Comparison

OBD Mate vs ActiveOBD

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

Head to head
About

OBD Mate

Diagnose vehicle faults and receive driving assistance using your smartphone or tablet. Connect via Bluetooth to read and clear error codes, monitor sensor data, and view custom dashboards for a better driving experience.

Highlights
  • Fault diagnosis
  • Driving assistance
  • Read and clear codes
  • Freeze frame data
  • O2 sensor monitoring
  • Customizable dashboard
Features
Read full description

The OBD assistant is a driving companion that can communicate with the vehicle terminal through Bluetooth using smartphones and tablets to complete functions such as fault diagnosis and driving assistance. It not only has rich and comprehensive vehicle detection and diagnosis functions such as fault code reading and clearing, freeze frames, battery voltage, gearbox, and performance testing, but also has a cool instrument panel and driving assistance functions, making driving more fun.

About

ActiveOBD

This app functions as an OBDII scanner, offering specialized support for Subaru vehicles (MY2012+). It provides basic parameter readings for free, with a subscription unlocking advanced features like trouble code reading and data logging.

Highlights
  • OBDII scanning
  • Subaru-specific support (MY2012+)
  • CVT Oil Temperature reading
  • AWD duty (%) parameter reading
  • Trouble code reading (full version)
  • Data logging (full version)
  • Graphs building (full version)
Features
Read full description

The OBDII scanner app with a special support of Subaru (MY2012+) make. It's the next-generation product based on our well-known "ActiveOBD for Subaru" app bringing its best features to iOS users. A compatible OBD adapter is required. Premium-level adapters supported (best speed and stability): - OBDLink MX+; - OBDLink CX; - vLinker MC+. Entry-level adapters supported (moderate speed, good stability): - Vgate iCar Pro Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE). Other adapters supported: - Viecar Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE), Vgate iCar Pro WiFi, Veepeak OBDCheck BLE+, KONNWEI. We do NOT support the majority of cheap ELM327 v2.1 clones. The basic free version already includes CVT Oil Temperature, CVT ratio and AWD duty (%) parameter readings and nice gauge screen ! Note: some of these parameters are inaccessible on some model ranges. The full version (subscription) includes extra parameters reading and features, such as graphs building, logging ("premium-level adapter" required), trouble codes reading. Note: for resource consumption optimization reason the data collection for graphs/logging activates upon accessing these functions and terminates with the current app session. Terms of Use (standard Apple Terms of Use / EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

OBD Mate4 screens
ActiveOBD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ActiveOBD at 3.6 against OBD Mate's 1.8. ActiveOBD also leads on review sentiment (45% vs 9%). OBD Mate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, 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. ActiveOBD sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. OBD Mate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ActiveOBD holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 115 and 39 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of OBD Mate's written reviews are positive against 45% of ActiveOBD's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OBD Mate ships an update every 5 weeks, ActiveOBD every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
OBD Mate versus ActiveOBD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOBD MateActiveOBD
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (115 ratings)3.6 (39 ratings) — better
Positive reviews9.4% of reviews45.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings115 — better39
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size365 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAutophix Tech Co., LtdMykhailo Zolotarov

Customer experience

OBD Mate

All ratings115 ratings
Positive17.4%
Neutral5.2%
Negative77.4%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive9.4%
Neutral7.3%
Negative83.3%

ActiveOBD

All ratings39 ratings
Positive61.5%
Neutral10.3%
Negative28.2%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral13.6%
Negative40.9%

In-app purchases

None

OBD Mate

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ActiveOBD

Subscriptions1
  • Full Version Subscription1 Month trial$4.991 Month

Questions

Is OBD Mate free?
OBD Mate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ActiveOBD free?
ActiveOBD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, OBD Mate or ActiveOBD?
ActiveOBD is rated higher. OBD Mate averages 1.8 out of 5 from 115 ratings, while ActiveOBD averages 3.6 from 39 ratings.
Do OBD Mate or ActiveOBD have ads?
Neither OBD Mate nor ActiveOBD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OBD Mate or ActiveOBD?
OBD Mate ships an update every 5 weeks, and ActiveOBD every 3 months. Most recently, OBD Mate was updated on October 16, 2026 and ActiveOBD on October 15, 2026.

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