# Carly vs MaxiAP

The clearest difference is rating: Carly at 4.6 against MaxiAP's 3.1. Carly also leads on ratings volume (9.9K vs 7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). MaxiAP's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Carly sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $21.99 per year. MaxiAP asks for nothing beyond the download.

Carly holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Carly has 9.9K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of Carly's written reviews are positive against 33% of MaxiAP's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Carly ships an update weekly, MaxiAP every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Carly | MaxiAP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (9.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carly-obd2-car-scanner/id467344155/reviews)** | [3.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maxiap/id1247339344/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.9K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 29.2% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#198** | — |
| Size | 417 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Carly Solutions GmbH Co KG](https://appshunter.io/developer/408379680) | [Autel Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/770747094) |

## What reviewers say

### Carly

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

**Currently charting:** #198 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app provides comprehensive car diagnostics, live engine data, and repair guides. It helps users understand their car's health, perform maintenance, and even unlock hidden features. Compatible with a wide range of car brands, it empowers owners to take control of their vehicle's upkeep.

**Highlights:** Read and clear fault codes, Monitor engine live data, Access expert repair guides, Perform car maintenance, Check starter battery condition, Code and unlock hidden features, Detect mileage manipulation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 |
| 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


### MaxiAP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maxiap/id1247339344)

Transform your iPhone into a powerful vehicle diagnostic tool. This app, paired with a Bluetooth OBDII connector, allows you to monitor your engine system, read and clear diagnostic codes, and generate repair reports for easy vehicle maintenance.

**Highlights:** Works on all 1996+ vehicles, Supports all 10 OBDII test modes, Reads and clears engine codes, Checks system readiness, Generates repair reports, Graphs live system data

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Carly free?

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

### Is MaxiAP free?

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

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

Carly is rated higher. Carly averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9.9K ratings, while MaxiAP averages 3.1 from 7 ratings.

### Do Carly or MaxiAP have ads?

Neither Carly nor MaxiAP shows ads.

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

Carly ships an update weekly, and MaxiAP every 3 weeks. Most recently, Carly was updated on November 5, 2026 and MaxiAP 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.*