While both systems work to transport heat, geothermal and air-source heat pumps are very different.
The primary difference between geothermal and air systems is the energy source. Both systems run their components via electricity, however, air source heat pumps transport heat energy via refrigerants from the outside of the home inwards, reversing the process in the summer.
On the other hand, geothermal HVAC systems don’t depend on the air outside and instead transfer heat from a heat pump inside the home to a pipe system buried a handful of feet under the soil. In the winter, heat from the ground is transferred into the home. The consistency of the temperature under the soil allows for a more efficient transfer of heat, which saves homeowners time and money.