ELMCheck vs Plier
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
Plier
Transform your iPhone into an AI-powered car diagnostic tool. Connect to your vehicle via an OBD2 device to understand its health, diagnose issues, and estimate repair costs.
- AI-driven diagnostic reports
- Real-time OBD2 data and graphs
- Check engine light insights
- Repair cost estimation
- ELM327 Bluetooth compatibility
- Troubleshoot engine codes
Read full descriptionHide full description
Turn your iPhone into a clear, capable OBD2 car scanner with Plier.AI. Connect a compatible Bluetooth ELM327 adapter to read diagnostic trouble codes, view live sensor data and graphs, and understand check-engine warnings. The new Vehicle Health Center brings together a health snapshot, mileage-based maintenance planning, official NHTSA recall checks for saved vehicles, inspection-readiness guidance, and a report you can share with a mechanic. Ask the AI Mechanic vehicle-aware questions about symptoms and active codes. Plier suggests practical tests, explains possible causes, and helps you decide what to check before replacing parts. You can also review supported freeze-frame and oxygen-sensor test data. Available data varies by vehicle, adapter, protocol, and model year. AI guidance and health scores can be wrong and are not proof that a vehicle is safe. Confirm safety-critical findings with a qualified technician. Some features require Plier Pro. Terms of Use: https://plier.ai/tos
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ELMCheck at 5.0 against Plier's 4.6. Plier's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. ELMCheck sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Plier sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ELMCheck holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Plier has 15 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
ELMCheck ships an update every 2 weeks, Plier weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | ELMCheck | Plier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.6 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 54 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Fearless design, LLC | Heap Labs LLC |
Customer experience
ELMCheck
Plier
In-app purchases
ELMCheck
- Comprehensive testing$2.99
Plier
- Pro (Weekly)3 Days trial$6.997 Days
- Pro ( 1 Year )$49.991 Year
