OBD Scan Pro vs CANviewer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OBD Scan Pro
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OBD Scan Pro — Professional Vehicle Diagnostics on Your iPhone Turn any ELM327 OBD-II adapter into a workshop-grade diagnostic tool. OBD Scan Pro reads real-time data from your vehicle's ECU, analyzes fault codes with AI, and produces professional PDF reports — all in English or Arabic with full RTL support. Whether you're a vehicle owner who wants to understand what the Check Engine Light means, or a mechanic who needs polished reports for customers, OBD Scan Pro gives you the insights big-name scan tools provide at a fraction of the cost. DIAGNOSTICS • Read stored, pending, and permanent DTCs from all ECU modules (PCM, TCM, ABS, BCM, SRS, HVAC) • AI-powered explanations: cause, symptoms, fix, and severity for every code • Reset Check Engine Light (Mode 04) with pre-scan and post-clear verification • Mode 06 on-board test results • Freeze frame capture — see exactly what your engine was doing when the fault triggered • Emissions readiness monitors (Catalyst, EVAP, O2, EGR, and more) LIVE DATA • 60+ live PIDs streamed from your ECU • Real-time gauges for RPM, speed, coolant, throttle, load, intake temp, MAF, fuel trim • Trend graphs over 30 second to 5 minute windows • Adaptive polling that prioritizes fast-changing sensors PROFESSIONAL REPORTS • Three scan types: Static (engine off), Live Data (5 minutes driving), or Full • Workshop-branded PDF reports with logo, technician name, and customer details • AI-generated summary, health score (A to F grade), and prioritized recommendations • GPS location tagging • Share via WhatsApp or any iOS share sheet • Full report history with iCloud sync PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMY • 0-100 km/h timer with launch detection • Quarter-mile time and trap speed • Horsepower and torque estimation from RPM and load • Live fuel economy (km/L) with eco score, CO2 estimate, and fuel cost in your local currency • Trip history with side-by-side comparisons SMART ALERTS AND MAINTENANCE • Configurable alerts for high coolant temp, low voltage, over-RPM, over-speed, oil temp, and boost pressure • Push notifications with trend tracking • AI-generated maintenance schedule personalized to your vehicle (oil, brakes, filters, tires, fluids) • Service reminders, completion tracking, and a maintenance health ring ADVANCED FEATURES • Vehicle Control: send ECU commands (fan, locks, lights) with safety interlocks • Headlamp Diagnostic: focused BCM scan with AI root-cause analysis • AI Mechanic: chat with an expert that knows your specific vehicle • AI command discovery: find manufacturer-specific OBD commands • VIN decoder for 40+ brands MULTI-VEHICLE AND CLOUD • Manage unlimited vehicles with custom profiles, colors, and odometer tracking • Multiple workshop and company profiles for branded reports • iCloud sync for reports, profiles, and history across devices • Multi-currency support for fuel prices and service costs APPLE INTEGRATIONS • Apple CarPlay support — view live data while driving • Sign in with Apple • Native dark mode • Full Arabic localization with proper RTL layout HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY Works with any ELM327 v1.5 or later OBD-II adapter: • Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) • WiFi (TCP socket) • Auto-detects all OBD-II protocols: ISO 9141-2, ISO 14230 KWP, SAE J1850 PWM/VPW, ISO 15765 CAN Compatible with all OBD-II vehicles (1996+ in the US, 2001+ in the EU, varies by region). Premium features include unlimited PDF reports, performance testing, fuel economy, driving alerts, AI maintenance, headlamp diagnostics, and vehicle control. Free tier covers core diagnostics and live data.
CANviewer
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CANviewer is a CAN log viewing tool designed for automotive electronics, ECU debugging, and field analysis. You can import ASC and BLF CAN logs on iPhone, quickly view message time, CAN ID, direction, channel, DLC, and data bytes, and filter the messages you need by CAN ID, Rx/Tx, and channel. After importing a DBC file, CANviewer can decode raw CAN data based on the signal definitions in the DBC file, convert hexadecimal data into physical values, and plot signal trends over time. Key features: - Import and view ASC / BLF CAN logs - Filter messages by CAN ID, Rx/Tx, and channel - Import DBC files and parse messages and signals - Decode CAN data into physical signal values - Compare multiple signal curves - View curves in combined or separate charts - Display X/Y axes, units, and data ranges - Tap a curve to inspect the exact time and value - Works offline; imported files are not uploaded Use cases: - Quickly inspect CAN logs in the field - Analyze ECU signal trends - Validate DBC signal definitions - Support vehicle debugging and troubleshooting - Assist engineers during road tests, business trips, and service work CANviewer is not intended to replace complex desktop tools. It is a lightweight and direct mobile tool for CAN log viewing and signal analysis.
Screenshots
Verdict
OBD Scan Pro and CANviewer are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. OBD Scan Pro sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and CANviewer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
OBD Scan Pro ships an update every 2 weeks, CANviewer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OBD Scan Pro | CANviewer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tariq Al-aqrabawi | 洋 刘 |
In-app purchases
OBD Scan Pro
- OBD Scan Pro Premium$2.991 Month
CANviewer
- CAN Log Viewer Pro$3.99
Questions
Is OBD Scan Pro free?
Is CANviewer free?
Do OBD Scan Pro or CANviewer have ads?
Which is updated more often, OBD Scan Pro or CANviewer?
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