DTNA eLink vs First
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DTNA eLink
This app connects to heavy trucks to monitor vehicle health, diagnose issues like check engine lights, and access important operational information. It provides access to manuals, maintenance schedules, and service locations to help drivers increase truck uptime.
- Vehicle health monitoring
- Diagnostic fault code explanation
- Maintenance schedule and fluid capacities
- Access to driver and operator manuals
- Service locator
- Trip information tracking
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DTNA eLink is an app that provides important features to the driver/operator of a Freightliner or Western Star heavy truck. These features help the driver connect the phone to the diagnostic port and monitor the vehicle health status and increase the truck uptime. And if a check engine light is on, the app can help the driver understand the cause and seek assistance, if needed. Features include: • Vehicle Guides • Dash light library – explanation of all the dash/instrument cluster lights • Fluid (engine oil) capacities for specific Detroit® engine applications • Maintenance schedule – provides the mileage interval based on short/long haul application and details of items covered in each schedule • Feature guides – quick access to new vehicle features that require specific instructions to understand and properly operate • Notes – provides a way to take quick notes and attach pictures • Manuals – Driver and Operator manuals for specific vehicles can be accessed in electronic format • Connect to Vehicle (requires compatible Bluetooth or Wi-Fi adaptor) • Fault codes – Active and Inactive fault codes present at the time of connection are displayed. Red fault codes are active, yellow codes are inactive • Fluid levels – A quick glance at coolant, DEF and fuel levels displayed in percentage • Vehicle information – Vehicle information including VIN, ECU software and hardware in formation • Trip information – Includes trip specific information related to fuel usage, miles, maximum speed, cruise control speed, hours of operation, etc. • Service Locator – Use the current location or City, State / ZIP code to look up Freightliner, Western Star and Detroit® engine service/dealer locations nearby. Compatible vehicle connection adaptor: • NEXIQ Blue-Link™ Mini • Nexiq USB- Link 2 WiFi These adaptors are available and can be purchased from diagnosticlink.nexiq.com
First
Connect your mobile device to a commercial vehicle's diagnostic port to monitor its health status. Understand fault codes, view vehicle specifications, and track trip data to improve uptime and aid in service and repair.
- Connect to vehicle diagnostic port
- Monitor vehicle health status
- View active and inactive fault codes
- Display vehicle specifications (VIN, ECU info)
- Track trip data (fuel, miles, speed, hours)
- Generate and share vehicle reports
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NEXIQ First-Link™ is an application that provides important features to the drivers and service technicians of commercial vehicles and equipment. These features help the driver connect the mobile device to the diagnostic port; they also monitor the vehicle's health status and increase the vehicle's uptime. If a Check Engine Light is illuminated, the application assists the driver to understand the cause so that he can seek assistance (i.e., service and repair), if needed. Service technicians can utilize the information gathered by the application to aid in vehicle service and repair. Features include: • Faults – Active and Inactive fault codes present at the time of connection are displayed. • Vehicle Specs – Vehicle information including VIN, ECU software and hardware information is displayed. • Life / Trip – Displays trip-specific information related to fuel usage, miles, maximum speed, cruise control speed, hours of operation, etc. • Parameters – Displays parameters specific to the modules on the vehicle (e.g., engine, transmission, etc.) • Report – Generates a session-specific report containing vehicle information (i.e., faults, vehicle specs, parameters, and life/trip information); can be uploaded to the cloud, emailed, etc. • Sharing - Enables the driver to share vehicle information gathered to dispatch, service providers, etc. • OnCommand® Support - Optional feature to allow users to upload health reports to the OnCommand® servers. • Blue-Link Mini firmware update to v1.09, if the adapter has older firmware.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: DTNA eLink at 4.3 against First's 2.2. First's advantage is review sentiment (17% vs 0%) and ratings volume (17 vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DTNA eLink holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 17 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of DTNA eLink's written reviews are positive against 17% of First's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
DTNA eLink ships an update every 3 months, First every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DTNA eLink | First |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (4 ratings) — better | 2.2 (17 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 16.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 17 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 109 MB | 128 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Daimler Truck North America LLC | Snap-on Inc. |
Customer experience
DTNA eLink
First
In-app purchases
DTNA eLink
No in-app purchases
First
No in-app purchases





