Elite RHVAC alternatives: when to stay, and when to switch
RHVAC is a solid Manual J tool. For commercial jobs, look at tools built on ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA 183. Compare RHVAC, Chvac, Wrightsoft, Cool Calc, HVAKR.
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What RHVAC is good at
Credit where it's due. RHVAC has been around a long time (Elite calls it the first Manual J program), and for residential work it does a lot for the money:[1]
- Block and room-by-room loads per ACCA Manual J 8th Edition, Version 2, with Manual D duct sizing and Manual S equipment selection in both desktop and online versions.
- ACCA Form 310, the ACCA design review form, the RPER 2.0 report (added in version 10.2), and the Energy Star HVAC design report.[2]
- AHRI equipment data covering nearly 2 million models, updated every few months at no charge.
- Free phone technical support, and no annual fee on the desktop license.
If you do residential permits and RHVAC works for you, keep it.
Where RHVAC runs out
- Commercial buildings. Elite describes RHVAC as calculating loads "for residential buildings and some light commercial applications." For commercial work Elite sells a separate product, Chvac.[1][3] A Manual J calculation isn't the method a reviewer expects on a commercial building, where ASHRAE methods and ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 183 apply.
- Ventilation by space type. Commercial spaces need outdoor air per ASHRAE 62.1 (or your jurisdiction's mechanical code), by occupancy category, with zone air distribution effectiveness and system-level corrections. Elite lists ventilation air as an input in both RHVAC versions; it doesn't describe an ASHRAE 62.1 calculation by space type.
- Team review. RHVAC Online stores projects in the cloud, and the online and desktop versions import and export each other's project files. Elite doesn't describe several people editing one project at the same time.
- Drawing. Graphic input needs the Drawing Board and Graphic Manual D add-ons on desktop (the $999 combo). RHVAC Online has no drawing capability, per Elite.[1]
Alternatives, by the job you're doing
| Elite RHVAC | Wrightsoft RSU | Cool Calc | Elite Chvac | HVAKR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Residential (some light commercial) | Residential; commercial via add-ons | Residential | Commercial | Commercial |
| Load method (per vendor) | ACCA Manual J 8th Ed., v2 | Manual J (Right-J); ASHRAE via Right-CommLoad; Manual N via Right-N | ACCA Manual J | ASHRAE RTS or CLTD; ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA 183-2007 | ASHRAE RTS; ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA 183 |
| On ACCA's approved Manual J list | Yes | Yes (Right-J8) | Yes | No (commercial tool) | No (commercial tool) |
| Ducts and equipment | Manual D, Manual S | Right-D (Manual D), equipment selection | Manual D, Manual S | Runout and main trunk sizing; ARI/GAMA equipment lookup | Airflow, equipment sizing, duct layout and sizing |
| ASHRAE 62.1 ventilation | Ventilation air as an input; no 62.1 procedure described | "ASHRAE 62 methods" in the Right-CommLoad add-on | Not described | "Automates compliance with ASHRAE Standard 62" | Ventilation Rate Procedure by space type |
| Platform | Windows desktop; RHVAC Online | Windows desktop; Right-J Mobile in browser (block loads only) | Browser; LiDAR app | Windows desktop | Browser; macOS app |
| Input | Typed room data; Drawing Board add-on (desktop) | Right-Draw | Satellite trace, floor-plan upload, LiDAR | Typed data; Drawing Board add-on; gbXML import | PDF floor plan; AI proposes spaces, engineer reviews |
| Multi-user editing | Not described | Not described | Project sharing within an organization; simultaneous editing not described | Not described | Yes, one live project |
| Published price (Oct 28, 2026) | $599 one-time; Online $239/yr | $900/yr (USA residential); CommLoad +$250/yr | $45/project or $50/user/mo | $299 to $1,499 one-time by room count | Per-seat plans, free trial; see pricing |
As of .
Stay with RHVAC, or look at Wrightsoft or Cool Calc, if you do residential replacements and new homes and your building department wants an ACCA-listed Manual J. Wrightsoft is the broader package (drawing, proposals, radiant, geothermal); Cool Calc is the browser option with pay-per-project pricing.[4][5]
Move up to Elite Chvac if you like Elite's style, work alone on Windows, and want commercial ASHRAE loads at a one-time price.
Look at HVAKR if you're an engineer or mechanical contractor doing commercial design and you want takeoff, loads, 62.1 ventilation, equipment sizing, ducts, and reports in one browser project your team can review together. HVAKR is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 27 reviews on G2, as of Oct 16, 2026. HVAKR doesn't do residential Manual J, so this only makes sense for your commercial work.
What changes when you move from RHVAC to a commercial tool
Expect different numbers on the same building, and don't treat that as an error until you've checked the inputs. The methods differ:
- Method. Manual J uses its own procedure and tables for residential construction. HVAKR uses the ASHRAE Radiant Time Series method, calculating 24 hours for a design day in each month and taking the peak from those 288 points.[6]
- Design conditions. HVAKR uses ASHRAE or CIBSE climatic data at a percentile you choose (0.4% monthly cooling and 99.6% annual heating by default).[7]
- Ventilation. HVAKR calculates outdoor air from the space type's ASHRAE 62.1 rates and occupancy, then applies Ez and the system's outside-air method.[8]
- Indoor setpoints. In HVAKR they live on the space type, and HVAKR ships no default for them; a missing setpoint zeros the related loads, so set them first.[7]
Switching in practice
- Run one recent commercial job in parallel: same plans, same assemblies, same design conditions.
- Upload the PDF floor plan to HVAKR and review the spaces HVAKR AI proposes.
- Rebuild your RHVAC wall, window, roof, and door selections as HVAKR wall and window types with U-values, SHGC, and absorptance. There's no RHVAC file import; HVAKR imports PDF and DXF drawings.
- Assign ASHRAE 62.1 space types and set indoor conditions on each.
- Compare component loads (glass solar, walls, people, ventilation) rather than only totals, and save the project as a template for the next one.
Mechanical Engineers On Tap
HVAKR is more than software. Every plan includes support from mechanical engineers who design HVAC for a living, so when a hard load-calc or system-selection question comes up, you get an answer from someone who has solved it before. Where other tools offer software support, HVAKR offers engineering support.
Talk to a real engineer
Stuck on a load calculation, a system selection, or a tricky space? Our mechanical engineers help with the actual engineering, not just which button to press.
Answers in hours, not days
Fast, human product support and onboarding that gets your whole team productive in a day.
Expertise included
Mechanical engineering help comes with your subscription: no consulting contract and no extra fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elite RHVAC good software?
For residential work, yes. It calculates Manual J 8th Edition loads with Manual D and Manual S, it's on ACCA's approved software list, and the desktop version is a $599 one-time purchase with free phone support.
Can RHVAC do commercial load calculations?
Elite describes RHVAC as covering residential buildings and some light commercial applications. For commercial buildings, Elite sells Chvac, which uses ASHRAE RTS or CLTD methods.
Is RHVAC Online cloud-based?
Yes. RHVAC Online runs in a browser, stores projects in the cloud, and imports and exports project files with RHVAC Desktop. It has no drawing capability, per Elite, and costs $239 a year ($159 if you own RHVAC 10 Desktop).
What is the best alternative to Elite RHVAC?
For residential Manual J: Wrightsoft Right-Suite Universal or Cool Calc. For commercial loads: Elite Chvac, Carrier HAP, Trane TRACE, or HVAKR.
Does HVAKR do Manual J?
No. HVAKR doesn't do residential Manual J. It's built for commercial load calculations under ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 183. If you need Manual J for a residential permit, use an ACCA-listed tool.
Can I import RHVAC projects into HVAKR?
No. HVAKR imports PDF and DXF floor plans, not RHVAC project files. Start from the floor plan; HVAKR AI proposes the spaces and you rebuild assemblies as wall and window types.
How much does RHVAC cost?
On October 28, 2026, Elite listed RHVAC 10 Desktop at $599 (perpetual), the Desktop + Drawing Board + Graphic Manual D combo at $999, and RHVAC Online at $239 per year.
Sources
- Elite RHVAC product page (features, method, prices): elitesoft.com (checked )
- Elite newsletter, Jan 14, 2026 (RHVAC 10.2, RPER 2.0, price change to $599): elitesoft.com (checked )
- Elite RHVAC order options: elitesoft.com (checked )
- Elite Chvac: elitesoft.com (checked )
- ACCA approved software: acca.org (checked )
- Wrightsoft RSU Residential: wrightsoft.com; RSU Commercial-Only: wrightsoft.com (checked )
- Cool Calc: coolcalc.com (checked )
- Elite Chvac literature (Windows program): elitesoft.com (checked )
- HVAKR docs: load calculations, weather, cooling loads, ventilation; ASHRAE 183 compliance (checked )
- G2, HVAKR reviews, 4.7/5 from 27 reviews, as of Oct 16, 2026: g2.com/products/hvakr/reviews (checked )