAC startups or solo operators who do not yet need a complex pricebook system. Instead of a true pricebook, it uses a simple item list, which limits scalability for large or highly detailed inventories.

One notable feature is its AI-assisted writing tools, which can rewrite service descriptions in different tones (friendly, professional, concise, etc.). This helps improve customer communication without requiring manual copywriting effort.

However, as businesses grow, many outgrow Jobber due to its limited pricing structure and lack of deeper inventory and pricing controls.

I’ve been trying to find good software for an HVAC client going digital and spent the last week testing different options. I figured I’d share my notes because most comparisons online are super generic and clearly written by affiliates that haven’t actually used the systems. But I'd love to hear more about these options from people who have actually used them - especially if there's something I missed!

Main things I cared about:

• custom pricebook flexibility
• ease of use
• ability to handle HVAC-specific workflows
• price

Here’s my breakdown after testing everything:

Software	Best For	Key Strengths
FieldPulse	Small and mid-sized companies wanting full customization to import their existing price book or build one from scratch.	Most customizable by far. Includes custom folders/subfolders, advanced visibility controls, add-ons tied to flat-rate jobs, pre-built pricebooks, and supplier integrations with live pricing support.
Housecall Pro	Small and mid-sized companies that want a simple, visual pricing system with built-in automation without the need for heavy customization.	Optimized for simplicity and speed. Less flexible structure but includes several automation features like AI-generated descriptions, the ability to increase/decrease prices all at once, booking portal integration, custom pricing forms, built-in image library.
ServiceTitan	Enterpise HVAC companies with office staff who want full customization or complex ready-made HVAC databases.	The most complete option. Includes dynamic pricing for after-hours emergency calls or members, commission tracking, warranty descriptions, the most supplier catalog integrations, and pre-built pricebooks.
FieldEdge	Mid-size companies wanting a ready-made HVAC database	The fast and easy option. Includes 25,000+ prebuilt repairs.
Jobber	Solo contractors and very small shops	Simple setup, low learning curve, handles basic pricing/markup/tax management, easy for non-technical teams. No true pricebook.

FieldPulse

FieldPulse is best suited for mid-sized HVAC businesses that want maximum customization and “live” pricing flexibility. It supports both prebuilt databases and fully custom pricebooks, including the ability to import FieldPulse's HVAC pricebook or build your own from scratch.

Unlike many competitors, FieldPulse does not force a rigid structure. Users can create fully customized hierarchies with folders, subfolders, and tags, making it highly adaptable for complex workflows. It also offers advanced privacy controls, allowing you to define exactly who on your team can see pricing—and what customers see on estimates (e.g., service-only pricing vs. full material and labor breakdowns). You can also maintain different descriptions for estimates and invoices, which adds flexibility in presentation.

Another strong feature is its add-on system, where optional services can later be linked to core line items. It is also the only platform in this group offering true real-time pricing integrations with suppliers like Trane and Reece.

However, it does have limitations: it lacks built-in AI tools, and its booking system operates separately from the pricebook, which can create extra administrative work for teams relying heavily on automated scheduling.

Housecall Pro

Housecall Pro has one of the cleanest interfaces but is more structured and opinionated in its setup, requiring users to work within predefined categories and folders. This can be restrictive for HVAC companies with highly customized organization systems, and the platform itself is often more service-business oriented (cleaning, landscaping, etc.).

Its strengths lie in ease of use and automations. Key features include full integration with its booking platform, AI-generated service descriptions that help make estimates more polished and professional, and built-in image libraries. Custom pricing forms also allow for variable-based job calculations, adding flexibility within its structured framework.

It also includes a percentage-based price adjustment tool, which allows businesses to quickly update entire pricebooks—or specific categories like heating or cooling—in response to inflation or supplier cost changes.

ServiceTitan

The most complete option by far. ServiceTitan is built for large HVAC enterprises with dedicated office staff and complex sales workflows, especially companies managing memberships and advanced dispatch operations. It supports both custom pricebooks and prebuilt catalogs such as Pricebook Pro (available as an add-on).

It integrates with a wide range of suppliers, though most integrations do not currently support real-time pricing. Where it stands out is in advanced pricing automation—features like dynamic pricing can automatically apply after-hours surcharges, emergency fees, or membership discounts.

The platform is extremely powerful but also expensive and operationally heavy. It is designed with the assumption that you have administrative staff managing it full-time. For smaller shops, it can feel like buying a semi-truck to deliver a pizza. 

FieldEdge

FieldEdge is designed for small to medium HVAC businesses that prefer not to build a pricebook from scratch. It comes preloaded with a large managed database of over 25,000 repair items and integrates with Profit Rhino, a well-known HVAC flat-rate pricing system.

The main advantage is convenience: businesses can get started quickly with a ready-made pricing structure. However, it is not ideal for highly customized operations. Companies that want to deviate significantly from the built-in structure or build a unique pricing system may find it restrictive.

Jobber

Jobber is a strong entry-level option for HVAC startups or solo operators who do not yet need a complex pricebook system. Instead of a true pricebook, it uses a simple item list, which limits scalability for large or highly detailed inventories.

One notable feature is its AI-assisted writing tools, which can rewrite service descriptions in different tones (friendly, professional, concise, etc.). This helps improve customer communication without requiring manual copywriting effort.

However, as businesses grow, many outgrow Jobber due to its limited pricing structure and lack of deeper inventory and pricing controls.