# Carly vs BimmerLink

Carly and BimmerLink both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 54% of BimmerLink's written reviews are positive against 29% of Carly's. BimmerLink also leads on chart position (#108 vs unranked). Carly's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Carly sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per year and BimmerLink sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Carly against 4.7 for BimmerLink. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.9K and 9.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of Carly's written reviews are positive against 54% of BimmerLink's.

Carly ships an update weekly, BimmerLink every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Carly | BimmerLink |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (9.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carly-obd2-car-scanner/id467344155/reviews) | **[4.7 (9.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bimmerlink/id1065360416/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9.9K** | 9.6K |
| Positive reviews | 29.2% of reviews | **53.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#108** |
| Size | 417 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Carly Solutions GmbH Co KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/408379680) | [SG Software GmbH & Co. KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/441701490) |

## What reviewers say

### Carly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carly-obd2-car-scanner/id467344155)

This app allows car owners to diagnose issues, monitor live engine data, and perform maintenance tasks. It offers advanced features like coding hidden car functions and detecting mileage manipulation, helping users save on repairs and understand their vehicle's health.

**Highlights:** Read and clear fault codes from all ECUs, Monitor engine live data parameters, Step-by-step car repair guides, Perform car maintenance and reset service intervals, Check starter battery condition, Code and unlock hidden car features, Detect mileage manipulation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart Mechanic | $11.99 | per year |
| Toyota | $21.99 | per year |
| Mercedes | $28.99 | per year |
| Smart Mechanic | $35.99 | per year |
| Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda | $53.99 | per year |
| Carly for BMW Full-Version | $59.99 | per year |
| BMW and Mini | $63.99 | per year |
| All Brands Upgrade | $78.99 | per year |
| All Brands | $82.99 | per year |
| VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda + Mechanic | $89.99 | per year |
| BMW and Mini + Smart Mechanic | $99.99 | per year |
| All Brands + Smart Mechanic | $118.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great customer service
- 🚀 Lots of functionality
- 💡 Useful diagnostic and coding features
- 🔒 Secure and reliable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Connectivity and compatibility issues
- 🔍 Limited functionality for some vehicles
- 📚 Confusing or lacking documentation

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes
- Adapter not working as expected
- Inaccurate or misleading diagnostic information

**Requested features**

- More vehicle support
- Improved user interface
- Offline functionality
- Easier subscription management


### BimmerLink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bimmerlink/id1065360416)

**Currently charting:** #108 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app provides direct access to your BMW or MINI vehicle's systems. Read and clear trouble codes from all control units, monitor real-time sensor values, and control features like exhaust flaps and active sound design. It also supports battery registration, DPF regeneration, and service resets.

**Highlights:** Read and clear trouble codes from all control units, Display real-time sensor values, Remote control of exhaust flap, Mute Active Sound Design, DPF regeneration, Battery registration, Service reset

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CarPlay Add-On | $9.99 | one-time |
| BimmerLink full version | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Useful features
- 💡 Helpful for DIY maintenance
- 🚀 Saved money on repairs
- 🚀 Cleared error codes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Inaccurate sensor readings
- 🐛 Doesn't work as advertised
- 💰 Expensive for limited functionality
- 🐛 Resets settings after car turned off

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to connect to OBD adapter
- Fails to clear error codes
- Battery registration not working
- Sensor values not updating properly

**Requested features**

- Add support for more BMW models
- Improve exhaust flap control functionality
- Add option to change units (Celsius/Fahrenheit, MPH/KPH)
- Improve CarPlay integration
- Add more customization options for dashboard


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Carly free?

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

### Is BimmerLink free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Carly or BimmerLink?

BimmerLink is rated higher. Carly averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9.9K ratings, while BimmerLink averages 4.7 from 9.6K ratings.

### Do Carly or BimmerLink have ads?

Neither Carly nor BimmerLink shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Carly or BimmerLink?

Carly ships an update weekly, and BimmerLink every 4 weeks. Most recently, Carly was updated on October 31, 2026 and BimmerLink on October 31, 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.*