Comparison

Steer vs ELMCheck

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

Head to head
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/

About

ELMCheck

Verify the authenticity and functionality of your OBD-II scanner. This app runs comprehensive tests on ELM327 commands to report supported features, ensuring safe and reliable use with your vehicle.

Highlights
  • Authenticity testing for OBD-II scanners
  • Comprehensive ELM327 command test suite
  • Reports actual supported features
  • Ensures safe scanner usage
  • Basic tests are free
  • Unlock full suite with in-app purchase
Features
Read full description

Check the authenticity of your OBD-II scanner with ELMCheck. Most OBD-II scanners on the market use some variation of ELM327, but did you know that many scanners use clones of the original ELM327? It can be hard to tell, because these clones will work well enough for basic use but fail in unexpected scenarios. This is where ELMCheck comes in. ELMCheck offers a comprehensive set of test cases that cover the entire documented set of ELM327 commands. Regardless of which version your scanner says it is, ELMCheck can provide a comprehensive report of the features that are actually supported. Get the confidence you need to use your OBD-II scanner on your vehicle safely. ELMCheck is free to run basic tests. An in-app purchase will unlock the full test suite.

Screenshots

Steer4 screens
ELMCheck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ELMCheck at 100% against Steer's 40%. ELMCheck also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Steer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and ELMCheck sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Steer ships an update every 2 months, ELMCheck every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Steer versus ELMCheck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteerELMCheck
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.118.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmarters EngineeredFearless design, LLC

Customer experience

Steer

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

ELMCheck

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Steer

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

ELMCheck

One-time1
  • Comprehensive testing$2.99

Questions

Is Steer free?
Steer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ELMCheck free?
ELMCheck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Steer or ELMCheck have ads?
Neither Steer nor ELMCheck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Steer or ELMCheck?
Steer ships an update every 2 months, and ELMCheck every 2 weeks. Most recently, Steer was updated on October 20, 2026 and ELMCheck on October 24, 2026.

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