Software · head to head
DealerSocket vs CarNow
The short version
- Each has a real cost: DealerSocket pricing is not published for any of its CRM, inventory, or DMS products; buyers must speak with a sales rep for a quote; CarNow pricing is not published on the site; the vendor requires contacting sales by phone or email for a quote
- They diverge on capability: DealerSocket covers Customer CRM, CarNow covers Lease processing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DealerSocket and CarNow actually diverge.
| Attribute | DealerSocket | CarNow |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $800/month |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Api | Web, Mobile, Api |
| Founded | 2001 | 2015 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in DealerSocket
- Customer CRM
- Lead management
- Inventory management
- Desking tools
- Marketing automation
- Digital retail
- Analytics dashboard
- Mobile app
Only in CarNow
- Lease processing
- Document automation
- Compliance management
- Lease tracking
- Customer portal
- Payment processing
- Warranty integration
- Fleet management
Both cover
- Data encryption
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DealerSocket
- Auto dealerships managing CRM, inventory pricing, and lead workflows across a suite of dealership productsnot CarNow
CarNow
- Auto dealerships managing digital retailing, leasing compliance, and online-to-in-store customer handoffnot DealerSocket
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
DealerSocket
- Pricing is not published for any of its CRM, inventory, or DMS products; buyers must speak with a sales rep for a quote
CarNow
- Pricing is not published on the site; the vendor requires contacting sales by phone or email for a quote
Pricing, plan by plan
DealerSocket
On request- CRM$undefined/month
- Lead management
- Sales desking
- Activity tracking
- Inventory+$undefined/month
- Inventory management
- Pricing tools
- Photo management
- Complete Platform$undefined/month
- Full CRM
- Inventory+
- Digital retail
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
Which should you pick?
Choose DealerSocket if
- You need customer crm.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want lead management.
Choose CarNow if
- You need lease processing.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
- You also want document automation.
Questions people ask
- Is DealerSocket or CarNow better?
- Neither clearly leads. DealerSocket starts at On request and CarNow at $800/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, DealerSocket or CarNow?
- DealerSocket starts at On request and CarNow at $800/month.
- Does DealerSocket or CarNow run on more platforms?
- DealerSocket runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. CarNow runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
- What is DealerSocket best used for?
- DealerSocket is most often used for auto dealerships managing crm, inventory pricing, and lead workflows across a suite of dealership products. Of those, auto dealerships managing crm, inventory pricing, and lead workflows across a suite of dealership products is not what CarNow is typically brought in for.
- What can DealerSocket do that CarNow cannot?
- DealerSocket covers Customer CRM, Lead management, Inventory management, Desking tools. CarNow covers Lease processing, Document automation, Compliance management, Lease tracking. Both handle Data encryption.


