# BimmerCode vs Papertrail Auto

The clearest difference is update cadence: Papertrail Auto at every 4 days against BimmerCode's every 2 months. Papertrail Auto also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 59%). BimmerCode's advantage is ratings volume (21K vs 24) and chart position (#101 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BimmerCode sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Papertrail Auto sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $15.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for BimmerCode against 4.8 for Papertrail Auto. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BimmerCode has 21K ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of BimmerCode's written reviews are positive against 83% of Papertrail Auto's.

BimmerCode ships an update every 2 months, Papertrail Auto every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BimmerCode | Papertrail Auto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bimmercode/id1130787459/reviews) | **[4.8 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papertrail-auto/id6444321445/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 58.7% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#101** | — |
| Size | 87 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SG Software GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/441701490) | [Papertrail Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1653844050) |

## What reviewers say

### BimmerCode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bimmercode/id1130787459)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

Unlock hidden features and customize your BMW, MINI, or Toyota Supra. This app allows you to individually configure your vehicle for a personalized driving experience. Requires a compatible OBD adapter.

**Highlights:** Code BMW, MINI, Toyota Supra, Discover hidden features, Individual vehicle configuration, Personalize driving experience, Supports a wide range of models, Requires OBD adapter

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BimmerCode Full Version Motorcycle | $19.99 | one-time |
| BimmerCode Full Version | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Excellent customization options
- 💡 Useful for coding BMW features
- 🚀 Works as advertised
- 👍 Intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires paid version to unlock full functionality
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with some BMW models
- 🐛 Occasional connection problems
- 🐛 Coding can cause unintended issues
- 🐛 Expert mode is in German, not English

**Reported bugs**

- Coding can deactivate important safety features
- App crashes during coding process
- Coding changes not always reversible

**Requested features**

- Ability to backup and restore settings to cloud
- More detailed instructions and documentation
- Support for older BMW models
- Translate expert mode to English
- Add more coding options for newer BMW models


### Papertrail Auto

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papertrail-auto/id6444321445)

This app helps car owners meticulously document their vehicles, from basic specs to maintenance history and memorable journeys. It offers AI-powered input, secure cloud storage, and the ability to generate presentations or transfer ownership records.

**Highlights:** Detailed vehicle documentation, AI-powered data input, Photo and description uploads, Create car 'Stories', Generate PDF/web presentations, Transfer ownership records, Encrypted cloud storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Papertrail Pro | $15.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BimmerCode free?

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

### Is Papertrail Auto free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BimmerCode or Papertrail Auto?

Papertrail Auto is rated higher. BimmerCode averages 4.7 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Papertrail Auto averages 4.8 from 24 ratings.

### Do BimmerCode or Papertrail Auto have ads?

Neither BimmerCode nor Papertrail Auto shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BimmerCode or Papertrail Auto?

BimmerCode ships an update every 2 months, and Papertrail Auto every 4 days. Most recently, BimmerCode was updated on October 12, 2026 and Papertrail Auto on September 22, 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.*