The primary difference between air conditioners and heat pumps is heat pumps can both cool and heat. The trade-off is that the air conditioner is a little more energy efficient at cooling.
A ductless air conditioner uses an indoor compressor/condenser and one or more indoor AC units. Ductless systems rely on conduits to connect each indoor AC unit rather than ductwork as used in HVAC systems.
Here’s why people are choosing ductless over central air.