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Automotive · head to head

Black Book vs iATN

Black Book logo

Black Book

Automotive

Real-time wholesale vehicle pricing

From
$199/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
iATN logo

iATN

Automotive

Community-powered automotive technical advice

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iATN has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Black Book luxury sedans show larger spreads between Black Book and consumer valuations when market demand is weak; iATN membership requires at least four years of automotive repair experience or ASE certification to join
  • They diverge on capability: Black Book covers Real-time pricing, iATN covers Discussion forums.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Black Book and iATN actually diverge.

Attributes where Black Book and iATN differ
AttributeBlack BookiATN
Starting price$199/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile, App
Founded19551996

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automotive).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Black Book

  • Real-time pricing
  • Wholesale valuations
  • Market trends
  • Pricing reports
  • Dealer insights
  • Auction data
  • Vehicle history
  • Price alerts

Only in iATN

  • Discussion forums
  • Question posting
  • Expert responses
  • Knowledge base
  • Community profiles
  • Search functionality
  • Archives access
  • Real-time notifications

Both cover

  • SSL encryption

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Black Book

  • Dealership Managementnot iATN
  • Service Schedulingnot iATN
  • Inventory Managementnot iATN
  • Sales Operationsnot iATN
  • Customer Relationshipnot iATN

iATN

  • Automotive repair technicians sharing diagnostic knowledge and troubleshooting tips across a global technician networknot Black Book

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Black Book

  • Luxury sedans show larger spreads between Black Book and consumer valuations when market demand is weak
  • Electric vehicle valuations are highly volatile due to rapidly changing battery technology and market demand

iATN

  • Membership requires at least four years of automotive repair experience or ASE certification to join
  • Business tier ($36/month) supports only a single location with up to four concurrent browser connections
  • Business+ tier at $45/month is required to add employee sub-accounts, limited to four additional sub-accounts per location

Pricing, plan by plan

Black Book

$199/month
  • Basic$199/month
    • Wholesale pricing
    • Basic reports
    • Single user
  • Professional$399/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Advanced reports
    • Multiple users
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • API access
    • Custom feeds

iATN

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Community access
    • Post questions
    • View discussions
  • Premium$99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced search
    • Priority responses

Which should you pick?

Choose Black Book if

  • You need real-time pricing.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want wholesale valuations.
Black Book review

Choose iATN if

  • You need discussion forums.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want question posting.
iATN review

Questions people ask

Is Black Book or iATN better?
Neither clearly leads. Black Book starts at $199/month and iATN at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Black Book or iATN?
iATN has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $199/month for Black Book and Free for iATN.
Does Black Book or iATN run on more platforms?
Black Book runs on Web, iOS, Android. iATN runs on Web, Mobile, App.
Can I use iATN for free?
Yes. iATN has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Black Book starts at $199/month.
What is Black Book best used for?
Black Book is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations. Of those, dealership management and service scheduling are not what iATN is typically brought in for.
What can Black Book do that iATN cannot?
Black Book covers Real-time pricing, Wholesale valuations, Market trends, Pricing reports. iATN covers Discussion forums, Question posting, Expert responses, Knowledge base. Both handle SSL encryption.
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