# Car Scanner ELM OBD2 vs Smart Link

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smart Link at none against Car Scanner ELM OBD2's 5. Smart Link also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). Car Scanner ELM OBD2's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 23 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Car Scanner ELM OBD2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 6 months. Smart Link asks for nothing beyond the download.

Car Scanner ELM OBD2 ships an update every 5 days, Smart Link every 23 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Car Scanner ELM OBD2 | Smart Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/car-scanner-elm-obd2/id1259933623/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **33K** | — |
| Positive reviews | **81.4% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 23 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 181 MB | 182 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stanislav Svistunov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1259933622) | [SCHNEIDER CONSUMER GROUP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1131606586) |

## What reviewers say

### Car Scanner ELM OBD2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/car-scanner-elm-obd2/id1259933623)

Monitor your car's performance, diagnose engine issues, and view sensor data in real-time. Customize your dashboard with gauges and charts, and reset fault codes. Supports a wide range of vehicles and offers advanced features for specific car brands.

**Highlights:** Real-time sensor data, OBD fault code reading and resetting, Customizable dashboard with gauges, Extended PID support, Mode 06 test results, Emission test readiness check, Acceleration measurement tool

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Car Scanner Pro (6 months) | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| Car Scanner Pro (1 year) | $4.99 | per year |
| Car Scanner Pro (low price) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Car Scanner Pro (mid price) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Car Scanner Pro (forever) | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works great with cheap OBD2 adapters
- 👍 Highly customizable dashboard
- 👍 Comprehensive sensor data
- 👍 Helpful error code lookup
- 👍 Frequent updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues
- 🐛 Incorrect sensor readings for some vehicles
- 🐛 Crashes or freezes on some devices
- 🔋 Drains battery when left running

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to connect to certain vehicle models
- Incorrect fuel economy calculations
- Sensor data not updating properly in some cases

**Requested features**

- Add support for more vehicle profiles
- Improve CarPlay integration
- Allow custom dashboard templates
- Add option to automatically save data logs
- Expand sensor coverage, especially for transmissions and ABS


### Smart Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-link/id1601766404)

Control all your Thomson home appliances remotely from a single app. Schedule routines, manage multiple homes, and monitor device status in real-time. Enjoy effortless home management from your smartphone.

**Highlights:** Remote appliance control, Single application for all devices, Schedule custom routines, Manage multiple homes, Real-time device monitoring, Smartphone accessibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Car Scanner ELM OBD2 free?

Car Scanner ELM OBD2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Smart Link free?

Smart Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Car Scanner ELM OBD2 or Smart Link have ads?

Car Scanner ELM OBD2 shows ads; Smart Link does not.

### Which is updated more often, Car Scanner ELM OBD2 or Smart Link?

Car Scanner ELM OBD2 ships an update every 5 days, and Smart Link every 23 months. Most recently, Car Scanner ELM OBD2 was updated on November 1, 2026 and Smart Link on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*