ACV Auctions vs PrivateAuto
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ACV Auctions
This app is a digital marketplace for dealers to buy and sell wholesale vehicles. It streamlines the auction process, allowing sellers to easily list cars and buyers to bid in live auctions. The platform handles all payments and title transfers for a seamless transaction experience.
- Dealer-to-dealer marketplace
- Live 20-minute auctions
- VIN scanning and condition reporting
- Live and proxy bidding
- Real-time negotiation
- Integrated payment and title transfer
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ACV Auctions is a dealer-to-dealer marketplace. The app replaces the physical wholesale car auctions that facilitate the sale of approximately 15 million vehicles every year. This platform allows dealers to engage in our live 20 minute auctions. It's easy for sellers to create an auction. Simply scan the VIN, enter vehicle condition information, and snap a few photos. Tap "Send to Auction" and your auction is instantly sent to thousands of potential bidders. Buyers review the condition report and bid to own using live and proxy bids. Auctions are live for 20 minutes. The system prevents last-second bid sniping so you're sure to get a fair chance in every auction. Once an auction ends, sellers can accept or send the high bidder a counter offer to start a live, real-time negotiation session with the buyer. Buyers can accept the counter offer or negotiate further. All of this right from the convenience of your mobile phone. All payments and title transfers are handled through our office. Buyers can pay instantly with an electronic check or floorplan. For sellers, we email prepaid FedEx® labels for sending in titles. Bill of sales get emailed for your records. ACV Auctions is free for dealers to use. There are no monthly fees or contracts. Our buyer and seller fees are considerably lower than physical auctions. Sign up for a completely free account at http://www.acvauctions.com/ (requires proof of valid dealer license). This app collects personal information. To see our Privacy Policy / Notice at Collection, please follow the link in the App Privacy section below.
PrivateAuto
Facilitate private car sales with enhanced security and convenience. Verify buyer and seller identities, schedule test drives, and securely transfer funds directly through the app. Streamline the entire selling and buying process with digital tools and instant payment options.
- Buyer and seller ID verification
- Vehicle history reports
- In-app chat and scheduling
- Digital Bill of Sale e-signing
- Instant and secure fund transfers
- Buyer financing options
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The easiest and safest way to sell a car privately. The only way to close the sale with confidence. Know the buyer and seller like never before with email, phone, and driver's license verification, including facial recognition technology. Experience dealer-like services in the palm of your hand. Schedule test drives and conveniently e-sign your Bill of Sale or state-specific documents. Want to share important documents with the other party? You can do that too. Transfer funds anywhere, instantly. PrivateAuto Pay is a direct banking integration that ensures payments are safely transferred without the risks associated with cash or cashier’s checks. Experience escrow-like safeguards without relying on a third party. With the PrivateAuto App, you can: Sell a car -Buyer ID verification -Vehicle history report -Window brochure with QR code -In app chat -Schedule test drives -Counter offers -E-sign the bill of sale -Verified buyer funds -Instant secure payment Buy a car -Seller ID verification -Vehicle history report -In app chat -Schedule test drives -Make offer tool -E-sign the bill of sale -Buyer financing -Instantly send funds Buyers can apply for financing in the app. Approved funds are loaded right into your PrivateAuto Pay account so you can buy a car from a private party without the hassle of meeting at the bank.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ACV Auctions at 4.4 against PrivateAuto's 3.9. ACV Auctions also leads on ratings volume (1.2K vs 25). PrivateAuto's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (75% vs 55%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ACV Auctions holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ACV Auctions has 1.2K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of ACV Auctions's written reviews are positive against 75% of PrivateAuto's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
ACV Auctions ships an update every 2 weeks, PrivateAuto every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.
| Parameter | ACV Auctions | PrivateAuto |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (1.2K ratings) — better | 3.9 (25 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 55.1% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K — better | 25 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.4.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 161 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ACV Auctions Inc | Private Auto Inc |
Customer experience
ACV Auctions
PrivateAuto
Bugs and requests
ACV Auctions
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes when navigating between vehicles
- Notifications not working consistently
- Inability to view ended auctions and sold vehicles
- Lack of landscape mode support on tablets
Requested features
5 requests- Watchlist feature to track interested vehicles
- Faster bidding times
- Improved notification system
- Easier access to account and payment information
- Better integration between mobile app and website
PrivateAuto
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ACV Auctions
No in-app purchases
PrivateAuto
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ACV Auctions free?
Is PrivateAuto free?
Which has better reviews, ACV Auctions or PrivateAuto?
Do ACV Auctions or PrivateAuto have ads?
Which is updated more often, ACV Auctions or PrivateAuto?
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