Comparison

OBDLink vs Locale

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
Currently charting
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

Locale

This AI-powered local discovery app helps you find nearby attractions like restaurants, events, and parks. It generates personalized itineraries based on your preferences and allows for group trip planning and coordination.

Highlights
  • AI-powered local discovery
  • Personalized itinerary generation
  • Event listings
  • Group trip planning
  • Offline itinerary sharing
  • Filter by category, vibe, and distance
Features
Read full description

Locale is your local guide, always in your pocket. Discover what's around you. Plan your perfect day. Go. Locale is the AI-powered local discovery app that helps you find the best restaurants, events, parks, and hidden gems near you - then turns them into a personalized itinerary in seconds. DISCOVER • Browse nearby restaurants, bars, coffee shops, parks, and entertainment • Filter by category, vibe, and distance • See real photos, hours, and reviews PLAN WITH AI • Generate a custom day itinerary based on your group size, budget, and vibe • AI adapts to families, couples, solo travelers, and friend groups • Download your itinerary as a PDF to share EVENTS • Find live music, sports, comedy, and local events near you • Powered by Ticketmaster & SeatGeek - always up to date GROUP TRIPS • Create a trip and invite friends • Suggest activities and vote as a group • Built-in group chat to coordinate UPGRADE TO LOCALE PRO • Search any city and find things to do • Unlimited AI itinerary generation • Create and manage group trips • $3.99/month or $44.99/year — 7-day free trial Terms of Use: https://planlocale.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://planlocale.com/privacy

Screenshots

OBDLink4 screens
Locale4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Locale at every 3 days against OBDLink's every 2 months. Locale also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). OBDLink's advantage is ratings volume (13K vs 2) and chart position (#186 vs unranked). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. OBDLink sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Locale sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Locale holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OBDLink has 13K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OBDLink ships an update every 2 months, Locale every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
OBDLink versus Locale: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOBDLinkLocale
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (13K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings13K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#186 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB10 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperOBD Solutions LLCLocale App LLC

Customer experience

OBDLink

All ratings12,975 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral2.4%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews243 reviews
Positive61.7%
Neutral12.8%
Negative25.5%

Locale

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Locale

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

OBDLink

One-time10
  • Ford 2016 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Toyota 2007 Enhanced$14.99
  • Toyota 2008 Enhanced$14.99
Show 7 more
  • Ford 2018 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2022 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2023 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2015 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Ford 2024 Enhanced$14.99
  • Ford 2017 Enhanced Diagnostics$14.99
  • Toyota 2011 Enhanced$14.99
2 purchases

Locale

Subscriptions2
  • Locale Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Locale Pro Annual7 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is OBDLink free?
OBDLink is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Locale free?
Locale is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, OBDLink or Locale?
Locale is rated higher. OBDLink averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Locale averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do OBDLink or Locale have ads?
Neither OBDLink nor Locale shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OBDLink or Locale?
OBDLink ships an update every 2 months, and Locale every 3 days. Most recently, OBDLink was updated on November 4, 2026 and Locale on October 31, 2026.

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