Comparison

BimmerLink vs NearNotes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BimmerLink

This app provides direct access to your BMW or MINI vehicle's systems. Read and clear trouble codes from all control units, monitor real-time sensor values, and control features like exhaust flaps and active sound design. It also supports battery registration, DPF regeneration, and service resets.

Highlights
  • Read and clear trouble codes from all control units
  • Display real-time sensor values
  • Remote control of exhaust flap
  • Mute Active Sound Design
  • DPF regeneration
  • Battery registration
  • Service reset
Features
Read full description

BimmerLink is the direct link to your BMW, MINI, or Toyota Supra. Read and clear trouble codes, monitor live sensor data, and perform maintenance functions from your phone. A supported OBD adapter or cable is required. Feature availability depends on your vehicle and its equipment. READ AND CLEAR TROUBLE CODES Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes from all control units in your car. LIVE SENSOR DATA Monitor values such as oil temperature and boost pressure in real time. Create a personalized dashboard to keep the readings that matter to you in view. DATA LOGGING Record sensor values in CSV log files for detailed analysis. CONTROL UNIT FUNCTIONS Access live data and diagnostic functions for individual control units in your car. EXHAUST FLAP CONTROL Choose whether your car's exhaust flap is open or closed. Requires a factory-installed exhaust flap. ACTIVE SOUND DESIGN Mute the artificial engine sound generated by Active Sound Design (ASD). Requires factory-installed ASD. SOUND TUNING Disable exhaust burble on cars equipped with the S55 engine (M2 Competition, M3, and M4). DPF REGENERATION Check the condition of your diesel particulate filter and request a regeneration when needed. Available on supported diesel vehicles equipped with a DPF. CARPLAY ADD-ON Use CarPlay to view live sensor data from your car's engine control units and control the exhaust flap and Active Sound Design, all from your car's display. Additional in-app purchase required. BATTERY REGISTRATION Register a new battery after replacement directly from the app. PARKING BRAKE SERVICE MODE Activate service mode for your car's electromechanical parking brake. SERVICE RESET Reset service indicators after completing maintenance, such as an engine oil change or brake pad replacement. RESET SHORT-CIRCUIT LOCKS Reset short-circuit locks in the lighting control unit. TRANSMISSION ADAPTATION VALUES View adaptation values for your car's ZF 8HP automatic transmission. REQUIRED ACCESSORIES BimmerLink requires a supported Bluetooth or Wi-Fi OBD adapter or cable. Visit bimmerlink.app for supported accessories and vehicle information. SUPPORTED VEHICLES Feature availability varies by model and equipment. - 1 Series, 1 Series M Coupé (2004+) - 2 Series, 2 Series Coupé, M2 (2013+) - 2 Series Gran Coupé (2020+) - 2 Series Active Tourer (2014+) - 2 Series Gran Tourer (2015+) - 3 Series, M3 (2005+) - 4 Series, M4 (2013+) - 5 Series, M5 (2003+) - 6 Series, M6 (2003+) - 7 Series (2008+) - 8 Series, M8 (2018+) - X1 (2009+) - X2 (2018+) - X3, X3 M (2010+) - X4, X4 M (2014+) - X5, X5 M (2006+) - X6, X6 M (2008+) - X7 (2019+) - XM (2022+) - Z4 (2009+) - i3 (2013+) - i4 (2021+) - i5 (2023+) - i7 (2022+) - i8 (2013+) - iX (2021+) - iX1 (2022+) - iX2 (2024+) - iX3 (2021+) - MINI (2006+) - Toyota Supra (2019+)

About

NearNotes

This app allows you to set reminders tied to specific locations. Receive alerts when you arrive at or leave a chosen place, with options to manage reminders directly from notifications. It prioritizes privacy and battery efficiency.

Highlights
  • Location-based reminders
  • Smart location alerts
  • Fast place selection
  • Actionable notifications
  • Lock screen radar
  • Private iCloud sync
  • Battery-efficient operation
Features
Read full description

Remember it where it matters. NearNotes is a private, location-first reminder app that connects reminders to real places. Create a reminder, choose a location, and receive an alert when you arrive or leave. NEARBY REMINDERS See active reminders ordered by distance, so you immediately know what matters around you. FAST PLACE SELECTION Find places using Apple Maps search, pick directly on the map, use saved places, or paste links from Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze. SMART LOCATION ALERTS Choose a specific place or, for supported categories, ask NearNotes to remind you at another nearby similar place. USEFUL ACTIONS Complete, archive, resume, snooze, navigate, or wait for the original place directly from the app and supported notifications. LOCK SCREEN RADAR Show a selected reminder on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, with distance updates while NearNotes is active. SAVED PLACES Save Home, Work, or any custom place for faster reminder creation. PRIVATE ICLOUD SYNC Reminders and saved places use local-first storage and synchronize through your private iCloud database across your devices. BATTERY-EFFICIENT NearNotes uses Apple’s region-monitoring technology instead of continuously running GPS in the background. PRIVACY FIRST • No separate NearNotes account • No advertising • No cross-app tracking • No continuous location history • Anonymous diagnostics are off by default NearNotes works on iPhone and iPad and includes actionable notifications, quiet hours, adjustable reminder radius, widgets, and private iCloud synchronization.

Screenshots

BimmerLink4 screens
NearNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NearNotes at 100% against BimmerLink's 54%. NearNotes also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). BimmerLink's advantage is ratings volume (9.7K vs 2) and chart position (#88 vs unranked). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BimmerLink sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NearNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NearNotes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BimmerLink has 9.7K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of BimmerLink's written reviews are positive against 100% of NearNotes's.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
BimmerLink versus NearNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBimmerLinkNearNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (9.7K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9.7K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#88 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size131 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSG Software GmbH & Co. KGMosaab Yassir Lafrimi

Customer experience

BimmerLink

All ratings9,131 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral2.1%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews554 reviews
Positive53.6%
Neutral10.5%
Negative35.9%

NearNotes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

BimmerLink

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unable to connect to OBD adapter
  • Fails to clear error codes
  • Battery registration not working
  • Sensor values not updating properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for more BMW models
  • Improve exhaust flap control functionality
  • Add option to change units (Celsius/Fahrenheit, MPH/KPH)
  • Improve CarPlay integration
  • Add more customization options for dashboard

NearNotes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

BimmerLink

One-time2
  • CarPlay Add-On$9.99
  • BimmerLink full version$39.99
None

NearNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BimmerLink free?
BimmerLink is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NearNotes free?
NearNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BimmerLink or NearNotes?
NearNotes is rated higher. BimmerLink averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.7K ratings, while NearNotes averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do BimmerLink or NearNotes have ads?
Neither BimmerLink nor NearNotes shows ads.

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