6 Best OBD2 Scanners (2023): Review & Comparison

Finding the right scanner for your car can be a total nightmare, especially if you don’t know much about the scanner world. The worst part is, you could end up wasting a lot of money on a tool you don’t even take half advantage of.

Don’t worry, I will only cover the best diagnostic tools that fit the needs and levels of non-mechanic car owners in this post.

(If you are a professional in this OBD-II field, this post isn’t for you; check out my “Best professional car diagnostic tool” post instead.)

Let’s check out my table for a brief overview of each scanner and pick the one that suits you.

You can choose your level of diagnostics for specific scanners review and comparison below the table.

An Overview Table of the 6 Best OBD2 Scanners 2023

[Mobile users: Swipe left for full table]

Product	Overall score	Read, clear codes	Live data	OBD2 functions
MOTOPOWER MP69033	7.5	8.0	–	7.0	Check Price
Veepeak BLE+	7.5	8.0	7.0	7.5	Check Price
Foxwell NT301	8.0	8.0	7.5	8.5	Check Price
Bluedriver	9.0	8.5	9.0	9.0	Check Price
ANCEL FX2000	8.5	8.5	8.5	9.0	Check Price
Launch CRP129X	9.0	8.5	9.0	9.5	Check Price

NOTE: Not all scanners work with all types of vehicles. It’s good to check with the seller to make sure the scanner is compatible with your vehicle.

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Table of contents:

• Best cheap OBD2 scanners for car owners without mechanical knowledge
  1. MOTOPOWER MP69033
  2. Veepeak BLE+
  3. Foxwell NT301
• Best budget OBD2 scanners for car owners with basic mechanical knowledge
  1. Bluedriver
  2. ANCEL FX2000
  3. Launch CRP129X

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Best Cheap OBD2 Scanners for Car Owners without Mechanical Knowledge: 

The 3 best automotive scan tools below are for you if you want to:

• Read trouble codes on vehicles’ basic systems
• Check if your vehicles are ready for smog tests
• Check a used car before buying

[Note for mobile users: Swipe left for full table]

	MOTOPOWER MP69033 Check Price	Veepeak BLE+ Check Price	Foxwell NT301 Check Price
Engine, Transmission Codes	✔	✔	✔
Read VIN	✔	✔	✔
Emission Test	✔	✔	✔
Live Data	–	✔	✔
Full OBD2 functions	–	–	✔
Ease of use	10/10	9.5/10	8.5/10
Speed	9.5/10	9.0/10	9.5/10
	Read review	Read review	Read review

#1. MOTOPOWER MP69033: The cheapest OBD2 scanner.  

MOTOPOWER MP69033 is the one I will recommend to those who just find a simple and accurate code reader for their vehicles (and super cheap, for sure).

This tool is extremely simple. All you need to do is plug in the MOTOPOWER MP69033, turn it on, and it will show you all the important information you need to know about your engine and transmission system.  

You don’t have to be a tech expert because it’s designed to be user-friendly. It even displays code descriptions on the screen so you know what’s happening under the hood.

Talking about performance, MOTOPOWER MP69033 is fast and accurate. I’ve used it myself and am confident to say that you can rely on this small gadget. I haven’t seen any bugs or wrong codes during use. 

Overall, MOTOPOWER MP69033 is a basic scanner that can do the tasks well, nothing special, but nothing wrong. So, this scanner is a cheap investment to get an overview of your vehicle’s engine and transmission systems with ease.

Today’s best MOTOPOWER MP69033 price:

#2. Veepeak BLE+: More convenient, live data covered – but slow, and may charge some. 

Well, you value convenience and hate the short cable of cheap scanners? Then consider a Bluetooth scanner, which allows you to work straight from your phone via apps. 

In general, the value of a Bluetooth scanner is in the app it uses. The best part about this scanner is that it works with numerous apps on both iOS and Android. I have tested quite a variety of apps and I recommend:

• OBD Fusion for iOS users.
• Car Scanner for Android users.

These two apps can support a wide range of vehicles, so it is perfect for numerous-car owners. 

If these apps don’t work well for your vehicle, don’t worry – there are other apps available (see Veepeak BLE+ app coverage here). This is actually a strength of this Bluetooth scanner, as you have more options to find the right app for your specific vehicle.

One downside of this scanner is that it is quite slow to scan the whole vehicle (about 2-3 minutes) because of its weak Bluetooth connection (one common issue of wireless scanners). Still at an acceptable level, though.

About the live data, which lets you see the systems’ working conditions, some apps will support live data. The OBD Fusion and Car Scanner apps I mentioned also support live data, as well as some vehicle-specific apps such as Bimmerlink for BMW, JScan for Jeep, etc. 

But, don’t expect those apps to show every system, like the scanners you see in the repair shops. They only show a few values of the engine and transmission systems, and it depends on different vehicles. 

All in all, this Veepeak BLE+ Bluetooth scanner can suit anyone who wants to take care of vehicles’ performance. But it is a perfect scanner to check a used car due to its wireless connection and wide range of vehicles.

Today’s best Veepeak BLE+ price:

#3. Foxwell NT301:  Faster, more thorough – but may take time to learn.

Unlike MOTOPOWER MP69033 – a limited OBD2 scanner, Foxwell NT301 is a full OBD2 scanner that helps you dive deeper into your vehicles.

A full OBD2 scanner means it can:

• Read engine and transmission codes (check engine lights)
• Check emissions status
• Read engine live data 
• Emission-related powertrain components and systems

The biggest difference here is the ability to read live data, let’s compare the three options:

• MOTOPOWER MP69033 doesn’t support live data
• Veepeak BLE+ only supports numeric live data on some apps 
• Foxwell NT301 gives you the live data in both table and graph

And I swear that graph is the easiest thing to get and track engine systems’ condition. The scanner also allows you to record and playback live data whenever you want. 

Not to mention that Foxwell NT301 is fast. I am kinda impressed with how fast it is for the price. It can scan and give data in seconds. Even faster than some more expensive tools.

The only thing to keep in mind is that the user interface can be a bit complicated, and the instructions might be hard to understand (the English language is not good, I mean). Need some patience here. 

Today’s best FOXWELL NT301 price:

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Best Budget OBD2 Scanners for Car Owners with Basic Mechanical Knowledge:

[Note for mobile users: Swipe left for full table]

	Bluedriver Check Price	ANCEL FX2000 Check Price	Launch CRP129X Check Price
4 system codes	✔	✔	✔
Read VIN	✔	✔	✔
Emission Test	✔	✔	✔
Live Data	✔	✔	✔
Reset functions	–	–	✔
Ease of use	10/10	8.5/10	9.5/10
Speed	9.0/10	9.5/10	9.5/10
	Read review	Read review	Read review

• 4 system codes: engine, transmission, ABS, and airbag

#1. Bluedriver: Convenient, easy to use, informational – but has occasional bugs.

Bluedriver is actually the most popular Bluetooth scanner in the market at the moment. And I can confirm that Bluedriver is worth that fame. 

Beware that this scanner only works with its own “Bluedriver” app on Google Play and App Store.

This is somehow a weakness as if you cannot use a third-party app with this scanner.

Don’t worry, because the ‘Bluedriver” app is great to work with. Here’s why…

• It’s free

• Easy menu layout: Bluedriver is among the easiest apps I have used. All functions and features are put in great order and are simple to find. 
• Live data in 3 ways (gauge, graph, and digital). 
• Extra technical information: Bluedriver gives you extra information like how common the codes are and suggested repairs or replacement parts. So, you don’t even need to bring the codes to a mechanic and ask them what to do next

But, like anything, it’s not perfect. The Bluetooth connection can be annoying sometimes, and the Bluedriver app may lag or lose connection. 

In general, that weak connection won’t stop me from saying Bluedriver is the best OBD2 scanner for those who value convenience and extra technical information. 

Today’s best Bluedriver price:

#2. ANCEL FX2000: Fast, thorough – but quite confusing to use.

If a wireless device is not what you are hunting for. Then consider ANCEL FX2000. 

Out of all the options under $200, it’s my favorite when it comes to live data. It can access a wide range of data that’s enough for home mechanics to take good care of their car’s working status without needing an expensive tool.

But, unlike Bluedriver, ANCEL FX2000 doesn’t give possible fixes for problems (actually, no cheap scanner can do it like Bluedriver.) 

And, ANCEL FX2000 is not as easy to use as Bluedriver. You can use Bluedriver with no struggle, but you may feel a bit confused when using ANCEL FX2000 – finding the live data function is quite hard, for instance.

On the bright side, the ANCEL FX2000 is faster than the Bluedriver. Since it’s a handheld device, the connection is stronger, and it scans the vehicles much faster. 

So, if you’re willing to trade a bit of convenience for speed, ANCEL FX2000 might be the way to go.

Today’s best Autel MK808S price:

#3. Launch CRP129X: Best OBD2 scanner for the money

I know you may be a first-tịme buyer, and you may need something from a reliable brand. Then this is the one. Launch is the biggest brand in this list, and also the leading brand in this OBD scanner market. 

Like the two scanners mentioned above, the Launch CRP129X is great for diagnosing the most essential systems in your car. And sure, this gadget works fast and gives accurate information.

So, where’s the money at?

Launch CRP129X is more than just a diagnostic tool. It’s the only scanner in this post that can actually help you with some repairs and maintenance.

I’m talking about Launch CRP129X’s 8 service functions. This scanner will allow you to do basic services like resetting a system (battery, brake pad, etc) after replacement or filtering the diesel particles. These basic functions can save you hundreds of dollars on costly repairs.

The imperfect aspect of Launch CRP129X is that this scanner may be challenging to use at first, and the user manual is not clear at all. But, If you take some time to get familiar with the Launch CRP129X, you can save yourself both time and money in the long run. 

So, if you’re a car owner who wants to do some basic repairs along with codes and data readings, the Launch CRP129X is definitely worth checking out.

Today’s best Launch CRP129X price:

What’s Next

This is the end of my best OBD2 scanner review. 

Narrowing down the choices from numerous to just six options was a tough task, so I hope this post has been helpful to you. 

By purchasing through the links in this article, you may help me earn a commission. But don’t worry, it doesn’t influence our honest advice and recommendations for you. 

I don’t receive any payment from the brands mentioned, so your support is what keeps this website up and running. 

If you have any questions or need further information on this topic, feel free to leave a comment below. I’ll do my best to answer your questions as soon as possible.