# OBD2 Scanner ELM327 vs ActiveOBD

The clearest difference is rating: OBD2 Scanner ELM327 at 4.3 against ActiveOBD's 3.6. OBD2 Scanner ELM327 also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OBD2 Scanner ELM327 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and ActiveOBD sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

OBD2 Scanner ELM327 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 39 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 46% and 45% positive.

OBD2 Scanner ELM327 ships an update every 3 weeks, ActiveOBD every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OBD2 Scanner ELM327 | ActiveOBD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/obd2-scanner-elm327-garagepro/id1488423694/reviews)** | [3.6 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activeobd/id1524791245/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 25 | **39** |
| Positive reviews | **46.2% of reviews** | 45.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 65 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zymbia Interactive Technologies Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488423693) | [Mykhailo Zolotarov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524791247) |

## What reviewers say

### OBD2 Scanner ELM327

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/obd2-scanner-elm327-garagepro/id1488423694)

This app provides comprehensive OBD scanning for vehicles, allowing users to read and clear fault codes from various ECUs, monitor live sensor data, and perform special functions like DPF regeneration and injector coding. It supports over 100 vehicle makes and offers detailed reports and diagnostic assistance.

**Highlights:** Read and delete fault codes from any ECU, Monitor over 200 live sensor data points, Perform special OBD functions, Generate shareable PDF diagnostic reports, Check SMOG status for emission tests, Reset service/oil lights, Track 0-60 and 0-100 timing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Scan Summary (Yearly) | $4.99 | per year |
| Personal Plan | $9.99 | per year |
| Lite - Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium - Yearly | $32.99 | per year |
| Standard - Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Lite - Perpetual | $17.99 | one-time |
| Lite - Perpetual | $21.99 | one-time |
| Standard - Perpetual | $54.99 | one-time |
| Standard - Perpetual | $69.99 | one-time |
| Advanced - Perpetual | $159.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Clears trouble codes
- ✅ Scans vehicle quickly
- ✅ Provides real-time data
- ✅ User-friendly interface
- ✅ Saves money on repairs

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ App crashes frequently
- ❌ Does not load past splash screen
- ❌ Not responding properly on iPhone
- ❌ Cannot select new vehicle after changing cars
- ❌ Fails to buy subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App stops working
- App does not load past splash screen
- App is not responding properly
- App crashes when trying to buy subscription
- App starts crashing after a few days

**Requested features**

- DPF REGEN feature
- Ability to select new vehicle easily
- Reactivate perpetual license without reinstalling
- List of approved scanner devices
- Support for WiFi adapters on iOS


### ActiveOBD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activeobd/id1524791245)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version Subscription | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OBD2 Scanner ELM327 free?

OBD2 Scanner ELM327 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ActiveOBD free?

ActiveOBD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, OBD2 Scanner ELM327 or ActiveOBD?

OBD2 Scanner ELM327 is rated higher. OBD2 Scanner ELM327 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while ActiveOBD averages 3.6 from 39 ratings.

### Do OBD2 Scanner ELM327 or ActiveOBD have ads?

Neither OBD2 Scanner ELM327 nor ActiveOBD shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OBD2 Scanner ELM327 or ActiveOBD?

OBD2 Scanner ELM327 ships an update every 3 weeks, and ActiveOBD every 3 months. Most recently, OBD2 Scanner ELM327 was updated on November 7, 2026 and ActiveOBD on November 3, 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.*