Carista OBD2 vs Dip Calc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Diagnose and reset fault codes
- Monitor live vehicle data
- Customize hidden car features
- Perform DIY service procedures
- Supports 30+ car brands
- SFD & SFD2 compatibility
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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
Dip Calc
Instantly calculate DMX dip switch settings for lighting equipment. Quickly convert DMX addresses to switch positions or build addresses by tapping switches. Includes a built-in torch for dark environments.
- Calculate DMX dip switch settings from address
- Tap switches to build/adjust address
- On-screen number pad for address entry
- Adjustable increment value
- Save favorite increment presets
- Store setup notes for jobs
- Built-in torch control
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Dip Calc is a fast, simple DMX dip switch calculator designed for lighting techs, installers, and anyone working with fixtures that still rely on physical dip switch addressing. Instead of manually working out switch positions, Dip Calc lets you enter a DMX address and instantly see which dips need to be set. It’s built to be quick to use on site, easy to understand, and helpful when you’re working under pressure. Features: - Quickly calculate DMX dip switch settings from a DMX address - Tap dip switches directly to build or adjust an address - Enter addresses using the on-screen number pad - Change the increment value for faster step-through adjustment - Save your own favourite increment presets - Store setup notes directly in the app - Save and reopen notes for different jobs, fixtures, or rigs - Quickly add DMX addresses to your notes while working - Built-in torch control for dark environments - Clean, simple interface designed for fast use on the job Dip Calc is made for real-world use — whether you’re addressing older fixtures, checking installs, troubleshooting a rig, or keeping track of patch information during setup. If you regularly work with dip switch fixtures and want a simple tool that helps you move faster, Dip Calc keeps the essentials close at hand.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Carista OBD2 at Free against Dip Calc's $0.99. Carista OBD2 also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 2). Dip Calc's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On 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
Carista OBD2 is free to download; Dip Calc costs $0.99 up front. Carista OBD2 sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Dip Calc asks for nothing beyond the download.
Carista OBD2 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Carista OBD2 has 4.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 34% of Carista OBD2's written reviews are positive against 50% of Dip Calc'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, Dip Calc every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Carista OBD2 | Dip Calc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (4.3K ratings) — better | 4.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 34.1% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #173 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 141 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Prizmos | CHRISTOPHER GEORGE RUSTAGE |
Customer experience
Carista OBD2
Dip Calc
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
Dip Calc
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Carista OBD2
- 1 Car – Monthly$19.991 Month
- Pro$19.991 Month
- 1 month Pro3 variants$19.991 Month
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- 3 month Pro$29.993 Months
- Pro4 variants$59.991 Year
Dip Calc
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Carista OBD2 free?
Is Dip Calc free?
Which has better reviews, Carista OBD2 or Dip Calc?
Do Carista OBD2 or Dip Calc have ads?
Which is updated more often, Carista OBD2 or Dip Calc?
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