# DOT Merlin Mobile vs Qapter Mobile Inspection

The clearest difference is rating: Qapter Mobile Inspection at 3.7 against DOT Merlin Mobile's 3.2. On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Qapter Mobile Inspection holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 7 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DOT Merlin Mobile | Qapter Mobile Inspection |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-merlin-mobile/id1418176363/reviews) | **[3.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qapter-mobile-inspection/id6443832253/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **7** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 47 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [AVALON RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE AGENCY LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1418176362) | [Audatex North America Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/713313887) |

## 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


### Qapter Mobile Inspection

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qapter-mobile-inspection/id6443832253)

Streamline vehicle inspections with VIN scanning, photo capture, and comment logging. Generate detailed estimates on-site for various automotive intake scenarios. Finalize your estimates within the companion Qapter Estimating software.

**Highlights:** VIN scanning, Photo capture, Comment logging, Line item estimate generation, Multiple intake use cases, View and finalize estimates

**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 Qapter Mobile Inspection free?

Qapter Mobile Inspection is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DOT Merlin Mobile or Qapter Mobile Inspection?

Qapter Mobile Inspection is rated higher. DOT Merlin Mobile averages 3.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Qapter Mobile Inspection averages 3.7 from 7 ratings.

### Do DOT Merlin Mobile or Qapter Mobile Inspection have ads?

Neither DOT Merlin Mobile nor Qapter Mobile Inspection shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DOT Merlin Mobile or Qapter Mobile Inspection?

DOT Merlin Mobile ships an update every 2 months, and Qapter Mobile Inspection every 2 months. Most recently, DOT Merlin Mobile was updated on November 2, 2026 and Qapter Mobile Inspection on November 3, 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.*