DOT Merlin Mobile vs Apollo DVIR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DOT Merlin Mobile
Scan VIN barcodes to instantly retrieve detailed vehicle information. Access all NHTSA RI newsletters for comprehensive safety data.
- VIN barcode scanning
- Vehicle detail decoding
- NHTSA RI newsletter access
- Offline access to newsletters
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• Convenient tool to scan the VIN barcode in the driver-side door and decode it into vehicle details • All the NHTSA RI newsletters at your fingertips
Apollo DVIR
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Complete pre- and post-inspection reports for commercial drivers in the USA and Canada. Options for driver, mechanic and carrier approval signatures. Browse and download old reports. Drivers and carriers can take pictures to record tractor and trailer issues.
Screenshots
Verdict
DOT Merlin Mobile and Apollo DVIR are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DOT Merlin Mobile | Apollo DVIR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AVALON RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE AGENCY LLC | Assured Tracking Inc |
In-app purchases
DOT Merlin Mobile
No in-app purchases
Apollo DVIR
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DOT Merlin Mobile free?
Is Apollo DVIR free?
Do DOT Merlin Mobile or Apollo DVIR have ads?
Which is updated more often, DOT Merlin Mobile or Apollo DVIR?
Other comparisons
