Side by side
| Carvico | CARFAX Car Care | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to use; optional one-time or annual Pro purchase | Free (service partner and vehicle report subsidized) |
| Free tier | Yes — full logging without an account | Yes — service tracking, recall alerts, safety notices |
| Platforms | iPhone | iPhone, Android, Web |
| Where your data lives | On device, with optional sync to your own private iCloud database. No Carvico server holds your records. | CARFAX servers; tied to VIN and vehicle history database |
| Account required | No — sign-in is optional and only links a Pro purchase across devices | Yes — account and vehicle VIN required |
| Export formats | CSV and PDF | None — records locked inside CARFAX ecosystem |
| Fuel economy method | Full-tank method; partial fill-ups carried forward | Basic manual log; primary focus is maintenance intervals |
| Reminders | Mileage- and time-based | Service intervals based on estimated mileage and shop reports |
| Ads and trackers | None, and no third-party trackers | Promoted repair shops and CARFAX vehicle report upsells |
| Last updated | Actively developed | Actively maintained |
Disclosure
Carvico is our app. Every figure in the table above links to a primary source so you can check it yourself, and we have not written a "winner" line — the two columns are there so you can pick on the axis you care about.
How to read this table
Two rows decide most of it. Where your data lives determines what happens to a decade of records if the app is discontinued or the company is acquired. Export formats determines whether you can act on that. Everything else is preference.
If you are weighing this up more generally, the six checks before trusting an app with your history covers the questions that apply to any app in this category, not just these two.
Sources
- Carvico: https://mycarvico.com/ — checked 2026-08-02
- Carvico: https://mycarvico.com/privacy — checked 2026-08-02
- Carvico: https://mycarvico.com/guides/how-to-calculate-mpg — checked 2026-08-02
- CARFAX Car Care: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/carfax-car-care/id552472249 — checked 2026-09-29
- CARFAX Car Care: https://www.carfax.com/Service — checked 2026-09-29
- CARFAX Car Care: https://www.carfax.com/company/privacy-statement — checked 2026-09-29
Never lose another repair receipt or fuel log
Keep your complete service history, real full-tank MPG, and diagnostic records organized on your iPhone. Carvico alerts you before service is overdue and gives you verified PDF records when you sell — 100% private on your own iCloud with zero ads.
