OBD Adapters & Dongles

OBD Auto Doctor supports all ELM327-based hardware interfaces. Some of the dongles are listed on this page, but many are not. The best dongles on the market are from ScanTool.net (OBDLink dongles) and Vgate (vLinker and iCar dongles). These dongles offer the best performance and compatibility with vehicles.

We recommend choosing a high-quality dongle and advise against using the cheapest OBDII clone adapters. If you're on a budget, consider getting an older model from one of the premium brands — you might find a good deal on a genuine dongle.

In any case, we do not recommend clone OBD2 adapters. Some of them might work, but many will not. The advertising for these dongles is often inaccurate, and they may not work with the vehicles they claim to support. Moreover, a device that looks the same does not guarantee similar behavior — clone manufacturers often use different electronics inside identical-looking housings. At the very least, be prepared to return a faulty unit, and always check the refund policy before purchasing.

Bluetooth is the recommended connection method for OBD dongles. It is a wireless technology that offers good performance.

Bluetooth dongles work automatically with all platforms, with some exceptions on iPhone and iPad devices. If you're using only Apple products (macOS, iOS, iPadOS), we recommend the Bluetooth Low Energy dongles listed in the next section.

Compatibility

These adapters work with OBD Auto Doctor software on the following platforms:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iPhone / iPad (only OBDLink MX+ and vLinker FS / MS)

Please note that your device must have Bluetooth to use these dongles. Classic Bluetooth dongles do not work with OBD Auto Doctor on iPhone or iPad — except for the OBDLink MX+, vLinker FS, and vLinker MS, which are Made for iPhone certified. If you're looking for a dongle for iPhone or iPad other than these exceptions, check the Bluetooth Low Energy or WiFi dongles listed below.

Please also be aware that macOS may not work with some clone Bluetooth dongles. Although this appears to be an internal macOS issue, we suspect the root cause is the non-standard Bluetooth stack used in certain clone adapters.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) dongles are the newest type of OBD2 dongles on the market. Bluetooth Low Energy is also known as Bluetooth Smart or Bluetooth 4.x / 5.x.

BLE dongles work with all major mobile platforms, including Apple devices. However, each adapter model requires specific support from the software. This means that a generic BLE adapter will not work with OBD Auto Doctor automatically — we need to tailor the software and add dedicated support for each adapter separately.

While BLE dongles work well with Android and iOS, they may have issues when used with computers. If you primarily plan to use Windows, we recommend using classic Bluetooth dongles instead.

Please note that your device must support Bluetooth 4.x or 5.x to use BLE dongles. If you're looking for classic Bluetooth adapters, refer to the section above.

WiFi is the recommended connection method for iPhone and iPad users if the newer Bluetooth Low Energy adapters are not suitable for you. A WiFi dongle creates its own WiFi hotspot, allowing your device to connect to it. This makes it compatible with Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads, although these dongles also work with other platforms.

However, WiFi dongles are not as easy to set up or connect as Bluetooth dongles. For this reason, we generally recommend Bluetooth dongles when possible.

Compatibility

These dongles work with OBD Auto Doctor software on the following platforms:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iPhone / iPad

Please note that your device must have WiFi to use these dongles. Also, keep in mind that you cannot be connected to another WiFi network while connected to the WiFi dongle. Unless you have a specific need for a WiFi dongle, we recommend choosing one with Bluetooth connectivity instead.

USB dongles establish a wired connection between the dongle and a computer. Compared to wireless dongles, the downside is that a wired connection is less convenient.

Please note that our Android and iOS apps do not support USB dongles at all.

Compatibility

These adapters work with OBD Auto Doctor software on the following platforms:

• Windows
• macOS

Your computer must have a free USB port to use these dongles. You may also need to install drivers, depending on the dongle. Always check whether the dongle supports your operating system. Unless you have a specific need for a wired connection, we recommend choosing a dongle with wireless connectivity instead.