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Software · head to head

KBB vs Carfax

KBB logo

KBB

Software

Vehicle pricing and research from Kelley Blue Book

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Carfax logo

Carfax

Software

Vehicle history reports and information

From
$2.99/report
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; Carfax cARFAX's dealer-facing mobile app is restricted to business subscribers and explicitly cannot be used with a consumer CARFAX account
  • They diverge on capability: KBB covers Vehicle pricing, Carfax covers Vehicle history reports.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KBB and Carfax actually diverge.

Attributes where KBB and Carfax differ
AttributeKBBCarfax
Starting priceFree$2.99/report
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded19261984

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 KBB

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

Only in Carfax

  • Vehicle history reports
  • Service records
  • Accident information
  • Ownership history
  • Title information
  • Manufacturer recalls
  • Odometer readings
  • Price analysis

Both cover

  • Lead generation
  • Dealer networks
  • Marketing tools
  • CRM systems
  • Mobile apps
  • Email services
  • SSL encryption
  • Secure authentication
  • Data protection

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

Carfax

  • 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

Carfax

  • CARFAX's dealer-facing mobile app is restricted to business subscribers and explicitly cannot be used with a consumer CARFAX account

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

Carfax

$2.99/report
  • Single Report$2.99/report
    • One vehicle history report
    • Service records
    • Accident history
  • Unlimited Reports$34.99/month
    • Unlimited reports
    • Service history
    • Accident information
  • Dealer Package$299/month
    • Unlimited reports
    • Dealer branding
    • Customer tools

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 Carfax if

  • You need vehicle history reports.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want service records.
Carfax review

Questions people ask

Is KBB or Carfax better?
Neither clearly leads. KBB starts at Free and Carfax at $2.99/report, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KBB or Carfax?
KBB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for KBB and $2.99/report for Carfax.
Does KBB or Carfax 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. Carfax starts at $2.99/report.
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 Carfax cannot?
KBB covers Vehicle pricing, Trade-in values, Depreciation estimates, Expert reviews. Carfax covers Vehicle history reports, Service records, Accident information, Ownership history. Both handle Lead generation, Dealer networks, Marketing tools, CRM systems.
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