5 Best engine code readers in 2025

I tested 10+ different engine code readers to not only find out which one is best but also to discover what are the differences between good and bad code readers as these tools seem very similar to each other.

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Quick recommendations

I tested a bunch of code readers

Code readers are a great tool, even for car shops despite their simple functionality. All they do is work with your engine control module to read and clear faults and read some engine data.

But they are so simple to use.

If I try to scan the engine light with my professional scan tool, it will take me at least 5 minutes to connect, choose the brand, and run a scan.

With a code reader, you can have an answer in 10 seconds and if you need a complex tool to solve, then you can use your main professional scan tool.

Code readers are great for quick initial problem diagnosis.

TESTED Code readers:

I used all of these code readers, made separate reviews for almost all of them and picked a few I believe are best to recommend to you.

Code reader model	Separate review
Ancel AD310	Ancel AD310 Review
Ancel AD310 BT	Ancel AD310 BT review
Ancel AD530	Ancel AD530 Review
Kingbolen YA200	Kingbolen YA200 Review
Launch Creader 3001	Launch Creader 3001 Review
Launch CR3008+	Launch CR3008+ Review
Motopower MP69033	Motopower MP69033 Review
Vdiagtool VD30 PRO	Vdiagtool VD30 PRO Review
Blacktec 420	Blacktec 420 Review
Random red code reader	No review yet 🙁

Some of these I used for years, what did I learn?

The first thing I noticed was how to spot a good code reader. They all pretty much do the same stuff, but there are a few differences between good and great code readers.

• Great code reader displays live data graphs
• The great code reader will show you permanent/stored/pending codes separately
• A great code reader can do a battery test

There are also Bluetooth Code readers

I found out that there are Bluetooth code readers that not only work as traditional code readers but also can connect to your smartphone via an app.

For example Ancel AD310 BT version. That way you can combine ELM327 + Code reader in one tool but I am still not recommending buying one unless it’s priced similarly to other code reader you want.

The main problem of code readers with Bluetooth is that they cannot be used with any ELM app, usually only their own which comes with some limitations.

A cheap code reader can work but…

I got this one for about $6 off Aliexpress and unlike cheap ELM327 adapters, this code reader actually was able to read me faults from my engine.

Although it red code, it doesnt show any engine live data. Cheaper code readers don’t show live data graphs but at least they show engine live data as text values.

But this one is the only one from all I tested that doesnt give me live data in any form (neither graph nor text).

Video: Best Engine Code readers

Vdiagtool VD30 PRO is my favourite

VD30 PRO is one code reader I am recommending for everyone. It is fairly priced, not even the most expensive on the list but definitely feels best to use.

It is the only one on this list that can show up to 4v1 live data graphs.

It also supports separating pending/permanent/current fault codes so you know which type of fault are you dealing with.

Then it is very easy to use and navigate.

Check out the separate Vdiagtool VD30 PRO review here.

Ancel AD530 is great for beginners

What I liked the most about Ancel AD530 is that it does everything that a GREAT code reader should do (multiple live data graphs, battery test, etc…)

but it also shows possible causes for fault codes. So once you get the fault code, you can check what could be causing it.

It is a nice feature, but if you want to get it outside of code reader you can download my OBD2 library app available for premium members of my Academy.

Launch CR3008 feels most professional

Launch CR3008+ felt the most professional, especially when I was dealing with specific fault codes about communication between modules on my old Punto.

Also, almost perfect code reader that supports everything a GREAT code reader should be able to do.

The only thing I dislike about this one is the slow reaction when pressing buttons which creates this slow feeling that can be annoying to someone.

It was the same with another code reader from the Launch brand I tried, the Launch CR3001.

Pretty good code reader for its price but the slow reaction to press buttons was even worse here which really annoyed me.

Ancel AD310 is a great budget pick

Ancel AD310 (not Bluetooth version), is the best code reader for a lower budget (under $30). It even shows one live data graph despite competitors in this price range usually just stick to live data text values.

Conclusion: Winners of the test