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IDENTIFIX vs Black Book

IDENTIFIX logo

IDENTIFIX

Software

Fix it the first time

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Black Book logo

Black Book

Software

Real-time wholesale vehicle pricing

From
$199/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IDENTIFIX promotional monthly pricing reverts after 2 months: Pro Academy rises from $278/mo to $298/mo and Pro rises from $268/mo to $288/mo; Black Book luxury sedans show larger spreads between Black Book and consumer valuations when market demand is weak
  • They diverge on capability: IDENTIFIX covers Direct-Hit database, Black Book covers Real-time pricing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IDENTIFIX and Black Book actually diverge.

Attributes where IDENTIFIX and Black Book differ
AttributeIDENTIFIXBlack Book
Starting price$99/month$199/month
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded19871955

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 IDENTIFIX

  • Direct-Hit database
  • Confirmed fixes
  • OEM repair info
  • Wiring diagrams
  • TSB access
  • Component locators
  • Hotline support
  • Training videos

Only in Black Book

  • Real-time pricing
  • Wholesale valuations
  • Market trends
  • Pricing reports
  • Dealer insights
  • Auction data
  • Vehicle history
  • Price alerts

Both cover

  • Data encryption

What people use each for

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

IDENTIFIX

  • Automotive repair shops looking up verified repair fixes and diagnostic data for specific vehiclesnot Black Book

Black Book

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

Where each one falls short

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

IDENTIFIX

  • Promotional monthly pricing reverts after 2 months: Pro Academy rises from $278/mo to $298/mo and Pro rises from $268/mo to $288/mo
  • DIY plan at $29.99/mo limits database access to a single vehicle only, versus full vehicle database on Academy and Pro plans
  • Technician training and certification prep are excluded from the Pro plan and included only on the pricier Academy plan

Black Book

  • Luxury sedans show larger spreads between Black Book and consumer valuations when market demand is weak
  • Electric vehicle valuations are highly volatile due to rapidly changing battery technology and market demand

Pricing, plan by plan

IDENTIFIX

$99/month
  • Direct-Hit$99/month
    • Confirmed fixes
    • OEM information
    • Wiring diagrams
  • Direct-Hit Pro$159/month
    • Everything in Direct-Hit
    • Hotline calls
    • Expert assistance
  • Shop Plus$249/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Multiple users
    • Shop management

Black Book

$199/month
  • Basic$199/month
    • Wholesale pricing
    • Basic reports
    • Single user
  • Professional$399/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Advanced reports
    • Multiple users
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • API access
    • Custom feeds

Which should you pick?

Choose IDENTIFIX if

  • You need direct-hit database.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want confirmed fixes.
IDENTIFIX review

Choose Black Book if

  • You need real-time pricing.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want wholesale valuations.
Black Book review

Questions people ask

Is IDENTIFIX or Black Book better?
Neither clearly leads. IDENTIFIX starts at $99/month and Black Book at $199/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IDENTIFIX or Black Book?
IDENTIFIX starts at $99/month and Black Book at $199/month.
Does IDENTIFIX or Black Book run on more platforms?
IDENTIFIX runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile. Black Book runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is IDENTIFIX best used for?
IDENTIFIX is most often used for automotive repair shops looking up verified repair fixes and diagnostic data for specific vehicles. Of those, automotive repair shops looking up verified repair fixes and diagnostic data for specific vehicles is not what Black Book is typically brought in for.
What can IDENTIFIX do that Black Book cannot?
IDENTIFIX covers Direct-Hit database, Confirmed fixes, OEM repair info, Wiring diagrams. Black Book covers Real-time pricing, Wholesale valuations, Market trends, Pricing reports. Both handle Data encryption.
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