# PlateSpotter vs Pixel Cardex

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PlateSpotter at none against Pixel Cardex's 4. Pixel Cardex's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixel Cardex sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. PlateSpotter asks for nothing beyond the download.

PlateSpotter ships an update every 2 weeks, Pixel Cardex every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlateSpotter | Pixel Cardex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 16 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jannes Ronny Schafer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891128725) | [Ibrahim Zaougui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788547020) |

## What reviewers say

### PlateSpotter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/platespotter/id6764260060)

Identify German license plate districts and build your collection. Features over 1,000 distinguishing signs, diplomatic plates, and a daily quiz. Track progress with statistics and an interactive map. Offline play and home screen widgets are supported.

**Highlights:** Identify license plates by code or place, Collect spotted plates and track progress, Daily quiz with multiple modes, Interactive map of Germany, Statistics and progress tracking, Offline play and home screen widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pixel Cardex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-cardex/id6779264180)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CarDex Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| CarDex Pro Quarterly | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Pixel CarDex Pro Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Pixel CarDex Pro Lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlateSpotter free?

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

### Is Pixel Cardex free?

Pixel Cardex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do PlateSpotter or Pixel Cardex have ads?

Neither PlateSpotter nor Pixel Cardex shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PlateSpotter or Pixel Cardex?

PlateSpotter ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pixel Cardex every 5 days. Most recently, PlateSpotter was updated on October 8, 2026 and Pixel Cardex on October 25, 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.*