Smart Auto vs PlainAuto
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Smart Auto
Manage your car's maintenance schedule with smart reminders for service dates. This app helps you track up to nine vehicles, store receipts, and get instant auto insurance quotes. It's a comprehensive tool for car owners, dealers, and service providers.
- Smart service reminders
- Track up to 9 cars
- Save receipts and auto history
- Get instant insurance quotes
- Car news and advice
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What will that dent cost to fix? Snap a photo and get a body shop price range for your area. Smart Auto also keeps your car on schedule with service reminders, recall alerts, a VIN decoder and a full expense log. NEW: PHOTO DAMAGE ESTIMATE • Photograph a dent, scrape, crack or broken light • Enter your ZIP for local shop rates • See a repair price range split into parts, labor and paint • Learn if the car is likely safe to drive and what to ask the body shop • Your first estimate is free Estimates are ranges for guidance, not a quote. Hidden damage and shop prices can change the final cost. REPAIR QUOTE CHECK • Snap a shop quote or invoice • Each line is explained and compared with typical US parts and labor prices • Know what to ask before you pay SERVICE REMINDERS • Oil change, tires, brakes, filters and more • By date or mileage, whichever comes first • Next service prediction from your driving VIN DECODER & RECALLS • Decode your VIN to fill in year, make, model and engine • Free recall check with official NHTSA data • Alerts when a new recall appears for your car MAINTENANCE LOG & EXPENSES • Full service history for every car in your garage • Fuel, repairs and other costs per month, year and mile • Forecast next year's costs • Export a service history PDF for resale EVERYDAY TOOLS • Remember where you parked, with a photo and a meter timer • Store car documents on your phone • Car health score and home screen widget • Compare auto insurance quotes by ZIP when it is time to renew HOME DAMAGE TOO? Our free app FixCost estimates roof, water and wall repair costs from a photo. FREE FOREVER Reminders, recall alerts, VIN decoder, documents, parking, costs, health score and PDF history. SMART AUTO PRO Pro adds more photo damage estimates and advanced money-saving tools. • Yearly: $29.99 per year with a 7-day free trial • Monthly: $4.99 per month Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your App Store account settings. Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Prices may vary by location. Terms of Use: https://quotesautoinsurance.org/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://quotesautoinsurance.org/privacy-policy.html
PlainAuto
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PlainAuto explains your car — and the shop — in plain language. Whether you're a driver who wants to understand what that warning light means, or a technician who needs a quick torque spec, PlainAuto has you covered. CAR OWNER MODE • Warning Lights — what every dashboard light means, color-coded by urgency • Emergency Guide — flat tire, dead battery, overheating, fluid leaks, and more • DIY Repair Guides — step-by-step with tool lists and difficulty ratings • Maintenance Schedule — know exactly what's due and when • Cost Estimator — typical repair costs so you're never caught off guard • Mechanic Visit Prep — questions to ask, upsells to decline, your rights • Service History Log — track all maintenance, repairs, and costs over time • Seasonal Prep — winterizing, summer prep, pre-road-trip checklists • Fluids Guide — engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission, and more • Buying & Selling Guide — pre-purchase inspection, trade-in, private sale tips MECHANIC / TECH MODE • OBD-II Code Library — 500+ codes with plain-language causes and fixes • Torque Spec Database — lug nuts, head bolts, drain plugs, suspension, and more • Repair Procedures — step-by-step with special tools and time estimates • Diagnostic Decision Trees — symptom-based troubleshooting sequences • Wiring Color Codes — by manufacturer (GM, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler) • Customer Explainer Cards — shareable cards that explain repairs in plain terms • Labor Time Estimator — standard labor times for common repairs • Parts Cross-Reference — cross-references across major brands • Fluid Capacities — by make, model, and year WORKS OFFLINE. No account required. The app shows ads (Google AdMob). Remove them with the one-time Remove Ads purchase; purchases you already own also remove ads in what they unlock..
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smart Auto at none against PlainAuto's 4. Smart Auto also leads on ads (none vs shown). PlainAuto's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 42 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. PlainAuto sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Smart Auto asks for nothing beyond the download.
Smart Auto ships an update every 42 months, PlainAuto every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Smart Auto | PlainAuto |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (45 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 45 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 42 months | Every 6 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Roman Klymentiev | Bhim Upadhyaya |
In-app purchases
Smart Auto
No in-app purchases
PlainAuto
- Remove Ads$1.99
- Owner Premium$4.99
- Pro Unlock$9.99
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- Complete Bundle$12.99









