Comparison

Plate Lookup vs VIN Check & Decoder

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 access comprehensive vehicle information using license plates or VINs. Get details on specs, history, market value, and damage. Ideal for buyers, auto professionals, and fleet managers.

Highlights
  • VIN Decoder
  • License Plate Lookup
  • VIN Scanner
  • Vehicle History Reports
  • Market Value Estimates
  • Damage Marking Tool
  • Recall Information
Features
Read full description

U.S. license plates only Looking for a used car? Want to learn more about a vehicle? Working in towing, detailing, auto repair, bodywork, dealerships, insurance, fleet management, or any other auto related industry? This epic app is perfect for you! Enter a license plate or VIN and quickly get information on vehicle specs, auction records, sales records, VIN history, accident and salvage records, market values, recalls, owners, equipment and features, damages, and many other details. Key Features: VIN DECODER - Instantly decode any vin using our our advanced decoder engine to reveal make, model, year, engine type, trim, drivetrain, recalls, and other vehicle details. LICENSE PLATE LOOKUP - No VIN? No problem. Enter a license plate and retrieve vin in seconds. VIN SCANNER - Epic VIN scanner to avoid typing 17 digits by hand and quickly lookup vehicles. LICENSE PLATE SCANNER - Use your phone's camera instead of typing to make the process even faster. VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT - Run a quick vin check to get insights on previous owners, sales history, title issues, recalls, accident records, damage records, services, title brands, and any other related information - like a vehicle wiki in your pocket. NMVTIS approved providers vehicle history reports from EpicVIN and VINdata can be purchased directly in the app. MARKET VALUE - Check real-time vehicle market value and detailed specs including MPG, towing capacity, and safety ratings. DAMAGE MARKING TOOL - Visually mark dents, scratches, or collision damage directly on vehicle diagrams, anything from front bumper to rear bumper. PHOTO UPLOADS - Take and upload photos of the vehicle for documentation or inspection. RECALLS - Instantly see any manufacturer recall notices or defects tied to the vin. SALES RECORDS - Track ownership transfers and dealer resales to verify vehicle history. ADVANCED SEARCH - Easily find and filter past vehicle lookups to revisit reports or track jobs. Perfect For: • Buyers researching before a purchase • Towing services and roadside assistance • Auto detailing, paint correction, and reconditioning • Repair shops and technicians • Car dealerships and used vehicle sales • Insurance adjusters and claim inspectors • Fleet managers and vehicle operators Have a feature idea? hello@platelookup.app Terms of use: https://platelookup.app/terms

About

VIN Check & Decoder

Get comprehensive vehicle reports by entering a VIN or scanning a barcode. Access detailed information including history, specs, photos, and expert reviews to make informed decisions when buying a used car.

Highlights
  • VIN lookup by plate number
  • Vehicle history reports
  • Technical specifications and photos
  • Equipment and options decoder
  • IIHS crash test ratings
  • Camera VIN barcode scanning
Features
Read full description

Using the search by plate number (VIN) you get complete information about the car! If you were planning to buy a car, do a full check before buying. VIN CHECK INFORMATION: • Vehicle Basic Information • Vehicle History Report • Equipment & Options of your car by VIN (only for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Mini) • Full Tech Specs and Photos • Interior & Exterior Photos • Auto Expert Reviews • IIHS Crash Test Ratings • Useful Wikipedia Links VEHICLE BASIC INFORMATION: • Class Auto • Country af Assembly • Vehicle Age • Date and Year • Make and Model • Calculated Owners • Style/Body • Engine • Manufacturer Name • Plant City • Vehicle Type • Doors • Wheel Base Type • Gross Vehicle Weight Rating • Trailer Type Connection • Trailer Body Type • Number of Wheels • ... • 100+ other params if available! VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT: • Vehicle Summary • Vehicle Ownership History • Vehicle Usage • State Title Brand Check • Accident Check • Damage Check • Specific Event Check • Odometer Check • Open Recall Check • Detailed Vehicle History • Glossary on Your Report FEATURES AND FUNCTIONALITY: • Camera Scan VIN Barcode • Generating a Real Barcode by VIN • Full Information About VIN • List of Your Recent requests • 10 Examples of Reports by VIN • High-quality Zoom Photos • Optimized for LED Screens • Support Tactics Engine • 3D Touch for Home Screen Icon • Widget Today Extension • Copy, Share and Translate TECH SPECS FOR ALL CARS: • 65 Auto Brands • 22 466 Photos • 3 406 Models • 5 629 Generations • 72 614 Modification • 2 178 816 Tech Specs TECH SPECS CAR MANUFACTURERS: Acura, Alfa Romeo, Aston-Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Buick, Cadillac, Chery, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroen, Dacia, Daewoo, Daimler, Dodge, FAW, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Geely, Genesis, GMC, Great Wall, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, KIA, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Maserati, Mazda, Mclaren, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Mini, Mitsubishi, Moskvich, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Pontiac, Porsche, RAM, Renault, Rolls-royce, Seat, Skoda, Smart, Ssangyong, Subaru, Suzuki, Tesla, Toyota, UAZ, VAZ (Lada), Volkswagen, Volvo. -- SUPPORT & QUESTIONS: mobile.auto.apps@gmail.com

Screenshots

Plate Lookup4 screens
VIN Check & Decoder4 screens

Verdict

The call

Plate Lookup and VIN Check & Decoder both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 95% of VIN Check & Decoder's written reviews are positive against 52% of Plate Lookup's. VIN Check & Decoder also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). Plate Lookup's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and VIN Check & Decoder sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Plate Lookup against 4.8 for VIN Check & Decoder. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.1K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of Plate Lookup's written reviews are positive against 95% of VIN Check & Decoder's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Plate Lookup ships an update every 9 days, VIN Check & Decoder every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Plate Lookup versus VIN Check & Decoder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlate LookupVIN Check & Decoder
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.1K ratings)4.8 (1.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.4% of reviews95.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.1K — better1.6K
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size173 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlate Lookup LLCYerzhan Tleuov

Customer experience

Plate Lookup

All ratings4,067 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.5%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews126 reviews
Positive52.4%
Neutral6.3%
Negative41.3%

VIN Check & Decoder

All ratings1,552 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral0.8%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews177 reviews
Positive95.5%
Neutral1.1%
Negative3.4%

User reviews

Plate Lookup

From 4.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate information
  • 🚀 Helpful for work
  • 👍 Great app
  • 👍 Very useful

Room to improve

  • 💰 Paid service
  • 💰 Expensive
  • 🐛 Doesn't work
  • 🐛 Unreliable
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns

VIN Check & Decoder

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Convenient
  • 🚀 Informative
  • 🚀 Detailed reports
  • 👍 Helpful for buying/selling vehicles

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inaccurate vehicle information
  • 💰 Paid reports required for full details

Bugs and requests

Plate Lookup

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Errors and server issues
  • Compatibility problems
  • Inconsistent functionality

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add Canadian provinces
  • Add more countries
  • Allow deleting search history

VIN Check & Decoder

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Incorrect vehicle information

Requested features

2 requests
  • Support for European vehicles
  • Free access to full vehicle history reports

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Plate Lookup

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Lite3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Monthly$24.991 Month
  • 3 Months$59.993 Months
One-time6
  • 1 Vehicle History Report$9.99
  • 50 credits$9.99
  • 3 Vehicle History Reports$19.99
Show 3 more
  • 150 credits$19.99
  • 10 Vehicle History Reports$49.99
  • 500 credits$49.99
5 purchases

VIN Check & Decoder

One-time5
  • 1 VIN Check and Report$14.99
  • 5 VIN Checks and Reports$44.99
  • 20 VIN Checks and Reports$74.99
Show 2 more
  • 200 VIN Checks and Reports$149.99
  • Lifetime Unlimited Access$299.99

Questions

Is Plate Lookup free?
Plate Lookup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VIN Check & Decoder free?
VIN Check & Decoder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Plate Lookup or VIN Check & Decoder?
VIN Check & Decoder is rated higher. Plate Lookup averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while VIN Check & Decoder averages 4.8 from 1.6K ratings.
Do Plate Lookup or VIN Check & Decoder have ads?
Neither Plate Lookup nor VIN Check & Decoder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Plate Lookup or VIN Check & Decoder?
Plate Lookup ships an update every 9 days, and VIN Check & Decoder every 6 weeks. Most recently, Plate Lookup was updated on November 7, 2026 and VIN Check & Decoder on November 7, 2026.

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