MARLVEL

CardStar vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against CardStar's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

CardStar
This App
O SCANada: Buy Canadian
Peer
VIN Report for Used Cars
Peer
MegaLive Buddy
Peer
Domino DIY network
Peer
CarBuyer
New Kid
ethicalShopping
New Kid
Core Identity
DeveloperExpress Checkout LLCRyan ChecoraiSeeCars.comMegaLiveTerminal West TradingTypes Fast, LLCRAZEEN SAMIR
CategoryShoppingShoppingShoppingShoppingShoppingShoppingShopping
PlatformiOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, Android
Store Metrics
Rating2.5 / 54.4 / 54.7 / 54.2 / 55.0 / 50.0 / 55.0 / 5
Ratings Count8857621,8045203
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateJan 15, 2009Feb 2, 2025Jan 3, 2017Aug 10, 2022Sep 25, 2019Apr 9, 2026Mar 19, 2026
Last UpdatedOct 4, 2019Apr 28, 2026Feb 6, 2026May 8, 2026Feb 15, 2026Apr 10, 2026Mar 19, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentnegative-mixed-terrible--
Score30/100-45/100-20/100--
Praises--
  • Detailed vehicle history reports provide essential information for used car buyers during the research phase
  • Professional research tools assist car industry workers in evaluating vehicle depreciation and market value trends
-
  • Basic functional utility provided by the application in earlier versions
--
Complaints--
  • Aggressive paywall implementation restricts access to previously free vehicle history features for long-term users
  • Technical instability and performance regressions occur on specific high-end Android devices following recent updates
-
  • Payment card attachment failure prevents users from accessing core services
  • Outdated interface design and confusing navigation structure frustrate daily users
  • Persistent technical instability and lack of necessary bug fixes
--
Requests-------
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Geo-targeted locator provides immediate utility at the point of sale.
  • Camera-based ingestion removes manual entry friction for new users.
-
  • iSeeCars data engine provides high-fidelity market value projections
  • VIN barcode scanner reduces user journey friction
-
  • In-store barcode scanning reduces point-of-sale friction
  • AI-driven fee detection provides immediate financial clarity on complex dealer paperwork.
  • Threaded negotiation architecture keeps multi-dealer comparisons organized for the user.
  • AI-powered computer vision lowers the barrier to accessing complex corporate transparency data
  • 10% profit donation model builds authentic brand alignment with the target demographic
Weaknesses
  • 2.46-star rating indicates significant user dissatisfaction with the current interface.
  • No app updates since 2019 suggests the product is in maintenance mode.
-
  • $99.00/month subscription tier exceeds category median
  • Technical instability on newer Android hardware
  • Aggressive paywall triggers user churn
-
  • Payment card attachment failure prevents core service access
  • Archaic interface design frustrates daily users
  • Subscription-only access for AI features limits top-of-funnel conversion.
  • Manual document upload creates high friction compared to automated inventory-based pricing tools.
  • 50-scan monthly limit on the free tier restricts daily usage
  • No social or referral features to drive organic growth
Pricingfreefreesubscriptionfreefreesubscriptionfreemium
MomentumZombieIntenseMaintenance-MaintenanceMaintenanceMaintenance
Update Cadence1 versions5 versions2 versions, ~52d avg-2 versions, ~13d avg2 versions, ~26d avg2 versions, ~38d avg

Compare CardStar head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CardStar, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0