Comparison

Car Scanner vs OpenOBD

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

Head to head
About

Car Scanner

Transform your smartphone into a car diagnostic tool. Read and clear trouble codes, monitor real-time engine data, and access manufacturer-specific information. Analyze driving behavior and track fuel efficiency.

Highlights
  • Read and clear OBD2 trouble codes
  • Real-time car data monitoring
  • Manufacturer-specific code access
  • Emission readiness checks
  • Freeze frame & performance tests
  • Trip computer & fuel tracking
Features
Read full description

Turn your smartphone into a powerful OBD2 car scanner! With Car Scanner: OBD2 ELM Reader, you can instantly read and clear trouble codes, monitor real-time engine data, and understand what’s really happening under your car’s hood. All you need is an ELM327 Bluetooth or Wi-Fi adapter — and your car’s diagnostics are right in your pocket! Key features: ► Read and clear OBD2 trouble codes (DTCs) ► Instantly detect why your Check Engine Light is on and clear it after fixing the issue. ► Real-time car data monitoring ► View live parameters such as engine RPM, coolant temperature, air intake, torque, speed, fuel system status, and more. ► Custom dashboards ► Read manufacturer-specific codes ► Access extra diagnostic information for brands like BMW, Audi, Ford, Toyota, Kia, Nissan, Volkswagen, Mazda, and many others. ► Emission readiness & Mode 06 support ► Check if your vehicle is ready for an emissions test and view ECU self-diagnostic test results. ► Freeze frame & performance tests ► Capture sensor data at the moment an error occurs and measure your car’s acceleration (0–100 km/h, etc.). ► Trip computer & fuel tracking ► Analyze your driving behavior, track fuel efficiency, and save money on gas. Compatible with: Works with any car supporting the OBD2 / EOBD standard (most petrol cars since 2001 and diesel since 2004). Fully supports popular adapters: Veepeak, Vgate, Kiwi 3, LELink, Carista, Viecar, OBDLink, UniCarScan, and others. Avoid cheap ELM327 clones marked “v2.1” — they may cause connection issues or inaccurate readings. Why choose Car Scanner: OBD2 ELM Reader? ► Intuitive and user-friendly interface ► Extensive DTC code database with detailed explanations ► Reliable connection and fast data refresh rate ► Free to use with optional premium features Take full control of your car’s health and performance. Download Car Scanner: OBD2 ELM Reader today — diagnose, monitor, and drive smarter! Please note that some features in the app (live car's data, diagnostic errors & export) may require you to have subscriptions (price may vary depending on location): - 1-week subscription with a 3-day trial version – US$ 4.99 - 1-month subscription – US$ 9.99 - 1-quarter subscription – US$ 17.99 - 1-year subscription with a 3-day trial version – US$ 29.99 - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/sikoralex/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/sikoralex/terms-of-use

About

OpenOBD

Transform your iPhone into a real-time car dashboard. Connect an OBD2 adapter to monitor live engine data, track your trips with GPS, and diagnose fault codes with clear explanations. Explore all features in demo mode without hardware.

Highlights
  • Live engine data monitoring
  • Real-time speed, RPM, temperature gauges
  • Trip logging with GPS mapping
  • Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs)
  • Vehicle information display
  • Demo mode for exploration
Features
Read full description

OpenOBD turns your iPhone into a real-time car dashboard. Connect any ELM327 OBD2 adapter (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) and see what your car is really doing — live. LIVE ENGINE DATA • Speed, RPM, coolant temperature, intake, throttle, engine load, battery voltage and more • Clean, fast gauges that update in real time • Instant and average fuel consumption TRIP LOGGING • Automatically record your drives with the GPS route on a map • Keeps recording in the background, even with the screen locked • Review distance, duration, speed and fuel for every trip DIAGNOSTICS • Read and clear fault codes (DTCs) with plain-language explanations • Check-engine (MIL) status and stored trouble codes • Vehicle info: VIN, fuel type, supported sensors BUILT FOR DRIVERS • Beautiful dark interface designed for the car • Works with affordable ELM327 adapters — no subscription, no account TRY IT WITHOUT HARDWARE • Tap Connect, then Demo Mode, to explore every feature with simulated live data OpenOBD is not affiliated with any car manufacturer. An OBD2 adapter (sold separately) is required to read data from your vehicle. Most petrol cars built after 2001 and diesels after 2004 are supported.

Screenshots

Car Scanner3 screens
OpenOBD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: OpenOBD at 4.0 against Car Scanner's 3.5. OpenOBD also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, ratings volume, 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. Car Scanner sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. OpenOBD asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenOBD holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Car Scanner versus OpenOBD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCar ScannerOpenOBD
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (2 ratings)4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequency—Every 2 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexandr SikorskiOsman Cengeri

Customer experience

Car Scanner

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

OpenOBD

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

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Car Scanner

Subscriptions4
  • OBD Premium Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • OBD Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • OBD Premium Quarterly$17.993 Months
Show 1 more
  • OBD Premium Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
None

OpenOBD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Car Scanner free?
Car Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenOBD free?
OpenOBD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Car Scanner or OpenOBD?
OpenOBD is rated higher. Car Scanner averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while OpenOBD averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Car Scanner or OpenOBD have ads?
Neither Car Scanner nor OpenOBD shows ads.

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