FIXD vs. Carly: Which Is Better?

When it comes to FIXD vs. Carly OBD2 scanners, which should you buy? Unless custom coding cars is your thing, FIXD is what you want.

What Should I Know Before Buying An OBD2 Scanner?

FIXD vs. Carly, which is better? Truth is, it depends on you and your unique needs. But before we dive into the features, here’s what you need to know before buying an OBD scan tool.

Every gas-powered vehicle made since 1996 comes equipped with an OBD2 port. By accessing this port, you can read your vehicle’s Onboard Diagnostics (OBD2) System and understand the check engine light without paying $100+ for repair shop diagnostics.

So, if you drive a gas-powered vehicle model year 1996 or newer (or diesel engine 2008 and newer), you can save time and money by diagnosing car problems at home. All you need is an OBD2 scan tool that is compatible with your car.

You might think all OBD2 scanners are the same, but a quick Google search reveals hundreds of options with different features and functionality. In this article, we cover two popular car scanners and OBD2 apps: FIXD vs. Carly so that you can make an informed decision.

Key Features to Look for in an OBD2 Scan Tool

Diagnose and Reset CEL

At a bare minimum, your OBD2 scanner should be able to read most engine fault codes and reset the check engine light. This feature alone can save you $100+ by avoiding a diagnostic service fee and hard reset at the repair shop.

Know Issue Severity

Ever been scared to drive with a check engine light? Some OBD2 scanners not only tell you what your check engine light means in simple terms, but also how severe the issue is so you know if it’s safe to drive.

Real-Time Vehicle Health Monitoring

To get the most value from your car scanner, look for a device that you can leave plugged in to monitor vehicle health 24/7. Even better if your scan tool gives you the option to view live vehicle data, such as oxygen sensor voltage, fuel trims, vehicle speed, and more while you drive. This makes it easy to check car performance on the go.

DIY Repair Guidance

If you’re a hands-on driver interested in saving money with at-home repairs, you’ll need a scan tool that accurately diagnoses engine problems and suggests possible fixes with helpful blogs and videos to walk you through repairs.

Automated Maintenance Alerts

This is a rare feature with OBD2 scanners, but extremely helpful in extending the lifespan of your vehicle. Look for a scan tool that sends automated maintenance alerts based on your specific make, model, and mileage so you never miss an important oil change or other service.

Connect Wirelessly via Bluetooth

When you’re stuck on the side of the road, the last thing you want is to be searching through your glove compartment and untangling messy wires. Make sure your OBD2 scanner is wireless and connects to your iOS or Android smartphone using Bluetooth technology for the fastest possible engine diagnostics.

Transparent Pricing

OBD2 scanners range in price from under $50 to $2000+. Unless you’re a professional automotive technician or specialist, there’s no need to fork out thousands for a scanner. Just be sure to find a tool that offers transparent pricing so you know exactly what you’re getting and don’t end up paying for a subscription you may or may not need.

FIXD Overview

Over 3 million FIXD Sensors have been sold and the free FIXD app has more than 10,000 5-star reviews. It’s priced affordably at just $59 and delivers massive value at that price point.

Our favorite part about the FIXD OBD2 scanner is how easy it is for anyone to pick up and use right away. The data display inside the free FIXD app is much more user-friendly than other scan tools and features a mix of text and visual data, including charts and graphs that make it easy to understand what’s going on inside your vehicle.
It not only reads most engine codes, but it translates them into plain English (so that anyone can understand what they mean). The FIXD Sensor and free app also gives you a list of possible fixes for your specific error code and links to in-depth OBD2 code descriptions and DIY repair videos to help you fix simple issues yourself.

Plus, it comes with added features that other scan tools don’t have, such as Automated Maintenance Alerts so you never forget an oil change and Multi-Vehicle Health Monitoring. This feature allows you to connect multiple FIXD Sensors to any car you own and monitor their health in real time from your smartphone – even if you’re 500 miles away! This makes it a great choice for parents who want to keep track of the whole family’s fleet of vehicles.

FIXD is an American-owned company based in Atlanta, Georgia, and they stand behind their quality products with a 100% risk-free money back guarantee

Pros & Cons of FIXD

FIXD PROS	FIXD CONS
Comprehensive OBD2 scanner that’s a great value at $59	Doesn’t read ALL engine codes, such as ABS and Airbag
App is designed for anyone to easily use, even if you know nothing about cars	Only reads Transmission codes in certain makes and models
Translates 7000+ engine codes into plain, simple terms in minutes	Doesn’t offer ability to custom encode your vehicle
U.S. based technology and customer support
Compatible with iPhone & Android
Sends automatic maintenance reminders so you never miss an oil change or other important service
Offers users the ability to connect up to 5 FIXD Sensors to one phone, so they can remotely monitor the whole family’s fleet of vehicles and know when it’s time to schedule service – even if the car is hundreds of miles away
Backed by 1-year warranty, plus no-risk money back guarantee
Transparent pricing & features: FIXD Sensor + free app is $59, or you can upgrade to access Premium features for $69/year. No surprises or hidden fees.

Best for:

Everyday drivers to amateur DIYers and car enthusiasts with a “hands-on” approach to caring for their cars and saving money with at-home repairs and maintenance.

Carly Overview

Carly is an OBD2 diagnostic scanner and app that allows users to understand and clear the check engine light.

With the full paid version of Carly, users can custom code their vehicles to fit their needs. This includes adjusting lighting and mirrors, deactivating the seatbelt warning, and more.

It is a European-based app, and some American users complain about customer support and verbiage used in the app. The biggest complaint about Carly is its subscription-based model. This makes it a much more expensive option compared to FIXD.

I personally found it very difficult to figure out what I could do with Carly on my vehicle and how much it would cost to access its more unique features such as custom coding. I couldn’t even tell if this option was available without first ordering the adapter and testing it on my car.

However, if you’re interested in tweaking the engine components and features of your vehicle or you own a high-end foreign make and want access to enhanced coding features, Carly’s pros might outweigh the cons for you.

Pros	Cons
Designed specifically for car enthusiasts who want the ability to custom encode their vehicle to fit their needs	Difficult to understand what features are available for your specific vehicle
Free app lets you monitor your car’s health, tells the severity of your issue, clears engine codes, and more	Extremely unclear pricing. Users must purchase the adapter first, then download the Lite app to find out which specific features are supported for their vehicle and how much they will cost.
Compatible with iOS & Android	Advanced features & coding are only available on Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Mini, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Toyota, and VW
	Vehicle coding and parameters reading functions require a monthly subscription
	Cannot connect multiple devices to the Carly app to easily keep the whole family safe and connected
	Shows recommended service intervals but doesn’t send automated alerts

Best for:

Hands-on drivers of foreign makes who like to tinker and custom code their vehicle to fit their needs.

FIXD vs. Carly Key Features at a Glance

	FIXD	Carly
Price	$59, free shipping (includes FIXD Sensor and free app)	$79.90, Plus Shipping (includes Adapter ONLY, enhanced features require subscription)
Amazon Customer Rating	4/5	4.1/5
Technology Designed In USA	✔
Diagnose and Reset CEL	✔	✔
Know Issue Severity	✔	✔
Real-Time Vehicle Health Monitoring	✔	✔
DIY Repair Guidance	✔
Automated Maintenance Alerts	✔
Multi-Vehicle Remote Monitoring	✔
Transparent Pricing	✔
Wireless Bluetooth Connectivity	✔	✔
Android & iOS Compatible	✔	✔