OBDAI Subscriptions, Bundles, and Billing — How It Works
At a Glance
- One Premium tier — same features for everyone, regardless of how you purchase
- App Store = auto-renews; Bundles = prepaid, no auto-renew
- Devices = Premium works on all your personal devices
What is OBDAI Premium?
Premium is our top tier — it unlocks the full power of ARIA, OBDAI’s Automotive Reasoning & Intelligence Assistant.
Current Premium Features:
- Unlimited ARIA Conversations — Ask anything about your vehicle, get real answers. No daily limits, no chat caps.
- GPT-5.1 AI Model — Premium subscribers get the latest, most capable AI model. Free users get the basic model.
- Vehicle Diagnostic History — ARIA remembers your previous diagnostic sessions and can compare today’s readings to last week’s. She catches drift before it becomes failure.
- Autonomous PID Selection — ARIA analyzes your question, selects the right parameters to monitor, and tells you to drive. You drive. She watches. She analyzes. She adjusts. You don’t have to touch anything except the steering wheel.
- PDF Diagnostic Reports — Generate professional diagnostic reports from your scan sessions. Share with customers, keep for your records, or use as a second opinion to take to a shop.
- Web Dashboard — View your vehicles, scan history, and reports from any browser. No app required.
- Vehicle History & Recalls — Access recall data and compare vehicles side by side.
- Visual Repair Assistant — Step-by-step repair videos and component location photos for your specific vehicle.
- Cross-Device Access — One Premium subscription works across all your devices — Android, iOS, and Windows. Sign in with the same account and your Premium status follows you. (See “How Many Devices Can I Use?” below for details.)
- EU VIN/Chassis Decoding — Full support for European vehicle identification.
- Early Access Features — Get new capabilities before they roll out to the free tier.
We ship new features frequently — and Premium subscribers get them automatically, at no extra cost. What you see above is what’s live today. More is coming.
Premium transforms OBDAI from a basic scan tool into an intelligent diagnostic partner.
What’s Free vs Premium?
Free users can:
- Connect to any compatible OBD-II adapter
- Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs)
- View 150+ live parameters
- Use basic dashboard gauges
- Access limited ARIA conversations (daily cap)
Premium users also get:
- Unlimited ARIA AI conversations (GPT-5.1)
- PDF diagnostic report generation
- Web dashboard access (view vehicles, history, reports)
- Full diagnostic history with trend analysis
- Autonomous PID selection and guided diagnostics
- Visual repair assistant (videos + component photos)
- Vehicle history, recall data, and comparison tools
- EU VIN/Chassis decoding
- Cross-device sync
- Priority support
- Every new Premium feature we ship — included automatically
Ways to Get OBDAI Premium
There are three paths to Premium. All unlock the same features.
Option A: App Store Subscription
Auto-renewing, no hardware included.
Purchase directly through the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Microsoft Store.
How it works:
- Billing, renewals, and cancellations are handled entirely by the store — not OBDAI
- Subscriptions renew automatically unless you cancel
- Updates are delivered automatically through the app store
Option B: Hardware Bundles
Scanner + prepaid Premium, no auto-renew.
Purchase a bundle from obdai.app/shop or Amazon.
How it works:
- Bundles include an OBDAI OBD-II scanner plus a prepaid Premium term
- Hardware is yours to keep forever
- Billing and license management are handled directly by OBDAI
- Does not auto-renew — renewal options provided when your term is ending
Available bundles:
- Gen 1 Annual Bundle (12 months Premium + Gen 1 device)
- Gen 1 Starter Bundle (3 months Premium + Gen 1 device)
- Gen 2 Annual Bundle (12 months Premium + Gen 2 device)
Note: Amazon bundles include the same Premium access as bundles purchased directly from our store — just with a different activation process.
Option C: BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Software-only license, no hardware, no auto-renew.
Purchase a software license from obdai.app/shop if you already own a compatible OBD2 adapter.
How it works:
- 12 months of Premium access
- No hardware included — use your existing ELM327-compatible adapter
- Does not auto-renew — you choose whether to renew when your term ends
- One license works on iOS, Android, AND Windows simultaneously
- Billing and license management handled directly by OBDAI
Why choose BYOD?
- Already own an OBD2 adapter and don’t need new hardware
- Prefer upfront payment over auto-renewing subscriptions
- Want cross-platform access (one license covers all devices)
Gen 1 vs Gen 2 — What’s the Difference?
Gen 1 and Gen 2 are hardware tiers, not software tiers. Both get the exact same Premium experience.
Gen 1:
- Standard Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) adapter
- Supports ISO protocols (covers most 1996+ vehicles)
- Solid, reliable performance
Gen 2:
- Custom OBDAI-branded adapter
- Supports ISO protocols plus SAE J1850 PWM/VPW (older US vehicles like Ford/GM pre-2008)
- Premium packaging and build quality
Which should you choose?
- Most users: Gen 1 covers your vehicle
- Own an older Ford or GM with J1850 protocols: Gen 2 ensures compatibility
- Want the premium hardware experience: Gen 2
Software is identical. Premium features, ARIA capabilities, and updates are the same regardless of hardware tier.
How Many Devices Can I Use?
All of them. Your Premium entitlement covers every device you personally own — phones, tablets, laptops, desktops. Sign in with the same account and Premium follows you.
This applies whether you subscribed through Google Play, Apple App Store, Microsoft Store, or activated a license key from our store or Amazon. One entitlement, all your devices.
What “All Your Devices” Means
This is for devices you personally own and use. It’s an honor system — we trust you.
This does not extend to fleet vehicles, shared shop terminals, or commercial multi-user setups. If you’re running a business with multiple technicians or vehicles, please review our Terms of Service for commercial use guidelines, or contact us to discuss your needs.
How Software Updates Work
All Premium subscribers receive software updates automatically.
- Updates are delivered through the app stores (iOS, Android, Windows)
- No repurchase required during an active subscription
- Hardware continues to work across all software updates
- New features added to Premium are included at no additional cost
If your subscription is active, you get every update.
Renewals & Expiration
App Store Subscriptions
- Auto-renew by default — your subscription continues unless you cancel
- Cancel anytime through the store where you purchased
- After canceling, you keep Premium access until your current billing period ends
- See How to Cancel Your Subscription for step-by-step instructions
Hardware Bundle & BYOD Licenses
- Do not auto-renew — your prepaid term has a fixed expiration date
- We’ll send reminders before your Premium access expires
- When your term ends, you’ll have renewal options or can continue with the free tier
- Your hardware continues to work regardless of Premium status
OEM Expert Mode (Beta)
OEM Expert Mode unlocks manufacturer-specific diagnostic capabilities beyond standard OBD2 — direct communication with Ford, GM, Toyota, BMW, and other OEM-specific modules.
What’s Included
- OEM-specific ECU communication — Access modules like Body Control (BCM), Transmission (TCM), ABS, and more
- Manufacturer diagnostic commands — Enhanced PIDs and parameters not available through generic OBD2
- Physical addressing — Direct module communication for deeper diagnostics
- Early access to new OEM profiles — As we add support for more manufacturers
Access Requirements
OEM Expert Mode is available exclusively to customers with:
- Annual Premium subscription (not monthly, not 3-month)
- OBDAI-branded hardware (Gen 1 or Gen 2)
This combination ensures reliability and safety when communicating with vehicle-specific modules. OEM commands require verified hardware and committed users for proper support.
Why These Requirements?
OEM-level diagnostics communicate directly with safety-critical vehicle systems. We limit access to:
- Ensure hardware compatibility — Our devices are tested with OEM protocols
- Provide proper support — Annual customers get priority assistance
- Maintain safety — Expert features require expert commitment
BYOD licenses, monthly subscriptions, and starter bundles include all standard Premium features — unlimited ARIA conversations, diagnostic history, autonomous PID selection, and more — but not OEM Expert Mode.
How to Get Access
The most cost-effective way to access OEM Expert Mode is through an Annual Premium + Hardware bundle.
How Much Does OBDAI Premium Cost?
Pricing is not listed in support articles because it varies by platform and region.
App store pricing: To see current subscription prices on iOS, Android, or Windows, open the OBDAI app and view available plans through the in-app purchase screen. App store pricing is controlled by each store and may vary by platform or region.
Hardware bundles and BYOD: All pricing is listed at obdai.app/shop. This is the only place where pricing is shown.
Waiting to Purchase?
If you’re not ready to purchase right now, that’s completely fine.
- Download the app for free and explore what OBDAI can do
- Use the free tier to connect your adapter and read codes
- When you’re ready, upgrade to Premium or purchase a bundle
Premium is here when you need it.
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Questions about billing or subscriptions? support@obdai.app