Comparison

Plate Lookup vs VIN decoder & VIN code scanner

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

Head to head
About

Plate Lookup

Instantly identify vehicles by their license plate. Get details like make, model, year, engine specs, and even a photo. Perfect for car enthusiasts or anyone curious about a vehicle on the road.

Highlights
  • License plate lookup
  • Vehicle make and model
  • Year and trim details
  • Engine specifications
  • Vehicle photos
  • Fuel type information
Read full description

Lookup any car, truck or semi-truck by it's license plate! Returns detailed information about the vehicle: • Make • Model • Year • Trim • Engine Specs • Fuel Type • Photo See a cool car and wanna learn more about it? Look it up! Curious if a vanity plate is available? Check and see! Did you know semi trucks have 12L engines? Search one's front plate to find out more! This app does not display (nor collect) any personal information about the owner of the vehicle.

About

VIN decoder & VIN code scanner

Instantly decode any vehicle's VIN with this app. It offers both manual input and a VIN scanner for quick, accurate vehicle information, including auction history and average pricing.

Highlights
  • VIN code decoding
  • Real-time VIN scanner
  • VIN code recognition from text
  • Auction participation check
  • Average vehicle price estimation
  • VIN code validation
Features
Read full description

Our VIN Decoder & VIN Check app is the ultimate tool for checking a car's VIN code. Simply input the 17 digits of your VIN number, and our app will provide you with a wealth of information about the vehicle. To make the process even faster and more efficient, we have included a VIN scanner that can read the VIN code automatically, saving you the hassle of entering the information manually. VIN code recognition directly from text in real-time — swift, eliminating the need for picture-taking. Incredibly convenient in scenarios where a barcode is absent or obscured by pollution and other factors. For optimal functionality when using the VIN scanner, it is essential to ensure that the Vehicle Identification Number is clean and free from any contaminants. It is advisable to use a VIN recognizer in instances where the VIN code is polluted or corrupted. When utilizing the VIN recognizer, you should double-check a VIN to ensure its accuracy before proceeding with the decoding process. Enhanced VIN check - additional VIN code validation to ensure accurate entry. For those who are unfamiliar with what a VIN code is, it stands for Vehicle Identification Number, which is a unique identification code consisting of 17 symbols that are assigned to every car, bus, truck, or trailer at the time of production. Moreover, our app not only provides information about the car, but it can also tell you if the vehicle has participated in auctions and provide you with the average price of the vehicle if such data is available. With our VIN Decoder and VIN check app, you can have all the information you need about a vehicle right at your fingertips. To ensure the VIN check works correctly, make sure your network connection is active and stable. The VIN Decoder & VIN Check app is not responsible for the accuracy of the information it publishes, including technical data, features, specifications, and indicators. Manufacturers' logos, brands, and other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Plate Lookup4 screens
VIN decoder & VIN code scanner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VIN decoder & VIN code scanner at 100% against Plate Lookup's 30%. VIN decoder & VIN code scanner also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months). Plate Lookup's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Plate Lookup sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and VIN decoder & VIN code scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VIN decoder & VIN code scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 112 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Plate Lookup's written reviews are positive against 100% of VIN decoder & VIN code scanner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Plate Lookup ships an update every 10 months, VIN decoder & VIN code scanner every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 25, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Plate Lookup versus VIN decoder & VIN code scanner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlate LookupVIN decoder & VIN code scanner
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (44 ratings)4.7 (112 ratings) — better
Positive reviews29.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings44112 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCasey EvanoffVitaliy Mischenko

Customer experience

Plate Lookup

All ratings42 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral7.1%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive29.6%
Neutral14.8%
Negative55.6%

VIN decoder & VIN code scanner

All ratings112 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral0.9%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Plate Lookup

One-time1
  • Unlock Full Version$0.99
2 purchases

VIN decoder & VIN code scanner

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Access for a month$4.991 Month
  • Premium Access for a year$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Plate Lookup free?
Plate Lookup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VIN decoder & VIN code scanner free?
VIN decoder & VIN code scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Plate Lookup or VIN decoder & VIN code scanner?
VIN decoder & VIN code scanner is rated higher. Plate Lookup averages 3.0 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while VIN decoder & VIN code scanner averages 4.7 from 112 ratings.
Do Plate Lookup or VIN decoder & VIN code scanner have ads?
VIN decoder & VIN code scanner shows ads; Plate Lookup does not.
Which is updated more often, Plate Lookup or VIN decoder & VIN code scanner?
Plate Lookup ships an update every 10 months, and VIN decoder & VIN code scanner every 3 weeks. Most recently, Plate Lookup was updated on July 25, 2026 and VIN decoder & VIN code scanner on September 16, 2026.

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