Comparison

OBDLink vs OBDBoost

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

Head to head
About

OBDLink

Transform your phone into a powerful car diagnostic tool. Read and clear trouble codes, monitor real-time engine data, and track fuel economy. Generate detailed reports for easy sharing and analysis.

Highlights
  • Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes
  • Display real-time vehicle data
  • Customizable dashboards
  • Estimate fuel economy
  • Log data to CSV
  • GPS tracking of vehicle parameters
  • Full diagnostic reports
Features
Read full description

***The OBDLink app exclusively works with OBDLink MX+, OBDLink CX, and OBDLink MX WiFi OBD adapters*** ***The app will NOT function with any other brand of OBD adapter.*** ***MX+ provides Unlimited Free OEM Add-ons, No in-app fees*** Convert your phone or tablet into a full-fledged diagnostic scan tool: read diagnostic trouble codes, clear the "Check Engine" light, check emissions readiness, estimate fuel economy and much more! Key features: - Check and clear diagnostic trouble codes - Read freeze frame data - Display real-time data (over 90 parameters!) - Customizable dashboards - Emissions readiness for each US state - Fuel economy MPG, l/100km or km/l calculation - Multiple trip meters - Log data to CSV format (compatible with Excel) - Retrieve vehicle information including VIN number and calibration ID - Oxygen Sensor Results (Mode $05) - On-board Monitoring Tests (Mode $06) - In-performance Tracking Counters (Mode $09) - GPS tracking - plot vehicle parameters on a map in real-time - Full diagnostic report that can be e-mailed or uploaded to Dropbox - English and Metric units - Support for English, Spanish, French, Greek, Italian, and Czech languages - Free unlimited updates - Ad-free * Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

OBDBoost

This app displays real-time car boost and vacuum pressure on your iOS device using data from your car's ECU. It offers a realistic, high-FPS gauge with adjustable settings and connects automatically via a compatible Bluetooth OBD-II adapter.

Highlights
  • Real-time data display
  • 60 FPS needle animation
  • Adjustable response speed
  • Digital pressure readout
  • Automatic connection
  • Brightness override
Features
Read full description

OBD Boost uses real-time data from your car's ECU to render a realistic boost gauge wirelessly on your iOS device. You'll be surprised at how responsive this gauge is—it can be much more realistic then some OEM digital gauges! OBD Boost connects to your car via a compatible OBD-II adaptor. OBD-II adaptors are sold separately—OBDBoost is designed to work with Bluetooth adaptors that use the ELM327 chip. OBD Boost features: - Real-time data display - Smooth, 60 FPS needle animation - Two scales available: --- 30 inHg (vac) to 30 psig (boost) --- 25 inHg (vac) to 10 psig (boost) - Digital pressure readout - Adjustable response speed / smoothing - Brightness override option (for day driving) - Automatically connects when you open the app Most ELM327 Bluetooth OBD-II (OBD2) adaptors should work with this app, but I have not been able to confirm compatibility with all adaptors on the market. Please contact me if you can confirm a particular adaptor works or does not work with OBD Boost, so that I can add it to a list of compatible or incompatible models, and work to support more models in the future. *Requires compatible bluetooth OBD-II adaptor (ELM327-based) and compatible 1996 or newer vehicle. This app reads the MAP (Manifold Air Pressure) value from OBD-II to determine you current level of boost or vacuum. This gauge is not intended to give professionally-accurate readings; it is designed primarily for entertainment purposes.

Screenshots

OBDLink4 screens
OBDBoost4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OBDBoost at none against OBDLink's 75. OBDBoost also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). OBDLink's advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 29) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). 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. OBDLink sells 73 one-off in-app purchases. OBDBoost asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OBDLink holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OBDLink has 12K ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of OBDLink's written reviews are positive against 50% of OBDBoost's.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
OBDLink versus OBDBoost: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOBDLinkOBDBoost
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings) — better4.6 (29 ratings)
Positive reviews61.7% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12K — better29
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB15 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperOBD Solutions LLCZack Fletcher

Customer experience

OBDLink

All ratings12,280 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral2.4%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews235 reviews
Positive61.7%
Neutral13.6%
Negative24.7%

OBDBoost

All ratings29 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral6.9%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

OBDLink

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App freezes or disconnects randomly
  • Trouble clearing error codes
  • Inconsistent data readings
  • Issues with firmware updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add CarPlay/Android Auto support
  • Improve Bluetooth/WiFi stability
  • Expand vehicle brand coverage
  • Enhance user interface and customization
  • Provide more detailed diagnostic information

OBDBoost

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

73 purchases

OBDLink

One-time73
  • Ford 1999 Enhanced Diagnostic$14.99
  • Ford 2005 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2006 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
Show 70 more
  • Ford 2007 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2010 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2011 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2012 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2013 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2014 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2016 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Toyota 1999 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2007 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2008 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2014 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2016 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2018 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2020 Enhanced$14.99
  • FCA 2011$14.99
  • FCA 2014$14.99
  • FCA 2015$14.99
  • FCA 2017$14.99
  • FCA 2018$14.99
  • FCA 2019$14.99
  • FCA 2020$14.99
  • FCA 2021$14.99
  • Ford 2021 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2022 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2023 Enhanced$14.99
  • Mazda 2012 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2015 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2021 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2020 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2025 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2015 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2024 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2017 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2019 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Nissan 2009 Enhanced$14.99
  • Mazda 2020 Enhanced$14.99
  • Nissan 2016 Enhanced$14.99
  • Nissan 2018 Enhanced$14.99
  • Mazda 2015 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2005 Enhanced$14.99
  • FCA 2022$14.99
  • Toyota 2001 Enhanced$14.99
  • Mazda 2016 Enhanced$14.99
  • Nissan 2017 Enhanced$14.99
  • FCA 2006$14.99
  • Nissan 2015 Enhanced$14.99
  • Nissan 2011 Enhanced$14.99
  • Nissan 2007 Enhanced$14.99
  • Mazda 2004 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2003 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Toyota 2002 Enhanced$14.99
  • FCA 2024$14.99
  • Ford 2008 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Toyota 2018 Enhanced$14.99
  • Mazda 2013 Enhanced$14.99
  • FCA 2007$14.99
  • Nissan 2013 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2004 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • FCA 2023$14.99
  • FCA 2016$14.99
  • Toyota 2010 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2019 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2011 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2017 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2003 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2012 Enhanced$14.99
  • FCA 2009$14.99
  • Toyota 2006 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2013 Enhanced$14.99
  • FCA 2012$14.99
None

OBDBoost

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OBDLink free?
OBDLink is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OBDBoost free?
OBDBoost is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, OBDLink or OBDBoost?
OBDLink is rated higher. OBDLink averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while OBDBoost averages 4.6 from 29 ratings.
Do OBDLink or OBDBoost have ads?
Neither OBDLink nor OBDBoost shows ads.

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