Choosing the best OBD2 app for iPhone is important for accessing the necessary insights about your vehicle. From obtaining basic OBD-level diagnostics, to car coding or specific repair guides, there are many different functionalities that an OBD2 app can let you perform.
We consider that the best OBD2 app will always be the one that gives you the best value and features for the price. Below we have narrowed down the top 4 OBD2 apps so that you can pick the best one for your vehicle.
Best value for price | Best for budget solution | Best for basic diagnostics | Best for expert users |
|---|---|---|---|
CarlyA repair & maintenance app for beginners and experts, that offers mechanic insights and repair guides besides diagnostics, car coding and live data functionalities. | 
CaristaAn easy and user friendly interface if you want to get started with several functionalities such as diagnostics, car coding, and live data on your vehicle. | 
FIXDA great option if you only want to focus on car diagnostics, in order to read and clear out fault codes in your vehicle. | 
OBDElevenA complete tool for experienced users with advanced OBD data, that allows you to access, monitor and program car systems. |
What is an OBD2 app for iOS?
If you want to access in-depth information about your vehicle, the most convenient and easy way to do it is with an OBD2 app!
OBD2 apps work along with OBD2 scanners. The scanners are a small pocket sized device that can be plugged to your car's OBD2 port. This device initiates a connection to your vehicle's systems and reads out all of your car's diagnostic information. Afterward, you can access all of this information through the OBD2 app directly from your smartphone.
1. Carly
Overall conclusion
Whether you are a beginner or car expert, if you are looking for a complete OBD2 app that allows you to perform repair and maintenance on your own, then Carly is a great choice. Besides performing a diagnostics check, Carly gives you deep and mechanic-level insights about every fault code in your vehicle. Additionally, you also get detailed repair guides for you to take care of your fault codes. Moreover, besides diagnostics you can access advanced functionalities such as car coding, maintenance, live data, used car check, and more!
User rating on app store:
Key Features
- Diagnostics: Can read and clear OBD and manufacturer-level diagnostic fault codes. Additionally, you check you car's overall health state, which depends on the type of fault codes present and their severity level.
- Smart Mechanic: Detailed fault code descriptions written by expert mechanics, in-depth repair guides for your fault codes, and intelligent predictions about future potential faults.
- Coding: You can customize your car by activating or deactivating features that come pre-set by the manufacturer. For example, you can code your car's headlights, make you car doors automatically lock when a certain speed is reached, display your odometer digitally, amongst many other codings. This feature is currently available for car brands from BMW and VAG group.
- Maintenance: Guides to perform maintenance on your vehicle, such as service reset, battery registration, electronic parking brake and more.
- Live Data: Track OBD and manufacturer-level parameters to understand the real-time performance of your vehicle's components and systems.
- Emissions Check: Perform an emission test before the official emissions check.
- Used Car Check: Can detect odometer fraud and check the original VIN of a vehicle.
- Digital Garage: Allows you to store all of your vehicle diagnostic reports, and keep a record of you car's historical health.
Pricing plans
The price of the Carly Universal Scanner together with the app starts at $80.89. However, the price depends if you want to unlock all the Carly features for all supported car brands. Additionally, the app is a yearly license that can be renewed starting at $21.99 per year. In short:
First purchase: starts at $80 (including the Carly OBD2 scanner + 1 year of the Carly features)
Yearly app renewal: starts at $21.99
2. Carista
Overall conclusion
If you are looking for a cheap solution to get started with diagnostics and car coding, then Carista is a good option. You will be able to read and clear fault codes in your vehicle, customize your vehicle, and read live data. The level of detailed offered is very basic, however, if all you need to perform is a diagnostics check and clearing fault codes, it will get you the job done!
User rating on app store:
Key Features
- Diagnostics: Can read and clear OBD and manufacturer-level diagnostic fault codes. However, you do not get insights on how severe each fault code is.
- Coding: You can personalize your car by activating or deactivating features that come pre-set by the manufacturer. For example, you can code your car's windows, lights, instruments and more. This feature is only available for limited car models.
- Service: Perform maintenance on your vehicle such as oil service indicator, service your electronic parking brake and more.
- Emissions check: Perform an emission test before the official emissions check.
- Live Data: Allows you to track OBD-level parameters. For some car models you can also track additional systems such as DPF, transmission, A/C, airbag, and battery.
Pricing plans
The price of the Carista OBD2 adapter costs $23. Additionally, to access the Carista features you need to pay for a subscription to their app:
1-month subscription = $10
3-months subscription = $20
Yearly subscription = $50
3. FIXD
Overall conclusion
If everything you need is to read and clear fault codes related to your engine, FIXD is a optimal choice. For performing basic OBD diagnostics, FIXD allows you to read out fault codes, know the severity of the fault code, and clear them. Unfortunately, they do not provide manufacturer-level diagnostics.
Moreover, they also have additional features, such as calling a mechanic and calculating the cost of a repair. However, there is no deep level of insights provided about the present fault codes in your car, the exact repair and parts needed, and repair guides on how to fix your fault codes.
User rating on app store:
Key Features
- Diagnostics: Can read and clear OBD and manufacturer-level diagnostic fault codes. However, you do not get insights on how severe each fault code is.
- Mechanic Hotline: Ask a question to a mechanic from Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm.
- Cost of repairs: Get market prices for a given repair.
- Issue Forecast: Identify common problems based on data from other people with your car.
- Incident History report: Find out previous owner information, accident history, & details of any car before you buy.
- Emissions check: Perform an emission test before the official emissions check.
Pricing plans
The price of the FIXD OBD2 adapter costs $59. Additionally, to access the FIXD advanced features you need to pay for a subscription to their app which costs $59 per year.
4. OBDEleven
Overall conclusion
If you are experienced with car diagnostic software or OBD data, OBDEleven is a good choice. They offer a range of features such as diagnostics, coding and live data. You can get detailed metrics on OBD and manufacturer level fault codes, so you can monitor several systems in your vehicle.
User rating on app store:
Key Features
- Diagnostics: Can read and clear OBD and manufacturer-level diagnostic fault codes.
- Car coding: You can personalize your car by activating or deactivating features that come pre-set by the manufacturer.
- Live data: Track OBD and manufacturer-level parameters to understand the real-time performance of your vehicle's components and systems.
- VIN check: Check the original vehicle identification number of a car.
- Car history: Find out previous owner information, accident history, & details of any car before you buy.
Pricing plans
The OBDEleven NextGen Scanner costs $59.99. Additionally, to access the OBDEleven features you need the PRO plan subscription which costs $49.99 per year. Moreover, if you want to access more advanced features you can purchased then within their app using in-app credits. The credits cost:
- 10 credits = $1.99
- 100 credits = $17.99
- 500 credits = $74.99