Piston
piston.app
What it is
Piston is an Android app that turns a phone into a scanner for vehicle diagnostics. It works with OBD-II and EOBD vehicles through a separate ELM327 adapter connected by Bluetooth or WiFi. The free plan costs nothing and includes reading and clearing diagnostic trouble codes, viewing Freeze Frame data, and reading real-time sensor data. Access is limited to information the vehicle provides through OBD2. Premium adds sensor charts, CSV export, Readiness Monitors, fault history, cloud sync, and VIN reading. Some older vehicles may not support VIN readout. Piston uses Firebase services for crash reporting, monitoring, analytics, authentication, remote configuration, and cloud storage. Settings provide opt-outs for several data services, and account deletion permanently removes associated data.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- Piston turns an Android mobile device into a car scanner for reading diagnostic trouble codes and Freeze Frame data.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Integrations
- The app uses Firebase services for crash reporting, performance monitoring, analytics, remote configuration, authentication, and cloud data storage.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Security
- The privacy policy says data sent to remote servers is encrypted and the app uses the Play Integrity API.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Support
- Support is available by email at [email protected].Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Headquarters
- Sutherland, New South Wales, AustraliaRead 28 Sep 2026 · piston.app
- Maker
- The Google Play listing identifies the developer as STINEZ PTY LTD and gives an address in Sutherland, NSW, Australia.Read 4 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Adapter required
- The app requires a separate ELM327 based adapter that connects by Bluetooth or WiFi.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Data deletion
- Users can delete their account from the app, which permanently deletes associated data such as historical fault codes.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Diagnostics
- The app can read and clear OBD2 diagnostic trouble codes, view Freeze Frame data, and access live sensor data.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Notable limitation
- Some older vehicles may not support VIN readout.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Payment
- Premium is a single in-app purchase with no subscription, and payment is handled through Google Play billing.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Premium features
- Premium adds sensor charts, live data export to CSV, Readiness Monitors, fault history, cloud sync, and VIN reading.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Privacy controls
- Users can opt out of crash reporting, performance data, remote configuration, and analytics in Settings.Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
- Vehicle standards
- Piston is compatible with OBD-II and EOBD standards and can access only data the vehicle supports through OBD2.Read 4 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Plans and prices
Free Free Read and clear fault codes · Read Freeze Frame data · Real-time sensor data Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
Premium Price not published Pay once, use forever Real-time sensor charts · CSV export · Readiness Monitors · Fault history and cloud sync · VIN reading Read 4 Oct 2026 · piston.app
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free plan includes code reading and clearing
- Reads Freeze Frame and live sensor data
- Premium has CSV export and sensor charts
- Supports OBD-II and EOBD standards
- Account deletion removes associated data
Limits
- Requires a separate ELM327 adapter
- Vehicle data access is limited by OBD2 support
- Some older vehicles may lack VIN readout
Who it suits
It suits Android users who need OBD2 diagnostics and already have, or plan to obtain, an ELM327 Bluetooth or WiFi adapter. It is also relevant to users wanting optional history, exports, charts, or cloud features.
Verdict
Piston covers core OBD2 reading, clearing, Freeze Frame, and live sensor functions on Android. Extra analysis and storage features require the separately priced Premium purchase, and vehicle support determines which data is available.
Where Specifiction places it
- Hardware Diagnostic Software#19 of 267.2
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