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KBB vs Black Book

KBB logo

KBB

Software

Vehicle pricing and research from Kelley Blue Book

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Black Book logo

Black Book

Software

Real-time wholesale vehicle pricing

From
$199/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only KBB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: KBB kBB car-values tool is free to consumers with no subscription tier, per the 27 Dec 2022 archive capture; Black Book luxury sedans show larger spreads between Black Book and consumer valuations when market demand is weak
  • They diverge on capability: KBB covers Vehicle pricing, Black Book covers Real-time pricing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where KBB and Black Book differ
AttributeKBBBlack Book
Starting priceFree$199/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, AppWeb, iOS, Android
Founded19261955

Identical on both: 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 KBB

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

Only in Black Book

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

Both cover

  • CRM systems
  • SSL encryption
  • Secure authentication

What people use each for

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

KBB

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

Black Book

  • 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.

KBB

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

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

KBB

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

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 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

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 KBB or Black Book better?
Neither clearly leads. KBB starts at Free and Black Book at $199/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KBB or Black Book?
KBB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for KBB and $199/month for Black Book.
Does KBB or Black Book run on more platforms?
KBB runs on Web, Mobile, App. Black Book runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use KBB for free?
Yes. KBB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Black Book starts at $199/month.
What is KBB best used for?
KBB is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations.
What can KBB do that Black Book cannot?
KBB covers Vehicle pricing, Trade-in values, Depreciation estimates, Expert reviews. Black Book covers Real-time pricing, Wholesale valuations, Market trends, Pricing reports. Both handle CRM systems, SSL encryption, Secure authentication.
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