Comparison

Car Scanner vs Grip OBD

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

Grip OBD

Features
Read full description

Grip turns your iPhone into a real in-car instrument cluster and diagnostic tool. Pair a standard ELM327 OBD-II Bluetooth adapter and watch your engine come alive with a premium, tach-grade dashboard. LIVE DASHBOARD • Fast, beautiful radial gauges — RPM, speed, throttle, engine load, coolant, battery voltage and more • 17 live parameters, fully customizable — choose which gauges and tiles you see • Metric or imperial, your call PERFORMANCE TIMER • Time a full-throttle pull straight off your car's speed signal • 0–60 mph, 0–100 km/h, eighth and quarter mile with trap speed, and top speed • Live splits, a speed-vs-time graph, and saved runs with personal-best tracking TRIP LOGGING • Record every channel while you drive • Review RPM and speed graphs, session peaks, distance • Export any trip to CSV to dig in on your computer TROUBLE CODES • Read the diagnostic trouble codes behind your check-engine light (Mode 03) • Plain-language descriptions for common codes • Read-only and safe — Grip never clears or writes anything to your car OBD CONSOLE • Send raw ELM327/OBD-II commands and see the responses • Great for tinkering and learning the protocol TRY IT WITH NO HARDWARE • Demo mode emulates a live ECU, so the entire app works before your adapter arrives Everything runs on your device. Grip collects no data and transmits nothing to the internet. Compatible with common ELM327 Bluetooth adapters (OBD, ELM, Vgate, Viecar, VLink and similar).

Screenshots

Car Scanner3 screens
Grip OBD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Grip OBD at none against Car Scanner's 4. Car Scanner's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, 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. Grip OBD asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
Car Scanner versus Grip OBD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCar ScannerGrip OBD
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexandr SikorskiNEKTARIOS SIGALAS

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

Grip OBD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Car Scanner free?
Car Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Grip OBD free?
Grip OBD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Car Scanner or Grip OBD have ads?
Neither Car Scanner nor Grip OBD shows ads.

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