Full disclosure: we make CarScout. Autotrader's saved-search alerts are free, they come by email or text, and you choose daily or weekly. That's a solid setup, and it's the first thing we'd tell a friend to try.
The bottom line
Autotrader is the better free choice: email or text alerts, daily or weekly, price-drop alerts, private sellers, and Kelley Blue Book price guidance. CarScout is worth paying for only if you want one daily email that covers dealer listings beyond one marketplace, with exclusion filters and VIN scouts. CarScout has no text alerts.
At a glance
| CarScout | Autotrader | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5/week, $15/month, $99/year | Free My Autotrader account |
| Alert channels | Email only | Email and text |
| Alert frequency | One digest a day, about every 24 hours | Daily or weekly, your choice |
| What it watches | Dealer listings through MarketCheck, across many sources | Listings on Autotrader |
| Price drops | Yes, on matched cars, in the digest | Yes, alerts on price drops |
| Price guidance | Weekly market aggregates on public pages | Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor on dealer listings |
| Exclusion filters | Include or exclude color, transmission, drivetrain, body, fuel, heading keywords | Not compared here; check its filters for your spec |
| Track one VIN | Yes, wildcards supported | Save a car to your watchlist |
| Private sellers | No | Yes |
| Apps | Web app only | Web, iOS, and Android |
The real difference: channel and coverage
Autotrader gives you more ways to hear about a car. Its help pages describe email and text alerts on saved searches, at a daily or weekly frequency. Its app adds price-drop alerts and new-listing notifications. If you want a text, Autotrader can send one. CarScout can't.
CarScout gives you one view across dealer sources. It doesn't depend on a dealer listing on Autotrader specifically. It checks MarketCheck's dealer listings for your spec about every 24 hours and sends a single email when something changed.
Where Autotrader is genuinely better
- Free. You need only a free account.
- Text alerts. If email is easy to miss for you, a text is the better channel.
- Weekly option. Some buyers want a weekly roundup instead of a daily one. Autotrader offers both.
- Private sellers and price guidance. Autotrader lists dealers and private sellers and shows Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor on dealer listings.
- Apps. iOS and Android. CarScout is a web app.
What CarScout offers
- Beyond one marketplace. A scout isn't limited to cars a dealer chose to list on Autotrader.
- Exclusions. Rule out colors, drivetrains, transmissions, or keywords so matches stay relevant.
- VIN scouts. Track one car, or a VIN pattern, and see its price drops next to your spec matches.
Who should pick which
| You are | Pick |
|---|---|
| Want text alerts | Autotrader |
| Want a weekly roundup | Autotrader |
| Open to private sellers | Autotrader |
| Want one email that covers dealer listings across sites | CarScout |
| Need strict must-not filters | CarScout |
The cheapest good setup is a free Autotrader alert plus a free CarGurus alert. If you're still missing cars or drowning in bad matches, that's when a CarScout scout is worth $5 a week.
FAQ
Are Autotrader alerts free?
Yes. Saved searches and alerts come with a free My Autotrader account.
Can Autotrader text me about new listings?
Yes. Autotrader's help describes text alerts on saved searches, daily or weekly. CarScout only sends email.
Does a CarScout scout include Autotrader listings?
Scouts watch dealer listings through MarketCheck, not through Autotrader. Many dealers list the same car on several sites, but we can't promise any specific listing appears in both.
Is CarScout faster than Autotrader alerts?
No. CarScout checks each scout about every 24 hours and sends one digest a day. Autotrader documents daily or weekly saved-search email and text alerts, and its app offers notifications.
Does CarScout show private-party cars?
No. CarScout watches dealer listings only.
Try CarScout
If you're repeating the same Autotrader search on other sites, set up a scout instead. It's $5 a week, and you'll get one email a day.
Related comparisons: Autotrader alternatives, CarScout vs CarGurus, and the best used car search app for busy professionals.
Sources: My Autotrader help (checked September 18, 2026), checked September 18, 2026, and Autotrader on the App Store, checked October 2, 2026. Features change, so confirm before you rely on them.