[Tested] 6 Best TOPDON Scan Tools for 2024

TOPDON is a well-known brand in the diagnostic world, but you might be unsure about the reliability of their products and which one would best suit your needs.

To address your concerns, our testing team has spent two weeks conducting comprehensive tests and has narrowed down the selection to the top 6 Topdon scanners.

Tester	OBD Advisor’s Testers
Testing date	Oct 11th – Oct 25th, 2023
Number of tested products	14
Number of tested cars	6

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6 Best TOPDON Scan Tools Comparison Chart

[Note: Swipe left for full table]

Product	Satisfaction score	What it can do?
Best cheap AL200	9.5	– Engine-system diagnosis – I/M Readiness	Check Price
Editor’s Pick Phoenix Lite 2	9.5	– Full-system diagnosis – Full bidirectional control – 28+ service functions – ECU Coding	Check Price
ArtiDiag Pro	9.3	– Full-system diagnosis – Bidirectional control – 31 service functions – ECU Coding	Check Price
AD800BT	9.0	– Full-system diagnosis – Full OBD2 functions – 28 service functions – Throttle Relearn	Check Price
AD600S	8.8	– 4-system diagnosis – Full OBD2 functions – 8 service functions – ABS Bleed/ DPF Regen	Check Price
AL600	8.5	– Engine/ ABS / SRS diagnosis – Live data – ABS/ SRS active tests – 3 service functions	Check Price

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Is TOPDON a Good Brand?

• TOPDON was founded in 2017. They are not among the leading brands in this scanner world, but they’re also not a newbie. I consider them as the middle-rank.
• TOPDON products are well-known for quick and reliable diagnostics and repair.
• TOPDON products often receive high ratings. For example, the TOPDON Phoenix Pro has a rating of 4.8 and the TOPDON Phoenix Lite 2 has a perfect 5 rating, which is very impressive.
• TOPDON offers great products for all levels of mechanic knowledge, from novice to professional.
• TOPDON tech support is helpful and excellent.
• One thing I like about TOPDON is that their scanners are affordable and not overpriced.

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TOPDON Product Lines: Which One is for You?

Product lines	Targeted Users	Key Features	Recommended products
ArtiLink (AL) < $100	Beginners, Home mechanics	• Read/ clear engine & transmission codes • Smog test • Engine live data • Freeze frame data • Full OBD2 functions	TOPDON AL200 TOPDON AL400 TOPDON AL500 TOPDON AL600
Diag (AD) < $600	DIYers, home mechanics	• 4 system/ full system codes • 4 system/ full system live data • Reset functions • Active tests (AD900BT)	TOPDON AD500 TOPDON AD600S TOPDON ArtiDiag PRO TOPDON AD800BT TOPDON AD900BT
Phoenix < $3000	Professionals, advanced mechanics/ DIYers	• Full system diagnostics • Full active tests • Numerous reset functions • Key Programming • ECU Coding • ECU Programming (Phoenix Pro)	TOPDON Phoenix Plus TOPDON Phoenix Lite 2 TOPDON Phoenix Pro

Read more TOPDON products comparison reviews:

• TOPDON ArtiDiag500 vs. 600 vs. 800
• TOPDON ArtiDiag800 vs. ArtiDiag800 BT

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Best Topdon Scanners: Reviews

Best Topdon Scanners for Beginners

#1. TOPDON AL200

We highly recommend the TOPDON AL200 scanner for beginners who want a quick and easy way to check their vehicles at home. Once you plug it in, it’s good to go, making it super convenient.

This scanner can read and erase engine codes while providing clear descriptions of what each code means. It’s great for beginners who may not be familiar with car diagnostics. Plus, it can help determine if the car is ready for emissions tests, which is important for meeting environmental regulations.

The TOPDON AL200 is impressively fast and accurate. It only takes about 10 seconds to scan the engine system and provide accurate codes. You can trust that the scanner will display reliable information and won’t waste your time with false codes. The I/M Readiness feature of the scanner works flawlessly, consistently delivering accurate results.

Overall, we haven’t encountered any major issues while using the TOPDON AL200. It’s straightforward and user-friendly, making it a great choice for beginners.

Today’s best TOPDON AL200 price:

#2. TOPDON AL600

Topdon AL600 is a scanner that focuses on the ABS/ SRS system. It can pull all the codes in the ABS/ SRS in moments. This scanner can diagnose the engine system as well, but we think it’s more for ABS and SRS systems, it cannot pull the OEM engine codes. Anyways, Topdon AL600 can show live data in under 1 minute, and the data PIDs are easy to read.

But here’s the best part: the Topdon AL600 allows you to perform active tests on the ABS/SRS system. We can test specific modules like AYC valves, inlet valves, and outlet valves to ensure they’re functioning correctly.  Now, while this scanner can perform ABS bleeding, it’s important to note that it doesn’t support every vehicle we’ve tested, only 85% of them.

One more thing we love about the Topdon AL600 is that it comes with three reset functions, all at a budget-friendly price. We’ve extensively tested the oil reset, BMS reset, and SAS reset, and they work reliably on most vehicles. 

All in one, this is an excellent choice for home mechanics who want to take good care of their vehicles’ ABS/SRS system

Today’s best TOPDON A600 price:

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Best Topdon Scanners for Home Mechanics

#1. TOPDON AD800BT

The Topdon AD800BT is our top recommendation for a comprehensive tool for vehicle diagnostics and maintenance at home. At first, we were skeptical about the Bluetooth connection considering its average price. However, we were pleasantly surprised as the scanner had a strong and reliable connection, instantly connecting to all vehicles without any loss of connection during our testing.

The scanning speed of the Topdon AD800BT is impressive, taking just under a minute to scan the entire car and only minutes to handle each task. While choosing a scanner for home mechanics, we value user-friendly tools, and all TOPDON products excel in this aspect. 

Additionally, the Topdon AD800BT Pro comes with a free lifetime update, which is truly remarkable. Typically, other brands like Autel or Launch offer only 1 or 2 years of free updates for products in this price range.

However, there is one drawback to mention. While the Topdon AD800BT offers numerous service functions, we discovered that these functions may not be available on all vehicles during our tests.

Today’s best TOPDON AD800BT price:

#2. TOPDON AD600S: Best 4-system scan tool

We found the Topdon AD600S to be a more affordable option for home mechanics seeking to maintain their vehicles at home. However, due to its lower budget, it isn’t as powerful as the TOPDON AD800BT mentioned earlier. One notable aspect is that it only pulls codes from the four main systems, not all systems. Nevertheless, it only takes around 30 seconds to scan those four systems.

We appreciate that the scanner organizes the codes by system, eliminating the need to scroll through a long list. This allows us to address each system individually.

While the Topdon AD600S is slightly slower when it comes to pulling live data compared to other TOPDON scanners, it’s only a significant factor when working with multiple vehicles in a day. For regular use, the speed is acceptable.

When it comes to service functions, the Topdon AD600S supports common ones like ABS Bleeding, Oil Reset, BMS Reset, TPMS Reset, and more. We’ve tested these functions on various vehicles, and the Topdon AD600S successfully covers all of them

Today’s best TOPDON AD600S price:

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Best Topdon Scanners for Professionals

#1. TOPDON Phoenix Lite 2

Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 is our favorite Topdon scanner. Our first impression of this scanner is that it feels professional and offers many useful features, while still being easy to use.

The performance of the Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 is excellent. The Bluetooth connection is strong and reliable, and there is no delay, even when using it for a long time. The battery life is impressive too, lasting throughout the entire testing process with around 70% charge remaining after using it continuously for 3-4 hours and performing multiple tasks.

One of our favorite features is the Topology Map function. It allows for a complete scan of the vehicle and generates a map in less than 2 minutes. This feature alone makes the Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 a worthwhile investment for mechanics, as it helps save time and money by diagnosing and fixing problems efficiently.

So, this Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 is a more professional and advanced option for professional to handle their repair tasks. 

Today’s best TOPDON Phoenix Lite 2 price:

#2. TOPDON Artidiag Pro

Topdon Artidiag Pro is the best scanner that we’ve tested for both home mechanics and professionals. Its sleek design and user-friendly interface make scanning hassle-free. Thus, this scanner can support most vehicles in our tests, making it perfect for those with multiple cars to maintain. 

We are particularly impressed by the standout bidirectional control function of the Topdon ArtiDiag Pro. With ease, we can test components like fuel pumps, cooling fans, windows, and doors. The scanner’s strong connection with the vehicle ensures immediate responses during each test.

We also explore the advanced ECU coding feature of the Topdon ArtiDiag Pro, there are a wide range of coding options available. The coding processes are flawless, and we encountered no issues during our testing.

Other service functions like DPF Regen, and ABS Bleeding also work well. However, we did encounter a minor inconvenience. The Topdon ArtiDiag Pro doesn’t retain the vehicle information when switching between functions so we have to re-enter vehicle info again and again.

Today’s best TOPDON Artidiag Pro price:

What’s Next

Topdon makes some of the most affordable scan tools in the market today. However, the low price doesn’t compromise on their quality though. At the very least, a Topdon scan tool will help you diagnose MIL-related problems.

The point is, it doesn’t matter what you’re looking for in a scanner. Topdon has a model that suits you. Just check from the 6 above and pick one.