Comparison

iOBD2 vs Car Scanner ELM OBD2

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

Head to head
About

iOBD2

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a powerful vehicle diagnostic tool. Read engine data, check for issues, and monitor real-time performance metrics like fuel consumption and acceleration. Customize your dashboard to display only the information you care about.

Highlights
  • Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs)
  • Access live engine data
  • View freeze frame data
  • Monitor readiness test status
  • Read vehicle information (VIN, CALID, CVN)
  • Perform O2 sensor and EVAP system tests
  • Customize real-time dashboards
Features
Read full description

iOBD2 is an app for your car. It makes your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad into a cool vehicle diagnostic tool to read your engine data. 1. When you are driving and MIL is on, you can check your car and know whether you can go on or not. 2. When there are troubles with your car, you can check it yourself and know what the problems are, and then ask for help by twitter or facebook from others. 3. You can know real time information such as fuel consumption, torque, acceleration, etc from iOBD2 on your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. 4. iOBD2 can customized your gauge and after select the data that you are interested in, it will show you only the data which you concern. 5. You can share the record what you get from the car by iOBD2 on twitter and facebook. !!Attention: 1.Please make sure that your vehicle is with OBD-II/EOBD compliance before purchasing! 2.You can upgrade your general iOBD2 to iOBD2-BMW or iOBD2-VAG when you only have iOBD2 hardware , and you only need to pay $80.00 for iOBD2-BMW or $30.00 for iOBD2-VAG without paying extra money for hardware. Buy multiple gauges iOBD2 with scream and best price! (Note: Not all OBD-II compliant vehicles support all these parameters) DISCLAIMER: After buy our iOBD2 hardware interface, and download iOBD2 App, then your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad can communicate with the vehicle. You can buy it on our ebay shop or amazon shop or contact our sales. Function: 1. Diagnostic [Read DTC]: Read the current DTC that engine has stored, and show DTC info. [Clear DTC]: Clear all the current DTC. [Live data]: Read all the running parameters that related to the ECU. [Freeze frame data]: When OBD system sets the DTC, it will record the system running parameters related to the malfunction at the same time. And these parameters are called freeze frame data. [Readiness test]: Readiness reflects the status that all the valid diagnostic functions. [Read vehicle info]: Read vehicle info such as Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), Calibration IDs (CALID) and Calibration Verification Number (CVN). [O2 Sensor test]: It allows access to the on-board oxygen sensor monitoring test results. The same information may be obtained by the use of [Mode 6 test]. [Mode 6 test]: It allows access to the results for on-board diagnostic monitoring tests of specific components/systems that are not continuously monitored. [EVAP System Test]: The purpose of this service is to enable the external test equipment to control the operation of an on-board system, test or component. 2. My dashboard [Idle mode]: engine rotational speed, water temperature, battery voltage, mass air flow, instant fuel consumption (static), ignition timing, ever wished you had your own customizable gauges, showing only the data you were interested in. [Cruise mode]: vehicle speed, vehicle travel time, vehicle travel average speed, continuous running mileage, avg. fuel consumption., ever wished you had your own customizable gauges, showing only the data you were interested in. [Sport mode]: engine rotational speed, vehicle speed, water temperature, ins. fuel consumption(dynamic), acceleration speed, ever wished you had your own customizable gauges, showing only the data you were interested in. [Performance mode]: engine rotational speed, vehicle speed, power, torque, horsepower, ever wished you had your own customizable gauges, showing only the data you were interested in. 3. Performance test [Accelerate/Decelerate test]: Test acceleration / deceleration process time and distance. [0 to 400m acceleration test]: Test spends time from 0 to 400 meters. 4. Settings You can set units, alarms, coefficient and also customized the dashboard here. 5. History After record the history data, you can share the record what you get from the car by iOBD2 on Twitter and facebook. Package Hardware: iOBD2 unit Software: iOBD2 client software on app store Visit the iOBD2 product page for more info: www.iobd2.com

About

Car Scanner ELM OBD2

Transform your iPhone into a powerful car diagnostic tool. Read and clear trouble codes, monitor live vehicle sensor data, and understand check engine light warnings. Works with most vehicles manufactured since 1996 using standard OBD2 adapters.

Highlights
  • Read and clear OBD2 trouble codes
  • Understand check engine light warnings
  • Monitor live vehicle sensor data
  • Supports most vehicles since 1996
  • Fast setup with ELM327 adapters
  • Avoid guesswork and costly surprises
Features
Read full description

Turn Your iPhone Into a Powerful OBD2 Scanner Car Scanner OBD2 transforms your iPhone into a practical car diagnostic tool for everyday drivers and car enthusiasts. Connect an ELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 adapter to read diagnostic trouble codes, understand why your check engine light is on, and monitor key vehicle sensors in seconds. It supports most vehicles manufactured since 1996 and works with standard OBD2 / OBD-II protocols. Check Engine Light Diagnostics You Can Understand When a warning light appears, you need clarity fast. Car Scanner OBD2 helps you identify common engine issues, review trouble code information, and decide your next step before visiting a shop. * Read and clear OBD2 trouble codes * Understand check engine light warnings * Detect issues early and avoid guesswork * Monitor vehicle health before repairs Live Data & Sensor Monitoring See essential driving and engine readings in one place: * RPM, speed, coolant temperature * Fuel system and sensor status * Performance metrics and key data points Use live data monitoring to spot abnormal readings, track changes over time, and make smarter maintenance decisions. Fast Setup With ELM327 Bluetooth Adapters Car Scanner OBD2 is designed for quick pairing and stable performance with widely available ELM327 Bluetooth adapters. The interface is built to be simple, so you can start scanning quickly—whether you’re checking a single warning or monitoring ongoing engine behavior. Save Time and Avoid Costly Surprises Understanding what’s happening under the hood can help you avoid unnecessary repairs and reduce time spent troubleshooting. Car Scanner OBD2 gives you reliable car diagnostics so you can talk to a mechanic with more confidence—or confirm a quick fix when appropriate. Comparing Car Diagnostic Apps? If you’re looking for an alternative to FIXD, Carly, BimmerLink, BimmerCode, or Torque, Car Scanner OBD2 offers a flexible OBD2 scanning experience using standard adapters—without locking you into proprietary hardware. Disclaimer This app provides informational diagnostic data only and does not replace professional vehicle inspection, diagnosis, or repair. https://carscannerpro.com/terms https://carscannerpro.com/privacy

Screenshots

iOBD24 screens
Car Scanner ELM OBD24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Car Scanner ELM OBD2 at 4.4 against iOBD2's 2.9. Car Scanner ELM OBD2 also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 weeks). iOBD2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment and monetization model 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. Car Scanner ELM OBD2 sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. iOBD2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Car Scanner ELM OBD2 holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85 and 18 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 23% of iOBD2's written reviews are positive against 20% of Car Scanner ELM OBD2's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iOBD2 ships an update every 5 weeks, Car Scanner ELM OBD2 every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
iOBD2 versus Car Scanner ELM OBD2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriOBD2Car Scanner ELM OBD2
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.9 (85 ratings)4.4 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews23.4% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings85 — better18
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS6.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer翔宇 金SINAN ATAKUL

Customer experience

iOBD2

All ratings84 ratings
Positive40.5%
Neutral10.7%
Negative48.8%
Written reviews197 reviews
Positive23.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative67.5%

Car Scanner ELM OBD2

All ratings18 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral5.6%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

Bugs and requests

iOBD2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when checking DTCs
  • Fails to connect to Bluetooth/WiFi adapters
  • Incorrect sensor readings
  • Compatibility issues with newer vehicles

Requested features

5 requests
  • Update for newer iOS versions
  • More frequent updates
  • Support for more vehicle makes/models
  • Customizable dashboards
  • Live data for more sensors

Car Scanner ELM OBD2

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

iOBD2

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Car Scanner ELM OBD2

Subscriptions7
  • Car Scanner Pro - Obd2 ELM Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Car Scanner Pro Weekly$9.997 Days
  • Car Scanner Pro -Diagnostic Monthly$14.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Car Scanner - Obd2 Special Offer$34.991 Year
  • Car Scanner Special Offer$49.991 Year
  • Car Scanner Pro Annual All Brands$69.991 Year
  • Car Scanner Pro Annual$99.991 Year

Questions

Is iOBD2 free?
iOBD2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Car Scanner ELM OBD2 free?
Car Scanner ELM OBD2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iOBD2 or Car Scanner ELM OBD2?
Car Scanner ELM OBD2 is rated higher. iOBD2 averages 2.9 out of 5 from 85 ratings, while Car Scanner ELM OBD2 averages 4.4 from 18 ratings.
Do iOBD2 or Car Scanner ELM OBD2 have ads?
Car Scanner ELM OBD2 shows ads; iOBD2 does not.
Which is updated more often, iOBD2 or Car Scanner ELM OBD2?
iOBD2 ships an update every 5 weeks, and Car Scanner ELM OBD2 every 3 days. Most recently, iOBD2 was updated on October 23, 2026 and Car Scanner ELM OBD2 on October 28, 2026.

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