Published: December 8, 2022 · Last updated: December 20, 2025

I tested OBDeleven, Carista, and Carly on multiple real cars to see which one is best for diagnostics and coding. I also re-tested all of them in 2025 with newer adapters and updated apps.

Quick Answer:

For VAG (VW, Audi, Škoda, SEAT) ➜ OBDeleven is the clear winner.
For simple coding on other brands ➜ Carista is fine.
Carly ➜ I don’t recommend it to anyone.

I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes get tools for free (full disclosure). It never affects my scoring.

Quick Comparison

Short summary

OBDeleven 3
Best for VAG. Full-system diagnostics, strong coding, adaptations, One-Click Apps. Multi-brand features exist but I still treat VAG as the main reason to buy it.

Carista
Best for simple coding and comfort settings on many brands. Full-system scan, easy menus, but weak live data and not a full diagnostic tool.

Carly
Most expensive. Weakest features. Subscription trap. I consider it the worst-value Bluetooth tool I have ever tested.

Quick comparison table

Feature	OBDeleven 3	Carista	Carly
Adapter cost	≈ $80	$40–50 (or any ELM327)	“Free” with plan
Annual subscription	≈ $50 (PRO)	≈ $50	≈ $150
Main strength	VAG coding + diagnostics	Easy coding on many brands	Marketing only
Full-system scan	Yes on supported brands	Yes, basic	Yes on some cars, but shallow
Live data	Strong, many PIDs	Weak, no graphs	Very limited, some PIDs wrong
Bi-directional tests	Yes on supported VAG	No	No in my testing
Service functions	Many on VAG	Basic only	Almost none
Used car check	Good on VAG	Basic	Used Car Check unreliable
Overall rating	9.5/10	7.5/10	1/10

OBDeleven 3

Pros
• Full scan on VAG (all modules)
• Full live data with graphs
• Bi-directional tests on many VAG models
• Strong coding, adaptations, long coding
• SFD support (not SFD2 yet)
• One-Click Apps for common tweaks
• Free plan already gives full diagnostics and live data

Cons
• Needs internet for most features
• PRO/ULTIMATE plans and Credits can be confusing
• 2024+ SFD2 VAG not supported for advanced stuff yet
• BMW/Toyota/Ford support is extra, not main value

Carista

Pros
• Very easy to use
• Strong coding on many models
• Full-system scan works on supported cars
• Simple service menus on some brands
• Can use cheap ELM327 adapters for short-term coding

Cons
• Weak live data, no graphs
• Limited service functions
• Subscription required for coding and service menus
• Classic adapter is slow, EVO is the only one I recommend
• Not a replacement for full diagnostic tools

Carly

Pros
• Some coding works on a few VAG models

Cons
• Hidden annual subscription, easy to miss on checkout
• Very poor compatibility and many non-working features
• No real full-system live data
• No bi-directional tests in my testing
• Almost no service resets
• Used Car Check only works in very specific cases, often wrong
• Global OBD live data wrong even on basic parameters like throttle
• Connection issues even on “supported” cars
• Worst value for money of all Bluetooth tools I tested
• For the price of one year of Carly you can buy a much stronger tool with lifetime updates

Free plan features

Feature	OBDeleven 3 Free	Carista Free	Carly Free
Read codes	Yes (all modules on supported cars)	Yes (engine only)	Engine if lucky
Clear codes	Yes	Yes	Engine if lucky
Full live data	Yes	No	No
Freeze frame	Yes	No	No
Bi-directional tests	Some (VAG)	No	No
Service functions	Some via Credits	Very limited	No in my tests
Coding	Needs PRO/ULTIMATE or Credits	Needs subscription	Needs subscription

Premium plan features

Feature	OBDeleven PRO/ULTIMATE	Carista Premium	Carly Subscription
Full live data	Yes	Limited	Limited
Bi-directional tests	Yes on VAG	No	No
Service functions	Many	Limited	Almost none
Coding	Deep VAG, One-Click	Preset lists	Patchy, some VAG
Long coding	Yes	No	No
Adaptations	Yes	No	No
Basic settings	Yes	No	No
SFD handling	Yes (not SFD2 yet)	Simple	Unknown
Value	High	Good for short-term use	Very poor

Personal Experience

OBDeleven 3

For VAG, OBDeleven 3 is my main mobile tool.
I use it for:

• Coding
• Adaptations
• Service resets
• Used car checks

New adapter is faster. New app is more responsive, even if cloud-heavy.
It is not perfect, but it delivers what it promises.

Carista

I use Carista mainly for:

• Quick coding on Toyota, VAG, BMW
• Disabling seatbelt warnings
• Adjusting comfort settings

I don’t use it for serious diagnostics or deep repairs.
For that I use OBDeleven or tablet tools.
For one month of coding, Carista is perfect.

Carly

Carly is the only tool in this comparison I tell people to avoid completely.

I bought it twice, tested on multiple cars, wrote a full review, and made a viral video showing how bad it is.
Most people in comments under that video and under my old review had the same experience:

• Didn’t realise it’s yearly.
• Couldn’t cancel easily.
• Weak functions and broken promises.

Even if it was a one-time 150 € payment, I still wouldn’t recommend it.
As a yearly subscription it’s just insane.

Conclusion

For VAG cars:
• OBDeleven 3 is the best choice.
• Strong diagnostics, coding, and service functions.

For simple coding on many brands:
• Carista is a good app, especially with a cheap ELM327 and one-month plan.

Avoid:
• Carly – worst value, weak functions, and a subscription model I consider a deliberate trap.

If you are ready to spend money on tools, it is always better to:

• Buy OBDeleven 3 for VAG work.
• Use Carista short-term for simple coding.
• Or step up to a tablet scanner like Kingbolen K7, Mucar VO7, or Thinkcar tablets if you want multi-brand workshop functions.

Carly gives you none of that.
So in this comparison, Carly is not just the loser.
It’s the tool I recommend never to buy.he top choice for car diagnostics and customizations.

Why I Prefer Thinkcar / Mucar Tablets Over Subscriptions

If you are ready to spend 50–150 €/year on subscriptions for app-based adapters, it makes more sense to pay upfront for a serious tool with free lifetime updates.

Tools from Thinkcar or Mucar (like VO7, some Thinkcar tablets) often give you:

• full-system diagnostics on most brands
• real live data and bi-directional tests
• 30+ service functions
• ECU coding on many cars
• lifetime updates included

So instead of burning the same money every 2–4 years on subscriptions for weak adapters, you pay once, get a stronger tool, and keep it updated for free.

For most people this is simply smarter: one solid scanner with lifetime updates beats multiple years of paying for half-working Bluetooth subscriptions.

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