Full disclosure: we make CarScout. AutoTempest is free, it pulls listings from a long list of partner sites, and it sends daily email alerts. For a lot of buyers that's enough, and you should try it before you pay anyone, us included.
The bottom line
Start with AutoTempest: it's free, it sends daily email alerts, and it shows auction and marketplace listings CarScout doesn't watch. Pay for CarScout only if you want VIN tracking and price drops on dealer cars in one daily email, with exclusions on fields such as color and drivetrain.
At a glance
| CarScout | AutoTempest | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5/week, $15/month, $99/year | Free |
| Alerts | One daily digest email of new matches and price drops | Daily email alerts for saved searches |
| Number of alerts | 3 scouts included; more cost extra | As many vehicles as you want |
| Sources | Dealer listings through MarketCheck | Listings from Cars.com, TrueCar, eBay Motors, Carvana, Hemmings, Cars & Bids, and CarSoup; comparison links to Autotrader, CarGurus, Facebook Marketplace, and craigslist |
| Private sellers and auctions | No | Auctions such as Cars & Bids; links to Facebook Marketplace and craigslist |
| Exclusion filters | Include or exclude color, transmission, drivetrain, body, fuel, heading keywords | The app can exclude models, such as any Toyota SUV except C-HR and RAV4 |
| Track one VIN | Yes, VIN scouts with wildcards | Not a stated feature |
| Price drops on matches | Yes, in the digest | Not stated in its alert announcement |
| Apps | Web app only | Web, iOS, and Android |
The real difference: breadth for free, or precision for a fee
AutoTempest is a search engine across many car sites. Its app description lists the sites whose listings it shows directly, such as Cars.com, TrueCar, eBay Motors, and Carvana, and says it gives comparison links for others, including Autotrader, CarGurus, and Facebook Marketplace. If a site only appears as a link, don't count on its cars showing up in your alert email. AutoTempest's own announcement describes the alerts as a daily email you set up from the results page.
CarScout watches one source, MarketCheck's dealer listings, against a spec you write once. Each scout is checked about every 24 hours. Matches and price drops land in one digest email. The value isn't more listings. It's fewer, filtered to your spec.
Both tools send one email a day. If speed is your priority, neither page should convince you.
Where AutoTempest is genuinely better
- It's free. That alone settles it for many searches.
- More kinds of sellers. Auction listings are in its results, and it links out to private-party marketplaces. CarScout covers dealers only.
- Unlimited alerts. You can set alerts for as many vehicles as you want. CarScout includes three scouts and charges for more.
- Apps. AutoTempest has iOS and Android apps. CarScout is web only.
- Enthusiast and classic cars. With Hemmings and Cars & Bids among its partners, it reaches cars that rarely sit on dealer lots.
What CarScout offers
- Field exclusions. "Any color but white" or "no automatic" are fields in a scout. AutoTempest's app documents model exclusions, so compare the filters you need before you choose.
- Price drops and VIN tracking in one email. Follow a specific car by VIN next to your spec searches, and see price cuts on cars you've already matched.
- Price context in the digest. When the data is available, a digest entry shows how the price compares with the average for similar listings.
Who should pick which
| You are | Pick |
|---|---|
| Starting a search, budget-conscious | AutoTempest |
| Open to private sellers or auctions | AutoTempest |
| Hunting a dealer car with strict must-haves and must-nots | CarScout |
| Following one car's price by VIN | CarScout |
| Want an app | AutoTempest |
Our honest advice: set up an AutoTempest alert first. If it sends you too much noise, or you want VIN tracking next to it, add a CarScout scout.
FAQ
Is AutoTempest really free?
Yes. AutoTempest is free to search, and its email alerts are free. You don't need to pay to set one up.
How often does AutoTempest send alerts?
AutoTempest describes its alerts as a daily email. CarScout also sends one digest email a day, after checking each scout about every 24 hours.
Does AutoTempest include Autotrader and Facebook Marketplace?
Not directly. AutoTempest's App Store page says it shows comparison links for Autotrader, CarGurus, Facebook Marketplace, and craigslist, which open those sites' own results. Set up alerts on those sites directly if they matter to you.
Why would I pay for CarScout if AutoTempest is free?
Pay only if you need what it adds: VIN scouts, price drops on matches, and field exclusions, all in one daily email. If AutoTempest's alerts already work for you, keep them.
Does CarScout cover private sellers?
No. CarScout watches dealer listings through MarketCheck.
Try CarScout
If free alerts keep sending cars you'd never buy, set up a scout with the exclusions you need. It's $5 a week and emails you once a day.
Related comparisons: AutoTempest alternatives, AutoTempest vs CarGurus, CarScout vs CarGurus, and the best used car search app for out-of-state buyers.
Sources: AutoTempest email alerts announcement, AutoTempest legal page, AutoTempest on the App Store, and AutoTempest Price Trends, checked October 2, 2026. Exclusions and comparison links rechecked October 25, 2026. Features change, so confirm before you rely on them.