# Plate Lookup vs Car Model Identifier

The clearest difference is rating: Car Model Identifier at 4.3 against Plate Lookup's 3.0. Car Model Identifier also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 10 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 30%). Plate Lookup's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Plate Lookup sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Car Model Identifier sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Car Model Identifier holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Plate Lookup's written reviews are positive against 50% of Car Model Identifier's.

Plate Lookup ships an update every 10 months, Car Model Identifier every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Plate Lookup | Car Model Identifier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plate-lookup/id1457003809/reviews) | **[4.3 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/car-model-identifier/id6743397573/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 29.6% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 2 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Casey Evanoff](https://appshunter.io/developer/319345353) | [Rafael Francisco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1516302666) |

## What reviewers say

### Plate Lookup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plate-lookup/id1457003809)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Full Version | $0.99 | one-time |


### Car Model Identifier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/car-model-identifier/id6743397573)

Instantly identify any car by snapping a photo. Get make, model, year, and detailed specs for vehicles, motorcycles, and scooters. Save and organize your discoveries.

**Highlights:** Instant AI car recognition, Identify make, model, and year, Detailed vehicle specifications, Save and organize identified vehicles, Recognizes motorcycles and scooters

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Plate Lookup free?

Plate Lookup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Car Model Identifier free?

Car Model Identifier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Plate Lookup or Car Model Identifier?

Car Model Identifier is rated higher. Plate Lookup averages 3.0 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Car Model Identifier averages 4.3 from 15 ratings.

### Do Plate Lookup or Car Model Identifier have ads?

Neither Plate Lookup nor Car Model Identifier shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Plate Lookup or Car Model Identifier?

Plate Lookup ships an update every 10 months, and Car Model Identifier every 11 days. Most recently, Plate Lookup was updated on October 16, 2026 and Car Model Identifier on October 28, 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.*