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Software · head to head

Carvana vs KBB

Carvana logo

Carvana

Software

The new way to buy and sell cars

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
KBB logo

KBB

Software

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: Carvana as archived in December 2019, Carvana limits its money-back guarantee to a 7-day return window rather than offering open-ended returns, after which a purchased vehicle cannot be exchanged or refunded.; KBB kBB car-values tool is free to consumers with no subscription tier, per the 27 Dec 2022 archive capture
  • They diverge on capability: Carvana covers Online marketplace, KBB covers Vehicle pricing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carvana and KBB actually diverge.

Attributes where Carvana and KBB differ
AttributeCarvanaKBB
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modeltransactionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded20121926

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Mobile, App), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Carvana

  • Online marketplace
  • Vehicle listing
  • Instant appraisal
  • Financing options
  • Home delivery
  • 7-day return policy
  • Transparent pricing
  • Trade-in service

Only in KBB

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

Both cover

  • Mobile apps
  • Marketing tools
  • SSL encryption
  • Secure authentication
  • Data protection

What people use each for

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

Carvana

  • 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.

Carvana

  • As archived in December 2019, Carvana limits its money-back guarantee to a 7-day return window rather than offering open-ended returns, after which a purchased vehicle cannot be exchanged or refunded.

KBB

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Carvana

On request
  • Buyer StandardFree
    • Free vehicle listings
    • Search and filter
    • Saved vehicles
  • Seller Service$undefined/transaction
    • Free valuation
    • Quick appraisal
    • Immediate cash offer

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 Carvana if

  • You need online marketplace.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want vehicle listing.
Carvana 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 Carvana or KBB better?
Neither clearly leads. Carvana starts at On request and KBB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carvana or KBB?
KBB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Carvana and Free for KBB.
Does Carvana 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. Carvana starts at On request.
What is Carvana best used for?
Carvana is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations.
What can Carvana do that KBB cannot?
Carvana covers Online marketplace, Vehicle listing, Instant appraisal, Financing options. KBB covers Vehicle pricing, Trade-in values, Depreciation estimates, Expert reviews. Both handle Mobile apps, Marketing tools, SSL encryption, Secure authentication.
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