Carista OBD2 vs RaceChip+
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Carista OBD2
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.
- 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
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Carista lets you diagnose warning lights, read and reset fault codes, monitor live vehicle data, customize your car, and perform DIY service procedures - all from your phone. Save hours and thousands of dollars in unnecessary workshop visits, and take control of your car's maintenance, diagnostics, and personalization. Trusted by 3+ million users worldwide, Carista supports 30+ car brands, offers SFD & SFD2 compatibility, and brings 10+ years of leadership in the OBD2 industry. CUSTOMIZE YOUR CAR (PRO) Unlock hidden features and personalize how your car behaves. • Gauge needle sweep at startup • Start screen logo • Virtual instrument cluster themes • Daytime running lights • Coming-home and leaving-home lights • Throttle response behavior And many more ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS (PRO) Go beyond the Check Engine Light. Diagnose multiple electronic control modules, including ABS, airbag, SRS, Engine, Transmission, and manufacturer-specific systems. Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes before visiting a workshop. SEE YOUR CAR'S LIVE DATA (PRO) Monitor real-time vehicle parameters and see what's happening inside your car. Depending on your vehicle, live data can include: • Engine and turbo information • Launch control count • Mileage information • Airbag crash count • Service interval information • Engine RPM and other performance parameters With supported vehicles, Apple CarPlay lets you view basic OBD2 live data on your car's screen while driving. PERFORM DIY SERVICE PROCEDURES (PRO) Handle simple maintenance yourself and avoid workshop visits. Depending on your vehicle, Carista offers: • Electronic parking brake (EPB) service • Service due indicator reset • Tire pressure sensor (TPMS) registration • Diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration • Battery registration And other vehicle-specific service functions SUPPORTED CAR BRANDS Carista supports Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Cupra, Dacia, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Holden, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, MAN, Mazda, Mini, Nissan, Opel/Vauxhall, Pontiac, Renault, Saab, Scion, SEAT, Skoda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. Feature availability varies by vehicle, model year and hardware: https://carista.com/apps/supported-cars BASIC OBD2 FEATURES FOR MOST 2005/2008+ CARS (FREE) Compatible vehicles with an OBD port also get basic OBD2 diagnostics, live data, and emissions readiness tools. EASY TO USE: Locate the OBD2 port • Plug in the scanner • Turn on ignition • Open the app • Pair it with the scanner HARDWARE For the best experience, pair the app with the Carista EVO Scanner. Carista also works with selected compatible OBD2 scanners, including OBDLink CX, OBDLink MX Bluetooth, OBDLink LX, Kiwi3, and genuine Bluetooth ELM327 v1.4 scanners. The Carista OBD Scanner (white) is not compatible with Ford vehicles or SFD/SFD2-protected 2020+ Volkswagen Group vehicles. Check compatibility before purchasing a scanner. WHY CARISTA? • 3M+ users worldwide — Trusted by millions of drivers to understand, maintain, and personalize their cars. • 10+ years of automotive expertise — Over a decade of experience in vehicle diagnostics and customization. • Official Volkswagen Group partner — Trusted automotive technology with advanced capabilities for supported VW Group vehicles. • 300+ customizations — Hundreds of ways to personalize your car and unlock hidden features. • SFD & SFD2 support — Unlock supported SFD- and SFD2-protected features and customizations on compatible Volkswagen Group vehicles. • 30+ car brands supported — One app for a wide range of popular manufacturers. • One subscription. All Pro features. — Access every Pro feature for your vehicle without buying individual credits. • Regularly updated — New vehicles and features added frequently. Learn more: https://carista.com/ Supported vehicles: https://carista.com/apps/supported-cars Privacy Policy: https://carista.com/policies/privacy-policy
RaceChip+
Control chip tuning and throttle tuning for your car with this app. Fine-tune settings to match your car's specifics and driving style, with easy access to Eco, Sport, and Race modes. Experience enhanced performance with RaceChip tuning chips.
- Chip tuning control
- Throttle tuning control
- Customizable driving modes (Eco, Sport, Race)
- Real-time software updates
- Product support
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Control chip tuning and throttle tuning with one app and fine tune the respective settings to perfectly match your car's specifics and your personal driving style. Map these settings to three easy to the access driving modes Eco, Sport and Race. Download the free RaceChip app now and experience your car on a whole new level with our RaceChip tuning chips RS, GTS or GTS Black and throttle tuning RaceChip XLR. RaceChip products are available for numerous cars in our online shop (see www.racechip.com). The RaceChip app not only allows for a new driving experience but also sets the standard in product support. Updates for your car's tuning configuration and the tuning chip's software will be available instantaneously through the app. Get your RaceChip now and experience real power. RaceChip - Performance tuning made in Germany
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Carista OBD2 at 4.6 against RaceChip+'s 3.1. Carista OBD2 also leads on ratings volume (4.2K vs 81) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). RaceChip+'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement 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. Carista OBD2 sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. RaceChip+ asks for nothing beyond the download.
Carista OBD2 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Carista OBD2 has 4.2K ratings behind it against 81, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 34% of Carista OBD2's written reviews are positive against 38% of RaceChip+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Carista OBD2 ships an update every 3 weeks, RaceChip+ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Carista OBD2 | RaceChip+ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (4.2K ratings) — better | 3.1 (81 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 34.2% of reviews | 38.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4.2K — better | 81 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #161 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 142 MB | 100 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Prizmos | RaceChip |
Customer experience
Carista OBD2
RaceChip+
Bugs and requests
Carista OBD2
Reported bugs
5 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
RaceChip+
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Carista OBD2
- Basic$19.991 Month
- Pro$19.991 Month
- 1 month Pro4 variants$19.991 Month
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- 3 month Pro2 variants$29.993 Months
- Pro5 variants$59.991 Year
- One-Time Diagnostic & Reset$9.99
RaceChip+
No in-app purchases









