5 Best OBD2 scanners for General Motors (Chevrolet/GMC/Buick/Cadillac)
Published: November 24, 2024 · Last updated: April 14, 2026
From my experience testing GM vehicles, most basic scanners only show engine faults and miss important systems like transmission, ABS, or body control. If you want real diagnostics on Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, or Cadillac, you need a tool that can access every control unit, perform active tests, and support ECU coding or adaptations. The best scanners for GM give you access close to the official Tech2 or GDS2 systems used by dealerships.
I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes get tools for free (full disclosure). It never affects my scoring.
Quick recommendations for GM cars
Full comparison
The Launch Creader GM is handheld one-brand scanner made for GM vehicles. It supports full-system diagnostics, bi-directional testing, and basic ECU coding..
- Lifetime free updates included
- Above average build quality (10/10)
- Above average diagnostics (9/10)
- Above average coding (8/10)
The GM Tech2 / VXDIAG VCX Nano is vX interface with dedicated GM software scanner that gives you full-system access, bi-directional testing, and service resets..
- Above average vehicle coverage (10/10)
- Above average service functions (8/10)
The Mucar 892BT is my personal favourite go-to scanner for diagnosing, checking used cars. service resets or even coding new features. Unless I need special tool I am using this one..
- Lifetime free updates included
- Above average ease of use (10/10)
- Above average UX quality (10/10)
- Above average speed (9/10)
The Foxwell NT710 for GM is dedicated GM scanner that gives you full-system access, bi-directional testing, and service resets..
- Lifetime free updates included
- Above average ease of use (8/10)
- Above average UX quality (8/10)
The Youcanic UCAN-II full-system is full system scanner that works completely without internet connection (except update and setup). Works very good and does service/coding as well..
- Lifetime free updates included
- Above average speed (8/10)
- Above average diagnostics (9/10)
- Above average value for money (9/10)
The XTool D8s is pro-level mid-range tablet with full-system diagnostics, bidirectional tests and moderate coding depth tested on VAG platform.
- Above average value for money (9/10)
- Above average service functions (8/10)
Feature comparison
|
Best Budget
Launch Creader GM
|
Best Features
GM Tech2 / VXDIAG VCX Nano
|
Best Value
Mucar 892BT
|
Best for Beginners
Foxwell NT710 for GM
|
Youcanic UCAN-II full-system
|
XTool D8s
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8
|
7.3
|
9.4
|
6.6
|
8.4
|
8.3
|
| Tool type | Standalone device | Standalone device | Standalone device | Standalone device | Standalone device | Standalone device |
| User level | Advanced | Professional | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced |
| Vehicle focus | gm | gm | All makes | gm | All makes | All makes |
| System focus | All systems | All systems | All systems | All systems | All systems | All systems |
| Global OBD | ✓ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full system codes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live data (full) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bidirectional | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coding | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECU programming | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Diagnostics | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Service score | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Coding score | 8/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of use | 8/10 | 4/10 | 10/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Price / value | 8/10 | 8/10 | 10/10 | 6/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Free updates | Lifetime free updates | No updates included | Lifetime free updates | Lifetime free updates | Lifetime free updates | 3 years free updates |
| Subscription | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Verdict | handheld one-brand scanner made for GM vehicles. It supports full-system diagnostics, bi-directional testing, and basic ECU coding. | VX interface with dedicated GM software scanner that gives you full-system access, bi-directional testing, and service resets. | My personal favourite go-to scanner for diagnosing, checking used cars. service resets or even coding new features. Unless I need special tool I am using this one. | dedicated GM scanner that gives you full-system access, bi-directional testing, and service resets. | full system scanner that works completely without internet connection (except update and setup). Works very good and does service/coding as well. | pro-level mid-range tablet with full-system diagnostics, bidirectional tests and moderate coding depth tested on VAG platform |
| Official store | Check price › | — | Check price › | Check price › | Check price › | Check price › |
| Amazon | Check price › | — | Check price › | Check price › | — | Check price › |
| AliExpress | Check price › | Check price › | Check price › | — | — | Check price › |
| Full review → | Full review → | Full review → |
Quick recommendations for GM cars
Most popular OBD2 guides
Hi, which scanner can I use for the Opel? I don’t see Opel brand on your list…
Hi any Thinkcar/Mucar scanner will be good.
I need a scanner that will graph the resistance test for A and B on the throttle body with a P02135 GMC Envoy.
I am not sure if you can read it with OBD2 scanner. ECU knows resistance for A/B but not sure if that is included in live data parameters. If not, then you will not be able to graph it with any scanner. On the other hand if it is in live data, you can use any of these (except vgate)