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Automotive · head to head

Mitchell 1 vs Carfax

Mitchell 1 logo

Mitchell 1

Automotive

Repair information for the professional

From
$189/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Carfax logo

Carfax

Automotive

Vehicle history reports and information

From
$2.99/report
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mitchell 1 the initial subscription term is 12 or 24 months and the subscription cannot be cancelled by the customer during that initial period; 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: Mitchell 1 covers ProDemand repair info, Carfax covers Vehicle history reports.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mitchell 1 and Carfax actually diverge.

Attributes where Mitchell 1 and Carfax differ
AttributeMitchell 1Carfax
Starting price$189/month$2.99/report
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Mobile, TabletWeb, Mobile, App
Founded19181984

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automotive).

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 Mitchell 1

  • ProDemand repair info
  • Wiring diagrams
  • TSB database
  • Recall information
  • Labor times
  • Parts ordering
  • Shop management
  • Customer management

Only in Carfax

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

What people use each for

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

Mitchell 1

  • Automotive repair information, wiring diagrams and OEM procedures for independent shopsnot Carfax
  • Shop management including estimating, invoicing and work ordersnot Carfax
  • Labour time and parts pricing lookup for repair estimatesnot Carfax

Carfax

  • Dealership Managementnot Mitchell 1
  • Service Schedulingnot Mitchell 1
  • Inventory Managementnot Mitchell 1
  • Sales Operationsnot Mitchell 1
  • Customer Relationshipnot Mitchell 1

Where each one falls short

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

Mitchell 1

  • The initial subscription term is 12 or 24 months and the subscription cannot be cancelled by the customer during that initial period
  • After the initial term the subscription renews automatically month to month and cancelling requires 30 days notice
  • Mitchell 1 reserves the right to change pricing on notice before each rental renewal period
  • Billing is monthly with payment due within 30 calendar days of the invoice date
  • The product ordering page at mitchell1.com/products/order-prodemand redirects to a separate storefront at buymitchell1.net that blocks automated reads

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

Mitchell 1

$189/month
  • ProDemand$189/month
    • Repair procedures
    • Wiring diagrams
    • TSBs & recalls
  • Manager SE$249/month
    • Shop management
    • Work orders
    • Customer database
  • Complete Package$399/month
    • ProDemand
    • Manager SE
    • SocialCRM

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 Mitchell 1 if

  • You need prodemand repair info.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Tablet.
  • You also want wiring diagrams.
Mitchell 1 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 Mitchell 1 or Carfax better?
Neither clearly leads. Mitchell 1 starts at $189/month and Carfax at $2.99/report, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mitchell 1 or Carfax?
Mitchell 1 starts at $189/month and Carfax at $2.99/report.
Does Mitchell 1 or Carfax run on more platforms?
Mitchell 1 runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Tablet. Carfax runs on Web, Mobile, App.
What is Mitchell 1 best used for?
Mitchell 1 is most often used for automotive repair information, wiring diagrams and oem procedures for independent shops, shop management including estimating, invoicing and work orders, labour time and parts pricing lookup for repair estimates. Of those, automotive repair information, wiring diagrams and oem procedures for independent shops and shop management including estimating, invoicing and work orders are not what Carfax is typically brought in for.
What can Mitchell 1 do that Carfax cannot?
Mitchell 1 covers ProDemand repair info, Wiring diagrams, TSB database, Recall information. Carfax covers Vehicle history reports, Service records, Accident information, Ownership history.
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