# DOT Merlin Mobile vs Apollo DVIR

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | DOT Merlin Mobile | Apollo DVIR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-merlin-mobile/id1418176363/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AVALON RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE AGENCY LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1418176362) | [Assured Tracking Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/708841270) |

## What reviewers say

### DOT Merlin Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-merlin-mobile/id1418176363)

Scan VIN barcodes to instantly retrieve detailed vehicle information. Access all NHTSA RI newsletters for comprehensive safety data.

**Highlights:** VIN barcode scanning, Vehicle detail decoding, NHTSA RI newsletter access, Offline access to newsletters

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Apollo DVIR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apollo-dvir/id1669790194)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DOT Merlin Mobile free?

DOT Merlin Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Apollo DVIR free?

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

### Do DOT Merlin Mobile or Apollo DVIR have ads?

Neither DOT Merlin Mobile nor Apollo DVIR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DOT Merlin Mobile or Apollo DVIR?

DOT Merlin Mobile ships an update every 2 months, and Apollo DVIR every 2 months. Most recently, DOT Merlin Mobile was updated on October 1, 2026 and Apollo DVIR on October 11, 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.*