Comparison

Carista OBD2 vs Chippy Boss

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
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

Chippy Boss

Features
Read full description

Chippy Boss is the all-in-one toolbox for carpenters and serious DIYers. Built by chippies, for chippies. From stair layouts and wall framing to job tracking and cut lists, Chippy Boss helps you work faster, stay organised and avoid costly mistakes on site. CARPENTRY CALCULATORS • Stair calculator - tread & riser thickness, nosing, floor finish thickness & more. We support both open and closed stringers, and a full stringer template is displayed for easy set out. • Wall framing - straight & raked walls, intersecting walls, double studs, full cut lists, reversible layout direction, stud spacing, long- & short-point cuts • Concrete - slabs, footings & piers with multi-segment support • Cut-list optimiser - get the best use of your sheets with multiple parts to cut • Deck gaps - calculate board gaps and get set out measurements fast • Shiplap / flooring layout - set out boards with expansion gaps every X boards • Triangle calculator & check-for-square measurements • Running measurements with voice recording & read-aloud • Digital spirit level • Live diagrams you can pan, zoom and expand --- ON-SITE WORKFLOW • Jobs Hub - save calculations against any job, with client details & notes • Time tracking - log hours & tasks against every job • Works fully offline - syncs automatically when you’re back online • Metric & Imperial support throughout, including fractional inches --- CHIPPY SUBSCRIPTION (Paid) Unlock every calculator and advanced feature: • Cut-list optimiser • Wall framing • Running measurements (with read-aloud & voice recording) • Stair calculator • Shiplap / flooring layout • Deck gaps • Concrete calculator • Triangle calculator • Digital spirit level Plus: • Unlimited saved jobs & clients • Log hours • Save calculations to jobs • Save notes to jobs --- FREE (Apprentice Tier) Includes: • Running measurements (basic) • Triangle calculator • Digital spirit level • Basic concrete volumes • Basic wall framing • Log hours for one saved job --- • Chippy Monthly - cancel anytime • Chippy Yearly - save approximately 17%, cancel anytime --- Free Trial - Enjoy full access to every feature free for 14 days Cancel anytime before your trial ends to avoid charges. Local pricing is shown at checkout. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. --- Privacy first No ads No tracking pixels No selling your data Privacy Policy: https://chippyboss.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://app.chippyboss.com/terms

Screenshots

Carista OBD24 screens
Chippy Boss4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Chippy Boss at none against Carista OBD2's shown. Carista OBD2's advantage is chart position (#170 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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 6 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Chippy Boss sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Carista OBD2 versus Chippy Boss: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCarista OBD2Chippy Boss
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (4.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews34.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.3K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#170 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size142 MB39 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperPrizmosNicholas Straughan

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

Chippy Boss

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Carista OBD2

Subscriptions5
  • Basic$19.991 Month
  • Pro$19.991 Month
  • 1 month Pro4 variants$19.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • 3 month Pro2 variants$29.993 Months
  • Pro5 variants$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • One-Time Diagnostic & Reset$9.99
2 purchases

Chippy Boss

Subscriptions2
  • Chippy Boss - Monthly14 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Chippy Boss - Yearly14 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Carista OBD2 free?
Carista OBD2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chippy Boss free?
Chippy Boss is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Carista OBD2 or Chippy Boss have ads?
Carista OBD2 shows ads; Chippy Boss does not.
Which is updated more often, Carista OBD2 or Chippy Boss?
Carista OBD2 ships an update every 3 weeks, and Chippy Boss every 3 weeks. Most recently, Carista OBD2 was updated on November 1, 2026 and Chippy Boss on October 31, 2026.

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