Comparison

BT1 vs Steer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BT1

Decode your vehicle's Check Engine Light and check for recalls or service bulletins. Connect a compatible scanner to your device to gain insights into your car's health and avoid unexpected issues.

Highlights
  • Decode Check Engine Light
  • Check for vehicle recalls
  • Check for Special Service Bulletins
  • Connects via Bluetooth or cable scanner
  • Pairs with iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad
Features
Read full description

Calm Your Auto Woes! One in ten vehicles in the US have the Check Engine Light on. Is yours one of them? Was your vehicle one of the 20 million recalled in 2010? Simply connect our BT1 (Bluetooth) or GL1 (cabled) automotive scanner (sold separately) to your vehicle; pair with your iPhone or iPod touch, or iPad; and remove the risks, and surprises, from driving. - Decode the Check Engine Light - Check for vehicle recalls - Check for Special Service Bulletins Like having your own personal mechanic riding next to you!

About

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.

Highlights
  • Universal OBD2 scanner compatibility
  • Read and erase fault codes
  • Real-time performance metrics
  • Acceleration and performance testing
  • Emission compliance checks
  • Supports various car brands
Features
Read 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

BT14 screens
Steer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BT1 at none against Steer's 2. BT1 also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 26.1). Steer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Steer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. BT1 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BT1 ships an update every 4 months, Steer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
BT1 versus Steer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBT1Steer
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.4 (14 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews47.7% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better26.1
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGoPoint Technology, IncSmarters Engineered

Customer experience

BT1

All ratings14 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral7.1%
Negative64.3%
Written reviews86 reviews
Positive47.7%
Neutral4.7%
Negative47.7%

Steer

Written reviews10 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

BT1

Reported bugs

25 issues
  • App crashes when scanning vehicle
  • App crashes after 30 seconds
  • App not working anymore
  • Cannot select make/model
  • App not updated for newer vehicles
Show 20 more
  • App not compatible with newer IOS versions
  • Initialization failed error
  • Cannot install app on older devices due to iOS requirements
  • Bluetooth device has trouble connecting
  • App crashes upon setup
  • Blank boxes for make/model selection
  • App freezes and glitches
  • App locks up when entering car data
  • App crashes every time
  • Cannot get past create account screen
  • App crashes only once (user reported)
  • Difficult or time-consuming to connect
  • Http error when connected
  • App crashes when connected
  • Doesn't clear check engine light
  • No data stream info
  • App asks for vehicle info and searches recalls
  • Less functions than cabled version
  • Software too basic
  • Does not clear codes or reset trouble lights

Requested features

8 requests
  • Update app for newer iOS versions
  • Add more vehicle makes/models
  • Improve fault code detection
  • Add live data stream
  • Firmware update for Bluetooth device
Show 3 more
  • More detailed vehicle stats
  • Constant data recording
  • More advanced features

Steer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BT1

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Steer

Subscriptions2
  • OBD2 Pro$9.991 Month
  • OBD2 Pro$19.991 Year

Questions

Is BT1 free?
BT1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Steer free?
Steer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BT1 or Steer have ads?
Neither BT1 nor Steer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BT1 or Steer?
BT1 ships an update every 4 months, and Steer every 2 months. Most recently, BT1 was updated on October 21, 2026 and Steer on October 20, 2026.

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