Hearth works for HVAC contractors because it charges a flat annual subscription instead of a per-job dealer fee. Third-party reviews as of mid-2026 list plans around $1,499 to $1,799 per year, and the break-even lands near $46,000 in financed volume, roughly six average replacements at Angi's $7,500 average system cost. Below that volume, a pay-per-use platform is cheaper. Above it, Hearth usually wins.
Key takeaways
- Hearth is a financing marketplace with 18+ lending partners, $0 dealer fees, loans up to $250,000, and lenders that work with FICO scores as low as 550, per gethearth.com.
- Hearth no longer publishes prices on its pricing page; third-party listings as of mid-2026 cite roughly $1,499 to $1,799 per year plus a $99 setup fee.
- Angi's 2026 cost guide puts HVAC replacement at $5,000 to $12,500 (average $7,500), the exact ticket range where monthly-payment framing closes jobs.
- Wisetack charges a 3.9% merchant fee per transaction (up to 9.9% on extended 0% APR terms); GreenSky dealer fees run roughly 3% to 10%. On a $9,000 install, that is $351 to $900 per job.
- Break-even math: at a $1,799 subscription vs a 3.9% per-job fee, Hearth pays for itself past about $46,000 in annual financed volume.
Why HVAC is the strongest trade for point-of-sale financing
HVAC replacement combines three conditions that make financing convert better than in almost any other trade. First, urgency: a dead system in July or January cannot wait for the homeowner to save up, so the decision happens in days, not months. Second, ticket size: most replacements land between $5,000 and $12,500 according to Angi's 2026 pricing data, which is too big for most credit cards and too small for a home equity loan to feel worth the paperwork. Third, invisible value: a new condenser looks like the old one, so the premium high-efficiency option only sells on operating cost and comfort, and a monthly payment is the frame that makes a $3,000 upgrade feel like $50 a month instead of a lump sum.
That is why financing in HVAC is less a marketing extra and more a closing tool. If you are new to offering it at all, start with our beginner's guide to home improvement financing, then come back for the Hearth-specific math.
What HVAC jobs cost in 2026 (and where financing kicks in)
HVAC ticket sizes set the stakes for every fee decision, so anchor on current numbers. Angi's 2026 cost guides (updated March 2026) report the following ranges:
| Job type | 2026 typical range | Financing relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Full HVAC replacement | $5,000 to $12,500 (avg $7,500) | Core financed job; most quotes land here |
| Replacement with new ductwork and add-ons | Up to $22,000 | Financing almost mandatory |
| Ductless mini-split system | $2,000 to $14,500 | Multi-zone installs finance like full systems |
| Permits, thermostats, zoning, insulation extras | $250 to $3,100 added | Easy add-ons inside an approved loan |
Run the payment math on the average job: a $9,000 system at 10% APR over 60 months is about $191 a month (illustrative math, actual rates vary by lender and credit tier). Presenting $191 a month against a sweltering house closes differently than presenting $9,000 due on completion.
Hearth's current terms: what HVAC contractors actually get
Hearth is not a lender. It is a marketplace that connects your customer to a network of 18+ lending partners, and its pricing page states $0 dealer fees on every plan. Per gethearth.com, partner lenders work with FICO scores as low as 550 and fund loans up to $250,000, and the pre-qualification is a soft pull that does not affect the homeowner's credit score. That 550 floor matters in HVAC because emergency replacements do not filter for prime credit; the details are in our breakdown of Hearth's 550 FICO minimum.
Pricing is the part that changed. Hearth's public pricing page now shows three tiers (Pro, Pro + Harper with AI receptionist and follow-up tools, and Enterprise) but no dollar amounts; you get a quote through a demo call. Third-party software directories and reviews as of mid-2026, including Capterra's Hearth listing, place the core plans at roughly $1,499 to $1,799 per year with a $99 setup fee. Treat those as the negotiating range, not gospel, and get your quote in writing. Our full Hearth fee breakdown tracks the current numbers.
On reputation: Hearth holds a 4.5 TrustScore from more than 1,000 Trustpilot reviews as of 2026. Praise centers on support and close-rate lift; complaints center on billing and cancellation, so read the contract's renewal terms before signing.
The fee math: Hearth vs per-job platforms at HVAC volumes
The Hearth decision is a flat-fee vs percentage-fee decision, so the only question is your annual financed volume. Current per-job pricing from the platforms themselves: Wisetack charges merchants a flat 3.9% per transaction, rising to as much as 9.9% when a customer takes an extended 0% APR term, per Wisetack's support documentation. GreenSky dealer fees run roughly 3% to 10% depending on the loan plan, with promotional 0% products costing more. Here is what that looks like for an HVAC shop financing $120,000 a year (about 13 jobs at $9,000):
| Platform | Fee model (2026) | Cost at $120k financed |
|---|---|---|
| Hearth | Flat subscription, $0 dealer fees (approx. $1,499 to $1,799/yr per mid-2026 listings) | About $1,500 to $1,800 |
| Wisetack | 3.9% per transaction (up to 9.9% on extended 0% APR) | $4,680 at the base rate |
| GreenSky | Dealer fee, roughly 3% to 10% by plan | $3,600 to $12,000 |
Break-even is simple division: $1,799 divided by a 3.9% fee equals about $46,000 in financed volume, or roughly six average replacements a year. Finance less than that and Wisetack's pay-per-use model costs you less; finance more and the flat fee wins by a widening margin. The full head-to-heads are in Hearth vs Wisetack and GreenSky vs Hearth, and if you want to shop beyond these three, see the five best HVAC financing programs for 2026.
One correction to numbers you may have seen elsewhere (including an earlier version of this article): Wisetack's base fee is 3.9%, not a 7% blend, and GreenSky's typical standard-plan fees sit at 3% to 6%, not a flat 8%. The flat-fee advantage is real, but it is a few thousand dollars a year at typical volumes, not automatic five-figure savings.
How to run the financing conversation on an HVAC call
The HVAC financing pitch is different from remodel trades because urgency already exists; your job is removing the payment barrier fast. Mention financing at arrival, before the diagnosis: "One thing to know before I price this out: we have financing that takes about two minutes to check and will not affect your credit score." Then, when the quote is ready, run the pre-qualification before revealing the total, and lead with the monthly number. "You are approved. This system comes to about $190 a month" lands better than a $9,000 figure followed by a rescue attempt.
Add-ons follow the same logic. An indoor air quality package or upgraded thermostat that gets cut from a cash quote survives inside a payment because it moves the monthly number by tens of dollars, not thousands. Script the moment: "We can include the air purifier; it adds about $25 a month." For the full field workflow, use our step-by-step in-home estimate guide, and keep the objection-handling scripts handy for the "I need to check with my bank" moment.
Common mistakes HVAC contractors make with Hearth
Most Hearth disappointment traces to a few avoidable errors:
- Buying below break-even volume. If you will finance fewer than about six jobs a year, a per-use platform costs less. Do the division before the demo call.
- Signing without the renewal terms in writing. Trustpilot complaints cluster around auto-renewal and refunds. Know the cancellation window.
- Quoting cash first, financing as a rescue. Financing introduced after sticker shock reads as a consolation prize. Introduce it at arrival.
- Ignoring 0% APR expectations. Homeowners see 0% offers everywhere. Understand what promotional rates cost the contractor on any platform before promising them; our 0% APR financing explainer covers the trade-offs.
- Treating one lender's decline as final. Hearth's multi-lender model exists so a decline from one partner is not the end of the application. Let the marketplace work.
Also know that one legacy option changed hands: EnerBank USA merged into Regions Bank in 2021 and now operates as Regions Home Improvement Financing, still a dealer-fee model. If someone recommends "EnerBank" for storm or insurance work, that is the program they mean.
How we put this together
We compared Hearth's model against per-job platforms using each company's own published terms: Hearth's pricing page and site claims (18+ lenders, $0 dealer fees, 550 FICO, $250,000 max loan), Wisetack's support documentation on merchant fees, published GreenSky dealer-fee ranges, and Angi's 2026 HVAC cost guides for ticket sizes. Subscription prices come from third-party directories such as Capterra because Hearth no longer publishes them. All figures verified in July 2026; confirm current terms before signing anything.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hearth charge HVAC contractors dealer fees?
No, Hearth's pricing page states $0 dealer fees on all plans; you pay a flat annual subscription instead. The homeowner pays the lender's interest rate, and your payout is not reduced per job the way it is with GreenSky or promotional Wisetack plans.
How much does Hearth cost per year in 2026?
Hearth quotes pricing through a demo rather than publishing it, and third-party listings as of mid-2026 cite roughly $1,499 to $1,799 per year for core plans plus a $99 setup fee. Higher tiers bundle AI answering and marketing tools at higher prices.
What credit score do homeowners need for Hearth financing?
Hearth's lending partners work with FICO scores as low as 550, per gethearth.com. Lower scores mean higher offered rates, but in emergency HVAC replacements a costlier approval still beats a lost job.
Does Hearth pre-qualification hurt the homeowner's credit?
No, the pre-qualification is a soft inquiry that does not affect the credit score. A hard pull only happens if the homeowner proceeds with a specific lender's loan, which is worth saying out loud in the home because it removes the most common hesitation.
Is Hearth worth it for a small HVAC shop?
Only above roughly $46,000 in annual financed volume, about six average replacements at 2026 prices; below that, Wisetack's 3.9% pay-per-use fee costs less. Shops in between should also weigh FTL Finance, an HVAC-focused alternative, before deciding.
Can Hearth finance mini-split and IAQ add-on work?
Yes, personal loans through Hearth's partners cover any home improvement scope up to $250,000, so multi-zone mini-splits ($2,000 to $14,500 per Angi) and air quality add-ons fold into one approval. That is a practical edge over equipment-brand financing tied to specific hardware.
