SDG #342 Which car diagnostic tool for 2024? Kingbolen, Launch, Thinkscan, Thinkcar?

Seven scan tools that all appear to come out of the same Launch family are lined up here and compared on the things that actually decide a purchase: how many ECUs they can talk to, whether CAN FD is supported, how many reset and service functions are unlocked, and above all what happens to the software licence after year one.

The cheap end is dominated by Bluetooth dongles that borrow your phone as the screen. The Ediag Mini at roughly £55 reads and clears codes across all modules and streams live data, but it lacks CAN FD and nearly all of its 15 maintenance routines are paid extras at around $19.95 each per year. The Thinkdiag 2 adds CAN FD, ECU coding, bidirectional tests and immobiliser key matching, but its licence lapses after twelve months and renewals run $50 to $100 depending on what you want back.

Among the tablets, the Kingbolen S500 is deliberately limited to engine, transmission, ABS and airbag with only four resets, though the S800 raises that to 15 and updates are free for life. The Launch CRP429C reached every module on a Ford Mondeo despite spec sheets claiming four, and it also carries lifetime updates. The Thinkscan Max 2 comes out as the standout value: full module coverage, CAN FD, around 28 resets and now free lifetime updates, with only bidirectional testing and ECU coding needing $50 annual renewals.

The more professional CRP919EBT and X431 Pro Elite bring 35 to 37 resets, wiring diagrams, topology views and remote diagnostics, but only two years of updates. Renewal pricing on the X431 can exceed the cost of a replacement tablet, which is worth factoring into the total cost of ownership before buying at that level.