FORScan Viewer vs GWSMARTBT
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FORScan Viewer
This application allows users to read and view information about the on-board network of Ford, Mazda, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles. It supports various OBD adapters and displays diagnostic trouble codes for all modules.
- Read vehicle on-board network configuration
- View Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC)
- Supports Ford, Mazda, Lincoln, Mercury vehicles
- Compatible with OBDLink MX+, vLinker adapters
- Displays module information
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FORScan Viewer is an application that allows users to connect to a compatible OBD adapter and view information about the on-board network of Ford, Mazda, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. FORScan Viewer is an independent third-party application and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or approved by Ford Motor Company, Mazda Motor Corporation, or their affiliated brands. Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Mazda are trademarks of their respective owners and are used solely to describe vehicle compatibility. The application communicates only with compatible third-party OBD-II adapters owned and operated by the user. The application does not control, modify, or operate any equipment manufactured by Ford, Mazda, Lincoln, or Mercury. SUPPORTED OBD ADAPTERS - OBDLink MX+ (recommended) - vLinker FS Bluetooth (recommended) - vLinker FD BLE (recommended) - other ELM327-compatible WiFi or BLE adapter (not recommended). Attention! Some ELM327 adapters are not fully compatible with this application and may not work properly. COMPATIBILITY FORScan Viewer is designed to display information for the following vehicles: Ford, Lincoln, Mercury: 1996-2022 models, some 1994-1995 models - Mazda: 1996-2022 models. Important note: Mazda 7G models (new Mazda 3, CX-30, MX-30, CX-50, etc) have limited or no support! - Other vehicle manufacturers are NOT supported FEATURES - Reading and displaying information about the on-board network configuration of the connected vehicle (modules), including Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) for all modules - More functions are available in FORScan Lite LEGAL NOTICE FORScan Viewer does not contain proprietary vehicle software, firmware, service manuals, or other copyrighted materials owned by vehicle manufacturers. Vehicle data displayed by the application is obtained through standard diagnostic interfaces and user-authorized connections.
GWSMARTBT
This diagnostic tool offers advanced vehicle system scanning and bidirectional control for automotive technicians. It provides 23 professional reset functions and live data mapping, eliminating the need for expensive alternatives. Enjoy comprehensive coverage, a 2-year warranty, and free lifetime software updates.
- Full system diagnostics
- Bidirectional programming
- 23 pro reset functions
- Live data mapping
- OE level diagnostics
- Free lifetime software updates
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DIAGNOSTICS THAT BREAK ALL THE RULES! For too long, techs have had to choose between unreliable tools that fall short of their needs and overpriced name-brand options that can lead to unnecessary debt. GEARWRENCH is changing that. Our GWSMARTBT provides advanced functionality with full system diagnostics, bidirectional programming, 23 pro reset functions, and live data mapping eliminating the need for compromise. No more missing features, no more hidden costs, and no more financial strain. With comprehensive coverage for over 180+ vehicle manufacturers, a 2-year warranty, and free lifetime software updates, we deliver a powerful solution that offers unparalleled value and performance—setting a new standard that other brands simply can’t match Detailed Features: · Read & clear codes for all available systems · OE level diagnostics enables full system scans, showing manufacturer fault codes and definitions · Full bidirectional control sends commands to the vehicle ECU to execute active tests on different vehicle components and subsystems · 23 pro vehicle reset/relearn functions throttle matching, ABS bleeding, TPMS reset, etc. · FREE software updates no subscriptions, no fees — EVER
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: GWSMARTBT at 3.3 against FORScan Viewer's 2.7. GWSMARTBT also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 32%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). FORScan Viewer's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, 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.
GWSMARTBT holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 105 and 68 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of FORScan Viewer's written reviews are positive against 46% of GWSMARTBT's.
FORScan Viewer ships an update every 3 months, GWSMARTBT every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FORScan Viewer | GWSMARTBT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (105 ratings) | 3.3 (68 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 31.6% of reviews | 46.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 105 — better | 68 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 80 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aleksei Savin | Apex Tool Group |
Customer experience
FORScan Viewer
GWSMARTBT
Bugs and requests
FORScan Viewer
Reported bugs
8 issues- App fails to detect OBD2 adapters despite successful pairing
- Bluetooth connection drops and fails to reconnect
- WiFi adapter detection not working after updates
- Error code clearing functionality non-functional
- Vehicle identification fails on certain models
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- App crashes during connection attempts
- Permission settings not persisting correctly
- Incompatibility with specific adapter models (iCar Pro, Vgate, etc.)
Requested features
8 requests- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) adapter support
- Full feature parity between iOS and Windows versions
- Turkish language support
- Improved UI scaling for modern iPhones
- Expanded vehicle compatibility
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- Programming capabilities in iOS version
- Better adapter compatibility documentation
- Support for non-Ford vehicle manufacturers
GWSMARTBT
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
FORScan Viewer
No in-app purchases
GWSMARTBT
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FORScan Viewer free?
Is GWSMARTBT free?
Which has better reviews, FORScan Viewer or GWSMARTBT?
Do FORScan Viewer or GWSMARTBT have ads?
Which is updated more often, FORScan Viewer or GWSMARTBT?
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