# MATCO TOOLS vs Carista OBD2

The clearest difference is rating: Carista OBD2 at 4.6 against MATCO TOOLS's 2.3. Carista OBD2 also leads on review sentiment (34% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). MATCO TOOLS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Carista OBD2 sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. MATCO TOOLS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Carista OBD2 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Carista OBD2 has 4.2K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of MATCO TOOLS's written reviews are positive against 34% of Carista OBD2's.

MATCO TOOLS ships an update every 6 months, Carista OBD2 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MATCO TOOLS | Carista OBD2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matco-tools-smartear1/id949048686/reviews) | **[4.6 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carista-obd2/id954363569/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **4.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **34.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#185** |
| Size | 10 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [JS Products, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/673417159) | [Prizmos](https://appshunter.io/developer/954363568) |

## What reviewers say

### MATCO TOOLS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matco-tools-smartear1/id949048686)

This utility app transforms your smartphone into a sound and vibration detection tool. It assists technicians in identifying issues in vehicles and machinery by pinpointing rattles, squeaks, and grinding sounds. Requires additional hardware to function.

**Highlights:** Sound and vibration detection, Locates defective or worn parts, Analog and digital display options, Adjustable sound level settings, User information guide included, Background sound off-setting

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Carista OBD2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carista-obd2/id954363569)

**Currently charting:** #185 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

This app acts as a DIY car mechanic, allowing you to customize features, diagnose warning lights, monitor live data, and perform maintenance. Save time and money by handling common car tasks yourself.

**Highlights:** Customize car behavior and unlock hidden features, Diagnose and reset dashboard warning lights, Monitor real-time vehicle parameters, Perform simple DIY car maintenance procedures, Access advanced electronic diagnostics

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic | $19.99 | per month |
| Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| 1 month Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| 3 month Pro | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro | $59.99 | per year |
| One-Time Diagnostic & Reset | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Customization options
- 🚀 Efficient diagnostics
- 💡 Helpful for maintenance
- 👍 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Requires account login
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 🐛 Unreliable functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Subscription issues and billing problems
- Incompatibility with certain OBD2 adapters
- Customization features not working as expected
- Inaccurate fault code detection

**Requested features**

- Support for more vehicle makes and models
- Offline diagnostics and customization
- Ability to save customization settings
- More detailed error code information
- Improved user interface and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MATCO TOOLS free?

MATCO TOOLS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Carista OBD2 free?

Carista OBD2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MATCO TOOLS or Carista OBD2?

Carista OBD2 is rated higher. MATCO TOOLS averages 2.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Carista OBD2 averages 4.6 from 4.2K ratings.

### Do MATCO TOOLS or Carista OBD2 have ads?

Carista OBD2 shows ads; MATCO TOOLS does not.

### Which is updated more often, MATCO TOOLS or Carista OBD2?

MATCO TOOLS ships an update every 6 months, and Carista OBD2 every 3 weeks. Most recently, MATCO TOOLS was updated on October 24, 2026 and Carista OBD2 on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*