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What is the best OBD2 Android/IOS apps for your car?

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Modern cars have the capacity of a few computers, are tooled with software that contains millions of lines of programming code and produce gigabytes of data, but they are still different from connected cars.

An intelligent vehicle is able to optimize its performance to reduce fuel consumption, show the best path based on current road and weather conditions, detect engine errors, and gather information data to negotiate lower insurance rates.

Most cars and light trucks are equipped with onboard diagnostics or an OBD II port, which provides access to data from the engine control unit (ECU). An external device must be connected to obtain the information.

The OBD-II specifications provide a standardized hardware interface – a socket 16-pin (2×8) J1962 connector, so a single external device can be used for most vehicle models. It must also have an internet connection to transmit the collected data. To process all the information collected from the OBD2 device, you still need an on-board vehicle diagnostic application.

Such a tool is ideal for industries such as cab and limousine services, general transportation, and hazardous goods transport. With a vehicle monitoring app that can be customized to meet the needs of your organization and customers, you can make sure your drivers are following best practices.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of 7 automotive diagnostic apps to keep your car performing, which we believe to be the market leader at the moment.

THE MOST POPULAR OBD DIAGNOSTIC APPS FOR ANDROID 2021

TORQUE PRO (OBD 2 AND CAR)

Torque Pro, one of the most popular OBD2 apps for Android readers in the Play Store, shows a wide list of supported functions and detectors, as well as numerous widgets and plug-ins that use it as a base, providing great functionality: real-time monitoring of vehicle activity, OBD code error collection, vehicle performance, sensor information, etc.

Torque is a vehicle diagnostic/performance tool that uses an OBD II Bluetooth adapter connected to an OBD2 engine/ECU. You can make a customizable control panel with widgets in the app.

The app uses GPS to allow the OBD engine log tracker to see your vehicle’s activities and conditions over any period of time. It also shows and resets DTC / CEL / trouble code like a scanner. Torque will help you repair your vehicle and reduce repair costs.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Dynamometer and power / l.
Transmission temperature monitoring
Speed measurement more accurate than GPS CO2 indicators
User control panel
User profiles
Tweets automatically flagged by GPS
Large database of fault codes and fault code history
Different color themes
Ability to send logs directly to web or email for analysis
HUD mode for nighttime driving
Real time GPS speedometer and compass
Turbo Boost for MAP and MAF enabled vehicles
Voice alerts
Car dock service
Sending screenshots to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, email, etc. Д.
Easy developer interface AIDL API for third party apps
Compatible with tablet devices and cars using OBDII Bluetooth adapters (almost all cars made after 2000)
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH TORQUE PRO

  • High battery consumption
  • Incompatible with some vehicles

Every software development team should pay attention to the impact their products have on the environment. From our point of view the battery consumption is a very important obstacle for using this application.

When creating specialized automotive diagnostic software for our customers, always make sure that they do not harm the environment. We advise you to read our 5 things you need to know before you develop an automotive application.

HOBDRIVE

You should try this one of the most underrated OBD apps in the Play Store, especially if you own a hybrid car.

HobDrive is a smart on-board computer and OBD2 diagnostic software. HobDrive uses your ELM327 adapter and GPS sensors to measure trip information. The ELM327 (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) is recommended, but can only use GPS.

The HobDrive version has the following features compared to the demo:

Continuous error tracking MPG tracking hour, day, time periods of the week
Graphical gauges
KWP protocol diagnostics
Refueling and maintenance records
HOBDRIVE FEATURES
Vehicle sensor indices
Engine diagnostics
Computer trip records
Performance tools
Route planning
MPG calculation
Flexible visual layouts
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH HOBDRIVE
Unstable performance
Poor clarity (blurring) on higher resolution devices
Problems with bluetooth connection

OBD CAR DOCTOR PRO

A basic and functional application, the OBD Car Doctor, reads the data sent from your OBD adapter and reports in real time all engine and vehicle parameters: speed, angle, temperature, pressure and some other sensor data supported by your car. Allows you to draw graphs with real-time data. Car Doctor checks engine light control: reads and clears stored error codes and related data.

FEATURES OBD CAR DOCTOR PRO

  • Real-time vehicle indicators: speed, angle, temperature, pressure and other gauges
  • Drawing charts with real-time data
  • Check engine light control: error codes and related freeze frame data
  • Real-time parameter records
  • Allows reading and displaying of several parameters
  • Record parameters in the background
  • View and send recorded settings
  • GPS supported
  • Fuel economy settings
  • Allows storage and exchange of DTC data
  • fuel consumption over periods of time

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE OBD CAR DOCTOR PRO

  • Unstable connection with cheap adapters
  • Additional step by step manipulation is needed to fix the errors
  • Bluetooth connection problems

We advise other software companies to improve stability in each version released, as we do. We think this is the key to success.

CARISTA OBD2

Website: https://caristaapp.com/
Cost: $9.99 / 1-month subscription

Carista OBD2 allows you to personalize your car by improving its electronic parameters. It also allows you to check your car for errors and remove any existing code and test emission errors. One must have an OBD II adapter that plugs into the car’s OBD2 port. Once you allow the Carista app to collect data from your car using the OBD II adapter, it will tell you if the car is bumped. If you don’t have an OBD adapter, you can enter the data yourself.

CARISTA FEATURES

Monitor vehicle vitality and report malfunctions
Compatible with all OBD2-compliant makes and models (almost all cars manufactured after 2000)
Access to advanced manufacturer specific diagnostics such as ABS, airbag, navigation, etc. Д.
Ability to reset indicators for supported models
Advanced vehicle behavior customization: the app can set the headlights to turn on automatically when you start the engine or lock the doors when you move off, or change the type of sound made by the rear parking sensors.
Overheat warning to monitor engine temperature
Runs in the background and notifies you with a beep when the engine temperature rises to a dangerous level.

COMMON CARISTA PROBLEMS

Connection error when saving changes to settings
Connection problems with some adapters

THE MOST POPULAR OBD DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS FOR IPHONE

OBD AUTO DOCTOR

OBD II Auto Doctor is the leading OBD II diagnostic app for cars. It is considered to be the best app for iOS car diagnostics. The Auto Doctor app allows you to check and reset disease codes. Using this OBD II diagnostic app, you can easily interact with your car’s OBD II system and turn your cell phone into a very gifted car scanner.

The OBD II Auto Doctor is a great app for those who want to learn more about their car. If you want to monitor your car’s data in real time or disable the engine check indicator, this is a must-have tool.

OBD AUTO DOCTOR FEATURES
You can see emission readiness and advanced diagnostic fault codes, freeze frame, MIL
You can view fuel consumption to save money
Timely viewing of OBD II indicators to detect anomalies
You can change the numeric or graphical representation of OBD II sensor data.
Supports engine, transmission data, etc. Д.
You can send diagnostic data via email
Allows you to read VIN, calibration identification and calibration
ECU reference numbers
Auto Doctor supports a built-in DTC database with over 14000 alarm codes.
You can choose between British and metric units.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH OBD AUTO DOCTOR
Problems with ELM327 v2.1 marked adapters connection
Problems with fuel accuracy in diesel vehicles
These apps are designed to get more out of your driver’s cars, but some software issues and bugs may prompt your users to switch to other apps. You can read here why users might not like your app.

EOBD FACILE

You don’t need to call the manufacturer to run a vehicle diagnostic or find out why the check engine light is on – it’s now available on your iPhone / iPad. Connect your OBD II device to your vehicle’s port and launch the app: it will allow you to diagnose your vehicle, turn off the lights and view your vehicle’s data in real time.

EOBD FACILE FEATURES

View engine trouble codes and learn their meaning
Clear the engine check indicator light
Keep track of special manufacturer error codes
Make trip records and save them to your iPhone / iPad, then restore them using the EOBD Facile app.
Create and view GPS data records.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH EOBD FACILE

  • Incompatible with some vehicles
  • Free version is completely non-functional
  • Occasional connection problems

This large number of bugs can occur when the development company skips or minimizes the testing and bug fixing phase. We advise choosing to outsource software development when you feel you don’t have enough staff to do the best testing and avoid problems. Learn about the benefits of outsourcing software development here.

ScanTool – Professional IOS Diagnostics

What sets the iOS mobile version apart from a proprietary hand-held or tablet–you get to use your device. Let’s face it, the handheld or tablets provided with other scan tools are always older technology and have limited application. 

Full-Feature

Coverage includes:

  • Trouble code reading and clearing – (FFD, Fault Frequency, Odometer, etc.)
  • Report Generation – Pre- and Post-Scan health checks. Reports can be outputted in XML, PDF, JSON
  • Live data- Grid / Graph / Meter displays
  • Bi-directions / Actuations
  • System Functions / Special Functions
Simulator Screen Shot iPad and iPhone

Requirements

  • iOS 12 or later
  • 500 MB Free storage

ENGINELINK

The EngineLink app can help your iOS device become an OBD II vehicle diagnostic tool with a WiFi / Bluetooth adapter.

ENGINELINK FEATURES

  • Emissions Checking
  • Real-time monitoring of your vehicle’s condition
  • Read and clear OBD II fault codes
  • Real-time vehicle performance and sensor reading
  • User data collection
  • Interaction with DTC / CEL / fault code stored or real time
  • MPG widget to monitor fuel consumption and efficiency
  • HUD mode for night driving
  • Transmission temperature display
  • Speed, rpm, load and coolant, fuel tank
  • Customizable information panels
  • Fully customizable graphical interface with different types of gauges
  • Various libraries via ECU support application
  • Ability to change back color
  • Authorization via email

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH ENGINELINK

  • Only ELM-compatible Wi-Fi or low-power Bluetooth adapters can be used for normal operation
  • Wi-Fi connectivity issues
  • Language support issues

This data visualization software can help turn your car into a connected car. When you outsource software development, you can be sure that you will get an application that has all the features you need and all the bugs fixed before the application goes live.

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