# Carista OBD2 vs ANCEL

The clearest difference is rating: Carista OBD2 at 4.6 against ANCEL's 2.7. Carista OBD2 also leads on ratings volume (4.3K vs 46) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). ANCEL's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Carista OBD2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. ANCEL asks for nothing beyond the download.

Carista OBD2 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Carista OBD2 has 4.3K ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Carista OBD2's written reviews are positive against 28% of ANCEL's.

Carista OBD2 ships an update every 3 weeks, ANCEL every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Carista OBD2 | ANCEL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/carista-obd2/id954363569/reviews)** | [2.7 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ancel/id1434956145/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 46 |
| Positive reviews | **34.1% of reviews** | 27.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#133** | — |
| Size | 141 MB | 405 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Prizmos](https://appshunter.io/developer/954363568) | [OBDSPACE TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434956144) |

## What reviewers say

### Carista OBD2

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

**Currently charting:** #133 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

Diagnose warning lights, reset fault codes, and monitor live vehicle data. Customize car features and perform DIY service procedures. Supports over 30 car brands and millions of users worldwide.

**Highlights:** Diagnose and reset fault codes, Monitor live vehicle data, Customize hidden car features, Perform DIY service procedures, Supports 30+ car brands, SFD & SFD2 compatibility

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Car – Monthly | $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 |

**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


### ANCEL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ancel/id1434956145)

This app connects to your car via an OBD2 Bluetooth scanner to diagnose faults, read data like fault codes and sensor readings, and clear error lights. It also offers battery health checks, a customizable dashboard, and driving assistance features. Some models support special functions like maintenance resets.

**Highlights:** OBD2 Bluetooth scanner connectivity, Fault code reading and clearing, Frozen frame and sensor data display, Battery health and voltage detection, Customizable dashboard, Driving assistance functions, Special functions (maintenance reset, etc.)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Carista OBD2 free?

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

### Is ANCEL free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Carista OBD2 or ANCEL?

Carista OBD2 is rated higher. Carista OBD2 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while ANCEL averages 2.7 from 46 ratings.

### Do Carista OBD2 or ANCEL have ads?

Carista OBD2 shows ads; ANCEL does not.

### Which is updated more often, Carista OBD2 or ANCEL?

Carista OBD2 ships an update every 3 weeks, and ANCEL every 2 months. Most recently, Carista OBD2 was updated on November 9, 2026 and ANCEL on November 2, 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.*