# OBD2 Scanner ELM327 vs MAXOBD

The clearest difference is rating: OBD2 Scanner ELM327 at 4.3 against MAXOBD's 2.4. OBD2 Scanner ELM327 also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 29%) and ratings volume (25 vs 7). MAXOBD's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OBD2 Scanner ELM327 sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. MAXOBD asks for nothing beyond the download.

OBD2 Scanner ELM327 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of OBD2 Scanner ELM327's written reviews are positive against 29% of MAXOBD's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OBD2 Scanner ELM327 | MAXOBD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/obd2-scanner-elm327-garagepro/id1488423694/reviews)** | [2.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maxobd/id6737468032/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **25** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **46.2% of reviews** | 28.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 65 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Zymbia Interactive Technologies Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488423693) | [祖策 谢](https://appshunter.io/developer/983519195) |

## 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


### MAXOBD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maxobd/id6737468032)

This utility app allows car owners to detect vehicle faults by connecting to standard OBD protocol devices. It enables users to read trouble codes, view real-time data, and access performance parameters, with enhanced features when using specific hardware. The goal is to simplify vehicle management and early problem detection.

**Highlights:** Vehicle fault detection, Connects with standard OBD devices, Read trouble codes, View real-time data, Access performance parameters, Clear trouble codes (with specific hardware)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OBD2 Scanner ELM327 free?

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

### Is MAXOBD free?

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

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

OBD2 Scanner ELM327 is rated higher. OBD2 Scanner ELM327 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while MAXOBD averages 2.4 from 7 ratings.

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

Neither OBD2 Scanner ELM327 nor MAXOBD shows ads.

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

OBD2 Scanner ELM327 ships an update every 3 weeks, and MAXOBD every 3 weeks. Most recently, OBD2 Scanner ELM327 was updated on November 7, 2026 and MAXOBD on November 4, 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.*