Skip to content
Rebate.Blue

APLUS vs Stelpro: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical APLUS model beats 17% and a typical Stelpro model 67%. Stelpro rates higher overall.

Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated

APLUS

17%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

31 models listed

Stelpro

67%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

32 models listed

Rating by ratingEach bar is the share of same-size, same-type heat pumps that a typical model beats, so the two brands compare fairly even if they make different sizes.
  • Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FAPLUS: Beats 14%Stelpro: Beats 51%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAPLUS: Beats 6%Stelpro: Beats 77%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2APLUS: Beats 23%Stelpro: Beats 78%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2APLUS: Beats 22%Stelpro: Beats 67%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2APLUS: Beats 50%Stelpro: Beats 62%

Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison

Want ranks, distributions per size class and cold-weather curves? Switch to Advanced

Rebate standards

Share of each brand’s models that meet the level. Programs can have other rules too.

  • CEE 2025

    APLUS
    0%
    Stelpro
    88%

  • Xcel CC

    APLUS
    0%
    Stelpro
    94%

  • CEE Advanced

    APLUS
    0%
    Stelpro
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    APLUS
    0%
    Stelpro
    78%

All-around best, ductless 2.5–3 tons

Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.

Showing Ductless, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

APLUS

No ductless, 2.5–3 tons model from APLUS.

Stelpro

  1. 1SMZ4B1-H36A-OStelproAlso listed as SMZ4B1V-H36A-O3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 78.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.7 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Great
    78.3score / 100Heating 76 · Cooling 81
  2. 2SMZ3B1-H27A-OStelproAlso listed as SMZ3B1V-H27A-O2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 72.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Great
    74.4score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 76

These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.

Next steps

The advanced view adds ranks, both brands’ models inside every size class, standout models per rating and cold-weather curves.

Open the advanced view