Car Scanner ELM OBD2 Review: Free vs Pro, Setup, Limits

You bought a 20 euro ELM327 adapter, plugged it under the dash and searched the app store for a free app to go with it. Car Scanner ELM OBD2 sits near the top, with a 4.8 rating from about 33,000 ratings on the US App Store. Before you spend an evening setting it up, you want to know what it reads, what the Pro upgrade adds and where it stops. This review answers that from the developer's store listings and documentation, plus one independent review for the parts the developer does not spell out. It also says where an app like Skanyx, which explains the code instead of only showing it, fits better.

Is Car Scanner ELM OBD2 any good?

For a free app, yes. The App Store listing lists the following as standard: reading and clearing fault codes, freeze-frame data, Mode 06 self-test results, an emissions readiness check, an all-sensors screen and custom dashboards with gauges and charts. Extras include a trip computer with fuel figures, 0-60 style acceleration timing and a head-up display mode that reflects the screen on the windshield.

It is not built to tell you what to do about a fault. The listing describes a large code database and a data view, not a safe-to-drive verdict or a repair-cost range. Apps that add that layer exist, and Skanyx is one of them. Car Scanner is the reading tool, and you supply the judgement.

The short verdict by reader:

Is Car Scanner ELM OBD2 free, and what does Pro cost?

The app is free to download and contains ads. The developer says that to unlock all features "a one-time purchase or a subscription is required," and the App Store lists several Pro options for the same app.

The developer's FAQ says the low, medium and high price options are the same product at different prices, so your own store may show a different number. A purchase works on several devices if they share the same store account, but it does not carry over between the App Store and Google Play.

What does Pro unlock, exactly? The developer's pages do not give a feature list in the places we could read. One independent reviewer reports that Pro adds more graphs and the coding and service functions. Check the in-app purchase screen before you pay, and use the free version first to confirm your car connects at all. That check costs nothing.

A stored code is only half of what you need on a dashboard-light day, and Car Scanner leaves the other half to you. Skanyx reads the same cheap adapter, then explains the code in plain English, puts a green-to-red severity on it so you know whether to keep driving, and gives a rough repair cost in your currency. Try it with the adapter you already own

Which adapter and phone setup does Car Scanner need?

The wrong adapter is the most common reason a first scan fails, so decide this before anything else. The developer's adapter guide says Car Scanner works with Wi-Fi, classic Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE and, on iPhone, a Bluetooth MFi connection. Wired USB adapters are not supported.

• iPhone: Bluetooth LE (4.0), Wi-Fi or MFi. The developer states that classic Bluetooth adapters "cannot be used with Apple iOS devices." The developer names two MFi models, the OBDLink MX+ and the vLinker FS.
• Android: classic Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE or Wi-Fi. The developer prefers classic Bluetooth because it is faster than BLE and steadier than Wi-Fi.

The same page warns against adapters under about 10 dollars, any with "mini" in the name, and units whose Bluetooth address starts with 11:22:33 or 00:00:00. The App Store listing adds that cheap clones marked v2.1 "have lots of bugs." Models the developer recommends include the OBDLink MX+ and CX, the vLinker range, the Vgate iCar Pro 2S and the Car2LS ScanX. For model-by-model picks, see the ELM327 compatibility page and the Vgate page, or the OBDLink page if you want the MFi route.

How do you connect Car Scanner to an ELM327 adapter?

Plug the adapter into the OBD2 port, switch the ignition on (or start the engine) and press the adapter's power button if it has one. The steps below follow the developer's own setup pages.

iPhone with Bluetooth LE

1. Turn Bluetooth on, but do not pair the adapter in iOS settings. The developer says that unlike Android, you do not set up pairing in the system settings.
2. In Car Scanner, tap the gear icon, open Adapter (older versions say Connection) and set the type to Bluetooth 4.0 (LE).
3. Tap Select Device and pick the adapter. Names look like "OBDII" or "obd2."
4. Go back and tap the green Connect button.

If the adapter never shows up after a few tries, it probably uses an older Bluetooth version that an iPhone cannot see.

Android with classic Bluetooth

1. Pair the adapter in Android's Bluetooth settings first. If it asks for a PIN, the developer lists 1234, 0000, 7890 and 1111 as common ones.
2. In Car Scanner, open Settings, then Adapter, set the type to Bluetooth and select the device.
3. Tap Connect.

Wi-Fi on either phone

1. Join the adapter's Wi-Fi network in your phone's own Wi-Fi settings. The name is usually "OBDII" or "OBD2," never your car brand.
2. In Car Scanner, set the adapter type to Wi-Fi and check the IP address and port. The usual defaults are 192.168.0.10 and 35000, but your adapter's manual wins.
3. Tap Connect.

The first run is simple. Let it connect, open the fault code screen and read what is stored. A car with no light on usually shows no codes, which is a fine first result. If you want to understand what the live gauges mean, the OBD2 live data guide covers the common ones.

What does Car Scanner do well?

Four things stand out from the listing and docs.

Dashboards. You build your own screen of gauges and charts, and there is a one-screen view of every sensor the car reports. The listing also notes that a car only shows what its engine computer provides.

Connection profiles. The app ships profiles that add extra data for brands such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Renault, Hyundai and Kia, and its version history logs frequent profile database updates. One independent reviewer found that on a VW the right profile was needed before a scan reached beyond the engine, and that on a Nissan Micra it stayed engine-only. Treat extra-module access as car by car.

Readiness and self-tests. It checks emissions readiness and reads Mode 06 results. If you are preparing for a roadworthiness test, our readiness monitor guide explains what the monitors mean.

Coding and service on supported cars. The developer lists coding for Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat on the MQB, PQ26 and MLB-EVO platforms, plus Hyundai and Kia service functions. Smaller lists cover resets on some Mitsubishi, GM-group and Nissan models, plus coding on some Renault, Dacia and Toyota models. The developer marks some of these experimental. The adapter guide says bad adapters are unsafe for coding, so use one of the recommended models if you try it. The Car Scanner alternatives comparison puts it next to apps that explain faults rather than only show them.

What does Car Scanner not do?

It does not rank the possible causes of a fault, tell you whether the car is safe to drive, or put a price on the repair. The listing describes the app as a way to read and display, and mentions none of those. It also has no general workshop menu: the independent reviewer found no electronic parking brake service and no advanced DPF procedures, and the few service functions the developer lists, such as brake bleeding on some Kia models, are tied to specific cars. For those jobs on other cars you need brand software that speaks the maker's protocols.

Who should pick Car Scanner, and who should pick something else?

Pick Car Scanner if you like seeing the numbers, want custom gauges for free and are comfortable looking up what a code means. It also runs on both iPhone and Android, so one adapter carries over if you switch phones.

Pick something else in these cases:

• You want raw logging on Android: Torque Pro is the long-standing choice, about 4 euros once.
• You want the fault explained and priced: an interpretation app such as Skanyx, free to read and clear codes with live data included. On an iPhone it needs a BLE adapter or the OBDLink MX+; unlike Car Scanner it does not take Wi-Fi adapters (Car Scanner also takes the vLinker FS).
• You want deep coding on one brand: a dedicated tool for that make.
• You want a full ranking: the best OBD2 scanner apps round-up covers the whole field.

Nothing stops you from installing two apps. They read the same adapter, one at a time, and if you also want a Windows or Mac version, the OBD Auto Doctor review covers a subscription app that runs on both.

Frequently asked questions

Does Car Scanner ELM OBD2 work with any ELM327 adapter?

It works with ELM327-compatible adapters of the right connection type, but quality varies a lot. The developer says you could buy ten cheap adapters and find all ten bad. Buy a recommended model rather than the cheapest one.

Do I need Pro to read my car's fault codes?

The developer does not publish a free-versus-Pro list, but store reviewers report reading codes in the free version, so start there. Pro is for the extras, and the in-app purchase screen shows which ones your version locks.

Will it work on an older car?

The listing says the vehicle must follow the OBD2 standard, which covers most cars from about 2000 and possibly from 1996. A car with no OBD2 port or an older standard will not connect.

Your adapter and your phone are enough to find out within ten minutes. Install the free version, connect with the steps above, and read what is stored. If the result is a code you cannot judge, that is the point to look at an app that explains it.