Before you start comparing models, it pays to decide what type of tool you need. A multi-brand scanner works on cars from many makes; a single-brand tool is built for one make or group. With iCarsoft, a V2.0 single-brand tool costs €194.95 and diagnoses every system with 9 service functions; the multi-brand CR Pro does the same on 58 makes for €279.95. That €85 gap is what you need to weigh up.
What changes between them
A multi-brand tool carries software for many manufacturers. It works on the car you drive today, the next one and the ones your family drive. A single-brand tool only carries one group's software, but that group may be wider than you think: the VAWS V2.0 covers Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti and VW Commercial Vehicles; the FR V2.0 spans 12 French and Italian makes, from Peugeot and Renault to Fiat and Alfa Romeo; and the JP V2.0 brings together 16 Japanese and Korean makes.
Day to day, a V2.0 and a CR Pro work the same way: a 4.0″ colour screen with buttons, a 16-pin OBD2 cable, English menus and free lifetime updates copied from a PC to the TF card. What's in the box is equivalent too. The only thing that changes is the list of makes you see when you switch it on. So the decision is not about quality or depth of diagnostics, but about how many makes you will need and whether you want functions that only the higher models have.
Comparison table
| V2.0 single-brand | CR Pro | CR Pro+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | €194.95 | €279.95 | €339.95 |
| Coverage | One make or group | 58 makes | 58 makes |
| Systems | All | All | All |
| Screen | 4.0″, 480×320, buttons | 4.0″, 480×320, buttons | 4.3″, 800×480, buttons |
| Service functions | 9 | 9 | 48 |
| Bidirectional control | No | No | Yes |
| Updates | Free for life | Free for life | Free for life |
The 9 functions on the V2.0 tools and the CR Pro are the same: oil, EPB, SAS, DPF, BMS, ABS bleeding, injector coding, electronic throttle and TPMS. Availability depends on each model.
When a single-brand tool makes sense
- You have one car, or every car at home is from the same group, and you don't plan to change make any time soon.
- You want the same depth of diagnostics as a CR Pro for the least money.
- You specialise in one make (a Mercedes workshop, a BMW or Land Rover enthusiast) and need nothing more.
The V2.0 models we stock: VAWS V2.0 (VAG), MB V2.0 (Mercedes and Smart), BMM V2.0 (BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce), FR V2.0 (French and Italian), JP V2.0 (Japanese and Korean), US V2.0 (American), LR V2.0 (Land Rover and Jaguar), VOL V2.0 (Volvo and Saab), OP V2.0 (Opel and Vauxhall) and POR V2.0 (Porsche). You will find them all under single-brand diagnostic tools.
When a multi-brand tool makes sense
- There are cars of different makes at home, or you help out with family and friends' cars.
- You will change car in a few years and don't want to buy another tool.
- You run a garage, however small. There is no knowing which make will roll in tomorrow.
- You want bidirectional control or more than 9 functions. None of the V2.0 single-brand tools we sell is bidirectional; for that you need at least the CR Pro+.
Do the maths with two cars from different groups: two V2.0 tools come to €389.90, more than a CR Pro+ that covers both, is bidirectional and has 48 functions. From two makes upwards, multi-brand nearly always works out cheaper.
If you go single-brand: V1.0 or V2.0
Each make comes in different versions. The V1.0 tools are cheaper (€134.95) but have fewer service functions and fewer systems. For €60 more, the V2.0 gives you full diagnostics and 9 functions. We go into detail in the differences between the V1 and V2 single-brand tools.
Three questions before you choose
- Which cars will you be diagnosing over the next five years? Not just the one you have today. If you are likely to change make, a single-brand tool ends up gathering dust in a drawer.
- What do you want to do besides reading faults? If routine servicing is enough (oil, pads with an electronic parking brake, battery, DPF), the V2.0 and the CR Pro do the same. If you want to test components or work on suspension, AdBlue or airbags, you need the CR Pro+.
- Is your group of makes well covered by a single tool? With a Peugeot and a Renault, the FR V2.0 handles both. With a SEAT and a Toyota, you are looking at two tools.
A common mistake is buying the cheapest single-brand tool to save money and finding out later that it doesn't do the function you needed. Before you buy, read the model's spec sheet and check that the function you want is on its list. If you are unsure, ask us and include the car's VIN.
Our recommendation
If you are sure you will only ever work on one make or group, a V2.0 is the leanest buy and you lose nothing compared with the CR Pro. If there is any doubt (another make at home, a new car on the horizon or a wish to learn), go multi-brand: the CR Pro if basic servicing is enough, and the CR Pro+ if you want active tests. The differences between them are in CR Pro vs CR Pro+.
For a garage, the sensible move is to start straight away with a multi-brand tablet; the options are in which diagnostic tool to buy for a garage and under multi-brand diagnostic tools. For home use, have a look at diagnostic tools for DIY drivers.
