HVAKR vs Trane TRACE 700
Trane calls TRACE 700 a legacy platform: frozen at its 2020 release, license expiration set for 2028, and no current plan to even open your files afterward. HVAKR is actively developed cloud software that never expires: AI reads your floor plans, and your whole team works one live project.
Head-to-head
Where HVAKR Wins
Future-Proof
Don’t Build On Software That Expires
Trane’s published Software Support Lifecycle ended new TRACE 700 sales at the end of 2019, made extended renewal the only path in 2023, and sets license expiration in 2028 — and Trane states there are no current plans to provide a way to open or run files after that date. HVAKR is cloud software that is actively developed, continuously updated, and never sunset. Your projects stay live and accessible.
- Actively developed, not frozen at a 2020 build
- Your data lives in the cloud and stays accessible
- No looming end-of-life to migrate around
Cloud-Native
No Install. No Windows Workstation.
TRACE 700 is a Windows-only desktop program you install and license per machine. HVAKR opens in any browser on any OS — Mac, Windows, or Chromebook — so a new engineer is calculating loads in minutes, with nothing to install and no machine to be tied to.
- Works on Mac, Windows, or Chromebook
- Nothing to install, activate, or patch
- Your projects follow you to any device
HVAKR AI
AI Reads Your Floor Plans
TRACE 700 cannot read a floor plan — rooms are keyed into tabbed worksheets and templates, one at a time, unless you bring geometry in from a BIM export. HVAKR AI reads an uploaded PDF floor plan and extracts spaces, areas, and boundaries for you to review — then the engineer stays in control of every number.
- AI space takeoff from PDF floor plans
- No room-by-room worksheet data entry
- Engineer reviews and approves every change
Real-Time Collaboration
One Live Project, Your Whole Team
TRACE 700 projects are single-user files shared by emailing an archive — and they cannot even be converted into TRACE 3D Plus, Trane’s designated successor, so a move means rebuilding. In HVAKR, multiple engineers work the same live project at once, with no file versions to reconcile.
- Live shared projects, no merge step
- Reviewers see the latest state instantly
- No archive files to email around
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.
Moving off TRACE 700 — before 2028
You have to migrate off TRACE 700 anyway — its files don’t convert to TRACE 3D Plus, so you’re rebuilding either way. Rebuild in the cloud: keep your ASHRAE and ACCA methodology, and lose the install and the end-of-life clock. Most teams run their first project in HVAKR the same day they sign up.
- 1
Start a free trial
No download, no license activation, no IT ticket. Open HVAKR in your browser and create your first project.
- 2
Upload a floor plan
Let HVAKR AI take off spaces from your PDF plans instead of re-keying rooms into worksheets.
- 3
Run loads and ship reports
Calculate loads, size equipment, design ducts, and export branded PDF and CSV reports.
Frequently asked questions
Is TRACE 700 still supported?
Only on a limited basis. Trane designates TRACE 700 a legacy platform: its published Software Support Lifecycle ended new product sales at the end of 2019, made extended renewal the only option in 2023, and sets license expiration in 2028 — after which Trane states there are no current plans to provide a way to open or run your files. Trane directs TRACE 700 users to transition to TRACE 3D Plus.
Are HVAKR’s load calculations standards-compliant?
Yes. HVAKR follows ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 183 and ASHRAE 62.1 methodology, and the calculation engine is backed by third-party audits.
I have to migrate off TRACE 700 anyway — why HVAKR?
TRACE 700 files cannot be converted into TRACE 3D Plus, Trane’s designated successor, so you rebuild the project regardless. Rebuilding in HVAKR gets you a cloud tool with AI floor-plan takeoff, real-time collaboration, an 8,760-hour energy analysis, and nothing to install — and no end-of-life to migrate around again.
Can my whole team work on the same project at once?
Yes. HVAKR projects are shared live — multiple engineers can work and review the same project simultaneously, with no single-user files to email around.
Do I need a Revit or gbXML model to get started?
No. HVAKR works directly from PDF floor plans — its AI extracts spaces so you do not need a BIM model or a gbXML export to begin a project.
What does HVAKR cost?
HVAKR is a per-seat subscription with a free trial. See our pricing page for current plans.
Migrate off sunset software — to the cloud
Start a free trial and run your first project today: no download, no license activation, no end-of-life clock.