# CarLock vs Author ID

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CarLock at 86% against Author ID's 22%. CarLock also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.7) and update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months). Author ID's advantage is monetization model (free vs subscription) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CarLock holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CarLock has 358 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of CarLock's written reviews are positive against 22% of Author ID's.

CarLock ships an update monthly, Author ID every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CarLock | Author ID |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (358 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carlock-advanced-car-tracker/id721180397/reviews)** | [3.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/author-id/id1144594689/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **358** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **86.1% of reviews** | 21.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 153 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Protectus Technologies, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1355602712) | [AUTHOR-ALARM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1344731145) |

## What reviewers say

### CarLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carlock-advanced-car-tracker/id721180397)

This app provides real-time tracking and alerts for your vehicle, monitoring for movement, engine starts, vibrations, and device tampering. It also tracks driving behavior, monitors car battery health, and logs trip history for enhanced security and peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Real-time vehicle tracking, Movement and engine start alerts, Driving behavior monitoring (acceleration, braking), Car battery health alerts, Detailed trip tracking, Device tampering alerts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate GPS tracking
- 🔒 Reliable security features
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 💡 Comprehensive vehicle monitoring
- 🚗 Helpful for fleet management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional false alarms
- 🕰️ Delayed notifications
- 🔧 Inconsistent performance after updates
- 🤖 Unreliable proximity sensor
- 💰 Subscription cost concerns

**Reported bugs**

- GPS location inaccuracies
- App crashes and freezes
- Sync issues between device and app

**Requested features**

- Faster alert notifications
- More customizable sensor sensitivity
- Integration with smart home/voice assistants
- Improved multi-vehicle management


### Author ID

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/author-id/id1144594689)

Transform your smartphone into a key fob for your vehicle's anti-theft system. Easily activate and deactivate security features remotely. Compatible with specific models of AUTHOR Alarm systems.

**Highlights:** Use smartphone as key fob, Activate security system, Deactivate security system, Compatible with AUTHOR Alarm systems, Remote control for vehicle security

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CarLock free?

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

### Is Author ID free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CarLock or Author ID?

CarLock is rated higher. CarLock averages 4.4 out of 5 from 358 ratings, while Author ID averages 3.7 from 10 ratings.

### Do CarLock or Author ID have ads?

Neither CarLock nor Author ID shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CarLock or Author ID?

CarLock ships an update monthly, and Author ID every 7 months. Most recently, CarLock was updated on October 23, 2026 and Author ID on October 22, 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.*