OBD2 Gauges vs OBD2 Logger
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OBD2 Gauges
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OBD2 Gauges connects to your vehicle's OBD2 port via Bluetooth and displays real-time engine data as beautiful, customizable gauges. Features: - AI Vehicle Health: explanations of telemetry and trouble codes, recommended checks, and watch points - Saved health reports you can revisit offline - AI Lite: on-device analysis on compatible devices; AI Pro: on-device plus cloud analysis with explicit consent - Realistic gauge materials, four additional bezel finishes, and ten bezel shapes - Real-time speed, RPM, boost/vacuum, oil temperature, water temperature, intake air temperature, and fuel level gauges - Multiple gauge themes inspired by iconic vehicles: Supra Stock, Supra TRD, Nismo, Audi RS, G35 Rev-Up, and more - 100+ OBD2 parameters supported - Clean, modern interface with dark and light modes - Works with any ELM327-compatible Bluetooth OBD2 adapter - Customizable gauge layouts — single, dual, quad, or full dashboard views - On-device AI keeps analysis on your device. Optional cloud AI sends a telemetry summary to Google only after your consent. Connect your OBD2 Bluetooth adapter, pair it with your device, and launch OBD2 Gauges to see your engine data come alive. Requires an ELM327-compatible Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) OBD2 adapter and a vehicle with an OBD2 port (1996+ model year). Optional Subscription - Remove Ads (Monthly): auto-renewing subscription that removes all ads while active. Cancel anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. - Remove Ads (Lifetime): one-time purchase that removes all ads permanently. - AI Lite: monthly or lifetime access to ad-free, on-device AI Health on compatible devices. - AI Pro: monthly or lifetime access to ad-free AI Health with cloud analysis when on-device AI is unavailable. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Terms of Use: https://www.lightcycleconsulting.com/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://www.lightcycleconsulting.com/privacy-policy AI Health requires an AI Lite or AI Pro purchase. On-device AI depends on device and model availability. Cloud AI requires internet access, consent, and AI Pro, with up to 10 cloud analyses per 24-hour window. AI guidance is informational and does not replace a qualified mechanic.
OBD2 Logger
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OBD2 Logger turns your iPhone into a precision data logger for any modern car. Plug a Bluetooth ELM327 adapter into your vehicle's OBD2 port, pair it once, and stream live engine, hybrid, battery, and emissions data straight into per-session CSV files on your phone. No accounts. No cloud. No analytics. Your driving data never leaves your device. LIVE READOUT • 40+ standard SAE J1979 PIDs, automatically discovered from your car: RPM, vehicle speed, coolant temp, throttle, MAF, intake MAP, fuel trims, catalyst temperatures, and more. • Manufacturer-specific Mode 21 PIDs on profiled vehicles — including HV pack voltage, MG1/MG2 motor torque, and battery cell-block temperatures on Toyota/Lexus hybrids. • Values grouped by category (Engine, Hybrid, Battery, Emissions, Diagnostics) and updated every second. • One CSV per logging session, written into the app's Files container — open it in Numbers, Excel, pandas, DuckDB, or any other tool with no preprocessing. • Wide-table format: ISO-8601 timestamps, one column per active PID, blank cells where the ECU returned no data (no spurious forward-fill). • Smart-stop after extended idle so you don't end up with a tail of empty rows when you forget to tap Stop. WORKS IN THE BACKGROUND • Keeps logging while you drive with Maps in the foreground or the screen off, using Apple's standard background location mode for trip-tracking apps. The system location indicator is shown the entire time. We don't store your location. VEHICLE PROFILES • Ships with three profiles: a generic Mode-01 fallback, a Toyota hybrid family profile, and a 2020 Lexus RX 450h/450hL profile validated against a real vehicle. • VIN auto-read on connect; year, make, model, and trim pre-filled from NHTSA's free public vPIC API. • Import any third-party profile JSON to add coverage for your car. The format is documented and human-readable. DON'T HAVE AN ADAPTER YET? • Tap "Try demo mode" on the second onboarding step to explore the app end-to-end with synthetic data — no hardware required. WHAT YOU NEED • Any Bluetooth Low Energy ELM327 adapter (Veepeak OBDCheck BLE+, vLinker MC+, OBDLink, etc. — most BLE clones work). USB-only and Wi-Fi-only adapters are NOT supported. • A car with an OBD2 port (1996+ in the US, 2001+ in the EU). PRIVACY • Nothing is collected, transmitted, or stored on our servers — we don't have servers. The only outbound call the app ever makes is one VIN decode per vehicle to NHTSA's vPIC API. • Your CSVs and vehicle records live in the app's Files container, accessible to you in the iOS Files app under On My iPhone → OBD2 Logger. • Open source: github.com/NathanNam/obd2-logger
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OBD2 Logger at none against OBD2 Gauges's 2. OBD2 Gauges's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. OBD2 Gauges sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. OBD2 Logger asks for nothing beyond the download.
OBD2 Gauges ships an update every 3 days, OBD2 Logger every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OBD2 Gauges | OBD2 Logger |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Edward Williams | Daehyun Nam |
In-app purchases
OBD2 Gauges
- Remove Ads (Monthly)$3.991 Month
- Remove Ads (Lifetime)$24.99
OBD2 Logger
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is OBD2 Gauges free?
Is OBD2 Logger free?
Do OBD2 Gauges or OBD2 Logger have ads?
Which is updated more often, OBD2 Gauges or OBD2 Logger?
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