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Automotive · head to head

CarNow vs TrueCar

CarNow logo

CarNow

Automotive

Modern vehicle leasing solutions

From
$800/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TrueCar logo

TrueCar

Automotive

Transparent pricing and deals on cars

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TrueCar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CarNow no pricing information disclosed on website; TrueCar trueCar's consumer car-shopping and pricing tools are free to use; the company is monetized through dealer partnerships rather than a consumer subscription
  • They diverge on capability: CarNow covers Lease processing, TrueCar covers Price transparency.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CarNow and TrueCar actually diverge.

Attributes where CarNow and TrueCar differ
AttributeCarNowTrueCar
Starting price$800/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, ApiWeb, Mobile, App
Founded20152005

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 CarNow

  • Lease processing
  • Document automation
  • Compliance management
  • Lease tracking
  • Customer portal
  • Payment processing
  • Warranty integration
  • Fleet management

Only in TrueCar

  • Price transparency
  • Inventory search
  • Dealer ratings
  • Consumer reviews
  • Lead generation
  • Pricing reports
  • Market analysis
  • Mobile app

Both cover

  • Payment processors
  • CRM systems
  • SSL encryption
  • Secure authentication

What people use each for

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

CarNow

  • Automotive dealership managementnot TrueCar
  • Car inventory and sales automationnot TrueCar

TrueCar

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

Where each one falls short

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

CarNow

  • No pricing information disclosed on website
  • Vendor directs customers to book demo or contact support for pricing
  • Consultative sales approach suggests custom pricing based on dealership needs

TrueCar

  • TrueCar's consumer car-shopping and pricing tools are free to use; the company is monetized through dealer partnerships rather than a consumer subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

CarNow

$800/month
  • Starter$800/month
    • Lease processing
    • Document automation
    • Basic compliance
  • Professional$1800/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Advanced compliance
    • Multi-location support
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Custom integrations
    • Advanced reporting

TrueCar

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Vehicle search
    • Price estimates
    • Dealer ratings
  • Dealer Plus$299/month
    • Lead generation
    • Dealer profile
    • Performance metrics
  • Enterprise$799/month
    • Everything in Dealer Plus
    • Custom integration
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose CarNow if

  • You need lease processing.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want document automation.
CarNow review

Choose TrueCar if

  • You need price transparency.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want inventory search.
TrueCar review

Questions people ask

Is CarNow or TrueCar better?
Neither clearly leads. CarNow starts at $800/month and TrueCar at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CarNow or TrueCar?
TrueCar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $800/month for CarNow and Free for TrueCar.
Does CarNow or TrueCar run on more platforms?
CarNow runs on Web, Mobile, Api. TrueCar runs on Web, Mobile, App.
Can I use TrueCar for free?
Yes. TrueCar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CarNow starts at $800/month.
What is CarNow best used for?
CarNow is most often used for automotive dealership management, car inventory and sales automation. Of those, automotive dealership management and car inventory and sales automation are not what TrueCar is typically brought in for.
What can CarNow do that TrueCar cannot?
CarNow covers Lease processing, Document automation, Compliance management, Lease tracking. TrueCar covers Price transparency, Inventory search, Dealer ratings, Consumer reviews. Both handle Payment processors, CRM systems, SSL encryption, Secure authentication.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CarNow: How much does CarNow cost?

CarNow does not publish pricing on its website. To receive pricing information, you must book a demo or contact support at 877-882-5353 or [email protected].

Source
CarNow: Does CarNow offer different pricing tiers?

CarNow's pricing model is not publicly disclosed, but the vendor's consultative approach suggests pricing is customized based on individual dealership size, location, and specific requirements.

Source
CarNow: Can I request a free trial of CarNow?

CarNow encourages booking a demo to see the platform in action, but trial terms and conditions are not specified on the public website.

Source
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