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.
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.
- License plate lookup
- Vehicle make and model
- Year and trim details
- Engine specifications
- Vehicle photos
- Fuel type information
Read full descriptionHide 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.
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.
- VIN code decoding
- Real-time VIN scanner
- VIN code recognition from text
- Auction participation check
- Average vehicle price estimation
- VIN code validation
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Plate Lookup | VIN decoder & VIN code scanner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (44 ratings) | 4.7 (112 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 29.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 44 | 112 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Casey Evanoff | Vitaliy Mischenko |
Customer experience
Plate Lookup
VIN decoder & VIN code scanner
In-app purchases
Plate Lookup
- Unlock Full Version$0.99
VIN decoder & VIN code scanner
- Premium Access for a month$4.991 Month
- Premium Access for a year$49.991 Year
Questions
Is Plate Lookup free?
Is VIN decoder & VIN code scanner free?
Which has better reviews, Plate Lookup or VIN decoder & VIN code scanner?
Do Plate Lookup or VIN decoder & VIN code scanner have ads?
Which is updated more often, Plate Lookup or VIN decoder & VIN code scanner?
Other comparisons















