OBD Connect vs Steer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OBD Connect
Monitor your car's performance in real-time with virtual gauges and graphs. Diagnose and clear trouble codes to understand vehicle malfunctions before visiting a mechanic. Track fuel economy to save on gas.
- Real-time performance monitoring
- Trouble code reading and clearing
- Fuel economy tracking
- Customizable gauges and graphs
- Car profiles and settings
- Race track data and drag times
Read full descriptionHide full description
Track performance of your car in real time with virtual gauges and graphs. Troubleshoot malfunctions by accessing the on board ECU. Know what is wrong with your car before taking it to the mechanic. Don't get ripped off when buying a used car. Run our diagnostics feature and get a vehicle health score. These are just some of the features OBD Connect has to offer. OBD Connect transforms your phone into an all in one performance monitoring and troubleshooting tool for your car. ** Notice - We don't recommend using knock-off adapters as it may not be compatible with the app. OBD Connect features: • Customizable gauges track up to 100 sensors in real time including fuel economy, G-force, gear display and battery voltage. • Fast polling rate allows for a smoother and more responsive gauges and graphing.* • Read and Clear trouble codes and reset MIL (service engine light). Over a thousand codes available with description, causes and symptoms. • Metric and Imperial measures. • Real-time user-defined sensor plotting. Graph as many sensors desired at the same time on interactive graph that can be scrolled, paused. • Gauge list feature can track every sensor at the same time. • CarPlay, display gauges on car head unit. • Create car profiles and customize settings. • Freeze frame support (mode 02). • Instant horsepower, mpg/kpl fuel economy, boost pressure and G force tracking. • Read Vehicle VIN number, calibration ID and more (mode 09). • Speed limit warning: Get notified when driving over speed limit. • High oil/coolant temperature warning gives you instant notification when your car is running too hot. • HUD mode for dashboard view : Heads up display for driving at night. • Emissions test readiness. • Multiple ECU support. • Shift light. • Two themes to choose from. • Landscape mode. • High value sensor gauge notification. • Enhanced PID support for specific manufacturers (mode 22). • Fuel Economy: - Instant and average fuel economy tracking for 0-5 min, 0-30 min and 0-2 hr intervals and a detailed summary. - Long term tracking with six different intervals. (1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 13 weeks, 26 and 52 weeks). - 4 different units of measure: MPG,KPL (Km/L), L/100 Km, Miles per imperial gallon. - Interactive graph of long term data that can be cropped and scrolled through. - Export fuel history to CSV file (spreadsheets). - Other statistics: Distance travelled, average speed, money spent, CO2 produced and fuel consumed. - 3 methods of calculation available. For non MAF vehicles. • Race track package: - Real time lap data, gap delay time and position in race track using high frequency GPS tracking. - Comprehensive summary of race with lap times, speed fluctuations on track and more. - Get drag racing times (0-60 mph, 0-100 mph, 1/4 mile 1/8 mile etc.) - Load and save unlimited number of tracks onto device. - Crucial racing data including real time horsepower, g-force and a detailed driving summary. Share your results with friends. - Transmission gear information and optional shifting assistant which notifies optimal moment of shifting gears. - Customizable view that toggles between speed/rpm gauge, real time track positioning and G-sensor feedback. - Record your race in HD with gauge and track overlays. (dash cam add-on required) • Dashcam: Record smooth HD video with overlaying gauges (speed,rpm, etc), time, location (GPS coordinates) and G-force sensor in four different resolutions. You can record from 90 sensors and up to 5 gauges. • Sensor logger: You can record many sensors at the same time with 5 different refresh rates. Save graph sensor data to CSV file and export to PC/MAC for further analysis. Send real time data to TCP socket (IP Address) over network. ** NOTICE** OBD Connect is compatible with WIFI adapters, OBDLink MX+, Vgate vLinker FS/MS and the following Bluetooth LE adapters: Kiwi 3/4 PLX, Veepeak BLE, Carista BT, LE LElink and VGate iCar Pro/ pro 2, vLinker FD+,MC+ adapter.
Steer
Transform your smartphone into a powerful OBD2 diagnostic tool. Read and clear fault codes, monitor real-time performance metrics, and test your vehicle's acceleration and emissions. Compatible with a wide range of car brands and OBD2 scanners.
- Universal OBD2 scanner compatibility
- Read and erase fault codes
- Real-time performance metrics
- Acceleration and performance testing
- Emission compliance checks
- Supports various car brands
Read full descriptionHide full description
Your car has been trying to tell you something. Steer translates it. Plug the Steer sensor into the port under your steering wheel and the app reads what your car already knows — then explains it the way an honest mechanic would: in plain language, with no jargon and nothing to upsell you. WHAT YOU GET: ■ AI MECHANIC Ask anything about your car and get a straight answer. Send a photo of a warning light, a leak on the driveway or a part you don't recognize, or just describe the noise it makes. It knows your exact car and your latest scan. ■ ONE NUMBER, 0 TO 100 Your Steer Score answers "how is my car right now?". No trouble codes to look up, no tables to read. Watch it move over time. ■ PROBLEMS IN PLAIN LANGUAGE Every issue comes with what it means, whether it is safe to keep driving, and what the repair usually costs. Not "P0420 — Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold". ■ DEEP SCAN 21 systems and 126 live parameters, across every module your car will talk to. Start it, lock your phone, and get a notification when it is done. ■ DASHBOARD LIGHT LIBRARY Every warning light on your dashboard — check engine, ABS, airbag, TPMS, oil, battery — what it actually means, and how urgent it really is. ■ MAINTENANCE THAT KNOWS YOUR CAR Service intervals based on your VIN and your real mileage, not a generic checklist. Oil changes, filters, brakes, belts. ■ SAFETY RECALLS We check your VIN against the manufacturer recall database and tell you if your car is affected. ■ EVERY OBD2 CAR SINCE 1996 80 makes and thousands of models, 1996 to 2026. TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY Open the app and tap "Try a real scan". You get the whole experience on a demo car — scan, results, AI Mechanic — with no sensor, no account and no card. WHAT YOU NEED Steer works with the Steer OBD2 sensor, available at steer.so. It is not compatible with third-party adapters. MEMBERSHIP Free forever: live codes, battery alerts and basic diagnosis. Steer Plus unlocks the unlimited AI Mechanic, full explanations for every issue, predictive maintenance and every car in the household — $99/year with a 14-day free trial, or $14.99/month. Terms of Use: https://steer.so/terms Privacy Policy: https://steer.so/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Steer at Free against OBD Connect's $9.99. OBD Connect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On review sentiment, 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
Steer is free to download; OBD Connect costs $9.99 up front. Steer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. OBD Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.
OBD Connect ships an update weekly, Steer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OBD Connect | Steer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (57 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 31.8% of reviews — better | 26.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 57 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 26.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alphabit Software Inc. | Smarters Engineered |
Customer experience
OBD Connect
Steer
In-app purchases
OBD Connect
No in-app purchases
Steer
- OBD2 Pro$9.991 Month
- OBD2 Pro$19.991 Year
Questions
Is OBD Connect free?
Is Steer free?
Do OBD Connect or Steer have ads?
Which is updated more often, OBD Connect or Steer?
Other comparisons















