Here are the 10 best diagnostic tools under $100:
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- FIXD Sensor Professional Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner
- FOXWELL NT301 OBD2 Scanner
- ELM327 OBD2 Scanner
- Bluedriver OBD2 Scanner
- Innova carscan Pro 5210 OBD2 Scanner
- Carly OBD2 Scanner
- ZUS Nonda Smart Vehicle Health Monitor OBD2 Scanner
- Ancel AD310 OBD2 Scanner
- Oxgord OBD2 Scanner
- BAFX OBD2 Scanner
Your vehicle relies on a set of trouble codes to bring your attention to internal problems. For example, when you see a check engine light illuminating on the dashboard, the problem can be easily scanned using a simple diagnostic tool like an OBDII scanner. However, these OBDII scanners vary in price from $20 to $2000.
You don't necessarily need to go with the most expensive scanner because it will provide extra functionalities that might not necessarily be needed. Instead, these expensive tools are more recommended for mechanics or technicians using them as part of their job.
Therefore, this article will walk you through the 10 best diagnostic tools under $100 that provide you with a decent amount of information to help you save on money and get an idea about what to expect in terms of repair options and repair costs.
10 best diagnostic tools under $100
The market is filled with tons of available diagnostic tools to purchase. Although this is a great thing, it can be overwhelming for too many inexperienced drivers to select from. Therefore, it is important to understand the top-recommended 10 best diagnostic tools under $100 to give yourself an idea about which one to select.
This list summarizes experts’ recommendations about the 10 best diagnostic tools as of 2021-2022. In addition, it will highlight the main pros and cons of each one to help you make an informed decision and get the tool that serves your needs without breaking your budget.
1- FIXD Sensor Professional Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner
The first sensor is designed in EU S and is recommended by many automotive experts. It provides you with all details you need, and it's very easy to set up and connect to your phone. In addition, by using this sensor, you can monitor up to five vehicles simultaneously, which means that you can't track all your family vehicles without any issue.
One of the best things about this sensor is that it's very affordable and comes with a specific case that protects it from damages. Finally, the sensor provides you with extra articles and YouTube videos about how to use it and set it up without any issue.
Despite the great features of this sensor, it's not suitable to read many other specific codes, especially those related to the ABS and the airbags. Also, there are some advanced features that you cannot access unless you choose the premium subscription, which is a little bit more expensive.
2- FOXWELL NT301 OBD2 Scanner
The second diagnostic tool is very practical and amazing to many customers. It comes with certain software upgrades in old life, and you can even print some of the information. One of the best features of this diagnostic tool is that you can display it on your laptop for better visualization and clear information.
Unfortunately, there is no customer support to deal with complaints, and the device takes some space that is not convenient for many drivers. The other thing is that this device might be a bit more expensive than the others mentioned in this list, and it doesn't have a smartphone app.
3- ELM327 OBD2 Scanner
The best feature about this diagnostic tool is that it's very cheap, and you can find it between $10 and $25 and is much more affordable than most diagnostic tools. The nice thing about it is that it's compatible with many Android apps and third-party iOS apps, and it comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility.
Unfortunately, if you decide to go with this scanner, you'll need to purchase third-party software to allow you to display the full functionality of this tool. Also, it's important to note that the final price of this tool doesn't end at $25 because it all depends on which third-party app you decide to go with for visualization purposes.
4- Bluedriver OBD2 Scanner
This diagnostic tool can read many trouble codes, including those related to the ABS and the airbags. It also provides you with a list of suggested repairs that are not something you find in all devices and by relying on this tool, you can get an idea about whether your vehicle passes the emission test.
Unfortunately, even though the tool reads many trouble codes, it cannot read all codes for all vehicles, which means that you must confirm whether the tool will read your trouble codes for your vehicle. Also, it's a little bit more expensive, and you might get it for about $99.99.
5- Innova carscan Pro 5210 OBD2 Scanner
The best thing about this tool is that it doesn't only read many trouble codes, but also it provides you with live data to help you get an idea about your vehicle all the time. In addition, it also provides features allowing you to test whether your vehicle passes dimension tests or not.
Unfortunately, it does have some drawbacks, including the higher price if you decide to go with the protective case. Also, the tool doesn't have a smartphone or app connectivity.
6- Carly OBD2 Scanner
If you decide to purchase this diagnostic tool, you'll have options to customize it to fit their needs, which is more suitable for car enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it also provides you with some recommendations about how to service your vehicle if there is a problem, and it doesn't have Android and iOS compatible here.
Despite the great features coming with this tool, you'll still need to deal with some drawbacks, including the hard to use because of the complex functionality and features. It is also hard to tell how much this tool costly because there are some add-on costs, including those related to the apps, and the other features supporting it's appeared
7- ZUS Nonda Smart Vehicle Health Monitor OBD2 Scanner
One of the best features of this diagnostic tool is that it's suitable for every customer despite your experience. It is easy enough to use without any complications. It also has additional features like those related to the automatic car Finder and other driving behavior analysis features.
Unfortunately, by using this tool, you might not be able to read all non-CEL codes. In addition, many customers complained about the connectivity of this tool, making it a little bit challenging to use it smoothly without complications.
8- Ancel AD310 OBD2 Scanner
If you're looking for a good quality affordable scanning tool for your vehicle, this one should be one of your choices! It is very easy to use and comes with a very large LCD screen to help you visualize things clearly without any problem. It also comes with a 2.5-foot cable for easier usage.
Unfortunately, despite the great features coming with this tool, the low price sacrificed a lot of great features, including the smartphone connectivity and the ability to read all trouble codes. In addition, some customers complained about the tool’s compatibility with many vehicles.
9- Oxgord OBD2 Scanner
If you don't want to invest in a very expensive OBD tool scanner, you might want to consider this one. It provides you with basic information to help you understand what the code is inside the car. The coolest thing about this scanner is that it's small enough to put it in your glove box, and it has a clear LCD screen for better visibility.
Unfortunately, this scanning tool does not provide you with live data to help monitor your vehicle continuously. Also, it doesn't read old trouble codes, which is not surprising considering the low price. Finally, you won't be able to connect this tool with your apps because not compatible as well.
10- BAFX OBD2 Scanner
This tool is another grade affordable scanning tool that provides you with decent information. You can purchase it for only $21.99, which is less expensive than the common FIXD scanning tools. In addition, the company claims that this tool guarantees tool works with any OBDII protocol, and it is very compatible with most third-party apps.
Keep in mind that the tool is only compatible with Android apps which means that you can't use it on your iPhone or your Mac book. If you decided to go with some third-party apps, you'd have to consider the price because it's not included in the $21.99.
How to shop for your next diagnostic tool?
If you're ready to invest in a diagnostic tool, there are some factors you need to consider before putting your money a waste, including:
1- Confirm compatibility
As we indicated earlier, there are many OBDII scanners available in the market, but not all of them are compatible with your vehicle. Therefore, consider reading thoroughly through the tool and confirm that it is compatible with your vehicle's model.
2- Consider the cost
Of course, the more features you're looking for, the higher the price. Therefore, before getting excited about a certain tool, consider the price and ensure that it doesn't break your budget.
3- Check third party apps
If you would like to use the tool and connect it to your iPhone or Android, you'll need to confirm that the tool is compatible because, as we highlighted before, some tools are only compatible with Android but not iPhone. It can be extremely challenging and disappointing to purchase a good OBD tool and end up without having it connected to your form.
4- Understand the features
Many OBDII scanners cannot read old trouble codes. Therefore, before investing in your next tool, confirm if you're interested in a tool that reads the ABS-related codes or other special codes that might not be available in other tools.
5- Check for real-time monitoring
Some tools might provide you with extra features to help you monitor your vehicle all the time. However, no old tools come with this feature. Therefore, confirm and read through the characteristics carefully before making a final purchase decision.
6- Look for repair recommendations
While it's great to understand what problem your vehicle is suffering from, it can be a little more complicated for some drivers to understand what needs to be done next. Therefore, if you want additional information, you might want to consider a tool that helps you with some recommendations about what needs to be fixed. However, keep in mind that those tools will be much more expensive than the basic OBD scanners.
Conclusion
When you see a check engine light illuminating the dashboard, many drivers freak out, thinking that the problem is extremely significant. However, there are many instances where the problem might be linked to a minor issue. Therefore, it is critical to scan the Eric causing the check engine light to predict the repair options and costs without waiting until the mechanic checks out your car.
Since the market has various available diagnostic tools, it is critical to narrow down the list and get an idea about cheap tools that serve the job without breaking the budget. Therefore, this article provided you with the ten best diagnostic tools available in the market as recommendations by automotive experts in 2021 and 2022.
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