The Best OBD-II Scanners of 2024: Expert Picks

Adam Lambert
  Mar 29, 2024 10:52 AM

Saving money on unforeseen auto repairs is easy when you have one of the best OBD-II scanners on hand. Living expenses are skyrocketing, so the last thing you need is to spend a fortune on a mechanic's diagnosis of a problem you could easily solve yourself.

Innova 1000 OBD2 Scanner Bluetooth - OBD2 Scanner Diagnostic Tool for Android & iPhone Car Scanner - App Based OBD Scanner for Car - Check Engine Code Reader ABS SRS - Wireless Car Diagnostic Scanner

Overview

Along with their engines and mechanical components, cars have included control electronics and computer chips. Nowadays, electronics are used to control many of those mechanisms. Because of this, it's crucial to ensure that these electrical systems are in good operating order, just as the mechanical parts of the car, such as the engine, suspension, and brakes. It is twice as crucial for a car's safety equipment, such as the seat belts, warning lights, and mirrors. And you may take use of the best OBD-II scanners to make sure everything is functioning properly.

INNOVA 5210 - Newest 2022 OBD2 Diagnostic Code Scanner - Read/Erase ABS Codes, Reset Oil Lights, Live Data, Battery/Charging System Test

Top Picks

Top choice of the best OBD-II scanners recommended by experts.

Reviews

1. Innova 6100P

Product’s Highlights

Any novice technician can feel like a pro using an OBD-II scanner like the Innova 6100P. This hybrid device has a wide range of diagnostic capabilities, may be used as a portable unit, and can link to the Innova app.

The $140 Innova 6100P OBD-II scanner provides all the capabilities a novice mechanic would require. Everything from live data to fault codes to an I/M readiness check prior to an inspection is displayed on its 2.8-inch color screen.

The Innova 6100P can establish a Bluetooth connection with an iPhone or Android phone running the Innova RepairSolutions 2 software. Predictive failure warnings, service advisories, and maintenance schedules are added to the app. The best feature is its capacity to recommend potential repairs and replacement parts for your car.

The DTC Severity fault code display on the obd2 scanner 6100P instantly identifies the root cause of "Check Engine'' light warnings (MIL). After vehicle repair, check engine light is turned off with a single press of a hotkey. Numerous vehicle data points are shown in live data, including spark timing, RPM, fuel trim, and the temperature of the engine coolant.

Pros

  • Little and light

  • Oil light reset and battery testing

  • Handheld with a supplemental app

  • Includes parts selections and repair instructions

Cons

  • Interaction with text

  • Keys need deliberate pressure

2. Topdon ArtiDiag500

Product’s Highlights

The Topdon ArtiDiag500, which has a sizable color display, Wi-Fi, and an automotive health report, bridge the gap between amateur and professional users.

It has a 47-inch wire that won't quite reach the engine compartment and won't fit into the carrying case when connected to the device. It appears like a tough portable gaming console, feels like a brick, and has these other characteristics.

Despite this, the Topdon ArtiDiag500 is one of the most effective OBD-II scanners for the general public that we have observed. It can execute an I/M pre-inspection test, monitor the brakes, airbags, and battery, and display and graph real-time vehicle data. The Android-based device can update its own software and has a rechargeable battery, two features that are uncommon for handheld scanners.

The Topdon ArtiDiag500 may be bulky and hefty, but it could be the finest $170 a car owner can spend on an OBD-II diagnostic scanner.

Pros

  • Great selection of diagnostic procedures.

  • Wi-Fi accessibility

  • A tough design with rounded edges

Cons

  • Heavy and unwieldy.

  • Brief cables

3. Innova 1000

Product’s Highlights

If you're looking for a capable, simple-to-install Bluetooth OBD-II module, the Innova CarScan Mobile 1000 is the scanner for you. It's actually the most useful and user-friendly Bluetooth scanner we've tried, we'd say. Simply plug it in and download the two companion Innova applications to get things going.

The CarScan Mobile 1000 can perform a wide range of diagnostic tasks, as well as describe the necessary components and repairs you might not be aware of, like other Innova scanners can. Additionally, its predictive algorithms can help you estimate which parts will break and when. If that weren't enough, the app may also be used as a set of car gauges with a number of different presentation options.

Download RepairSolutions2 for free from the Google Play Store or the App Store. The in-app features of Innova will explain exactly what the issue is and how to correctly diagnose it using expert guidance.

Gain access to professional features like an all-system scan that are typically reserved for expensive scanners. Check engine light, SRS, and other problem codes can be read and cleared. View the oil life, tire pressures, transmission temperatures, and the brake pad and oil life.

Pros

  • Easiest Bluetooth configuration

  • Small transmitter

  • Excellent apps for mobile devices

  • Provides advice on preventative maintenance and repairs

  • Suitable for use as auto gauges

Cons

  • There are separate apps

  • There are advertisements on the app

4. Bosch OBD 1300

Product’s Highlights

The Bosch OBD 1300 diagnostic scanner distinguishes out since it comes with cables for Chrysler, Ford, GM, and Toyota vehicles manufactured before 1996. The 6-foot extension cord adds weight, but the OBD 1300's little stature conceals a wide variety of powerful capabilities.

The Bosch OBD 1300 does not receive power from your car's OBD-II connection, in contrast to many other handheld diagnostic scanners. Instead, its huge color screen, which clearly displays graphing data, is powered by AA batteries or the cigarette lighter in your automobile.

The database of the scanner contains information on 26 million repair suggestions. It can test the pre-inspection emissions and check the anti-lock brakes and airbags on the majority of vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2013. The user guide must be downloaded from the Bosch website.

The Bosch OBD 1300 has a quoted price of about $200, which may sound pricey until you realize how many cars it can support. If you have a car from the 1980s or the early 1990s, you should purchase this diagnostic scanner.

Pros

  • For automobiles built before 1996 includes cables.

  • Includes advice for repairs.

  • Able to reset the oil-change light

Cons

  • Can become weighty despite being little

  • There is no quick start or manual

5. Foxwell NT614 Elite

Product’s Highlights

A large color screen and a horizontal, tough casing are both crammed inside Foxwell's NT614 Elite diagnostic scanner. It is capable of probing a wide range of auto issues, but we wish it had a touchscreen and could operate on battery power.

The Foxwell NT614 is intended for professional mechanics as well as car owners, much like the comparable-looking but bigger Topdon ArtiDiag500. It can graph data, turn off the oil-change light, and keep an eye on the transmission, air bags, brakes, and charging system.

Two distinctive qualities jump out. The Topdon ArtiDiag500 includes programmable keys that can be configured to do various things with various automobile makes, much like a gaming keyboard. For storing data, it also contains a microSD card slot. If you work on automobiles from several manufacturers frequently, an OBD-II scanner might be useful to have.

Pros

  • Nearly all available diagnostic tests 

  • Soft edges and a rugged construction 

  • SD card and hard case included

Cons

  • Won't operate on batteries.

  • No touch screen

See also:

The Best Obd2 Scanners

TOP Choice
1
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    9.2
  • Brand
    Innova
TOP Choice
2
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    9.0
  • Brand
    Innova
TOP Choice
3
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    9.0
  • Brand
    Innova
4
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    9.0
  • Brand
    Innova
5
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    9.0
  • Brand
    FOXWELL
6
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    9.0
  • Brand
    Innova
7
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    8.8
  • Brand
    FOXWELL
8
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    8.6
  • Brand
    LAUNCH
9
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    8.6
  • Brand
    LAUNCH
10
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    8.4
  • Brand
    thinkcar
11
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    8.2
  • Brand
    thinkcar
12
  • AffCMS Score is a ranking system developed by AffiliateCMS.com. AffCMS score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    8.0
  • Brand
    thinkcar

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

FAQs

1. What are your intended uses for an OBD2 scan tool?

If you simply want to comprehend what the check engine idiot light on your dash is trying to tell you. Or if you want to independently evaluate what a repair shop is reporting and maybe turn the light off if it's lit for anything like a changed EGR valve or a loose gas cap, you don't need to spend a lot of money. Between $60 and $80 will reliably and frequently get you where you need to go. Even after the problem has been resolved, if you or someone you know is looking to purchase a cheap used car, a basic OBD2 scanner is still helpful.

INNOVA 5310 - Newest 2022 OBD2 Code Scanner - Read/Erase ABS/SRS Codes, Reset Oil Light, Live Data, Battery/Alternator Test

2. When Is an OBD2 Scan Tool Necessary?

An OBD2 scan tool can inform you what the code in your car's check engine light implies. An OBD2 scan tool can read the check engine light, but it cannot read the transmission, ABS, or SRS codes.

Although some OBD2 scan tools are equipped with these features, they are not a standard component of OBD2 scanners.

3. Which Automobiles Can Use an OBD2 Scan Tool?

Your car is compatible with OBD2 if it was built after January 1, 1996, and it can be purchased on the US market. This is due to the fact that starting on January 1st, 1996, every car sold in the US had to be OBD2 compliant.

Additionally, as automakers don't want to create distinct vehicles for various countries, if a car is sold in the US and was produced after that date, it has OBD2.

Final Thought

Fixing your car without the proper equipment can be next to impossible. However, if you have the correct equipment, you can finish the task and carry on with your life. You really can't go wrong with the BlueDriver Bluetooth Scanner if you're a mechanic working from home and have access to a smartphone. If you own a shop, though, you want an Autel.

While the other choices can also be excellent choices, those devices have advantages that cannot be matched. What are you still holding out for? Grab the best OBD2 scanners and get your car back on the road as soon as possible!