# CarAdvise vs PastTense

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CarAdvise at none against PastTense's 1. CarAdvise also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PastTense sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CarAdvise asks for nothing beyond the download.

CarAdvise ships an update every 6 weeks, PastTense monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CarAdvise | PastTense |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.6 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caradvise/id1118606915/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **160** | — |
| Positive reviews | 18.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 69 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CarAdvise LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1118606914) | [永 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1806535769) |

## What reviewers say

### CarAdvise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caradvise/id1118606915)

This app simplifies car maintenance and repairs by offering transparent pricing, appointment booking, and expert mechanic assistance. Drivers can compare shop prices, get discounts, and approve/decline services for a more trustworthy and affordable car care experience.

**Highlights:** In-app appointment bookings, Price comparison at local shops, Discounts on maintenance and repairs, ASE Certified mechanic assistance, Service approval/decline control, Real-time shop updates, Maintenance history storage

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Significant savings on car maintenance and repairs
- 🚀 Easy and convenient booking process
- 📱 User-friendly interface for comparing prices
- 👥 Responsive and helpful customer service (when available)
- ⏱️ Saves time compared to calling multiple shops

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Hidden fees and price discrepancies at checkout
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes frequently
- 📵 Constant logout issues requiring repeated logins
- ⚠️ Appointments not communicated to shops properly
- 😤 Poor customer service responsiveness and hostility

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when booking services
- White screen appears after login
- Constant automatic logout
- Search functionality times out
- Error messages during appointment booking

**Requested features**

- Separate booking tab for multiple appointments
- Improved shop communication system
- Real-time appointment status updates
- Better integration with shop scheduling systems
- Canadian postal code support


### PastTense

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pasttense-scripting-journal/id6787170380)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PastTense Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CarAdvise free?

CarAdvise is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PastTense free?

PastTense is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do CarAdvise or PastTense have ads?

Neither CarAdvise nor PastTense shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CarAdvise or PastTense?

CarAdvise ships an update every 6 weeks, and PastTense monthly. Most recently, CarAdvise was updated on October 23, 2026 and PastTense on October 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*