Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy vs OBDLink
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy
This app functions as a trip computer and GPS/OBD data monitor, recording travel details and calculating speeds. It offers advanced GPS and OBD sensor support for a detailed view of your journey and vehicle performance.
- GPS information display (speed, altitude, heading, acceleration)
- Trip data recording (distance, time, average speed)
- Navigation with waypoint forecasting
- OBD sensor data display (RPM, fuel, temperature, power)
- External GPS and OBD sensor support
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Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy is a versatile trip computer and GPS / OBD data monitor. The trip computer records distance and time traveled, and calculates average speeds. Using the navigation module from Harry's GPS Suite, GPS/OBD Buddy will furthermore forecast arrival times using waypoints. In addition to standard iPhone GPS functionality, GPS/OBD Buddy supports a huge set of external GPS and OBD sensors. Accessing these sensors directly, GPS/OBD Buddy gives you a detailed view not available in any other app. Like all applications from Harry's GPS Suite, Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy uses our advanced GPS Engine. We offer Harry's GPS Buddy as a technology demo for Harry's GPS Suite for free. In case you want to do more with the data shown, check out one of the Harry's LapTimer editions. FEATURES Extensive display of GPS information: speed, height, heading, slope, accuracy, GPS update rate, latitude, longitude, lateral and lineal acceleration, a nice compass, and waypoints approached; display of trip information - both continuously and from the latest starting point; trip information includes time traveled, time without movement, average speed overall and while in movement; navigation module including waypoint management, calculation of distance to waypoint, estimated time of arrival. In case a compatible OBD sensor is connected, Harry's GPS Buddy will display wheel speed, engine RPM, fuel level, voltage of electric system, coolant and oil temperatures, throttle position, fuel consumption, power and torque developed by engine. Please head to GPS/OBD Buddy's (LapTimer's) homepage on http://www.gps-laptimer.de to get information on future development, FAQs, and more snapshots.
OBDLink
Transform your phone into a powerful car diagnostic tool. Read and clear trouble codes, monitor real-time engine data, and track fuel economy. Generate detailed reports for easy sharing and analysis.
- Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes
- Display real-time vehicle data
- Customizable dashboards
- Estimate fuel economy
- Log data to CSV
- GPS tracking of vehicle parameters
- Full diagnostic reports
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***The OBDLink app exclusively works with OBDLink MX+, OBDLink CX, and OBDLink MX WiFi OBD adapters*** ***The app will NOT function with any other brand of OBD adapter.*** ***MX+ provides Unlimited Free OEM Add-ons, No in-app fees*** Convert your phone or tablet into a full-fledged diagnostic scan tool: read diagnostic trouble codes, clear the "Check Engine" light, check emissions readiness, estimate fuel economy and much more! Key features: - Check and clear diagnostic trouble codes - Read freeze frame data - Display real-time data (over 90 parameters!) - Customizable dashboards - Emissions readiness for each US state - Fuel economy MPG, l/100km or km/l calculation - Multiple trip meters - Log data to CSV format (compatible with Excel) - Retrieve vehicle information including VIN number and calibration ID - Oxygen Sensor Results (Mode $05) - On-board Monitoring Tests (Mode $06) - In-performance Tracking Counters (Mode $09) - GPS tracking - plot vehicle parameters on a map in real-time - Full diagnostic report that can be e-mailed or uploaded to Dropbox - English and Metric units - Support for English, Spanish, French, Greek, Italian, and Czech languages - Free unlimited updates - Ad-free * Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: OBDLink at 4.8 against Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy's 4.1. OBDLink also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 7) and review sentiment (62% vs 52%). Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, 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. Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and OBDLink sells 73 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
OBDLink holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OBDLink has 12K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy's written reviews are positive against 62% of OBDLink's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy | OBDLink |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (7 ratings) | 4.8 (12K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | 61.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 12K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 65 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Harald Schlangmann | OBD Solutions LLC |
Customer experience
Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy
OBDLink
Bugs and requests
Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
OBDLink
Reported bugs
4 issues- App freezes or disconnects randomly
- Trouble clearing error codes
- Inconsistent data readings
- Issues with firmware updates
Requested features
5 requests- Add CarPlay/Android Auto support
- Improve Bluetooth/WiFi stability
- Expand vehicle brand coverage
- Enhance user interface and customization
- Provide more detailed diagnostic information
In-app purchases
Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy
- Satellites Feature$0.99
- Engine Feature$0.99
- Tires Feature$0.99
OBDLink
- Ford 1999 Enhanced Diagnostic$14.99
- Ford 2005 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2006 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
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- Ford 2007 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2010 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2011 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2012 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2013 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2014 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2016 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Toyota 1999 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2007 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2008 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2014 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2016 Enhanced$14.99
- Ford 2018 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2020 Enhanced$14.99
- FCA 2011$14.99
- FCA 2014$14.99
- FCA 2015$14.99
- FCA 2017$14.99
- FCA 2018$14.99
- FCA 2019$14.99
- FCA 2020$14.99
- FCA 2021$14.99
- Ford 2021 Enhanced$14.99
- Ford 2022 Enhanced$14.99
- Ford 2023 Enhanced$14.99
- Mazda 2012 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2015 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2021 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2020 Enhanced$14.99
- Ford 2025 Enhanced$14.99
- Ford 2015 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2024 Enhanced$14.99
- Ford 2017 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2019 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Nissan 2009 Enhanced$14.99
- Mazda 2020 Enhanced$14.99
- Nissan 2016 Enhanced$14.99
- Nissan 2018 Enhanced$14.99
- Mazda 2015 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2005 Enhanced$14.99
- FCA 2022$14.99
- Toyota 2001 Enhanced$14.99
- Mazda 2016 Enhanced$14.99
- Nissan 2017 Enhanced$14.99
- FCA 2006$14.99
- Nissan 2015 Enhanced$14.99
- Nissan 2011 Enhanced$14.99
- Nissan 2007 Enhanced$14.99
- Mazda 2004 Enhanced$14.99
- Ford 2003 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Toyota 2002 Enhanced$14.99
- FCA 2024$14.99
- Ford 2008 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Toyota 2018 Enhanced$14.99
- Mazda 2013 Enhanced$14.99
- FCA 2007$14.99
- Nissan 2013 Enhanced$14.99
- Ford 2004 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- FCA 2023$14.99
- FCA 2016$14.99
- Toyota 2010 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2019 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2011 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2017 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2003 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2012 Enhanced$14.99
- FCA 2009$14.99
- Toyota 2006 Enhanced$14.99
- Toyota 2013 Enhanced$14.99
- FCA 2012$14.99
Questions
Is Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy free?
Is OBDLink free?
Which has better reviews, Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy or OBDLink?
Do Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy or OBDLink have ads?
Which is updated more often, Harry's GPS/OBD Buddy or OBDLink?
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