BlueDriver vs FIXD: Which OBD2 Scanner Should You Buy?
3 lessons in this series, 12 min in total
- Can an OBD2 Scanner Read ABS and Airbag Codes? 4 min read
- Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner vs Wired Handheld: Which Should You Buy? 4 min read
- BlueDriver vs FIXD: Which OBD2 Scanner Should You Buy? 4 min read
This lesson draws on BlueDriver’s product pages, FIXD’s website, App Store listing, returns page and Amazon listing, and a Tom’s Guide review. How we research explains the method.
One purchase vs a sensor plus a plan
BlueDriver sells the Pro as a single purchase. Its product page says “Zero Subscription Fees or Add-ons” and “One purchase gets you everything you need.” That covers a repair report for each trouble code, freeze frame data, live data and a check of whether the car is ready for a smog or emissions test.
FIXD splits the job in two. Its website says code translation, issue severity and maintenance alerts are free in the FIXD app once you buy the sensor, and that you can connect it to all of your family’s vehicles. FIXD’s Amazon listing answers the subscription question directly: you buy the scanner, the app is free, and Premium is optional.
Premium is where FIXD’s extras live. Its website names a mechanic hotline, repair cost estimates, forecasts of likely problems, vehicle history reports and an emissions pre-check.
FIXD Premium: trial and renewal terms
Read this part before you buy a FIXD sensor:
- Trial length: fixd.com says buying the sensor gets you “a two-week trial subscription to FIXD Premium.” Offers can change, so check the length shown at checkout and note the end date.
- Renewal: FIXD’s App Store listing says that after the free trial, your account is charged and the subscription renews automatically at the original price unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.
- Billing: the App Store listing offers Premium as a monthly or a yearly plan.
- Canceling and refunds: FIXD’s returns page says you can cancel at any time and keep access until the end of the billing period. It allows a refund request within 30 days of the first charge, for the first year only, with no refunds on renewals. Apple subscriptions are refunded at Apple’s discretion.
That returns page is marked as updated in November 2021, so confirm the current terms with FIXD before you rely on a refund.
Features side by side
| BlueDriver Pro | FIXD sensor | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | One purchase, no subscription fees | Sensor plus free app; Premium is a paid plan |
| Repair help | Repair report for each code | Free code explanations; repair costs and mechanic hotline in Premium |
| Emissions readiness | Smog check, included | Emissions pre-check, in Premium |
| ABS and airbag codes | On specific makes | On many vehicles; coverage varies by model |
| Vehicles | 1996+ sold in North America | Gas and hybrid 1996+; diesels after 2008 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 365 days from delivery |
BlueDriver’s headline says all gas vehicles 1996+, and its compatibility text adds most diesel and hybrid vehicles sold in North America. For diesels, fixd.com says “built after 2008”, while FIXD’s Amazon listing says 2006+ in one line and 2008+ in its FAQ, so a diesel owner should confirm with FIXD first.
Both makers list ABS and airbag codes by make, not for every car, so check your car with each maker before you count on them. What those codes mean is covered in can an OBD2 scanner read ABS and airbag codes.
Is FIXD worth it?
For alerts more than diagnostics, it can be. FIXD says the sensor stays hidden under the dash, ready to scan, and one account can monitor several family cars, each with its own sensor. If the free tier covers what you need, FIXD is the cheaper route, and Premium is a separate decision to make before the trial ends.
It is weaker value if you want repair reports and readiness checks without a recurring fee, since BlueDriver includes them in one purchase. In a 2017 review of FIXD’s second-generation sensor, Tom’s Guide’s Brian Nadel preferred BlueDriver because it interprets specialty codes for several automakers and shows live driving data. FIXD’s current listing advertises enhanced codes and live data, so treat that review as dated.
Two follow-ups apply to both tools. Whether either can stay in the port of a parked car is covered in can you leave an OBD2 scanner plugged in, and what clearing codes does before a smog test is covered in clearing codes before an emissions test.
Who should buy which
BlueDriver Pro: DIYers with a North American car who want repair reports, freeze frame data and smog readiness with no subscription. BlueDriver also sells a newer Pro Next-Gen; the card below is the original Pro. For a car built for Europe, see the OBDLink MX+ in Bluetooth OBD2 scanner vs wired.
BlueDriver MAX is a different product: a plan-based tool for inspection businesses that BlueDriver says is “not sold on an individual basis.”
BlueDriver Pro
A Bluetooth OBD2 adapter for iOS and Android with repair reports, freeze frame and smog check readiness, and no subscription fees. Made for 1996+ vehicles sold in North America.
Read the full guideKey specs
- No subscription fees
- 1996+ vehicles sold in North America
- Repair reports, freeze frame, smog check
- 1-year limited warranty
Paid link
View on Amazon (opens in a new tab)FIXD: beginners and families who want plain-English alerts and maintenance reminders for several cars, and who will decide on Premium before the trial ends.
FIXD Sensor (1-pack)
A Bluetooth OBD2 sensor with a free app that explains codes and sends maintenance alerts. FIXD Premium is a paid plan that renews automatically after its free trial unless you cancel.
Read the full guideKey specs
- Free app: code explanations and maintenance alerts
- Gas and hybrid 1996+; diesels after 2008
- Premium renews after the trial unless canceled
- 365-day warranty from delivery
Paid link
View on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Whichever you pick, a scanner doesn’t change one rule: Ram’s manual says a flashing check engine light needs immediate service, as the warning-light guide explains. Buying for a new driver? See gifts for new drivers.
