How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- CARFAX Car Care is the easiest free start for most owners, because shop reported service history fills in much of the record for you.
- Drivers who care about total cost should pick Drivvo, Fuelly, or Simply Auto, which track fuel and expenses in detail.
- Diagnostic apps such as FIXD and OBDeleven need a hardware adapter, so count that purchase in the total cost.
- A good maintenance app is the one you keep using, so a simple reminder system often beats a feature packed app you abandon.
- Export your records before you switch apps, because a service history is most valuable when you sell the car.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
CARFAX Car Care | Hands-off reminders and recalls | $0 | Yes |
Drivvo | Full cost and expense tracking | See website | Yes |
Simply Auto | Mileage, fuel, and service logs | See website | Yes |
Fuelly | Fuel economy and service logs | See website | Yes |
Fuelio | Simple logging without an account | $17.99 per year | Yes |
FIXD | Plain language check engine help | $99.99 per year | Yes |
MyCar | Low cost logbook across devices | $10.99 per year | Yes |
AUTOsist | Households and small fleets | $9.99 per month | Free trial |
OBDeleven | Diagnostics and service resets | See website | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Request a listing
The best car maintenance app
Starting price$0
Free planYes
CARFAX Car Care, formerly myCARFAX, is the lowest effort way to keep a maintenance record. Add a car by VIN or plate, and the app pulls service history reported to CARFAX by participating shops, then reminds you when the next service is due. It also flags open safety recalls, which alone justifies the download for many owners. You can track several vehicles, which helps households with more than one car.
The catch is coverage. Work done at home, or at a shop that does not report to CARFAX, will not appear until you type it in. That means the record is a strong starting point, not a complete history, unless you add DIY jobs yourself. For owners who mainly use shops and want reminders without a subscription, CARFAX Car Care is the best first app to try.
What we like- Free with no in-app purchases
- Shop reported history
- Recall alerts
Watch out for- Only knows what shops report
- DIY work must be entered by hand
- EV coverage is thinner
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Drivvo is built for owners who want to know what a car really costs, not just when the next oil change falls due. It logs refuels, maintenance, insurance, tolls, fines, and other expenses, then turns those entries into reports on fuel consumption, cost per kilometer, and monthly spending. That detail helps rideshare drivers, commuters, and anyone trying to decide whether an older car is still worth keeping. Multi-vehicle support makes it useful for small fleets as well as families.
The free version covers basic logging, while cloud sync, exports, and other features sit on paid plans that vary by country, so check the store listing for your region. The breadth of categories can also feel busy at first, until you settle on the ones you actually use. Choose Drivvo when total cost matters as much as service dates.
What we like- Detailed expense categories
- Fuel consumption reports
- Multi-vehicle support
Watch out for- Paid features vary by region
- Interface can feel busy
- Export on higher tiers
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Simply Auto, from Mobifolio, keeps fuel, services, expenses, reminders, and trips together in one log. That combination suits owners who need mileage records for tax or reimbursement, as well as a service history for resale. Cloud sync means the log follows you across phone and web, and reports make it easier to see spending trends over months rather than guessing from receipts. It has been available for many years, which gives some confidence that records will not vanish with a new startup.
The free version is useful, but some features require an upgrade, so check which reports and sync options sit behind the paywall. Mileage logs also need regular attention: automatic trip detection helps, but you should still review trips before using them for tax purposes. Simply Auto fits owners who want one solid log for both maintenance and mileage.
What we like- Cloud sync across devices
- Trip and mileage logs
- Clear reports
Watch out for- Some features need paid upgrade
- Mileage tracking needs care to stay accurate
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Fuelly started as a fuel economy community, and that heritage still shapes it. Log fill-ups and it calculates real world mileage, compares your car with similar models, and keeps a service log alongside fuel records. The web interface is handy for owners who prefer a larger screen for review, and the community data can help you judge whether your mileage is normal for your model. The free version covers core logging well.
Advanced features, including attachments and some reporting options, require a paid subscription, and Fuelly is less detailed than a fleet tool for work orders and documents. It fits drivers who care most about fuel costs and want a simple, long lived log. It fits less well for a small business that needs formal fleet records.
What we like- Large fuel economy dataset
- Web plus mobile access
- Simple service logging
Watch out for- Paid extras for attachments and advanced features
- Less detailed than fleet tools
Starting price$17.99 per year
Free planYes
Fuelio appeals to owners who want to log fuel and costs without creating yet another account. It offers a straightforward way to record fill-ups, services, and expenses, with charts for consumption and spending. The Pro price shown above is low compared with many subscriptions, which makes it an easy choice for a driver who wants a little more than the free version without a monthly bill. Its simplicity is a feature, not a gap, for users who abandon complex apps.
The trade-off is depth. Fuelio does not try to be a fleet system, and users who need document storage, work orders, or team sharing should look at AUTOsist instead. Check sync and backup options before you rely on it for a long history, and export regularly. For a single owner who wants a private, simple log, Fuelio is a strong low cost pick.
What we like- Works without an account
- Low annual Pro price
- Clean fuel and cost logs
Watch out for- Fewer fleet features
- Cloud sync depends on plan
- Smaller support team
Starting price$99.99 per year
Free planYes
FIXD pairs an app with a small OBD2 sensor that plugs into your car diagnostic port. When the check engine light comes on, the app translates the fault code into plain language, explains how serious it may be, and gives a rough repair cost estimate. It also tracks mileage based maintenance reminders and can help you find a shop. For owners who dread a vague warning light, that clarity reduces stress and helps you talk to a mechanic with more confidence.
The sensor is a separate purchase, and the Premium plan shown above adds features at a price that is high compared with simple log apps. FIXD also does not fix the car: it explains codes, it does not replace a mechanic diagnosis for complex faults. Choose FIXD when warning lights and repair costs are your main worry. Choose a simple log app when you only need reminders.
What we like- Explains fault codes in plain language
- Maintenance reminders
- Repair cost estimates
Watch out for- Needs a hardware sensor
- Premium price is high
- Not a full repair tool
Starting price$10.99 per year
Free planYes
MyCar, also listed as My Car, offers a straightforward logbook at a low annual price, with a free tier for a limited number of vehicles. It covers maintenance reminders, fuel and expense tracking, and sync across devices, which is enough for most private owners. The low price makes it easy to keep for years, and a multi-year record is exactly what helps at resale time, when a buyer wants proof of care.
It lacks the shop reported history of CARFAX and the diagnostics of FIXD, so you will enter more data by hand. Feature details can also vary between mobile platforms, so check the version for your phone. MyCar fits owners who want a cheap, cross device logbook and are willing to enter their own service records consistently.
What we like- Low annual price
- Sync across devices
- Covers fuel, expenses, and reminders
Watch out for- Smaller brand than CARFAX
- Feature set varies by platform
- Limited diagnostics
Starting price$9.99 per month
Free planFree trial
AUTOsist is the most record focused app on this list, and that is its strength for households with several vehicles and for small fleets. It stores service records, receipts, and documents in an electronic glovebox, schedules preventive maintenance, and lets you share a vehicle history with a buyer, a mechanic, or a team member. Work order and reporting features help a small business keep formal records without a full fleet system.
For a single private car, the monthly price may feel high compared with free or low cost alternatives, and setup takes more time than a reminder only app. AUTOsist earns its price when records matter for resale, warranty, tax, or fleet management, and when several people need access to the same history. Private owners with one car will usually do fine with a cheaper log.
What we like- Document and receipt storage
- Shareable histories
- Fleet features
Watch out for- Monthly price adds up for one car
- More setup than a simple reminder app
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
OBDeleven pairs an app with a diagnostic device and goes further than a basic code reader, especially for supported European brands. It can read live data, run service resets, check emissions readiness, and, with credits or plans, perform coding and customization tasks. DIY owners who do their own maintenance will appreciate the ability to reset service indicators after an oil change, without a dealer visit.
The device is a separate purchase, and coverage and advanced features vary by brand and model, so check compatibility for your exact car before buying. The app alone, without the device, will not diagnose anything. OBDeleven fits confident DIY owners and enthusiasts. Casual owners who only want reminders should choose a simpler app and skip the hardware.
What we like- Deep diagnostics for supported brands
- Service resets
- Live data
Watch out for- Hardware purchase required
- Brand coverage varies
- Advanced features cost extra
How we chose
We compared reminder quality, cost tracking, diagnostics, document storage, pricing, and platform coverage, using vendor pages, app store listings, and public reviews. Prices were checked in October 2026, and any price we could not confirm is shown as See website. We did not claim hands-on testing. The list favors apps that owners are likely to keep using, because a perfect log that is abandoned after two weeks helps no one.
How to pick an app you will actually keep
Start with your main frustration. If you forget services, pick a reminder app with shop history or simple manual reminders. If fuel and repair costs surprise you, pick a cost tracker and log every fill-up for a month. If warning lights worry you, pick a diagnostic app and budget for the sensor. Solving one real problem well beats collecting features you never open.
Next, test the daily habit. Can you add a fill-up in under a minute at the pump. Can you add a service record from the shop parking lot. If entry feels like paperwork, you will stop, and the app will fail no matter how good its reports look. Finally, set a monthly export habit, even if it is just a backup to email or cloud storage. A service history only pays off at resale if you can still show it years later.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid car maintenance app?
No. CARFAX Car Care is free and covers reminders and recalls for many owners. Paid apps earn their price through cost tracking, document storage, fleet features, or diagnostics. Start free, and pay only when a specific feature saves you time or money.
Do diagnostic apps work without hardware?
No, for code reading. Apps like FIXD and OBDeleven need an OBD2 adapter that plugs into your car. Logbook apps like Drivvo and Simply Auto work without any hardware, because they rely on manual entries and reminders.
Can an app replace a mechanic?
No. An app can remind you about service, explain a fault code, and keep records, but it cannot inspect brakes, check fluids, or diagnose a complex fault safely. Use app estimates as a starting point for a conversation with a qualified mechanic, not as a final diagnosis.
How do I keep records for resale?
Log every service, keep receipts and photos where the app supports them, and export the history before you sell. A complete, dated record with shop names and mileage helps a buyer trust the car and can support a stronger price.
Which app is best for multiple cars?
CARFAX Car Care, Drivvo, and AUTOsist all support multiple vehicles. CARFAX is best for free multi-car reminders, Drivvo for cost tracking across cars, and AUTOsist for formal shared records in a household or small fleet.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.carfax.com
- https://www.drivvo.com
- https://www.simplyauto.com
- https://www.fuelly.com
- https://fuelio.app
- https://www.fixdapp.com
- https://mycar-app.com
- https://www.autosist.com
- https://obdeleven.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Request a listing
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.