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Automotive · head to head

Cars.com vs KBB

Cars.com logo

Cars.com

Automotive

Your trusted automotive marketplace

From
$299/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
KBB logo

KBB

Automotive

Vehicle pricing and research from Kelley Blue Book

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only KBB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cars.com cars.com charges shoppers nothing; it is a free listings site monetised via dealer advertising, per the 31 Dec 2020 archive capture; KBB kBB car-values tool is free to consumers with no subscription tier, per the 27 Dec 2022 archive capture
  • They diverge on capability: Cars.com covers Vehicle listing, KBB covers Vehicle pricing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cars.com and KBB actually diverge.

Attributes where Cars.com and KBB differ
AttributeCars.comKBB
Starting price$299/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded19981926

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Mobile, App), 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 Cars.com

  • Vehicle listing
  • Marketplace access
  • Dealer profile
  • Performance tracking
  • Mobile responsive
  • Photo and video gallery
  • Consumer research tools
  • DMS platforms

Only in KBB

  • Vehicle pricing
  • Trade-in values
  • Depreciation estimates
  • Expert reviews
  • Comparisons
  • Research tools
  • Cost of ownership
  • Inventory search

Both cover

  • Lead generation
  • CRM systems
  • Mobile apps
  • Analytics
  • SSL encryption
  • Secure authentication
  • Data protection
  • Privacy standards

What people use each for

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

Cars.com

  • Dealership Management
  • Service Scheduling
  • Inventory Management
  • Sales Operations
  • Customer Relationship

KBB

  • Dealership Management
  • Service Scheduling
  • Inventory Management
  • Sales Operations
  • Customer Relationship

Both are used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations, customer relationship, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Cars.com

  • Cars.com charges shoppers nothing; it is a free listings site monetised via dealer advertising, per the 31 Dec 2020 archive capture

KBB

  • KBB car-values tool is free to consumers with no subscription tier, per the 27 Dec 2022 archive capture

Pricing, plan by plan

Cars.com

$299/month
  • Basic$299/month
    • Vehicle listings
    • Marketplace visibility
    • Basic lead management
  • Standard$699/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Advanced lead tools
    • CRM integration
  • Premium$1199/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • Priority placement
    • Marketing support

KBB

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Vehicle values
    • Pricing data
    • Expert reviews
  • Dealer Instant Offer$299/month
    • Instant offer capability
    • Lead generation
    • Customer tools

Which should you pick?

Choose Cars.com if

  • You need vehicle listing.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want marketplace access.
Cars.com review

Choose KBB if

  • You need vehicle pricing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want trade-in values.
KBB review

Questions people ask

Is Cars.com or KBB better?
Neither clearly leads. Cars.com starts at $299/month and KBB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cars.com or KBB?
KBB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $299/month for Cars.com and Free for KBB.
Does Cars.com or KBB run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Mobile, App, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use KBB for free?
Yes. KBB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cars.com starts at $299/month.
What is Cars.com best used for?
Cars.com is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations.
What can Cars.com do that KBB cannot?
Cars.com covers Vehicle listing, Marketplace access, Dealer profile, Performance tracking. KBB covers Vehicle pricing, Trade-in values, Depreciation estimates, Expert reviews. Both handle Lead generation, CRM systems, Mobile apps, Analytics.
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