Comparison

Cortex OBD2 vs OBD2+

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

Head to head
About

Cortex OBD2

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Turn your iPhone into an advanced automotive scanner and professional diagnostic powerhouse with Cortex OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner. Designed for car enthusiasts, daily drivers, and workshop technicians, Cortex connects wirelessly via Bluetooth to your vehicle ECU to deliver instant insights, eliminate mystery dashboard warning lights, and unlock hidden vehicle features. WHY CORTEX OBD2? PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes from Engine, Transmission, ABS, Airbag, and Body Control modules. Get AI-powered Fault Doctor analysis with root cause explanations, confidence percentages, and step-by-step repair guidance — not just raw hex codes. LIVE TELEMETRY DASHBOARD Stream real-time sensor data with customizable analog and digital gauges. Monitor RPM, vehicle speed, coolant temperature, turbo boost pressure, fuel trims, mass air flow, battery voltage, and 35+ additional parameters. Choose from preset layouts or build your own dashboard. FORENSIC ODOMETER VERIFICATION Cross-check mileage data across multiple ECU modules — Engine, Instrument Cluster, Transmission, ABS, and Body Control Module. Detect odometer tampering and mileage rollbacks that basic scanners completely miss. Essential for used car buyers. ECU CODING AND ADAPTATIONS Unlock hidden vehicle features with manufacturer-level coding. Needle sweep activation, daytime running light styles, mirror fold on lock, comfort turn signals, and dozens of brand-specific customizations for European and Asian vehicles. DPF REGENERATION AND DIESEL SERVICE Full UDS-based stationary diesel particulate filter regeneration with live exhaust gas temperature monitoring and safety interlocks. Clear soot buildup warnings and restore DPF efficiency without visiting a dealer. FIAT / STELLANTIS PROXI ALIGNMENT Advanced CAN network Proxi alignment for Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen, and Opel vehicles. Fix flashing odometer issues after component replacement and perform factory-level module configuration. CAMERA VIN SCANNER Point your camera at any VIN barcode, chassis plate, or registration document to instantly decode vehicle specifications. Works completely offline with no data transmitted. DUAL STANDARD UNIT SYSTEM Automatic region-based unit selection: International metric for EU/Asia or US/UK imperial. Switch anytime with a single tap on the telemetry dashboard. 26 LANGUAGES SUPPORTED English, Turkish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Hungarian, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Greek, Arabic, Hindi, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Indonesian. HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY Works with any standard ELM327 Bluetooth or Wi-Fi OBD2 adapter. Optimized for OBDLink, vLinker, Veepeak, Vgate, and Carista adapters. Compatible with all OBD2 compliant vehicles sold worldwide. PRIVACY FIRST 100% ad-free. No tracking. No data collection. Your vehicle data stays on your device. Requires a compatible OBD2 Bluetooth or Wi-Fi adapter, sold separately.

About

OBD2+

Features
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OBD2 Plus is a vehicle diagnostic app for iPhone that connects to a compatible Wi-Fi OBD2 / ELM327 adapter. IMPORTANT: A compatible Wi-Fi OBD2 adapter is required to obtain vehicle data. The adapter is not included with the app and must be purchased separately. Connect the OBD2 adapter to your vehicle's OBD2 port, then connect your iPhone to the adapter's Wi-Fi network. Main Features • Real-time vehicle speed • Engine RPM • Coolant temperature • Engine load • Intake air temperature • Intake manifold pressure • MAF air flow • Throttle position • Fuel level • Vehicle voltage • Hybrid-related data on supported vehicles • VIN reading • Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) reading • DTC clearing • Real-time CAN communication monitoring • CAN ID filtering • RAW CAN data and bit-level display • Manual OBD2 command transmission • Advanced CAN frame transmission • Communication log saving and sharing • Driving location display using iPhone location services Compatible Hardware OBD2 Plus is designed for Wi-Fi-enabled OBD2 adapters, including compatible ELM327-based devices. Requirements: • iPhone • Wi-Fi-enabled OBD2 / ELM327-compatible adapter • Vehicle equipped with a compatible OBD2 port Bluetooth-only OBD2 adapters are not supported. Compatibility and available data may vary depending on the vehicle model, model year, ECU, vehicle specifications, and OBD2 adapter. Location Services If location access is permitted, OBD2 Plus can use the iPhone's location information to display the current or recorded driving position on a map. Location access is optional. OBD2 diagnostic features that do not require location information can still be used without location permission. Privacy Vehicle data, VIN, DTCs, CAN data, OBD2 communication data, and location information are generally processed locally on the user's iPhone. OBD2 Plus does not transmit this vehicle information or location information to external servers managed by the developer. The app does not require user registration or login. Safety Use OBD2 Plus only when the vehicle is safely stopped. Do not operate the app or your iPhone while driving. Clearing DTCs does not repair the underlying cause of a vehicle fault. If the cause remains unresolved, the diagnostic trouble code or warning light may return. CAN transmission features are intended for users who understand vehicle communication. Sending incorrect CAN frames may cause unexpected vehicle ECU behavior. After use, disconnect the OBD2 adapter from the vehicle if appropriate to avoid unnecessary auxiliary battery drain.

Screenshots

Cortex OBD24 screens
OBD2+2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OBD2+ at none against Cortex OBD2's 3. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Cortex OBD2 sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. OBD2+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
Cortex OBD2 versus OBD2+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCortex OBD2OBD2+
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 8 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIsmail ImamogluHirofumi Matsuyama

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Cortex OBD2

Subscriptions3
  • MotoCortex PRO Weekly$3.997 Days
  • MotoCortex PRO - Monthly$8.991 Month
  • MotoCortex PRO - Annual$39.991 Year
None

OBD2+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cortex OBD2 free?
Cortex OBD2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OBD2+ free?
OBD2+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Cortex OBD2 or OBD2+ have ads?
Neither Cortex OBD2 nor OBD2+ shows ads.

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