OBDLink vs ALPHA OBD2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
ALPHA OBD2
Gain deeper insight into your vehicle's performance and maintenance needs. This tool connects to your car via an OBD2 adapter to scan diagnostic codes, monitor real-time data, and manage service tasks. Keep your car running smoothly with organized reminders and a clear overview of its health.
- OBD2 adapter connection
- Scan and view diagnostic codes
- Monitor real-time performance data
- Clear stored diagnostic codes
- Create and manage repair tasks
- Schedule maintenance reminders
- Local data storage
Read full descriptionHide full description
Take control of your vehicle with a clear and reliable tool designed for drivers who want more insight and better planning. – Connect seamlessly with your car using a compatible OBD2 adapter – Scan and view diagnostic codes with professional-level detail – Monitor real-time performance data like speed, RPM, temperature, and more – Clear stored codes to reset warnings after maintenance – Create and manage personal tasks for repairs, check-ups, and service routines – Schedule reminders to keep your car maintenance on track – Stay organized with an easy-to-use task list stored securely on your device Everything runs locally, with smooth performance and a clean design — giving you both smart diagnostics and simple car management in one place. – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. The cost depends on the selected plan. – Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Privacy: https://sites.google.com/view/ntn-contactpage/privacy Term: https://sites.google.com/view/ntn-contactpage/term
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: OBDLink at 62% against ALPHA OBD2's 0%. OBDLink also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.9) and ratings volume (13K vs 8). ALPHA OBD2's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. OBDLink sells 73 one-off in-app purchases and ALPHA OBD2 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
OBDLink holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OBDLink has 13K ratings behind it against 8, 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 0% of ALPHA OBD2's.
OBDLink ships an update every 2 months, ALPHA OBD2 every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OBDLink | ALPHA OBD2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (13K ratings) — better | 2.9 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13K — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 65 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | OBD Solutions LLC | Thanh Nhan Nguyen |
Customer experience
OBDLink
ALPHA OBD2
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
ALPHA OBD2
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
OBDLink
- Ford 1999 Enhanced Diagnostic$14.99
- Ford 2005 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
- Ford 2006 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
Show 70 moreShow fewer
- 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
ALPHA OBD2
- OBD2 Premium Monthly3 Days trial$6.991 Month
- OBD2 Premium Lifetime$49.99
Questions
Is OBDLink free?
Is ALPHA OBD2 free?
Which has better reviews, OBDLink or ALPHA OBD2?
Do OBDLink or ALPHA OBD2 have ads?
Which is updated more often, OBDLink or ALPHA OBD2?
Other comparisons















