# Stockwave vs Carbly VIN Scanner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Carbly VIN Scanner at 71% against Stockwave's 42%. Carbly VIN Scanner also leads on rating (3.9 vs 3.5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Carbly VIN Scanner holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 53 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Stockwave's written reviews are positive against 71% of Carbly VIN Scanner's.

Stockwave ships an update monthly, Carbly VIN Scanner every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stockwave | Carbly VIN Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stockwave/id606985669/reviews) | **[3.9 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carbly-vin-scanner/id1326227629/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 31 | **53** |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | **70.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 33 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [vAuto, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/369802672) | [Ambient Automotive, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1326227628) |

## What reviewers say

### Stockwave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stockwave/id606985669)

Streamline wholesale vehicle acquisition by simplifying auction sourcing. Quickly evaluate vehicles, access pricing guides, and get real-time bid guidance to make profitable decisions.

**Highlights:** VIN scanning for bid determination, Access to multiple price guides, Vehicle history reports, Auction condition report evaluation, Save vehicle notes, Navigate auction run lists, Real-time bid guidance

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Carbly VIN Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carbly-vin-scanner/id1326227629)

This app provides automotive professionals with real-time market data, appraisal tools, and auction search capabilities to optimize vehicle buying and selling. It offers VIN scanning, competitor pricing analysis, and inventory management features to maximize profit.

**Highlights:** VIN scanning (text/barcode), Market data and pricing, Auction search and runlists, Inventory management, Competitor pricing analysis, Vehicle history report integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stockwave free?

Stockwave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Carbly VIN Scanner free?

Carbly VIN Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Stockwave or Carbly VIN Scanner?

Carbly VIN Scanner is rated higher. Stockwave averages 3.5 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Carbly VIN Scanner averages 3.9 from 53 ratings.

### Do Stockwave or Carbly VIN Scanner have ads?

Neither Stockwave nor Carbly VIN Scanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stockwave or Carbly VIN Scanner?

Stockwave ships an update monthly, and Carbly VIN Scanner every 6 weeks. Most recently, Stockwave was updated on October 23, 2026 and Carbly VIN Scanner on October 24, 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.*