Comparison

Carista OBD2 vs VMG Workshop Mobile

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Carista OBD2

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
Read full description

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

About

VMG Workshop Mobile

Features
Read full description

The VMG Workshop Mobile app enables your team to open and edit Clients, Vehicles, Bookings and Job Cards. It also enables your workshop team to add photos of Vehicles to Job Cards. These date and time stamped images can then be sent with Job Card data to your customers via email. Taking photos of Vehicles as they arrive protects you and your customers from misidentifying damage to Vehicles that you or your customers may feel was caused by members of your workshop team. Upload as many images as you desire. This is necessary application if you are a VMG Workshop Management Software Customer.

Screenshots

Carista OBD24 screens
VMG Workshop Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VMG Workshop Mobile at none against Carista OBD2's 10. VMG Workshop Mobile also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). Carista OBD2's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and chart position (#168 vs unranked). On price and device support 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. Carista OBD2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. VMG Workshop Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Carista OBD2 ships an update every 3 weeks, VMG Workshop Mobile every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Carista OBD2 versus VMG Workshop Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCarista OBD2VMG Workshop Mobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (4.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews34.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.3K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#168 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.413.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size141 MB25 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperPrizmosVMG Software CC

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

VMG Workshop Mobile

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Carista OBD2

Subscriptions5
  • 1 Car – Monthly$19.991 Month
  • Pro$19.991 Month
  • 1 month Pro3 variants$19.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • 3 month Pro$29.993 Months
  • Pro4 variants$59.991 Year
None

VMG Workshop Mobile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Carista OBD2 free?
Carista OBD2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VMG Workshop Mobile free?
VMG Workshop Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Carista OBD2 or VMG Workshop Mobile have ads?
Carista OBD2 shows ads; VMG Workshop Mobile does not.
Which is updated more often, Carista OBD2 or VMG Workshop Mobile?
Carista OBD2 ships an update every 3 weeks, and VMG Workshop Mobile every 4 months. Most recently, Carista OBD2 was updated on November 11, 2026 and VMG Workshop Mobile on November 7, 2026.

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