Best OBD2 Scanner for Chevy (2026): 4 Compared

Compare the picks

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 20 October 2026. Reset counts and brand coverage are as each listing states them; menus vary by vehicle.

The picks

Four scanners, ranked on what each listing states. The LAUNCH leads on coverage and warranty, the thinkcar on bidirectional control, the OBDMATE on GM-specific focus, and the Yakry on simplicity with a built-in battery check. Every figure below comes from that scanner’s own listing; where a listing contradicts itself, the guide says so.

How we scored them

Each scanner is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, using only what the listing states. Performance weighs reset depth and diagnostic function: the thinkcar’s bidirectional commands and the LAUNCH’s 7 resets score highest, while the Yakry’s code-reading brief scores lower for its class. The LAUNCH leads on the longest stated warranty and broad coverage; the thinkcar follows on bidirectional control with 3,000+ active commands; the OBDMATE is the Chevy-specific pick with GM coverage and a hard case; the Yakry is the simple plug-and-play reader with a battery health check. No listing states a safety listing, so safety is zero across the board. The weights are on our How We Pick page.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.

What the listings tell you

Reset services are the main separator here. The LAUNCH states 7 resets, the thinkcar states 12, and the OBDMATE states over 12, all covering the usual oil, brake, throttle, SAS and DPF jobs. The Yakry states no reset count; it reads and clears engine codes and checks 12V battery health instead. If your Chevy work is oil changes and brake jobs, any of the three reset scanners covers it; if you only chase check-engine codes, the Yakry is enough.

Live data is the third separator. The LAUNCH states graphic live data with 4-in-1 waveform graphs and store-and-playback, the thinkcar states 5-in-1 live data graphing with up to 4 streams merged, and the OBDMATE states graphic live data as well. The Yakry states live data graphing too, aimed at spotting intermittent issues in real time. If you diagnose by watching sensors rather than just reading codes, the graphing tools earn their place.

Coverage is the second separator. The LAUNCH states 90+ brands with CAN FD and DoIP plus FCA SGW support, and the thinkcar states 140+ brands with CAN-FD and FCA AutoAuth. The OBDMATE is the narrow one: GMC, Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac from 1996 to 2020, which is exactly the Chevy brief. Broader is not automatically better for a Chevy-only garage; the GM-focused tool wastes nothing on brands you will never plug into.

Updates and support round out the picture. The LAUNCH, thinkcar and OBDMATE all state lifetime free updates, which matters because new model years keep arriving; the Yakry states no updates, which fits its simpler brief. The LAUNCH also states a 5-year backup and 90-day trial policy in its bullets, the strongest support language here, while the OBDMATE points to direct support contact.

Screens and hardware differ more than the numbers suggest. The thinkcar has the biggest screen at 6.2 inches with a 4-core 1.8GHz CPU, and the LAUNCH has a 5 inch touchscreen on Android 8.1 with a 6000mAh battery. The OBDMATE and Yakry are 2.8 inch handhelds; the OBDMATE needs no batteries and ships a hard case, while the Yakry is the glove-box unit. The Yakry listing contradicts itself on warranty, 18 months in the bullets against 2 years in the spec table, so the guide trusts the bullets.

GM-specific vs universal coverage

The OBDMATE’s pitch is focus: GMC, Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac from 1996 to 2020, with full-system diagnostics across ABS, SRS, engine and transmission plus over 12 reset services. For a household that only runs GM vehicles, that focus means every menu item applies to the cars in the driveway, and the lifetime free updates keep it current within that range. The tradeoff is the 2020 ceiling and zero coverage for anything outside GM.

The universal scanners trade focus for range. The LAUNCH states 90+ brands with CAN FD, DoIP and FCA SGW support, and the thinkcar states 140+ brands with CAN-FD and FCA AutoAuth. If the garage holds a Chevy truck plus a non-GM daily driver, the universal tool covers both, though you pay in menus that do not apply to your Chevy. For a Chevy-only garage, the OBDMATE’s narrower stated coverage is the more honest fit.

Warranty terms, compared

Warranties here run the full spread. The LAUNCH states 5 years, the longest of the four. The OBDMATE states a 3 year quality warranty. The thinkcar states 12 months, the shortest. The Yakry’s listing contradicts itself, 18 months in the bullets against 2 years in the spec table, and the guide trusts the bullets’ 18 months. A longer stated warranty matters more on the touchscreen units with batteries, which have more to fail than a simple handheld.

Buying guide: best obd2 scanner for chevy

Start from the Chevy you own. A 1996 to 2020 GM vehicle is squarely inside the OBDMATE’s stated coverage; a newer model year pushes you toward the LAUNCH or thinkcar with their newer-protocol support, confirmed against the maker’s checker. Then match the scanner to the work. For routine Chevy maintenance, count the resets: oil, EPB, throttle, SAS and DPF cover most of what a home garage does, and three of the four here state those. For diagnosis beyond codes, the thinkcar’s bidirectional control with 3,000+ active commands lets you cycle components to verify faults, which is pro-level function at a DIY price. For a single Chevy or GMC in the driveway, the OBDMATE’s GM-specific coverage and lifetime free updates are the focused pick.

Think about screen size for how you work. The thinkcar’s 6.2 inch screen and the LAUNCH’s 5 inch touchscreen suit longer diagnostic sessions with graphs; the 2.8 inch handhelds suit quick code checks in the driveway. The OBDMATE’s hard case and the Yakry’s glove-box size both assume the tool lives in the vehicle, while the bigger touchscreen units assume a workbench or cart.

Check the battery question too. The LAUNCH and Yakry both address 12V battery health: the LAUNCH through an add-on module, the Yakry built in with CCA, SOC, SOH and cranking checks. If your Chevy cranks slow on cold mornings, a built-in battery check saves a second tool. And confirm fit before you buy: the listings warn that menus and coverage vary by vehicle, so run your VIN through the maker’s checker for the GM tool.

One last check before you buy: confirm the connector. All four are 16-pin OBDII tools for 12V systems, which covers every Chevy from 1996 on, but the OBDMATE’s listing is explicit about 12V 16-pin DLC while the others assume it. If your Chevy is a 1996 or newer OBDII vehicle, all four plug in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which scanner here is made for Chevrolet?

The OBDMATE OM507. Its title names Chevrolet alongside GMC, Buick and Cadillac, with coverage stated for 1996 to 2020 GM vehicles with OBDII.

What is bidirectional control?

It lets the scanner command vehicle components, like cycling the ABS pump or fans, to verify a fault. The thinkcar THINKSCAN 662 states 3,000+ active commands.

Do these scanners need a subscription?

The LAUNCH, thinkcar and OBDMATE all state lifetime free updates. The Yakry is plug and play with built-in firmware and no updates mentioned.

Which states the longest warranty?

The LAUNCH at 5 years. The OBDMATE states 3 years, the Yakry 18 months per its bullets, and the thinkcar 12 months.

Will these work on a newer Chevy?

The OBDMATE states coverage through 2020 for GM. The LAUNCH and thinkcar state broader coverage with newer protocols; confirm your model year with the maker’s checker before you buy.

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