Comparison

FTB Mobile vs Empire Auto Protect

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FTB Mobile

Check the status of your California state income tax refund. Make secure online tax payments directly from your bank account, with options to pay immediately or schedule for the future.

Highlights
  • Check refund status
  • Make online tax payments
  • Schedule future payments
  • Pay from bank account
  • No registration required
Features
Read full description

The FTB Mobile App is an official app of the Franchise Tax Board. Refund Status Check the refund status of your California state income tax return. Make a Payment Use Web Pay to pay your taxes online from your bank account. No registration required. Pay today or schedule payments up to one year in advance.

About

Empire Auto Protect

Manage your vehicle service contract and access coverage details on the go. Easily view policy information, make payments, file claims, and request roadside assistance. Your contract documents and ID card are always accessible.

Highlights
  • View active policy details
  • Tap to pay bills securely
  • One-tap claim filing
  • Request 24/7 roadside assistance
  • Access ID card and contract documents
  • Manage multiple policies
  • Fast sign-in with biometrics
Features
Read full description

Empire Auto Protect puts your memberships in your pocket. Built for Empire customers who want fast, on-the-go access to everything that matters about their coverage. WHAT YOU CAN DO • View your active policy — make, model, coverage type, term, and status at a glance • Tap to pay your bill through your finance servicer (EFS, MEPCO, SPARTA, WALCO and others) — secure redirect, never asks for card details in the app • File a claim with one tap — call your administrator or send the request electronically • Request 24/7 roadside assistance — towing, jump start, lockout, flat tire, fuel delivery • Access your ID card on the home screen, ready when you need it • Pull up your contract documents anytime • Manage multiple policies on one account — auto, home, RV — and switch between them • Sign in fast with Face ID or Touch ID • Get push notifications about important policy updates (you choose which categories) WHY EMPIRE CUSTOMERS USE THIS APP You shouldn't have to dig through your filing cabinet, scan a paper card, or call to find your policy number. Empire Auto Protect mirrors the data your administrator already has — so what you see in the app matches what they see on their end. When something goes wrong on the road, time matters. The roadside button connects you to dispatch in under five seconds. The claim button pulls up the right phone number for your specific administrator (Aegis, Royal, ASC, and others) so you're never left guessing. ABOUT EMPIRE AUTO PROTECT Empire Auto Protect, LLC is a licensed vehicle service contract and home warranty broker based in the United States. We do not underwrite coverage ourselves — we connect customers with established administrators who handle claims and roadside. This app is a customer convenience tool; your actual coverage, claim outcomes, and contract terms are governed by the administrator named on your policy. PRIVACY AND SECURITY • Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest • Passwords are stored using industry-standard bcrypt hashing • Face ID / Touch ID is processed by your device — we never see your biometric data • We do not sell your personal information • Account deletion is available in the app at any time This app is in beta. Information shown comes from third-party administrators and may not reflect real-time status. For anything important — confirming a claim, payment status, coverage details — please call Empire at (888) 345-0084. Your coverage itself is unchanged regardless of app status. By using this app you agree to our Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy, both available at empireautoprotect.com. Need help? Email support@empireautoprotect.com or call (888) 345-0084.

Screenshots

FTB Mobile4 screens
Empire Auto Protect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Empire Auto Protect at 4.4 against FTB Mobile's 2.3. Empire Auto Protect also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 13 months). FTB Mobile's advantage is iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.1). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Empire Auto Protect holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 50 and 23 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FTB Mobile ships an update every 13 months, Empire Auto Protect every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
FTB Mobile versus Empire Auto Protect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFTB MobileEmpire Auto Protect
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (50 ratings)4.4 (23 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings50 — better23
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.2 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFranchise Tax BoardEmpire Auto Protect LLC

Customer experience

FTB Mobile

All ratings40 ratings
Positive30.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral13.6%
Negative86.4%

Empire Auto Protect

All ratings19 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.8%

In-app purchases

None

FTB Mobile

No in-app purchases

None

Empire Auto Protect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FTB Mobile free?
FTB Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Empire Auto Protect free?
Empire Auto Protect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FTB Mobile or Empire Auto Protect?
Empire Auto Protect is rated higher. FTB Mobile averages 2.3 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while Empire Auto Protect averages 4.4 from 23 ratings.
Do FTB Mobile or Empire Auto Protect have ads?
Neither FTB Mobile nor Empire Auto Protect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FTB Mobile or Empire Auto Protect?
FTB Mobile ships an update every 13 months, and Empire Auto Protect every 2 months. Most recently, FTB Mobile was updated on November 3, 2026 and Empire Auto Protect on October 31, 2026.

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