MECH5 XLink vs DashCAN
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MECH5 XLink
Access professional vehicle diagnostics on your mobile device. Connect your VCI to the cloud, run health checks, and view past diagnostics. Edit vehicle details while working on another device.
- Full ECU access
- Connect to MECH5 Cloud
- Run Health Checks
- View previous Health Checks
- Edit Vehicle Details
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The MECH5 XLink Companion App brings professional vehicle diagnostics to your favourite device. Full ECU access, beyond normal OBD tools. Current features: Connect your VCI to the MECH5 Cloud Run Health Checks View previous Health Checks Edit Vehicle Details while you perform diagnostics on another device Read more about MECH5 capabilities at: https://www.mech5.com
DashCAN
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a car's dashboard. Monitor real-time engine data, customize gauge layouts, and track performance metrics like lap times and acceleration. Requires a specific Bluetooth interface.
- Real-time engine data display
- Customizable dashboard layouts
- GPS lap timer with track mapping
- Performance meter for acceleration tests
- Data logging and export
- Shift light indicator
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This app requires a DashCAN Bluetooth Interface to connect to your car's ECU. (www.dashcan.eu) Turn your iPhone or iPad into a powerful automotive dashboard. Live Engine Gauges Monitor RPM, coolant temperature, exhaust gas temperature, intake air temperature, manifold pressure, throttle position, oil temperature, oil pressure, battery voltage, vehicle speed, lambda, fuel pressure, power, torque, ignition advance, knock amplitude, gear position, and more — all in real time. Fully Customizable Dashboard Choose from 7 gauge designs including analog needles, bar gauges, text displays, and live charts. Drag, resize, and arrange gauges freely on your screen. Save and load layout presets to switch between configurations instantly. Customize colors to match your style. Shift Light Configurable RPM-based shift light indicator helps you nail every gear change on track or on the strip. GPS Lap Timer Built-in lap timer with GPS tracking for track days. Define your own tracks with finish line and sector points. Get real-time lap times, best lap tracking, delta times, sector splits, and a live track map. Analyze your laps with detailed post-session breakdowns including G-force telemetry. Performance Meter Measure 0-100 km/h, 100-200 km/h, quarter-mile times, and create custom speed or distance-based measurements. Track your results with split times and full session history. Data Logging Record telemetry sessions with all connected sensor data. Review logs with interactive charts, zoom, and data pointers. Export logs for further analysis. Cloud Sync Create an account to upload and back up your lap timer sessions, logs, and performance results to the cloud. Import & Export Share gauge configurations, button layouts, indicator setups, and log data using custom file formats (.dcg, .dcb, .dci, .dcl). CAN Bus & OBD Support Works with DashCAN Bluetooth adapters for direct CAN bus communication. Supports a wide range of ECU protocols and sensor types. Designed for the Track Landscape-only, full-screen interface optimized for dashboard mounting. Works on both iPhone and iPad with tablet-optimized scaling.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: DashCAN at 100% against MECH5 XLink's 40%. DashCAN also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). MECH5 XLink's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
MECH5 XLink ships an update every 3 months, DashCAN every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MECH5 XLink | DashCAN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.3 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 110 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OCTO Telematics | Attila Dan |
Customer experience
MECH5 XLink
DashCAN
In-app purchases
MECH5 XLink
No in-app purchases
DashCAN
No in-app purchases









