Abstract Since many HFC refrigerants have relatively large values of GWP, recent development efforts have been initiated to investigate halogenated olefins as possible refrigerants, with fluorinated propene isomers, in particular, having emerged as possible solutions. Specifically, R1234yf has emerged as an R134a replacement for automotive applications. In this paper, the local heat transfer coefficient measured during flow boiling of R1234yf in a 1 mm diameter circular microchannel is reported and compared to R134a. During tests, the heat is provided to the boiling fluid by using a secondary fluid. Therefore the heat flux is not imposed but instead it is the result of the inlet temperatures of the two fluids and the thermal resistances on the two sides, as it occurs in actual heat exchangers for automotive and air-conditioning applications. Flow boiling tests are carried out at 31 °C saturation temperature and mass fluxes ranging between 200 kg m−2 s−1 and 600 kg m−2 s−1.