# ACV Auctions vs PrivateAuto

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | ACV Auctions | PrivateAuto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acv-auctions/id969808943/reviews)** | [3.9 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privateauto/id1614271597/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 55.1% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 161 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ACV Auctions Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/969808942) | [Private Auto Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614271599) |

## What reviewers say

### ACV Auctions

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acv-auctions/id969808943)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great interface
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 👍 Detailed condition reports
- 👍 Audio recordings of vehicles
- 👍 Convenient mobile platform

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable notifications
- 🐛 Arbitration issues and denials
- 🐛 Incomplete or inaccurate condition reports
- 🐛 Complicated arbitration process
- 🐛 Slow or unresponsive customer service

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privateauto/id1614271597)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ACV Auctions free?

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

### Is PrivateAuto free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ACV Auctions or PrivateAuto?

ACV Auctions is rated higher. ACV Auctions averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while PrivateAuto averages 3.9 from 25 ratings.

### Do ACV Auctions or PrivateAuto have ads?

Neither ACV Auctions nor PrivateAuto shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ACV Auctions or PrivateAuto?

ACV Auctions ships an update every 2 weeks, and PrivateAuto every 3 weeks. Most recently, ACV Auctions was updated on October 16, 2026 and PrivateAuto on October 16, 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.*