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Automotive · head to head

Carfax vs Mitchell 1

Carfax logo

Carfax

Automotive

Vehicle history reports and information

From
$2.99/report
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mitchell 1 logo

Mitchell 1

Automotive

Repair information for the professional

From
$189/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Carfax cARFAX's dealer-facing mobile app is restricted to business subscribers and explicitly cannot be used with a consumer CARFAX account; Mitchell 1 the initial subscription term is 12 or 24 months and the subscription cannot be cancelled by the customer during that initial period
  • They diverge on capability: Carfax covers Vehicle history reports, Mitchell 1 covers ProDemand repair info.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carfax and Mitchell 1 actually diverge.

Attributes where Carfax and Mitchell 1 differ
AttributeCarfaxMitchell 1
Starting price$2.99/report$189/month
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, AppWeb, Desktop, Mobile, Tablet
Founded19841918

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Carfax

  • Vehicle history reports
  • Service records
  • Accident information
  • Ownership history
  • Title information
  • Manufacturer recalls
  • Odometer readings
  • Price analysis

Only in Mitchell 1

  • ProDemand repair info
  • Wiring diagrams
  • TSB database
  • Recall information
  • Labor times
  • Parts ordering
  • Shop management
  • Customer management

What people use each for

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

Carfax

  • Dealership Managementnot Mitchell 1
  • Service Schedulingnot Mitchell 1
  • Inventory Managementnot Mitchell 1
  • Sales Operationsnot Mitchell 1
  • Customer Relationshipnot Mitchell 1

Mitchell 1

  • Automotive repair information, wiring diagrams and OEM procedures for independent shopsnot Carfax
  • Shop management including estimating, invoicing and work ordersnot Carfax
  • Labour time and parts pricing lookup for repair estimatesnot Carfax

Where each one falls short

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

Carfax

  • CARFAX's dealer-facing mobile app is restricted to business subscribers and explicitly cannot be used with a consumer CARFAX account

Mitchell 1

  • The initial subscription term is 12 or 24 months and the subscription cannot be cancelled by the customer during that initial period
  • After the initial term the subscription renews automatically month to month and cancelling requires 30 days notice
  • Mitchell 1 reserves the right to change pricing on notice before each rental renewal period
  • Billing is monthly with payment due within 30 calendar days of the invoice date
  • The product ordering page at mitchell1.com/products/order-prodemand redirects to a separate storefront at buymitchell1.net that blocks automated reads

Pricing, plan by plan

Carfax

$2.99/report
  • Single Report$2.99/report
    • One vehicle history report
    • Service records
    • Accident history
  • Unlimited Reports$34.99/month
    • Unlimited reports
    • Service history
    • Accident information
  • Dealer Package$299/month
    • Unlimited reports
    • Dealer branding
    • Customer tools

Mitchell 1

$189/month
  • ProDemand$189/month
    • Repair procedures
    • Wiring diagrams
    • TSBs & recalls
  • Manager SE$249/month
    • Shop management
    • Work orders
    • Customer database
  • Complete Package$399/month
    • ProDemand
    • Manager SE
    • SocialCRM

Which should you pick?

Choose Carfax if

  • You need vehicle history reports.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want service records.
Carfax review

Choose Mitchell 1 if

  • You need prodemand repair info.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Tablet.
  • You also want wiring diagrams.
Mitchell 1 review

Questions people ask

Is Carfax or Mitchell 1 better?
Neither clearly leads. Carfax starts at $2.99/report and Mitchell 1 at $189/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carfax or Mitchell 1?
Carfax starts at $2.99/report and Mitchell 1 at $189/month.
Does Carfax or Mitchell 1 run on more platforms?
Carfax runs on Web, Mobile, App. Mitchell 1 runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Tablet.
What is Carfax best used for?
Carfax is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations. Of those, dealership management and service scheduling are not what Mitchell 1 is typically brought in for.
What can Carfax do that Mitchell 1 cannot?
Carfax covers Vehicle history reports, Service records, Accident information, Ownership history. Mitchell 1 covers ProDemand repair info, Wiring diagrams, TSB database, Recall information.
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