ELM327 software: which apps exist and how to use them

An ELM327 only translates between the car and your phone or computer: everything you see is down to the app. That is why two people with the same adapter can have very different experiences. Here we go through the most used apps, which systems they run on, what is free and what is paid, and which type of adapter they work with. At the end, three common jobs step by step.

If you are not sure yet which adapter suits you, start with the ELM327 basics guide.

First: which adapter works with each system

The app has to be able to talk to the adapter, and that mostly depends on how it connects:

• The Bluetooth ELM327 adapters in this guide (v1.5, Mini v2.1, v2.1 HH) are classic Bluetooth: Android and Windows, never iPhone.
• The ELM327 Wi-Fi works with iPhone, Android and Windows.
• The ELM327 USB is for a Windows laptop.

All the generic ELM327 adapters Satkit sells use the PIC18F25K80 chip, the one found in the best-rated clones. It helps, but it is not magic: some apps (FORScan, BimmerCode) ask for specific adapters for certain functions, and we point that out for each one.

General apps (any make)

Torque Lite and Torque Pro (Android)

• System: Android only.
• Price: Torque Lite is free, with ads; Torque Pro is paid (one-off).
• Good for: the classic app for live engine data on customisable dashboards and gauges, reading and clearing engine codes and logging trips. Pro adds more gauge types, graphs, acceleration tests and removes the ads.
• Adapter: classic Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The long-standing choice on Android. The Lite version is enough to check that the adapter works with your car before paying anything.

Car Scanner ELM OBD2 (Android, iPhone and iPad)

• System: Android, iPhone and iPad (also on Apple-silicon Macs).
• Price: free, with an optional Car Scanner Pro purchase (one-off or time-limited).
• Good for: fault codes (including manufacturer codes on many cars), live data, a custom dashboard, acceleration and fuel tests. It has extra features for some makes (Hyundai/Kia, Renault, Nissan, Toyota, Opel/Vauxhall…).
• Adapter: on Android, classic Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE; on iPhone, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE only.

Probably the most complete of the free apps, and available in many languages. Its website has very clear connection guides for each adapter type.

OBD Auto Doctor (Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone)

• System: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad.
• Price: a free version with the basics and a Premium subscription that unlocks the rest on all your devices.
• Good for: reading codes and readiness monitor status (handy before an emissions test); Premium adds manufacturer codes, freeze frame, graphs and data logging.
• Adapter: on Windows and Mac it supports USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi; on Android, Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi; on iPhone, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE.

The clearest choice if you use a Mac, where options are scarce.

inCarDoc (Android and iPhone)

• System: Android and iPhone.
• Price: free, with a paid PRO version.
• Good for: fault codes, live data and a car logbook with diagnostic history and fuel use; PRO adds recording several parameters at once and in the background.
• Adapter: Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on Android; Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE on iPhone.

ScanMaster-ELM (Windows)

• System: Windows.
• Price: paid (licence), with a limited demo version.
• Good for: a long-running desktop program from the German company WGSoft: fault codes, live data, graphs and reports.
• Adapter: USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

It makes sense if you always work from a laptop and want a desktop program. For occasional use, OBD Auto Doctor or the program on the adapter's CD is usually enough.

FORScan: for Ford, Mazda and Lincoln

FORScan is the go-to program for Ford, Mazda, Lincoln and Mercury. It does not work with other makes. Unlike the generic apps, it reaches every module in the car (engine, ABS, airbag, body, instrument cluster…) and lets you change settings.

• FORScan for Windows: the full program. Free with the standard licence (read and clear codes in every module, live data, tests). Configuring and programming modules needs the Extended licence, which has a free two-month trial. Windows on regular PCs only (not ARM laptops).
• FORScan Lite (Android and iPhone): a paid phone app. It reads and clears codes, shows data and runs some service functions; configuration and programming are very limited.
• Adapter: on Windows, USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. On iPhone, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE only.

Brand apps: mind the adapter

There are excellent apps for a single make, but many do not work with just any ELM327:

• BimmerCode and BimmerLink (BMW and MINI): they work with a closed list of tested adapters. Generic ELM327 adapters are not on it; one that is, is the Vgate vLinker BM+. What you can do on a BMW with each adapter: vLinker BM+ vs generic ELM327.
• Carly: now works with its own adapter; do not count on using it with a generic ELM327.
• OBDeleven (mainly Volkswagen Group): the brand functions (coding, adaptations) need its own device. On iPhone, the app accepts an ELM327 for basic engine diagnostics only.
• MotoScan (BMW motorcycles): unlike the ones above, it works with a Bluetooth ELM327 on Android, plus a 10-pin cable on BMWs from before 2017. We cover it, along with other motorcycle makes, in ELM327 for motorcycles.

To check your adapter: ELM327 Identifier

Since a clone's version number guarantees nothing, some apps test the ELM327 commands one by one and tell you which ones it really answers:

• ELM327 Identifier (Android): free. It connects over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, sends the list of AT commands from the official datasheet and tells you which version the adapter really implements.
• ELMCheck (iPhone): runs the same kind of test on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE adapters; the full test is an in-app purchase.

It is the best way to find out whether a problem lies with the adapter or with the app.

Quick comparison

How to read and clear fault codes

We use Car Scanner because it works on Android and iPhone; in Torque the steps are almost the same.

1. Plug the adapter into the OBD2 port (usually under the steering wheel) and switch the ignition on (or start the engine).
2. Connect it to the phone:
   • Classic Bluetooth (Android): pair the adapter in the phone's Bluetooth settings. The code is usually 1234 or 0000.
   • Wi-Fi: join the adapter's Wi-Fi network in the phone's settings.
   • iPhone has its own quirks: see how to connect an ELM327 to an iPhone.
3. Set up the app: in Car Scanner, tap the gear icon, go to Adapter and choose the connection type (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.0 LE) and your adapter. For Wi-Fi, the usual address is 192.168.0.10 and the port 35000. In Torque it is under Settings → OBD2 Adapter Settings.
4. Tap Connect and wait for the app to recognise the car.
5. Open fault codes (DTC). You will see each code (for example, P0171) with its description. Write the codes down or take a screenshot first.
6. To clear them, use the clear button with the ignition on and the engine off.

How to view live data

1. Connect as in the previous section.
2. In Car Scanner, open the dashboard or the sensors list; in Torque, the realtime information screen.
3. Choose the data you want: RPM, coolant temperature, engine load, fuel trims, oxygen sensors…
4. To save it, start recording and drive. The more values you ask for at once, the slower they update: an ELM327 asks for them one at a time.

FORScan on Windows with a USB adapter

1. Install the USB cable driver (on the CD or the seller's page; Windows sometimes installs it by itself). In Device Manager, under Ports (COM & LPT), the adapter should appear with a COM port number.
2. Download FORScan for Windows from forscan.org and install it.
3. Plug the adapter into the car and the laptop and switch the ignition on. For long sessions, keep a battery charger connected.
4. Open FORScan. In the connection settings you can leave auto-detection on or pick the COM port you saw in step 1.
5. Click the connect button (bottom left). FORScan identifies the adapter, the car and the list of modules.
6. With an adapter that has an HS/MS-CAN switch, FORScan asks the first time whether yours has one, and then tells you to flip the switch when it needs a module on the other network. With the ELS27 there is nothing to do: it switches by itself. With a regular USB ELM327, like ours, you will only see the modules on the HS-CAN network. ELS27 or ELM327 USB? We compare them in ELS27 vs ELM327 USB for FORScan.
7. The fault codes (DTC) tab reads and clears codes in every module; the monitoring tab shows live data.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free app for an ELM327?

For most people, Car Scanner: it is free, works on Android and iPhone and reads and clears codes without paying. On Android, Torque Lite is the classic alternative. On a laptop, the free version of OBD Auto Doctor or, if you have a Ford or a Mazda, FORScan with the standard licence.

Why can't the app find my adapter?

The usual causes: it is a classic Bluetooth adapter and you are on an iPhone (it will not work); it is not paired in the Android settings; the app is set to a different connection type; or the ignition is off. With Wi-Fi, check the phone is still connected to the adapter's network.

Can I use the same adapter with several apps?

Yes. The adapter is not tied to any generic app: you can try Torque, Car Scanner and OBD Auto Doctor with the same one. Just close one before opening another, because the adapter talks to one program at a time.

Is the program on the adapter's CD any good?

For the basics, yes, but it is usually Windows-only and rarely updated. Any of the programs in this guide does the same and more.

What if one app fails and another does not?

Test the adapter with ELM327 Identifier (Android): if commands are missing, the problem is the adapter. If it answers them, check the app's settings or try another one; each program uses different commands.

Products mentioned

ELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 v1.5

Bluetooth OBD2 adapter to read and clear fault codes and see live engine data on an Android phone or a PC.

Where to buyfrom €8.60

• S SatkitELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 V1.5 diagnostic cable for car diagnostics €8.60View at Satkit

Prices incl. VAT checked on 7 October 2026; they may change.

ELM327 Wi-Fi OBD2

Wi-Fi OBD2 adapter that creates its own network: works with iPhone, Android and Windows PCs. Reads and clears engine fault codes and shows live data.

Where to buyfrom €17.22

• S SatkitELM327 WiFi car diagnostic scanner for iPhone, Android and PC €17.22View at Satkit

Prices incl. VAT checked on 7 October 2026; they may change.

ELM327 USB v1.5

USB OBD2 cable for a Windows laptop: the most stable way to read and clear fault codes and see engine data on a computer.

Where to buyfrom €11.08

• S SatkitELM327 USB OBD2 Diagnostic Cable for PC and Vehicles €11.08View at Satkit

Prices incl. VAT checked on 7 October 2026; they may change.

ELS27 USB for FORScan

USB adapter built for FORScan: reaches the HS-CAN and MS-CAN buses on Ford and Mazda with no manual switch.

Where to buyfrom €14.39

• S SatkitELS27 OBD2 FORScan Code Reader Diagnostic Tool for Ford, Mazda, Lincoln & Mercury €14.39View at Satkit

Prices incl. VAT checked on 7 October 2026; they may change.

Vgate vLinker BM+

Vgate Bluetooth 4.0 adapter for BMW and MINI with BimmerCode and BimmerLink. iPhone, Android and Windows.

Where to buyfrom €47.97

• S SatkitVgate vLinker BM+ Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner for BMW and MINI, compatible with iOS and Android €47.97View at Satkit

Prices incl. VAT checked on 7 October 2026; they may change.

Sources

• Car Scanner: setting up a Wi-Fi connection to an ELM327
• Car Scanner: setting up Bluetooth 4.0 (LE) on iPhone/iPad
• Car Scanner ELM OBD2 on the App Store
• OBD Auto Doctor: supported adapters by platform
• OBD Auto Doctor: free and Premium
• inCarDoc on the App Store
• WGSoft: ScanMaster-ELM (in German)
• FORScan: requirements, adapters and platforms
• FORScan: downloads and licences
• FORScan Lite on the App Store
• BimmerCode: supported adapters
• OBDeleven on the App Store
• ELMCheck on the App Store