Comparison

OBD Compass vs OBD Vault

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

Head to head
About

OBD Compass

Features
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The Bluetooth OBDII scan tool is loaded with essential features such as full OBDII functionality. Key Features: 1. Vehicle health check, read vehicle faults. 2. Various visual data such as numerical values, waveforms, and dials. 3. n-depth analysis of fault codes, including causes of generation, potential impacts of fault codes on vehicles, maintenance suggestions, and estimated costs, etc. 4. Maintenance records and reminders. 5. Community and Knowledge Base.

About

OBD Vault

Features
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OBD Vault reads vehicle data through a compatible ELM327 Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Wi-Fi/TCP OBD-II adapter. An adapter and a vehicle are required for live readings and new scans. Bluetooth Classic adapters are not supported on iPhone. Available readings depend on your vehicle, ECU and adapter. Wi-Fi recording requires OBD Vault to remain open with the screen on; it pauses when you leave the app or lock the screen. You can keep the Live Data screen open while recording. SCAN AND UNDERSTAND Read confirmed, pending and permanent diagnostic trouble codes, supported sensor readings and emissions readiness information. Review stored freeze-frame data when the ECU provides it. Code explanations and suggested checks are guidance; they do not identify a confirmed root cause or certify that a vehicle is safe to drive. LIVE DATA AND TRIPS View supported live readings such as engine RPM, speed and coolant temperature. Record trips, review distance and sensor history, and keep diagnostic scans separate from trip records. View ECU-reported fuel flow when supported, or an estimate when the required readings and fuel profile are available. Recalculate estimated fuel use for saved trips when the necessary sensor history was recorded. VEHICLE PROFILE When VIN is unavailable, optionally select your make, model and engine before your first scan. Search an offline catalog of 433 makes and 10,871 models. Engine choices are tied to the selected model and show capacity, fuel and available power. Manual entry remains available for missing variants. YOUR HISTORY, OFFLINE Save scans and trips on your phone without an account. Review saved history locally. File export requires active paid access. Clearing fault codes is a separate manual action that requires confirmation and shows the ECU response. VEHICLE PLANS, CLOUD AND YOUR OWN AI Local scanning, live data and history for one vehicle are free. Paid plans cover a total of 1, 3 or 10 vehicles and include cloud synchronization, access from your own AI assistant through Model Context Protocol (MCP), and file exports. Choose monthly, annual or lifetime access. Monthly and annual subscriptions renew automatically until canceled in your store account. Lifetime is a one-time purchase. Current prices and purchase terms are shown in the app. Sign in to synchronize saved records across devices. Your external assistant and account must support adding an MCP connector; set up that connection separately in your assistant. The app shows setup guidance after your first successful scan. OBD Vault does not run an AI model, and its connector cannot send commands to your vehicle. OBD Vault supports standard OBD-II diagnostics and selected manufacturer-specific control units and readings where a supported reference is available. Coverage depends on your vehicle, ECU and adapter. It does not provide comprehensive manufacturer coverage, ECU coding or active tests. It is not a replacement for inspection or advice from a qualified technician. Vehicle data by VehiclesDB (vehiclesdb.com). Additional source data: FuelEconomy.gov (DOE/EPA) and European Environment Agency. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

OBD Compass3 screens
OBD Vault4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OBD Compass at none against OBD Vault's 9. OBD Compass also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). OBD Vault's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). 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. OBD Vault sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. OBD Compass asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OBD Compass ships an update monthly, OBD Vault weekly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
OBD Compass versus OBD Vault: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOBD CompassOBD Vault
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHK TOPDON TECHNOLOGY Co., LIMITEDBahdan Hal

In-app purchases

None

OBD Compass

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

OBD Vault

Subscriptions6
  • 1 vehicle · Per month$2.991 Month
  • 3 vehicles · Per month$5.991 Month
  • 10 vehicles · Per month$14.951 Month
Show 3 more
  • 1 vehicle · Per year$17.991 Year
  • 3 vehicles · Per year$35.991 Year
  • 10 vehicles · Per year$89.991 Year
One-time3
  • 1 vehicle · Lifetime$34.99
  • 3 vehicles · Lifetime$69.99
  • 10 vehicles · Lifetime$174.99

Questions

Is OBD Compass free?
OBD Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OBD Vault free?
OBD Vault is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OBD Compass or OBD Vault have ads?
Neither OBD Compass nor OBD Vault shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OBD Compass or OBD Vault?
OBD Compass ships an update monthly, and OBD Vault weekly. Most recently, OBD Compass was updated on October 31, 2026 and OBD Vault on October 31, 2026.

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