# Carly vs BimmerCode

Carly and BimmerCode both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 59% of BimmerCode's written reviews are positive against 30% of Carly's. BimmerCode also leads on chart position (#91 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Carly's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). 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 BimmerCode 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 BimmerCode. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.9K and 21K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of Carly's written reviews are positive against 59% of BimmerCode's.

Carly ships an update weekly, BimmerCode every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Carly | BimmerCode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (9.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carly-obd2-car-scanner/id467344155/reviews) | **[4.7 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bimmercode/id1130787459/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9.9K | **21K** |
| Positive reviews | 29.7% of reviews | **58.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#91** |
| Size | 416 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| 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


### BimmerCode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bimmercode/id1130787459)

**Currently charting:** #91 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

Unlock hidden features and customize your BMW, MINI, or Toyota Supra. This app allows you to individually configure your vehicle for a personalized driving experience. Requires a compatible OBD adapter.

**Highlights:** Code BMW, MINI, Toyota Supra, Discover hidden features, Individual vehicle configuration, Personalize driving experience, Supports a wide range of models, Requires OBD adapter

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BimmerCode Full Version Motorcycle | $19.99 | one-time |
| BimmerCode Full Version | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Excellent customization options
- 💡 Useful for coding BMW features
- 🚀 Works as advertised
- 👍 Intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires paid version to unlock full functionality
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with some BMW models
- 🐛 Occasional connection problems
- 🐛 Coding can cause unintended issues
- 🐛 Expert mode is in German, not English

**Reported bugs**

- Coding can deactivate important safety features
- App crashes during coding process
- Coding changes not always reversible

**Requested features**

- Ability to backup and restore settings to cloud
- More detailed instructions and documentation
- Support for older BMW models
- Translate expert mode to English
- Add more coding options for newer BMW models


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Carly free?

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

### Is BimmerCode free?

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

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

BimmerCode is rated higher. Carly averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9.9K ratings, while BimmerCode averages 4.7 from 21K ratings.

### Do Carly or BimmerCode have ads?

Neither Carly nor BimmerCode shows ads.

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

Carly ships an update weekly, and BimmerCode every 2 months. Most recently, Carly was updated on September 24, 2026 and BimmerCode on September 25, 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.*